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All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Biography of Cornelius Cure -1607

St Martin's Church, Stamford Chapel of St Edmund, Westminster Abbey All Saints Church, Narborough St Lawrence's Church, Snarford St Laurence's Church, Ludlow

Cornelius Cure -1607 is in Sculptors.

After 19th March 1553. St Martin's Church, Stamford [Map]. Monument to Richard Cecil (deceased) and his wife Jane Heckington. Kneeling figures under an elaborate cornice. Attributed to Cornelius Cure. Elizabethan Period.

Jane Heckington: she was born to William Heckington. Before 1520 Richard Cecil and she were married. On 10th March 1587 she died.

Death and Funeral of Frances Brandon

On 5th December 1559 Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (deceased) was buried in St Edmund's Chapel in Westminster Abbey [Map] at a ceremony conducted by Bishop John Jewel (age 37). Her daughter Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (age 19) was Chief Mourner. Mary Grey (age 14) was present. Her effigy, possibly designed by Cornelius Cure, was paid for by her husband Adrian Stokes (age 40): recumbent effigy dressed in Ermine robes signifying she was a duchess with a pendant around her neck. She lies on mattress with a lion at her feet and her coronet has been repaired and gilded.

The inscription on her grave reads in Latin:

Nor grace, nor splendor, nor a royal name,

Nor widespread fame can aught avail;

All, all have vanished here.

True worth alone Survives the funeral pyre and silent tomb.

And ...

Dirge for the most noble Lady Frances, onetime Duchess of Suffolk: naught avails glory or splendour, naught avail titles of kings; naught profits a magnificent abode, resplendent with wealth. All, all are passed away: the glory of virtue alone remained, impervious to the funeral pyres of Tartarus [part of Hades or the Underworld]. She was married first to the Duke, and after was wife to Mr Stock, Esq. Now, in death, may you fare well, united to God.

And continues ...

Here lieth the ladie Francis, Duches of Southfolke, daughter to Charles Brandon, Duke of Southfolke, and Marie the Frenche Quene: first wife to Henrie Duke of Southfolke and after to Adrian Stock Esquier.

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Calendar of State Papers Domestic Series Elizabeth I 1596. 28th June 1596. Westminster. Grant to Cornelius Cure, of the office of master mason in the Tower, and the Queen's other castles, manors, and residences, void by death of Edward Young; fee, 1 2d. a day, and a yearly livery from the great wardrobe. Interlined with a reversionary grant to Edward Johnson. [Latin, 3 sheets.]

On 4th August 1598 William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 77) died. His son Thomas (age 56) succeeded 2nd Baron Burghley. He was buried at St Martin's Church, Stamford [Map] with a large free-standing Elizabethan Period monument under the north chapel arch, in coloured marbles with a figure on tomb chest under an arched canopy supported on paired columns. Attributed to Cornelius Cure. The emblem of the Knights of the Garter on William's left shoulder. Leg Garter. In his right-hand he is holding the Lord Treasurer Staff of Office; originally white.

The inscription on the monument is on contained within three panels: two on the south (Chancel) side, and one on the north (Chapel) side.

Sacred to God most good and great, and to memory. The most honourable and far renowned Lord William Cecil, Baron of Burghley, Lord High Treasurer of England, President of the Court of Wards, knight of the most noble order of the Garter, Privy Counsellor to the most serene Elizabeth, Queen of England, &c., and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, under this tomb awaits the second coming of Christ: Who for the excellent endowments of the mind, was first made Privy Counsellor to Edward the sixth, King of England; afterwards to Queen Elizabeth: under whom being intrusted with the greatest and most weighty affairs of this kingdom, and above all others approved, in promoting the true religion, and providing for the safety and honour of the commonwealth; by his prudence, honesty, integrity, and great services to the nation, he obtained the highest honours: and when he had long enough to nature, long enough for glory, but not long enough to his country, quietly fell asleep in Christ. He had two wives: Mary, sister of Sir John Cheeke, knight, of whom ie begat one son, Thomas, now Baron of Burghley; and Mildred, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, knight, who bore to him Sir Robert Cecil (age 35), knight, Privy Counsellor to Queen Elizabeth and President of the Court of Wards; Anne, married to Edward, Earl of Oxford (age 48); and Elizabeth (age 34) to William Wentworth, eldest son of Baron Wentworth.

Mary Cheke: she was born to Peter Cheke. In 1541 William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley and she were married. In February 1543 Mary Cheke died.

Elizabeth Cecil: On 1st July 1564 she was born to William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley. On 26th February 1582 William Wentworth and she were married.

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On 24th September 1607 Clement Spelman of Narborough died. In 1647 Ursula Willoughby (age 14) died. They were buried at All Saints Church, Narborough [Map]. Elbow Reclining Figure. Stuart Hooded Monument. Possibly Cornelius Cure.

Clement Spelman of Narborough: he was born to John Spelman of and Margaret Blennerhasset. The mother assumed based on his father having married Margaret but not certain she is his only wife. In 1602 Clement Spelman of Narborough and Anne Carvill were married. Before 12th September 1606 Clement Spelman of Narborough and Ursula Willoughby were married.

Ursula Willoughby: Around 1593 she was born to John Willoughby of Risley.

After 28th October 1613. Monument to George St Paul 1st Baronet (deceased) and Frances Wray Countess Warwick at St Lawrence's Church, Snarford [Map]. Elizabethan Period. A base supporting the reclining figures of the deceased with composite Pillars supporting an entablature and armorial termination. In the base is a central semi-circular niche containing a carving of the deceased's daughter, flanked by niches containing mourning putti. Above on the lower step is a figure of Frances in full mourning dress with formal Ruff and hat, reclining on a cushion holding a prayer book. On the upper step he reclines in plate armour with a sword. The figures are contained in a semi-circular headed Recess with roses in the archivolt and on the back wall is an inscribed rectangular panel with scrolls and memento mori. The Pillars to either side support a frieze and entablature from which rise flaming urns and at the angles, and at the centre is a raised achievement of arms flanked by scrolled shields and obelisks. Possibly sculpted by Cornelius Cure.

After 1625. Monument to Edmund Walter and his wife Mary Hakluyt at St Laurence's Church, Ludlow [Map]. Their three sons and two daughters are shown kneeling, around the sides of the tomb chest. The figure in red judge's robes is the second son, John (age 59), who became a Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1625, the same year that his older brother James died. The tomb was erected after 1625 as James's (deceased) will mentions his intention "…to have erected over my father some fitting remembrance or monument within the church where they lie buried … if the same be not performed in my lifetime the charge whereof I Ieave to my brother John". The original railings include corner standards with the initials EW and MW on the iron pennants. Possibly a work of Cornelius Cure.