Arden of Faversham

Catherine Richardson, Catherine Richardson

• Publisher: The Arden Shakespeare
• Year: 2022
• ISBN:
  9781474289313
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

Based on the true story of the murder of Thomas Arden by his wife, her lover and accomplices in 1551, Arden of Faversham is one of the earliest domestic tragedies and a play which has continued to thrill audiences since its first staging. This comprehensive edition situates the play in its social, cultural and political context while exploring its performance and critical history through a range of historical and contemporary productions, including William Poel's Lilies That Fester (1897) and the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2014 production. Throughout, the edition aims to reanimate the play's engagement with the material culture of domestic life, using little-known evidence for the objects and spaces implicated in the murder. The introduction also accounts for recent new thinking about the play's likely authorship, including claims that Shakespeare was a key co-author. The comprehensive, illustrated introduction combined with detailed on-page commentary notes and glosses make this an ideal edition for students and teachers.

APPENDIX 1
Arden’s story in Holinshed’s Chronicles

The following account of Arden’s murder (see pp. 7–10 for discussion of this text and its connections to the Stowe MS) is taken from the 1587 revised edition of the Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, ed. Raphael Holinshed et al. (STC 13569, pp. 1062–6).¹

There are no differences material to the narrative between this and the earlier 1577 edition (STC 13568, pp. 1703–8), except for the addition of substantial marginal glosses in the 1587 text, which is reproduced here as the fuller of the two. There is, however, no conclusive proof as to which edition the playwright(s) consulted. Wine argued that the marginal notes ‘are revealing for the moral stress that they place on passages where Holinshed’s tone is essentially dispassionate and for the way that they highlight dramatic possibilities inherent in the narrative’ (xl). Bourus and Taylor, in contrast, argue that ‘any playwright is likely to be looking for “dramatic possibilities”, without needing the prompting of a marginal note; likewise, all Elizabethan playwrights tend to emphasize the moral implications of their tragic narratives’ (2).

1551 Anno Reg. 5. Arden murthered. Arden described. Loue and lust. A paire of siluer dice worke much mischiefe.	About this time there was at Feuersham in Kent a gentleman named Arden, most cruellie murthered and slaine by the procurement of his owne wife. The which murther, for the horriblenesse thereof, although otherwise it may séeme to be but a priuate matter, and therefore as it were impertinent to this historie, I haue thought good to set it foorth somewhat at large, hauing the instructions deliuered to me by them, that haue vsed some diligence to gather the true vnderstanding of the circumstances. This Arden was a man of a tall and comelie personage, and matched in marriage with a gentlewoman, yoong, tall, and well fauoured of shape and countenance, who chancing to fall in familiaritie with one Mosbie a tailor by occupation, a blacke swart man, seruant to the lord North, it happened this Mosbie vpon some misliking to fall out with hir: but she being desirous to be in fauour with him againe, sent him a paire of siluer dice by one Adam Foule dwelling at the Floure de lice in Feuersham.
Arden winketh at his wiues lewdnesse, & why!	After which he resorted to hir againe, and oftentimes laie in Ardens house: in somuch that within two yeares after, he obteined such fauour at hir hands, that he laie with hir, or (as they terme it) kept hir, in abusing hir bodie. And although (as it was said) Arden perceiued right well their mutuall familiaritie to be much greater than their honestie, yet bicause he would not offend hir, and so loose the benefit which he hoped to gaine at some of hir fréends hands in bearing with hir lewdnesse, which he might haue lost if he should haue fallen out with hir: he was contented to winke at hir filthie disorder, and both permitted, and also inuited Mosbie verie often to lodge in his house. And thus it continued a good space, before anie practise was begun by them against maister Arden. She at length inflamed in loue with Mosbie, and loathing hir husband, wished and after practised the meanes how to hasten his end.
Ardens wife attempteth means to make awaie hir husband. Arden is poisoned by his wife but recouereth.	There was a painter dwelling in Feuersham, who had skill of poisons, as was reported. She therefore demanded of him, whether it were true that he had such skill in that feat or not? And he denied not but that he had in déed. Yea (said she) but I would haue such a one made, as should haue most vehement and speedie operation to dispatch the eater thereof. That can I doo (quoth he) and forthwith made hir such a one, and willed hir to put it into the bottome of a porrenger, & then after to powre milke on it. Which circumstance she forgetting, did cleane contrarie, putting in the milke first; and afterward the poison. Now maister Arden purposing that daie to ride to Canturburie, his wife brought him his breakefast, which was woont to be milke and butter. He hauing receiued a spoonefull or two of the milke, misliked the tast and colour thereof, and said to his wife; Mistresse Ales what milke haue you giuen me here? Wherewithall she tilted it ouer with hir hand, saieng, I wéene nothing can please you. Then he tooke horsse and road towards Canturburie, and by the waie fell into extreme purging vpwards and downewards, and so escaped for that time.
She deuiseth another waie to dispatch hir husband Arden.	After this, his wife fell in acquaintance with one Greene of Feuersham, seruant to sir Anthonie Ager, from which Greene maister Arden had wrested a péece of ground on the backeside of the abbeie of Feuersham, and there had blowes and great threats passed betwixt them about that matter. Therefore she knowing that Gréene hated hir husband, began to practise with him how to make him awaie; and concluded, that if he could get anie that would kill him, he should haue ten pounds for a reward. This Gréene hauing dooings for his master sir Anthonie Ager, had occasion to go vp to London, where his maister then laie, and hauing some charge vp with him, desired one Bradshaw a goldsmith of Feuersham that was his neighbor, to accompanie him to Grauesend, and he would content him for his pains. This
A notorious murthering ruffian.	Bradshaw, being a verie honest man, was content, and road with him. And when they came to Rainham downe, they chanced to sée three or foure seruingmen that were comming from Léeds: and therewith Bradshaw espied comming vp the hill from Rochester, one blacke Will, a terrible cruell ruffian with a sword and a buckler, and an other with a great staffe on his necke.
Marke how the diuell will not let his organs or instruments let slip either occasiõ or opportunitie to conmitt most heinous wickednesse.	Then said Bradshaw to Gréene; We are happie that here commeth some companie from Léeds, for here commeth vp against vs as murthering a knaue as anie is in England: if it were not for them we might chance hardlie to escape without losse of our monie and liues. Yea thought Gréene (as he after confessed) such a one is for my purpose, and therefore asked; Which is he? Yonder is he quoth Bradshaw, the same that hath the sword and buckler: his name is blacke Will. How know you that, said Gréene? Bradshaw answered, I knew him at Bullongne, where we both serued, he was a soldier, and I was sir Richard Cauendishes man, and there he committed manie robberies and heinous murthers on such as trauelled betwixt Bullongne and France.
A desperat villaine. An honest man is ashamed to renew old acquaintance with a knaue,	By this time the other companie of seruingmen came to them, and they going all togither, met with blacke Will and his fellow. The seruingmen knew blacke Will, & saluting him, demanded of him whither he went? He answered; By his bloud (for his vse was to sweare almost at euerie word) I know not, nor care not, but set vp my staffe, and euen as it falleth I go. If thou (quoth they) wilt go backe againe to Grauesend, we will giue thée thy supper. By his bloud (said he) I care not, I am content, haue with you: and so he returned againe with them. Then blacke Will tooke acquaintance of Bradshaw, saieng; Fellow Bradshaw how doost thou? Bradshaw vnwilling to renew acquitance, or to haue ought to doo with so shameles a ruffian, said; Why doo ye know me? Yea that I doo (quoth he) did not we serue in Bullongne togither? But ye must pardon me (quoth Bradshaw) for I haue forgotten you.
The match made to murther Arden. Simplicitie abused.	Then Greene talked with blacke Will, and said; When ye haue supped, come to mine hosts house at such a signe, and I will giue you the sacke and sugar. By his bloud (said he) I thanke you, I will come and take it I warrant you. According to his promise he came, and there they made good cheare. Then blacke Will & Greene went and talked apart from Bradshaw, and there concluded togither, that if he would kill master Arden, he should haue ten pounds for his labor. Then he answered, By his wounds that I will if I maie know him. Marie to morrow in Poules I will shew him thee, said Gréene. Then they left their talke, & Gréene bad him go home to his hosts house. Then Greene wrote a letter to mistresse Arden, & among other things put in these words: We haue got a man for our purpose, we maie thanke my brother Bradshaw. Now Bradshaw not knowing anie thing of this, tooke the letter of him, and in the morning departed home againe, and deliuered the letter to mistresse Arden, and Greene & blacke Will went vp to London at the tide.
Blacke will maketh no conscience of bloudshed and murther. Why Ardens man conspired with the rest to kill his maister.	At the time appointed, Gréene shewed blacke Will maister Arden walking in Poules. Then said blacke Will, What is he that goeth after him? Marie said Gréen, one of his men. By his bloud (said blacke Will) I will kill them both. Naie (said Greene) doo not so, for he is of counsell with vs in this matter. By his bloud (said he) I care not for that, I will kill them both. Naie said Gréene in anie wise doo not so. Then blacke Will thought to haue killed maister Arden in Poules churchyard, but there were so manie gentlemen that accompanied him to dinner, that he missed of his purpose. Gréene shewed all this talke to maister Ardens man, whose name was Michaell, which euer after stood in doubt of blacke Will, lest he should kill him. The cause that this Michaell conspired with the rest against his maister, was: for that it was determined, that he should marrie a kinswoman of Mosbies.
One murthering mind mistrusting another, doo hinder the action whereabout they agréed.	After this, maister Arden laie at a certeine parsonage which he held in London, and therefore his man Michaell and Gréene agréed, that blacke Will should come in the night to the parsonage, where he should find the doores left open, that he might come^2 in and murther maister Arden. This Michaell hauing his maister to bed, left open the doores according to the appointment. His maister then being in bed, asked him if he had shut fast the doores, and hée said yea: but yet afterwards, fearing least blacke Will would kill him as well as his maister, after he was in bed himselfe, he rose againe and shut the doores, bolting them fast. So that blacke Will comming thither, and finding the doores shut, departed, being disappointed at that time. The next daie blacke Will came to Gréene in a great chafe, swearing and staring bicause he was so deceiued, and with manie terrible oths threatened to kill maister Ardens man first, wheresoeuer he met him. No (said Gréene) doo not so, I will first know the cause of shutting the doores.
The fourth attempt to make Arden awaie disappointed. Blacke Will misseth his purpose.	Then Greene met and talked with Ardens man, and asked of him, why he did not leaue open the doors, according to his promise? Marie (said Michaell) I will shew you the cause. My maister yesternight did that he neuer did before: for after I was in bed, hée rose vp and shut the doores, and in the morning rated me for leauing them vnshut. And herewith Gréene & blacke Will were pacified. Arden being redie to go homewards, his maid came to Gréene & said; This night will my maister go downe. Whervpon it was agréed that blacke Will should kill him on Reinam downe. When maister Arden came to Rochester, his man still fearing that blacke Will would kill him with his maister, pricked his horsse of purpose, and made him to halt, to the end he might protract the time, and tarie behind. His maister asked him whie his horsse halted, he said, I know not. Well (quoth his maister) when ye come at the smith here before (betwéene Rochester and the hill foot ouer against Cheetam) remooue his shoo, and search him, and then come after me. So maister Arden rode on: and yet^3 he came at the place where blacke Will laie in wait for him, there ouertooke him diuerse gentlemen of his acquaintance, who kept him companie: so that blacke Will mist here also of his purpose.
Ardens wife visiteth, succoureth, emboldneth, and directeth black Will &c: how to accomplish his bloudie purpose.	After that maister Arden was come home, hee sent (as he vsuallie did) his man to Shepeie to sir Thomas Cheinie, the...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Series
• Title Page
• The Editors
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of illustrations
• General Editors’ Preface
• Preface
• Introduction
• QUARTO PARATEXT
• ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM
• Appendix 1: Arden’s story in Holinshed’s Chronicles
• Appendix 2: Doubling of parts
• Appendix 3 Press variants
• Abbreviations and references
• Commentary Notes and Textual Notes
• Index
• Copyright