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