• 7, Crymes, Somerset House Wills.
> Of Whitfield, 29, Street, Somerset House.
* Robert's son Laurence sold Sulgrave, went to America, and
became the great-grandfather of George Washington.
13—2



CHAPTER IV

THE ARDENS OF CHESHIRE

IN the Conqueror's time the Manor of Watford,
Northamptonshire, was recognised as belong-
ing to Gilbert the Cooke, to whom his son
Baldwin succeeded. But the next owner was Eustace
de Arden,^ son of Alexander and Agnes Arden, in the
time of Henry II. The first Eustace, bom about 1140,
was probably the Eustachius de Ardeme who granted
Watford Church to the Abbey of St. James. His son,
also named Eustace,* died in 1213. The dower of his
widow Hawisia was in Watford and Silvesworth, and
Ranulph III., Earl of Chester, became her security
that she would not marry again without license from
the King.* Her two sons were Eustace* and John de
Ardeme. Eustace died in 4 Edward I., 1221, leaving
a son Eustace. The line ended with four daughters,
coheiresses — Aveline, Mary, Jane, Elena, 1275. The
arms of Eustace were : Gules, on a chief argent, a
label azure.^ I have wondered if the following entries
concerned younger sons of this family : " To Master
William of Watford 50 marks for his expenses going

* Ormcrod's ** Cheshire." Ormcrod's " Miscellanea Palatina,*'
72.
* Earwakcr's " East Cheshire."
' Close Roll, 1213.
* Bridge's " Northampton " ; Whalle/s " Northampton," i. 568 ;
Baker's " Northampton."

. * Nichols's " Top. et Gen," i. 47-480.
