in only slightly altered terms. "Antecessors" is
changed to "great-grandfather," and the dignity of Mary Arden's family
further elucidated. Some writers consider that, following a custom of
the day, John Shakespeare treated as _his_ antecessors his wife's
ancestors. The word "_great-grandfather_" tends to exclude this notion,
as may be seen later, but the word "grandfather" would imply, if this
had been intended, that Thomas Arden himself had had the grants. It has
always been supposed that Brooke, York Herald, had exhibited some
complaint against this grant also, as he very possibly did.[60] He was
severely critical of the heraldic and genealogic matter in Camden's
"Britannia," and very bitter at the slighting way the author speaks of
heralds. He wrote a book called "The Discoveries of Certaine Errours in
the edition of 1594," which he seems to have begun at once, as on page
14 he states, "If the making of gentlemen heretofore hath been greatly
misliked by her Majestie in the Kinges of Armes; much more displeasing,
I think, it will be to her, that you, _being no Officer of Armes_,
should erect, make and put down Earles and Barons at your pleasure." It
must have been peculiarly galling to him that by the influence of Sir
Fulke Greville, afterwards Lord Brooke, Camden was advanced over his
head to the dignity he himself desired. After being appointed, for
form's sake, Richmond Herald for one day, Camden was made Clarenceux,
October 23, 1597, between the first and second Shakespeare drafts. This
probably decided Brooke to publish his "Pamphlet of Errors," which, as
he dedicated it to the Earl of Essex, "Lord General of the Royal Forces
in Ireland," must have appeared in 1599. He wrote another book against
Camden, which was forbidden to be published.

The draft for the impalement is also heavily corrected, probably in
comparison and discussion. Of the Shakespeare shield a note adds: "The
person to _whom it was granted_ hath borne magistracy in
Stratford-on-Avon, was Justice of the Peace, married the daughter and
heir of Arderne, and was able to maintain that estate." The Heralds
first tricked the arms of the Ardens of Park Hall, Ermine a fesse chequy
or and az., but scratched them out, and substituted a shield bearing
three cross crosslets fitchee and a chief or, with a martlet for
difference.

I put forward several suggestions concerning this question in an article
in the _Athenaeum_.[61]

The critical strictures agai