speare should pay L40 on the Feast of St. Michael the
Archangel, 1580, to Edmund Lambert, in Barton-on-the-Heath, the bill of
sale should be void. He did not pay the money on the day, and therefore
his father was legally seized of the estate.

To this John and Mary Shakespeare replied, and again explained that the
money was tendered at the date, and that Edmund Lambert refused to
receive it unless other moneys also were paid, of which no condition had
been fixed; that on the death of Edmund, John had stepped into
possession, and refused to hear anything from them.[117] John Lambert
had another quibble, that John Shakespeare had exhibited two bills
against him, one in his own name, and one associating his wife's. On
July 5, 1598, July 10, 1598, and May 18, 1599, further steps were taken,
but still no decision was reached. Therefore, on June 27, 1599, a
commission was appointed to examine both parties. In the Index Trin.
Term, 41 Elizabeth, there is the entry "Shackspeere contra Lambert," but
the page that contained further notice is lost.

On October 23, 1599, another entry of the case is recorded: "Yf the
defendant show no cause for stay of publicacion by this day sevenight,
then publicacion ys granted"; but nothing more has come to us. Probably
delay helped the more powerful, certainly possession proved nine-tenths
of the law, and the expenses of legal action even then were
paralyzing.[118] It is strange that the fate of Asbies as a property is
unknown. There are traces of its being in the possession of Adam Edkins
in 1668, of one John Smith after him, and of Clement Edkins in
1699,[119] but the name seems to have vanished, and with it all
remembrance of the boundary of the inheritance of the Ardens of
Wilmcote.

* * * * *

MARY ARDEN'S FAMILY.

Walter Arden, = Eleanor, 2nd dauther and coheiress
of Park Hall, 16th in descent from | of John Hampden of
the Saxon Sheriff Ailwin. See his | Great Hampden, co. Bucks.
tomb at Aston _juxta_ Birmingham. |
|----------|-----------------------|--------|-------|--------|---------|------|
| | | | | | | |
Sir John. Thomas, = wife Martin. Robert. Henry. William. Alicia. Margaret.
2nd son | unknown
Of Aston |
Cantlow; |
bought |
Snitter- |
fi