THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. 



Awarded Maister Vernon for to pay 



To Justice Townshend these demaunds to cleare, 



Upon's owne bonds, one hundred markes a yeare, 



Untill one thousand marks were fullye paid : 



W ch was not hard (me thought) all things well waid : 



Yet Maister Vernon thought it was too much, 



But notw th standinge since th' award was such, 



He gave y e Bondes and so did end y e stryfe 



And made one payment only in his lyffe 



For ere y e second Payment did ensewe, 



It pleased God, he yealded Nature's due. 



But while y e Suites were prosecuted hard 

 Against him in pretence to right the Ward, 

 Soe greate offence thereby he did conceave, 

 That oft he did protest he would not leave 

 That might descend on her one foote of s lande 

 Although she was next heire. Nowe understande, 

 He had noe chyld himself, nor married were 

 Till he had past his one and fiftith yeare : 

 Then tooke to Wyffe a Wydowe of his name, 

 Who was a worthie, wyse, and vertuous Dame : 

 Good Walter Vernon's wyffe once had she beene 

 Of Houndhill : and had borne him children nine : 

 Four were deceas'd there rested then alyve 

 Three Sonnes and Daughters two, in number fyve : 

 From Haddon house these Vernons (as y e other) 

 Descended also of a yonger brother, 

 But from the Littletons they came by mother. 

 A worthie Knight her father men did call 

 Sir Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall.* 



* Mary, the wife of (i) Walter Vernon and (2) John Vernon, was the 

 daughter of Sir Edward Littleton, of Pillaton Hall, by his wife Margaret, 

 daughter and co-heir of Sir William Devereux. The "three sonnes and 

 daughters two," mentioned in the Chronicle as the children living by her first 

 husband, will be found on the pedigree table. 



