Shakespeare's family
to eldest son, Thomas Arden, and heirs male; if no heirs, to John Arden,
his second son; then to Edward Arden, his third son; to Nicholas Arden,
his fourth son, each of which are to have L100. To Henry Arden, my son,
L4 a year, and his dwelling in the house at Hampton and good usage
there, and if he does not like his treatment, to have L10 a year. To
John, my son, my tenements in Birdlip, Gloucester; to Edward, my son, a
house in Highworth and the Chantrey House. My kinsman, Thomas Arden, of
Fairford, Gloucester, oweth me L40. I give this to Agnes, my daughter,
wife of Henry Gearinge. Thomas, his son, sole executor. His loving
brother, Thomas Stratton, and Henry Gearing, overseers.[514]
The Ardernes of Cottesford and Kirtlington, Oxford, bore the same arms
as the Park Hall Ardens, with a mullet for difference;[515] but the
relationship is not given in the pedigree of the Visitation. It only
starts with Robert Arden of Cottesford, whose son William[516] married
Agnes Stotesby of Evenley, and he had, first, Thomas, second, John,
third, William, fourth, George. His daughter Alice married Thomas Thorne
of Northampton. Thomas predeceased his father and John succeeded, who
married, first, Isabel Woodward, widow of Richard Swillington, who bore
him a son, Leonard, who became a priest, and Eleanor, married to Anthony
Yate. John married, second, Isabell, daughter of John Gifford, of
Twyford, Bucks, by whom he had John Arden, of Cottesford (who married
Catharine, daughter of John Cheyney, and whose son was John Arden),
Richard, and Anthony, who married Margery, daughter and heir of Walter
Coxe, of Kirtlington, through whom he acquired this property. Anthony's
family consisted of John, Thomas,[517] Henry,[517] Alice, Margaret, and
Mary.
There were Indentures drawn up between Henry VIII. and "John Arderne, of
Cotisford" (see Cromwell's "Remembrances," 1534).
The will of John Arden, of Cottesford, Oxfordshire, gentleman,[518]
November 12, 1557, furnishes us with some particulars. He wished to be
buried before the cross in Cottesford beside his father's tomb. To
Katharine,[519] his wife, if she claimed no jointure, an annuity of L13
6s. 8d. (to be paid by brother Richard Arden, in the lordship of
Willaston), 300 marks, and the house they dwell in, with half the
furniture, etc. "To every of the children of Roger Arndern, of Evynley,
now living, twenty shillings." To his cousin, Robert Thorne, to his
cousin, Nicholas Thorne's wife, to his sister, Eleanor Yates, legacies.
"To John Ardern, son of Anthony Ardern,[520] my young brother,"
tenements, etc.; failing whom, they were to pass to Henry Ardern, third
son of his said brother. To the wives of Richard and Anthony, his
brothers, four angels. To Richard, his brother, all his titles to
Cottesford and Willaston, and to Anthony, his younger brother, the title
of his lease of Shelliswell. Residue to his brothers, the executors;
desiring Mr. Walter Wright, Doctor of the Civil Law and Archdeacon of
Oxfordshire, to be overseer. Witnesses, Nicholas Thorne, Walter Prior,
and John Tench. "Memor.: Laurence Pate, parson of Harwicke, had to hide
the will in his coffer till Arden's death."[521]
Robert Arden, of Berwyck, writes to the Earl of Leicester about Mr.
Arden, of Cotesford, March 1, 1588.
John Arden in 1595 prays some Court service. But in January, 1595-96, he
has been sent to the Marshalsea on suspicion of treason, when he was
about to marry. Nicholas Poutor, in October, 1601, promises to pay L100
to John Ardern, of Kirtlington, in October, 1602.
These Ardens are evidently connected with those of Evenly in
Northamptonshire. Thomas Arden, of Evenly, died between 1520-26; Roger
Arden, of Evenly, 1537-40; William Arden, of Norton, 1548-61.[522] The
Inventory of the goods of John Arden, of Evenley, gent., was taken
November 9, 1559. On the back of this is a settlement, dated 1576,
between John and Thomas Arden, and others.[523]
It is not clear whether the Cottesford Ardens are in any way connected
with a family residing at Henley-on-Thames, co. Oxon. In a will of
Robert Arden he left everything he had to his wife Margery, August 8,
1493;[524] and on February 24, 1525, John Arderne, of Henley,[525] drew
up a will leaving to his daughter Margery L6 13s. 4d.; and to his wife
Johane all his lands and tenements, with remainder, first to his son and
heir, Humphrey Arderne, after him to his son Robert, after him to his
son John, after him to his son Edmund or their heirs. His wife Johane,
executrix; James Hayles, overseer. Proved May 4, 1526.
Beyond the more important habitats, we find Ardens in many English
counties. John Yate, the elder, of Bockland, Berks, gent., in his will,
January 12, 1578,[526] mentions his son-in-law, Mr. John Arderne, and
Anthony Arderne, son of his daughter Bridget, deceased. John Daubeney,
of Woolmeston, gent., April 6, 1625, mentions his brother-in-law, Guy
Arden, of West Chinnock.[527]
The State Papers mention this family.
The names of such of the guard under the Earl of Leicester "as have been
lately preferred to your excellency in Holland, and by whom:
"John Arden, by Mr. Thomas Dudley, January 12, 1585."
"The names of the Household, Flushing, July 21, 1585, Clerk Comptroller,
Thomas Arden."[528]
John Arderne, will June 5, 1605; ob. s. p. December 17, 1605. Inq. at
Woodstock, 5 Jac. I. Oxford and Berks. Thomas, brother and heir, aet. 60.
Thomas Arderne, ob. s. p. August 31, 9 Jac. I. Inq. at Oxford, November
12, 14 Jac. I., Oxford. Henry, brother and heir, aet. 60.
Henry Arderne, ob. May 4 ult. Inq. at Oxford. August 22, August 20, 20
Jac. I. Oxford and Somerset. Margaret, d. and h., aet. 10 years 11 months
14 days.
Of this family probably sprung the Arden mentioned in Bishop Scory's
letter from Whitborn:[529] "Messrs. Mug, Blaxton, Arden and Gregory,
popish priests, were driven out of Exeter, but received elsewhere, and
feasted in the streets with torch-light."--August 17, 1561.
In a search for Arden and other prisoners who had escaped, Popish relics
were found in the house of Francis Yeates, of Lyfford,[530] February 12,
1587. "The examination of John Arden,[531] gent., son of Laurence Arden,
of Chichester, concerning an attempt made against the King of Spain, and
his dealings with Dr. Hall and other fugitives. His brother Robert had
been 24 years a Canon of Toledo in Spain."--December 27, 1590 (?). A
prisoner named Arden is noted for years among the accounts of the Tower
for the boarding of prisoners, and a Mr. Arden[532] escaped thence with
Father Gerard by the assistance of John Lily and Richard Fulwood,
October 8, 1597.
Thomas Arden, Canon of Worcester 1558, was deprived for Catholicism in
1562. (See Wood's "Athenae Oxonienses"; and also "John Arden(?), late
prebendary of Worcester, accused of heresy 1561.")
FOOTNOTES:
[465] Ormerod's "Cheshire." Ormerod's "Miscellanea Palatina," 72.
[466] Earwaker's "East Cheshire."
[467] Close Roll, 1213.
[468] Bridge's "Northampton"; Whalley's "Northampton," i. 568; Baker's
"Northampton."
[469] Nichols's "Top. et Gen.," i. 47-480.
[470] Issue Roll. Michaelmas, 41 Henry III.
[471] _Ibid._, 9 Edward II.
[472] Ormerod's "Miscellanea Palatina," 73; Nichols's "Coll. Geneal. et
Topog.," i. 47.
[473] Nichols's "Top. et Gen.," vi. 324.
[474] Charters lxxxii., 14.
[475] Earwaker's "East Cheshire," i. 324.
[476] Nichols's "Top. et Gen.," iv., p. 67.
[477] Nicolas's "Roll of Shropshire," 27 Edward II., p. 98, and
Nichols's "Top. et Gen.," vi. 324. No. 967, Parliamentary Roll of Arms
(_Genealogist_, New Series, xii.).
[478] Shaw's "Staffordshire."
[479] Inquis., December 23, 23 Edward III., 1349. See also Shaw's
"Staffordshire."
[480] Ormerod's "Miscellanea Palatina."
[481] Earwaker's "East Cheshire," i. 13, 324.
[482] See Inquis. P. M., 15 Richard II., Sir Thomas of Elleford,
Haselor, Kingsbromley, etc.
[483] See Will at Somerset House, 17 March. Inquis. P. M., 10 Henry IV.,
John of Elford, Lichfield, Kingsbromley, etc.
[484] A Cecilia de Arderne also appears as wife to a John Stanley.
[485] Ralph married Catharine, daughter of Sir W. Stanley, and had a son
Thomas, from whom the Leicestershire Ardens descended.--"Cheshire
Visitations."
[486] Drummond's "Noble British Families."
[487] Add. Ch., 20, 492.
[488] Ashmolean MSS., Bodleian Library. 833, f. 51-59. The family of
Hyde and Arderne, 837, f. 128, and 1137, f. 135 (Arderne pedigree.
Harleian MS., 2074, f. 113). Frances Marbury, nee Arden, married Thomas
Marbury, Esq., Marbury (Chester Funeral Certificates, 1634). Earwaker's
"East Cheshire," i. 472.
[489] Earwaker's "East Cheshire," 472.
[490] Burke's "General Armory."
[491] Commissary Court of London, vol. for 1614, ff. 387 and 443.
[492] Foss's "Lives of the Judges," iv. 281. Was he son of Peter of
Alvanley and Cicely de Hyde?
[493] Issues of the Exchequer.
[494] Foss's "Lives of the Judges," iv.
[495] 19 Godyn, Somerset House.
[496] See in 1510 pardon and release to Elizabeth Skreene, _alias_ widow
of Richard Harpur, _alias_ widow of Andrew Dymock, daughter of Sir Peter
Ardern (Papers, Henry VIII.).
[497] Thomas de Bibbesworth, who died 1485, held a moiety of the manor
of Latton (Morant's "Essex," ii. 487).
[498] Newcourt, ii. 543. A Thomas Arden, S.T.B., Prebend of Reculverland
in St. Paul's; Rector of Hadham Magna, exchanged for St. Bride's,
London; Rector of Stambridge Parva 1472. One of the masters of the
college of Pleshy was also called Thomas Arden, 1477, but seems to have
been another of the name. William Arden was presented to Stambridge,
1474.
[499] Add MS., xxxii. 490 (u. 9).
[500] Morant's "Essex," ii. 487.
[501] _Ibid._, i. 148.
[502] Close Rolls, 24 and 25 Henry VI.
[503] 24 Horne. Vicar of Littlebury, February 16, 1463; Strethall, April
25, 1467; Upminster, March 2, 1483 (Newcourt, ii. 394).
[504] Could it have been John Arden, executor of Walter Green? See Will
of Walter Green, Lord of the Manor of Hayes in Middlesex, December 6, 35
Henry VI., 1456, proved on February 12 by Elizabeth his wife, John
Gaynsford, his son-in-law, John Arden, Robert Green, his son, and John
Catesby, his son-in-law. His daughter Alice was wife of Sir John
Holgrave (Nichols, i. 211).
[505] 4 Milles.
[506] 5 Milles.
[507] Katharine Collins. See previous will.
[508] See will of Sir Peter Arderne, p. 203.
[509] 9 Dogett.
[510] Moone. Commissary Wills.
[511] Byfleet Manor in Busselagh parish, Surrey, belonged to John de
Arderne, 2 Edward III. (see Close Roll, 2 Edward III., m. 24), and
Mitcham (Inquis. P. M., 22 Edward III.). Leigh Place, near Reigate,
belonged to the Ardernes _temp._ Henry VI. John Arderne was Sheriff of
Surrey and Sussex in 1432. In Leigh Church is a sepulchral brass in
memory of John Arderne and Elizabeth his wife and six children, without
date. Also one to the memory of Richard Arderne and Johanna his wife,
which Richard died November 22, 1489(?). His arms were a Fesse chequy
between three crescents impaling a chevron three stags. Among gentlemen
12 Henry VI., "John Ardern of Lye," arm. (Fuller's "Worthies of Surrey,"
33; in Rot. Capella. Inquis. P. M., 15 Henry VII., Richard Arden).
Brayley's "Surrey," iv. 282.
[512] 8 Alenger.
[513] 54 Brudenell. See "Berkshire Wills." The Loan, 1523. The
certificate of Simon Yate, Highworth, and of Westropp, Walter Arden.
Pap. Henry VIII., P.R.O. In 1539 Simon and Thomas Yate each find a
horse, harness, bill, sword and dagger, and Walter Arden a horse and
harness with bows and arrows; Thomas Arden a harness.
[514] 53 Dale.
[515] See Harl. MS., 1095, f. 93. Harl. Public., Visit. Oxford. Sir
Thomas Phillipps' "Oxfordshire Visitations."
[516] Fuller's "Worthies of England," Oxfordshire, 343, gives among the