Charles Arundell facts for kids
Sir Charles Arundell (died 9 December 1587) was an English gentleman. He was the lord of the manor of South Petherton in Somerset. He was known for being an early Roman Catholic who did not follow the official Church of England. Later, he became a leader for English people living in France who had left England. Some people believe he wrote Leicester's Commonwealth. This was an anonymous book that criticized Queen Elizabeth's favorite, the Earl of Leicester.
Early Life and Family Background
Charles Arundell was the son of Sir Thomas Arundell. His father faced serious charges and lost his life in 1552. His mother was Margaret Howard (died 1571). She was the sister of Queen Catherine Howard. His grandparents on his mother's side were Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper.
His great aunt, Elizabeth, Countess of Wiltshire, was the mother of Anne Boleyn. This made Anne Boleyn a first cousin to Charles Arundell's mother. Anne Boleyn was also the mother of Queen Elizabeth I.
Not much is known about Charles Arundell's early life. He had an older brother named Matthew. He also had two sisters, Dorothy and Jane. In 1554, two years after their father's death, the Arundell brothers were given back their family rights. Matthew, the older brother, eventually got back most of their father's lands. These lands were in Dorset and Wiltshire, including Wardour Castle.
Life and Challenges
Matthew Arundell, as the head of the family, got back most of their father's lost estates. Charles Arundell received the manor of South Petherton in Somerset.
Unlike his brother, Charles Arundell openly practiced the Roman Catholic faith. This was against the official Church of England at the time. In 1580, he was briefly held in the Tower of London. This happened with his cousin Lord Henry Howard. They were accused of being disloyal to the Queen. Both had been friends with the Queen before this.
Arundell remained held until 1583. After his release, he spent several months under house arrest. Neither he nor Howard ever regained the Queen's favor. After a plot in 1583 that supported Mary, Queen of Scots, Arundell fled to Paris. He went with Thomas, Lord Paget.
In August 1584, a famous anonymous writing appeared in England. It was called Leicester's Commonwealth. This writing strongly criticized the Queen's favorite, the Earl of Leicester. It also attacked the government's policies, especially the Puritan beliefs of Leicester. Leicester was shown as someone who would do anything to get what he wanted. At that time, Arundell was seen as a leader of the English Roman Catholic exiles. Many historians now believe that Charles Arundell was a main author of this important work. Several English Catholic exiles in France may have worked on the text together. This group included Charles Arundell and his associates.
Arundell was said to have used his valuable items to raise money. This money was for an armed landing in England. It was planned to be led by the Earl of Westmorland. The goal was to support Mary, Queen of Scots. In Paris, Arundell worked with the Archbishop of Glasgow. The Archbishop was Mary's trusted representative in France.
Arundell was a cousin of Douglass Howard, Lady Sheffield. She was the wife of Sir Edward Stafford. Stafford was the English ambassador in Paris. Arundell helped Stafford secretly contact Bernardino de Mendoza. Mendoza was the ambassador for Philip of Spain in Paris. In early 1587, Arundell secretly helped them communicate. Stafford offered to work as a spy for Philip. Arundell received two thousand crowns to give to Stafford.
Charles Arundell died in Paris in 1587. This was during the Anglo-Spanish War, which had started in 1585. His knighthood is sometimes said to have been given to him by Philip of Spain. However, he died owning the manor of South Petherton. His brother, Sir Matthew, inherited it. In official records from 1588, he is named as "Sir Charles Arundell of London, Knt."
