A Bassus partbook from a set of four volumes. A Quintus book was lost probably before 1736 when the library at Chirk Castle was inventoried; the set also has an organ book held in the library of Christ Church, Oxford, shelfmarked GB-Och Mus. 6. Copied by one main scribe, with later additions by a second scribe. The main scribe may perhaps have been William Deane, organist at Wrexham and at the chapel in Chirk Castle, whose 7 pieces in these books are unique to them. The second scribe copied a series of 3vv pieces in all the books except the Bassus, starting from the back of each book with the books upside down. Each book has a section of 17-22 folios with blank staves only between the two series of works. Probably copied in London.

The original owner was Sir Thomas Myddelton (1586-1666), of Chirk Castle (near Wrexham, Wales). Owned by Myddelton family until recent times; sold by Lt. Col. Ririd Myddelton to Richard Macnutt. Purchased by New York Public Library in 1970.

i + 119 + ii

Original covers of brown leather, tooled in gold with ornamental designs, voice designations, and initials 'T M' (= Thomas Myddelton).

Only fragments of watermarks visible

not indicated

Staff height 13.5

Original ink foliation, with errors and omissions.

No initials or decoration.

Original indices on first flyleaf at beginning of each book list all pieces in main repertorial layer, in order of appearance.

paper

12 Services, 74 anthems, 2 litanies, 1 English secular piece = 89 + 1 duplicate = 90

J. Alcock-1, Amner-4, A. Batten/(N. Giles)-1, Bevin-1, J. Boyce-1, Byrd-7, Byrd/(N. Giles)-1, Caustun-1, Deane-8, M. East-1, Facy-1, R. Farrant-1, Gibbons-2, Hooper/(Fox)-1, (W. Lawes)-22, J. Lugge-1, Morley-1, J. Mundy-1, J. or W.? Mundy-1, J. Mundy/(W. Mundy/Shepherd/R. White)-1, J. Mundy/(W. Mundy/Tallis)-1, J. Mundy/(Edward Smith)-1, R. Parsons I/Strogers/(Byrd/R. White)-1, R. Parsons III, W. Parsons-4, W. Randall-1, Shepherd-2, Shepherd/Tallis-1, Strogers-1, Tallis-3, Tallis/(N. Giles)-1, Tallis/(J. Mundy)-2, Tallis/(W. Parsons)-1, Tallis/(Weelkes)-1, Tomkins-1, Tozar-1, Tye-2, Tye/(Poynte)-1, Ward-1, Weelkes-1, anon-3

4 paper partbooks (Medius-i + 106 + i folios, A-i + 110 + i, T-i + 110 + iii, B-i + 119 + ii), ca. 205 x 277. Original ink foliation, with errors and omissions. Each book has section of 17-22 folios with blank staves only near end. Original covers of brown leather, tooled in gold with ornamental designs, voice designations, and initials "T M" [ = Thomas Myddelton]. Original indices on first flyleaf at beginning of each book list all pieces in main repertorial layer, in order of appearance. Copied by one main scribe, with later additions by a second scribe. Almost all pieces copied by latter scribe are upside down in relation to other music; scribe began copying at back of each book, working toward front. Staff height 13.5. No initials or decoration. Only fragments of watermarks visible.

Ca. 1618-33 (DanS). Probably copied in London. The original owner was Sir Thomas Myddelton (1586-1666), of Chirk Castle (near Wrexham, Wales). Owned by Myddelton family until recent times; sold by Lt. Col. Ririd Myddelton to Richard Macnutt. Purchased by New York Public Library in 1970.