72 THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. 



whole, from the endorsement, seems to have been revised and 

 transcribed in 1635. 



It would have been pleasant to find out and to record anything 

 of the life of this chatty and devoted chronicler, but although there 

 are large and valuable collections of family papers and records at 

 Sudbury, bound together in many volumes under the title 

 " Vernoniana," there is nothing further known of John Harestaffe 

 beyond what can be gleaned from his own writings, and from his 

 monument in the church. The Sudbury registers only begin with 

 the year 1673, so there is no help to be found in that quarter. 

 He must, we think, have been a bachelor, and the rector tells us, 

 to some extent confirmatory of this surmise, that there are none 

 of his name in the parish nor immediate neighbourhood, nor does 

 the name occur in the registers. 



It was apparently in 1591 that John Harestaffe first entered the 

 Vernon service, for he had " to doe in those affaires " for twenty- 

 four years before he began to write of them. Originally the 

 servant of John Vernon, he remained most constant to his widow 

 Mary throughout her exceptional and cumulative troubles, and 

 afterwards to the heir, Sir Edward Vernon. When his master 

 died in 1600, the will bequeathed him a farm at Rodsley. Some 

 difficulties arose about the conveyance of this freehold to him, 

 possibly because he had so large a share in drawing up the will, 

 but eventually it was assured to him, 



" To recompence his travayles longe endured." 



John Harestaffe died on December 1st, 1645. A mural monu- 

 ment in the Parish Church gives the following minute particulars 

 of his characteristic will* ; — 



" Here lyeth the Body of John Harstaffe Gent who being very charitable in 

 his lifetime by his last Will and Testament in writing under his hand and seall 

 dated the 29 th of April 1641 did will and declare that W m Sherwin and Steeven 

 Parker his Feoffees and their heires from and immedyately after his decease 

 should stand and be seized of all that his Messvage Farme or Tenement in 



* For this transcript and other information I am indebted to the kindness of 

 the Rev. T. H. Freer, the Rector of Sudbury. 





