Arden of Faversham

FRANKLIN: “My gracious lord the Duke of Somerset

Hath freely given to thee and to thy heirs,

By letters patents from his majesty

All the lants of the Abbey of Faversham.”

These lines give context for the physical and temporal setting of the play as well as how Arden came to possession of the Abbey of Faversham. Franklin’s connections to the Duke of Somerset, Edward Seymour, benefit Arden. Arden has been granted the land legally by letters patent, though whether he has acquired them fairly is another question.

ARDEN: “A botcher, and no better at the first,

Who, by base brokage getting some small stock,

Crept into service of a noblemen,

And by his servile flattery and fawning

Is now become the steward of his house,

And bravely jets it in his silken gown.”

Arden refers to Mosby’s previous profession by the word “botcher” rather than “tailor.” A botcher was an unskilled mender, whereas a tailor was a skilled tradesperson. Arden resents the way Mosby has climbed the social ladder by flattery and fawning, though Arden likely ingratiated himself to the Duke of Somerset in a similar way.

ALICE: “Sweet Mosby is the man that hath my heart,

And he usurps it, having naught but this,

That I am tied to him my marriage.

Love is a god, and marriage is but words;

And therefore Mosby’s title is best.

Tush! Whether it be or no, he shall be mine

In spite of him, of Hymen, and of rites.”

Alice laments her legal ties to Arden because she loves Mosby. To her, the vow of marriage pales in comparison to true love, and so she believes Mosby is more entitled to be her lover than Arden. She alludes to Hymen, the Greek goddess of marriage ceremonies.