distracted one Somerville, that in all haste he took a journey privately to the queen's court, and breathing nothing but blood against the Protestants, furiously set upon one or two by the way with his sword. Being apprehended, he confessed that he would have killed the queen with his own hands; whereon he, Ardern, Ardern's wife, and his wife, and Hall, a priest, as accessories, were condemned. Three days after, Somerville was found strangled in prison. Ardern was condemned, and the next day after hanged and quartered. The women and priest were spared. This woeful end of this gentleman, who was drawn in by the cunning of the priest and cast by his evidence, was generally imputed to Leicester's malice. Certain it is he had incurred Leicester's displeasure; rashly opposing him in all he could, reproaching him as an adulterer, and defaming him as a new upstart.'

case.

Dugdale reports the same: "through the testimony of one Hall, a priest, Arden was found guilty, and lost his life in Smithfield." Here we see the same abominable policy as two years before was practised with such effect in Campion's It was publicly declared, and every one believed, that the priests were the traitors whose testimony hanged the Catholics; yet all the examinations in this case are extant, and prove clearly that Hall's evidence went for nothing. Arden suffered, not on the evidence of the priest, but on that of Somerville, his son-in-law, whom Burghley at the time owned to be mad, in his tract upon "the Execution of Justice in England,"* where he says, in mockery of our martyrs,

"To this number they may, if they seek number, also add a furious young man of Warwickshire, by name Somerville, to increase their catalogue of the Pope's martyrs; who of late was discovered and taken in his way, coming with a full intent to have killed her majesty.... The attempt not denied by the traitor himself, but confessed that he was moved thereto in his wicked spirit by enticements of certain seditious and traitorous persons, his kinsmen and allies, and also by often reading of sundry seditious vile books lately published against her majesty; and his end was in desperation to strangle himself to death."

The history of this miserable proceeding is as follows: On Friday October 25, Somerville, with a boy to attend him, was riding up from Stratford to London, and had got as far as Oxford, when he went into an inn for refreshment; and there, before a number of persons, he declared that his purpose was to go to London, where he was in hopes to see the queen, and meant to shoot her with his dagg or pistol, and hoped to see her head set on a pole; for she was a serpent and a viper.†

* Somers' Tracts, vol. i. p. 203.

† State-Paper Office, October 28, 1583, no. 295.

The excited youth was at once secured, and taken before a justice named Doyley, who sent him to London, where he was committed to the Gatehouse, on the 29th of October. When he had become somewhat calmer, he was examined. He declared that he had not been out of his house for a month; that none resorted to him but some of his tenants; that he was never acquainted with any Jesuit or seminary priest; that the Agnus Dei found about him-it was felony to bear such "superstitious trumpery"-had been attached to his little gold cross by one of his maids; and that he never had an idea of any attempt against the queen before he was committed by Mr. Doyley to the custody of a constable, when he was beside himself.* Burghley and the council knew well enough that the young man was not in his right mind; but he was too ready an instrument for their purposes to be hastily let loose; so on the 31st of October they moved him to the Tower, and there with rack and violence forced out of him this confession:+

"He was first moved to take the queen's life on Wednesday and Thursday week; it grew upon a report from his wife that one Hawle, a priest, had delivered certain speeches at Park Hall, in the presence of his wife, Mr. Arden, his father-in-law, and Mrs. Arden, that touched her majesty greatly in honour. This wrought in him a hatred to the queen, which grew to this resolution; he was also moved thereto by certain English books containing some exhortation tending to that wicked enterprise. He also sent one Francis Ems to Holtby, to Hawle, that he might be confessed by him, and receive the sacrament, thinking thereby that he should be more quiet in mind. He sent to him two days before he took his journey; but Hawle refused to come, alleging that he had a sore leg. He also made Sir John Conway privy to his trouble of mind about an intent he had to do somewhat for the benefit of the commonwealth, but did in no sort acquaint him with his intent. Sir John advised him to lay these conceits aside. He gave assent to the motion the Tuesday before his departure from his house; whereto he made his wife privy, and delivered his intent before her, his two sisters Margaret and Elizabeth, and one Joice Hill. This was on Thursday week, at

* State-Paper Office, October 29, 1583, no. 299. † Ibid. ult. October 1583, no. 300.

In spite of Mr. Hunter, we think that possibly Agnes Arden was mother-not step-mother- -to Mrs. John Shakespeare and her six sisters; that in her will she calls John Hill her son because he had married her daughter Jocose, or Joice, Arden; and that this person, or her daughter, is the Joice Hill who was with Somerville. Also that Agnes Arden calls Alexander Webb her brother because he was the father of the Alexander Webb who had married another daughter of hers, Margaret Arden; also that she calls John Fulwood her son-in-law because he had married Mary Hill, the sister of her favourite son John Hill. In those days, the terms brother, son, son-in-law, &c. were used in a much wider signification than at present, as we could easily show. If this opinion is not accepted, then we must suppose that Joice Hill was a daughter of John Hill, and named after Jocose,

night, when he was abed. His wife persuaded him to leave these speeches, and to sleep."

Poor Somerville was treated as a madman by his friends. The Warwickshire justice merely tells him to lay his conceits aside. His wife and sisters and Joice Hill treat him like a child, and bid him go to sleep when he blurts out his dangerous words-certainly not in the style of a conspirator. Immediately that Somerville's departure was discovered, his wife rode after him as far as Aylesbury; but unhappily he had taken another way, and she heard of his apprehension at Oxford. She knew too well the temper of the enemies of the Papists; so she rode back in hot haste, broke open the door of her husband's study, removed the books and plate with the assistance of Lady Conway, and then went up with several servants to London to see what she could do for her husband. There, of course, she was apprehended, and committed to the Tower.

Messengers were immediately sent to Warwickshire to catch Arden and his wife, and Hall the priest. Thomas Wilkes was Walsingham's commissioner. This man went, and soon ferreted out the persons compromised by Somerville. With the rest, he sent up Sir John Conway, who confessed that Somerville had been with him on Wednesday October 23, and declared that " he was resolved he must die for the commonwealth, which he was content to do. Sir John told him to leave such idle speeches, and Somerville left." Sir John, however, was committed to the custody of Alderman Roe.* Wilkes established his head-quarters at Sir Thomas Lucy's, at Charlecott; from whence he wrote two epistles to his employers, both dated November 7, 1583. In the first, to Walsingham, he says:

"Unless you can make Somerville, Arden, Hall the priest, Somerville's wife, and his sister, speak directly to those things which you desire to have discovered, it will not be possible for us here to find out more than is found already; for the Papists in this county generally do work upon the advantage of clearing their houses of all shows of suspicion, and therefore, unless you can charge them with matter from the mouths of your prisoners, look not to wring any thing from them by finding of matter of suspicion in their houses. or Joice, Arden, Shakespeare's aunt. Agnes Arden's deed of settlement being dated in 1550 does not prove that she was not married to Arden before that date. We know that Wm. Catesby was married to Anne Throckmorton before 1578; yet in June 1580 we have an "indenture of agreement between Sir Wm. Catesby and Sir Robert Throckmorton for the settlement of certain manors, &c. by way of jointure for Dame Anne, now wife of Sir William Catesby." We have seen no evidence that absolutely proves that Agnes Arden was not Mary Shakespeare's own mother.

*State-Paper Office, Nov. 7, 1583, no. 317.

I suppose there will be little need of my further service here; howbeit, I determine not to remove from hence until it shall be signified from you that I may return."

Walsingham hoped to get better evidence to hang Arden upon than that of his crazy son-in-law. Wilkes tells him not to expect any other than what he can rack out of the parties accused. Even this resource failed; and Walsingham was at last obliged to be contented with the evidence he had already, though now he treated it as wholly insufficient. Wilkes' second letter is directed to Burghley, Leicester, and Walsingham. We give only an abstract of it:

"I received your letter of the 2d on the 3d instant, at Parkhall, Arden's house, as I was departing and sending Arden to you. I immediately went with Sir Thomas Lucy and Mr. Griffin, the preacher, to Edward Grant's house, Northbrooks, while Mr. Aglionby and Mr. Burgoyn went to Hall's of Idlecote; and both places were searched at one instant.

At Grant's we found only a book called The Censure,* which seemed to have been long lying beneath the bed-tester; and in a trunk of Elizabeth Somerville's the Hora Beatæ Mariæ.

Nothing was found at Hall's house,-by books, papers, or otherwise, that might yield him suspected. Here lodges Somerville's mother, a creature almost past sense and memory in respect of

sickness.

Grant confesses that Edward, one of his sons, gave the book to Elizabeth Somerville. He is supposed to be fled into Shropshire; but we have laid wait for his apprehension.

Joice Hill confesses that Elizabeth brought the book to Mr. Somerville, who was much perplexed in mind after reading it. Elizabeth afterwards conveyed it away again, whither she only can tell.

All superstitious books found at Somerville's have already been sent to you by Sir Thomas Lucy.

Somerville's wife, straitly examined,† will best discover what the book was, and how her husband came by the Agnus Dei; and his sister, whither she has conveyed the book. I learn that this woman is a very perverse and malicious Papist, and has lately been beyond seas.

Somerville's boy, who accompanied him part of the way to London, describes his demeanour as that of one tormented in mind. It will be alleged in his excuse that since Midsummer he has been affected with a frantic humour, grown (as it is said) of jealousy received of his wife. True it is, that three or four days before he departed from his house his mind was greatly troubled, insomuch that he could not sleep; the trouble of his mind was greatly augmented by reading the books, according to his own confession. The con

*F. Parsons' Answer to Charke and Hanmer's book against Campion.
ti.e. by torture.

flict of his mind grew doubtless between his wicked determination and his fear and irresolution, for he is noted to be a great coward.

His wife had knowledge of his purpose, but was unwilling he should hazard himself. When she heard he was gone towards London, she role after him to bring him back as far as Aylesbury; but he had gone another way.

The Agnus Dei was probably given him for protection. The desire to confess and receive the sacrament is common in such treasons, as we find in the history of King John poisoned by a monk, and the Spaniard who lately hurt the Prince of Orange.

Hawle the priest is here noted for a most dangerous practiser; a conveyer of intelligence to all the capital Papists in these parts; a resorter unto them under the cloke of a gardener: he converteth, reconcileth, confesseth, saith Mass, &c.: probably he suggested the notion to Somerville. The plot is widely ramified, as we may see by the fact, that in all the houses of the Papists where we have made search, although most of them are notorious recusants, we have found neither books, letters, nor any show of Popery by beads, crosses, or other trumpery that might draw them into suspicion. They conveyed all such things away immediately upon the rumour of Somerville's apprehension.

The gents who have joined with me in this service, being wise and well affected towards her majesty, are sufficiently able to execute your honour's further directions."

The Ardens, the Somervilles, and Hall were indicted for treason at Warwick early in December; but the venue was changed to London. Leicester doubtless feared he should not be able to get "justice" in the county where he was so hated, and Arden so popular. They were all condemned: Somerville was removed to Newgate, where in a few hours he was found strangled; Arden was butchered in Smithfield; the ladies and Hall endured a long imprisonment in the Tower; one of Leicester's henchmen enjoyed Arden's and Somerville's lands, from which he was, however, afterwards ejected by Arden's son; and Mrs. Arden was continually examined about her husband's title - deeds, which he had managed to convey

away.

Dr. Allen has the following notice of these murders and robberies in his answer to Burghley's Justitia Britannica :*

"He maliciously asks us to add to our catalogue of martyrs one Somerville, lately slain-perhaps a real martyr in God's eyes, if, as all men say, and the author of the libel himself confesses, he was beside himself and furious. For whatever he did in that state he is not answerable; but his enemies are guilty of murder, especially if they sent a person to kill him secretly, for fear lest their horrible machinations to compass the condemnation and death of Edward *Bridgewater, p. 317.