Matthew Arundell facts for kids
Sir Matthew Arundell (born around 1532-1534, died 1598) was an important English gentleman and landowner. He lived at Wardour Castle in Wiltshire, England. He was also a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country.
Even though his family later became known for being Roman Catholics who didn't follow the official church, Sir Matthew himself followed the Church of England.
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Family History and Connections
Sir Matthew Arundell came from a very old and respected family from Cornwall. His father was Sir Thomas Arundell. Sadly, his father faced serious legal charges and was executed in 1552.
Sir Matthew's mother was Margaret Howard. She was the sister of Queen Katherine Howard, who was one of King Henry VIII's wives. This made Sir Matthew related to royalty! His great-aunt, Elizabeth Boleyn, was the mother of Anne Boleyn, another of King Henry VIII's wives and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. So, Sir Matthew was a cousin to Queen Elizabeth I.
His family's history goes back a long way, even to the 11th century. On his mother's side, his ancestors included Rurik, a famous leader from the 800s who founded a powerful dynasty in Eastern Europe.
Sir Matthew's Life
Matthew had a younger brother named Charles and two sisters, Dorothy and Jane. After their father's execution in 1552, their mother took the children to live abroad in the Holy Roman Empire. While there, they used the name Howard. This is why Sir Matthew is sometimes called Matthew Arundell-Howard.
In 1554, when Matthew was about 21, his family's legal status was restored. This meant that the legal problems that affected his father no longer affected them. Slowly, Matthew was able to get back most of his father's lands in Dorset and Wiltshire.
Sir Matthew married Margaret Willoughby in 1559. Margaret had an interesting childhood. After her father died, she grew up with the daughters of Henry Grey, including Lady Jane Grey. Margaret also served in the household of Princess Elizabeth before she became queen.
Wardour Castle, his family's main home, had been taken over by the Earl of Pembroke after his father's legal troubles. But in 1570, Sir Matthew was able to buy it back and live there again. He also bought other lands nearby. The Arundells also had a house in London. Sir Matthew and Margaret had two sons.
Public Service and Politics
Sir Matthew held several important jobs in the West of England. He served as Sheriff, a top law enforcement officer, and as a Deputy Lieutenant, helping to organize the local military.
He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) twice. In 1555, he represented the town of Shaftesbury. In 1563, he was elected to represent Breconshire in Wales. In Parliament, he supported William Cecil, a very powerful advisor to the Queen. In 1574, his cousin, Queen Elizabeth, made him a knight.
Sir Matthew's brother, Charles Arundell, was a Roman Catholic who refused to attend Church of England services. He even had to flee the country after a plot against the Queen. However, Sir Matthew himself continued to follow the Church of England. In 1588, because he owned a lot of land, he was considered for a higher noble title. The next year, he was made a Deputy Lieutenant for Wiltshire.
Later Life and Legacy
Sir John Harington, who is famous for inventing the flushing toilet, once visited Wardour Castle in the 1590s. He said that a conversation there about sanitation first made him interested in the subject.
In his final months, Sir Matthew was in pain from kidney stones. He died on December 24, 1598, and was buried in the church at Tisbury. In his will, he left a huge sum of money, £2,000, to the poor. This was a massive amount for the time. After his death, Sir Walter Raleigh took over one of his important roles in Dorset.
His Children and Titles
Sir Matthew's son, Thomas, became very famous. He fought bravely against the Turks for the Emperor Rudolf II, who made him a Count of the Holy Roman Empire. This foreign title made Queen Elizabeth I unhappy. In 1597, she even put Thomas in prison for a short time, suspecting him of being a spy. But nothing was proven, and he was released into his father's care.
After Sir Matthew's death, in 1605, King James I gave Thomas a new title in England: Baron Arundell of Wardour. This meant Thomas could sit in the House of Lords. For a short time, he was even suspected of being involved in the Gunpowder Plot, a famous plan to blow up Parliament.
The title of Baron Arundell of Wardour continued through the family until John Arundell, 16th Baron Arundell of Wardour died in 1944, when the title ended.
