82 THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARKSTAFFE. 



He therefore got y e wardship of the Chylde, 

 And Vernon by Sir Gilbert* was beguyled : 

 Who made himself the Fermo r of her landes, 

 And during nonage kept them in his handes, 

 And here might Maister Vernon well repent 

 His labours ill-imploy'd and money spent. 

 But oftentymes we see it come to passe 

 When men, of malice, seeke their neighbo r s losse, 

 Or worke their owne revenge, It pleaseth God, 

 To beate themselves, they make a smartinge rod : 

 As in this case it afterwards befell, 

 Both to himself, and those he lov'd right well. 

 For nowe forthw th newe suites they doe comence 

 I'th Court of Wardes against him w ,h pretence 

 To right the Ward, whose tytle in such sort 

 Was favour'd be y e friendship of that Court, 

 That they recover'd there out of his handes, 

 A manie parcells of his mothers landes : 

 Which for some yeares before he had enjoy'd 

 As Copi-holde 



Nor sought they to avoyd 

 Him from y e same. 



Nor doe I thinke they could 

 Had not y e Court of Wardes therein controul'd. 



Besydes they sued him in the Chauncerie 

 For certaine summes of money formerlie 

 Receav'd by him for lands w ch by his mother 

 Had beene convay'd unto his yonger brother 

 In sale wher of they joyn'd the one w ,h th' other. 



Which sumes amountinge to nyne hundred pounde 

 As debte yet due to Henryes will were founde. 





* We suppose this must be Sir Gilbert Talboys, whose daughter Margaret 

 was the first wife of Sir George Vernon : see pedigree table. 



