Sheriff of Cornwall 1574.
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Biography
A junior branch of the ancient Cornish family of Arundell had been seated at Trerice since Edward III’s reign. Sir John Arundell, who had been a courtier, died in 1561 leaving as his heir his three year-old grandson John: this boy was not to enjoy his inheritance for long, and on his death the family property passed to his uncle and namesake. This John Arundell had been a favourite son, and that partiality doubtless contributed to Arundell’s two appearances at Westminster during his father’s lifetime, although neither occurred while Sir John Arundell was sheriff in 1554. Mitchell was owned by Arundell’s kinsmen, the powerful Arundells of Lanherne, and until the accession of Elizabeth that family’s support was a pre-requisite for election there. In 1555 Arundell’s prospects were improved by a combination of circumstances: his namesake of Lanherne was returned for Preston, Sir John Arundell of Lanherne was sheriff, and a cousin Richard Chamond was elected knight of the shire for Cornwall. Three years later John Arundell of Lanherne was to sit for the shire, and his promotion made way for Arundell’s re-election for Mitchell. The Catholicism of the Arundells of Lanherne was distasteful to Elizabeth, and after 1558 their authority in Cornwall waned. It was perhaps for this reason, as much as for his being ‘a somewhat inarticulate man ... who preferred to stay at home and superintend the building of Trerice’, that Arundell did not reappear in Parliament.
In view of his retiring nature it is not surprising that Arundell played little part in the public life of Cornwall. As sheriff in 1574 he was of some assistance to the 2nd Earl of Bedford when he came to Cornwall as lord lieutenant; in 1580 he was asked to help with the survey of coastal defences and with the apprehension of escaped pirates. Arundell died not long after receiving these instructions; he made his will on 14 Sept. and on 3 Nov. an inquisition post mortem was held at Bodmin. He entrusted much of his property to feoffees, who were to pay his debts, look after his children and transfer the estate to his heir when he came of age. He left £400 each to his two unmarried daughters and named as supervisors Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, Sir John Chichester, Thomas Cosworth, Sir Richard Grenville, Francis Godolphin and Thomas St. Aubyn.
One of the feoffees appointed to administer Arundell’s property was his son-in-law Richard Carew, who left this description of him: Private respects ever with him gave place to the common good; as for frank, well-ordered and continual hospitality, he outwent all show of competence; spare but discreet of speech: better conceiving than delivering ... Briefly, so accomplished in virtue, that those who for many years together waited in nearest place about him, and by his example learned to hate untruth, have often deeply protested how no curious observation of theirs could ever descry in him any one notorious vice. 2
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Abstract of the Will of John Arundell of Trerise in the County of Cornwall, Esquire, written 14 Sep 1580, proved 26 Nov 1580. 3
Gives and devises in two parts his manors, lands, tenements and hereditaments, being the inheritance of Sir John Arundell of Trerice, knight, his late father, to William Vyelle, Rychard Carewe, John Dynham, John Nance and Robart Arundell, esquires, in trust, to execute an estate for his eldest son, John Arundell, when he reaches the age of twenty-one years. If his son dies then he directs his trustees to execute an estate for his daughters Julian, Alice, Dorothy, Mary, Anne and Katherine as tenants in common.
Wills and devises to his servants Nicholas Dynham, James Bonython, James Tremeren and Gregory Lyttecot, annuities of 30 shillings each.
Gives to his said son John Arundell his gold chain, all his tapesties, his furnace, his great brass pot, his greatest brass pan, his great kettle, and all his stone troughs.
Gives to his wife Garthered all her wearing apparel, the furniture of her chamber, the jewells she owned before their marriage, along with other jewelry to the value of £40.
Gives £100 each to his daughters Julian, Alice, Dorothy and Mary.
Gives £400 each to his daughters Anne and Katherine.
Names his son-in-law Richard Carew, husband of his daughter Julian.
Gives and devises £26 13s. 4s. to Christopher Arundell son of Robert Arundell Esquire.
Gives and devises £26 13s. 4s. to William Arundell, another son of Robert Arundell Esquire.
Gives and devises £26 13s. 4s. to Robert Arundell, another son of Robert Arundell Esquire.
Gives and devises £26 13s. 4s. to Mary Arundell, daughter of the said Robert Arundell Esquire.
Gives and devises £26 13s. 4s. to Blanche Arundell, another daughter of the said Robert Arundell Esquire.
Gives and devises £26 13s. 4s. to Julian Anthorne, one of the daughter of the said Robert Arundell Esq., and wife of Richard Anthorne.
Gives £20 to Harry Nance, the son of John Nance, Esq.
Gives £20 to Richard Nance, another son of John Nance, Esq.
Gives £20 to Dorothy Nance, daughter of the said John Nance, Esq.
Gives £20 to Katherine Nance, another daughter of the said John Nance, Esq.
Gives £20 to John Dynham, son of John Dynham, Esq.
Gives £20 to Robert Dynham, another son of John Dynham, Esq.
Gives £20 to Richard Dynham, another son of John Dynham, Esq.
Gives £20 to Oliver Dynham.
Gives £20 to James Dynham, son of the said John Dynham, Esq.
Gives £20 to Julian Lovice, daughter of the said John Dynham, Esq.
Gives £20 to Jane Bachefield, daughter of the said John Dynham.
Gives £20 to Mary Dynham.
Gives £20 to Dorothy Dynham.
Gives £6 13s. 4d. to Mary Denys the wife of William Denys and daughter of William Viall, Esq.
Gives £6 13s. 4d. to Cheston Prideaux another daughter of William Viall, Esq.
Gives £6 13s. 4d. to Dorothy Vyall.
Gives £6 13s. 4d. to Grace Viell.
Gives £6 13s. 4d. to Elizabeth Viell.
Gives £6 13s. 4d. to his servant John Fawnstone.
Gives £5 to John Wilcocke.
Gives £13 6s. 8d. to his servant Rychard Kempthorne.
Gives £6 13s. 8d. to Julian Davye.
Gives 40 shillings to his cook John Vynean.
Gives £3 6s. 8d. to Rychard Steven.
Gives £3 6s. 8d. to Peter Pryer.
Gives £6 8s. 4d. to his godson John Bonython.
Gives £5 to Katherine Godolphin.
Makes the said William Viell, Richard Carew, John Dynham, John Nance and Robert Arundell co-executors of his last will and testament.
Appoints Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, Knt., John Chichester, Knt., Sir Richard Greynvele [Grenville], Knt., Francis Godolphin, Thomas Seyntaubyn, Thomas Coswarthe, Esqrs., and John Kympthorne, gent. as overseers of this last will and testament.
Gives £100 to his wife Garthered his wife.
Gives £5 to his servant Richard Cooke.
Gives 40 shillings to his servant John Tirrell.
Gives £6 13s. 4d. to his niece Julian Grainefeild.
Research Notes: