He was born in
Stafford gaol, one of the younger sons of William Macclesfield of Chesterton and Maer and
Aston,
Staffordshire; William Macclesfield was a Catholic
recusant, condemned to death in 1587 for harbouring priests, one of whom was his brother Humphrey. His mother was Ursula, daughter of Francis Roos, of Laxton, Nottinghamshire. William Macclesfield is said to have died in prison and is one of the prætermissi as William Maxfield; but, as his death occurred in 1608, this is doubtful. Half of Maxfield's relics are now at
Downside Abbey, near Bath. Others are located in the Santa Ana chapel of the Paza de Gondomar. ==See also==