Stoke on Tern to Mary Arden

There is a compelling detail in the geneology of Mary Shakespeare (née Arden), William Shakespeare’s mother.

This shows kinship via marriage between the Arden family and the illustrious Sir Rowland Hill.

Portrait of Sir Rowland Hill, publisher of the Geneva Bibel, in the Hall Mercers’ Company

The cornerstone of this connection is the marriage of Elizabeth Corbett, daughter of Reginald Corbett, to Robert Arden.

Notably, this union transpired during a pivotal period in William Shakespeare’s life, around his twentieth year.

Under the Green Wood Tree – quotation on a wall at Soulton Hall

The timing of this marriage is particularly intriguing, as it coincides with a period of public scandal surrounding Edward Arden, a  relative of Mary Shakespeare.

This coincidence admits space to posit that the marriage between Elizabeth Corbett and Robert Arden may have served a strategic purpose: by aligning themselves with a prominent Protestant family like Sir Rowland Hill’s, the Ardens could have sought to repair their reputation, tarnished by the Catholic suspicion.

Further bolstering this potential connection is link with Sir Rowland Hill’s brother, William, who held the position of rector there. Regianld Corbet was an assoicate of Hill’s, including in the foundation of Shrewsbury School.

First Folio portrait of Shakespeare

While the precise nature of this kinship and its influence on William Shakespeare warrant further investigation, this dperspective on the Bard’s family is not without importance.

It may illuminate the social and religious landscape of Shakespeare’s formative years, potentially revealing a familial connection to a figure of considerable influence during the Tudor era: Sir Rowland Hill. This newfound knowledge promises to enrich our understanding of Shakespeare’s early life and the familial influences that may have shaped his artistic development.