s brother Thomas, a gown to Pierce Arden, and
other legacies. John Gedney married Mary, daughter of John Arden, of
Sibsey, co. Lincoln (Visitation, 1592). In the neighbourhood there was a
noted Robert de Arderne, of co. Norfolk, 1315, whose seal bears two
shields side by side in fesse; Dext. ermine a fesse chequy Arden;
Sinist. on a fesse three garbs with cabalistic letters, explained in
_Journ. Brit. Arch. Ass._, xl. 317.[536]

Nothing brilliant is recorded of the Ardens of Yorkshire. Sir ---- de
Arderne, bearing arms Arg. a lion ramp. az. debruized by a baston gu.,
appears in Planche's Roll of Arms of Henry III.[537] John de Ardern, of
Yorkshire, is in the list of gentlemen of 43 Edward III. He is mentioned
also as witness for Haselden, of Goldyngton, 41 Edward III. Thomas
Arden, of Marton, near Bridlington, 1455, and Margaret, his wife, 1458,
were buried in Bridlington Priory.[538] William Ardern, of Belthorp, was
among the gentlemen of 12 Henry VI.[539] John Arderne, of Kelingthorpe,
secured an exemption from serving on juries, April 1, 8 Henry VIII., at
Greenwich.[540] There are many documents in the Record Office concerning
the sale of the lands of John Ardern, of Kelingthorpe,[541] York; and a
receipt from Thomas Perpoint, draper, London, of L516 paid him by John
Arden; also a release to Perpoint and John Arden by Thomas Hennage of
the Cardinal's household. To this Hennage, Arden grants the wardship of
his son Peter; and, if he should die, the wardship of Raffe; failing
whom, the wardship of John, his third son, 1533. His wife was Margery.
Sir Raff Ellerker married Jane, daughter of John Arden, Esq.
(Visitation, Yorks, 1563). There is also noted the Inquis. P. M., of
Peter Arden, of York, 22 Henry VIII.,[542] and William Arden's lease of
Yaresthorpe, Yorks. The priory of nuns at Arden, founded 1150, was
suppressed in 1536.[543]

[Illustration: SWAN THEATRE (BY DR. GAIDERTY.)

_To face p. 214._]

The Ardens appeared also early in Essex. At the Conqueror's Survey, Earl
Eustace of Boulogne owned Horndon-on-the-Hill,[544] but the next owners
were Ardernes, who built Ardern Hall. In 1122 Thomas Ardern and his son
Thomas gave to the monks of Bermondsey the tithe of the corn in their
lordship of Horndon. Sir Ralph de Ardern, of Horndon, was Sheriff of
Essex, 39 and 40 Henry III.[545] His seal bore on a shield a fesse
chequy between two roundels.[546] Sir Thomas de Arderne, the son of
Ralph, used "a seal, bearing two