76 THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. 



were necessary before this and other blanks and links could be 

 filled up in the pedigree sheet. 



The opening pages of this chronicle give an interesting and 

 hitherto altogether unrecorded account of Hazelbach, or Hazel- 

 badge Hall, and its connection with the Vernons. The manor of 

 Hazelbadge first came to the Vernons in the reign of Henry V., 

 through the Strelleys. Whilst Sir George Vernon, the celebrated 

 " King of the Peak," was in his minority, his uncle, Sir John 

 Vernon, acted, by appointment of the crown, as his guardian ; 

 and after he came of age, as is testified by Harestaffe, was of 

 considerable service to his nephew.* Sir George granted to his 

 uncle a lease of Hazelbadge for eighty years, at a nominal rental 

 of id., though worth ^140 per annum. Sir John's son, Henry 

 Vernon, who married a co-heiress of Swynnerton, and obtained 

 Hilton, for the most part resided at Hazelbadge. The hall, or 

 manor house, has now for some time been turned into a farm-house, 

 and the greater part has been either pulled down or altogether 

 modernised. But a picturesque Elizabethan gable (Plate III.) 

 still fronts the road on the left hand side soon after leaving the 



* The following call upon Sir John Vernon to furnish a Derbyshire force of 

 100 armed soldiers from his nephew's Derbyshire tenantry, to proceed to 

 Dover, in the summer of 1522, will be read with interest. It is taken from 

 the Sudbury " Vernoniana " : — 



" Henry the viij th by the grace of God King of England & France 

 defensor of the Faithe & Lord of Irland To our trusty & welbeloved John 

 Vernon Squier and stuarde of the landes belonging to the inheritance of yong 

 Vernon our warde, and to all & singuler the Bailifes Officers Fermors & 

 tennantes of the same landes and to every of theym thies our letters hering or 

 seing greting, Wheras we have appointed our trusty and welbeloved servant 

 William Coffyn to do unto us service of warre at this tyme with the number 

 of oon hundred persones to be taken of the Fermors and tennantes of the 

 said landes, We by thies presentes auctorise the said William Coffyn and you 

 the said John Vernon geving you expresse charge & comaunriment to levye 

 & provyde of the said Fermors & tennantes for this purpose suche & as many 

 with harness convenient for theym as the said William Coffyn shall think 

 good to proceed in our said wanes at his leding. So as he may be with the 

 said noumber at our Towne of Dover by the viij th day of August nowe 

 ensuyng Charging by tenor hereof all & singuler the said Officers and tennantes 

 that unto our said servant & to youe they be obeying & attendant in execution 

 of this comaundment as they will answer to us at their perilles. And thies 

 our letters shall be aswel to the said William Coffyn as to you the said John 

 Vernon & to all and every the said Officers Fermors and tennantes sufficient 

 waraunt & discharge any acte or statute heretofore made to the contrary 

 notwithstanding. Geven under our Signet at our Castell of Wyndesor the 

 xxvij day of July the xiiij" 1 yere of our reigne." 



