THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. 



One Justice Townsend* from y e Marches came, 

 And did espouse the yong and loftie Dame. 



They sell and cutt dovvne woods, great waste they make, 



But then, whether it was redresse to take, 



Or for his owne avayle, or else of grudge, 



To theim, It fitts not me therof to judge, 



He went about, and by all meanes prepar'd 



To fynd his brothers heire the Prince's Wardet 



And to that end he quicklie sett to worke, 



One Wakeringe then, who for such praies did lurke, 



And was as faythfull as a Jewe or Turke. 



Betweene theim two I think it was agreed, 



That if in this affaire they hapt to speede, 



The Wardship should to Vernon granted be, 



And Wakeringe should in money have his fee. 



All their proceedings here for to repeate, 



Would be but little worth (though labour great) 



Short tale to make (w ch was of all y e ground) 



She was prov'd Ward, a Tenure there was found. 



How truly, here I list not to decyde 



Theirs be y' charge by whom y' poynt was tryed. 



The Wardship Maister Vernon looked to have, 



But Wakeringe (since made knight) proved then a j 



Alledginge that it lay not in his handes, 



Unto their first accord as then to stand : 



And good cause why, for Justice Townshend's purse 



Did open wyder, and more crownes disburse : 



* Sir Henry Townshend, of an old Norfolk family, was the third son of 

 Robert, third son of Sir Roger Townshend, Justice of the Common Pleas, 

 temp. Henry VII. His father, Sir Robert Townshend, was Justice of Chester 

 in the reigns of Henry VIII., Edward VI., and Mary. Sir Henry was con- 

 stituted Justice of Chester 21 Elizabeth, and was confirmed in that appoint- 

 ment on the accession of James. In 1618 he was nominated by the Council to 

 Lord Compton, Lord President of the Principality and Marches of Wales ; he 

 died in 1622. 



t The heir of a king's tenant, that held by knight's service or in capite, was 

 a royal or " Prince's Ward " during nonage. 



X Knave. [Note in the MS.] 

 6 



