THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OK JOHN HARESTAFFE. I05 



They would be pleas'd from him to understand, 

 He never did intend her foot of 's lande 

 Nor grotesworth of his goods : because that he 

 By meanes of her endur'd much injurie 

 In suites and troubles under faire pretence, 

 To do her right, \v ch did him much offence : 

 He humblie pray'd that after his decease, 

 They would permit his frendes to live in peace, 

 Whom he had laste bestow'd his lands upon, 

 And not to worke their molestation. 

 To this he sett his seale and writ his name 

 With Witnesses to testifye the same. 



When he had done his worldie businesse, 

 Himself to heaven he whollie did addresse : 

 Ere longe his houre of Death approchinge nie 

 His latest words were prayers to God on hie, 

 Into whose handes his soule he did comende 

 And makinge soe a good and "odlie end, 

 As one in quiet sleepe some how^s he past, 

 And calmlye yielded up his breath at last. 

 Th' eyght of Julye ith' sixteenth hundred yeare 

 From Christ his blessed birth (our Savio r deare. ) 



Most frendes advys'd his bodie to interre, 

 At some nere place, as Paules or Westminster : 

 His mournfull wyffe in noe wyse would consent 

 Thereto : because it was her full intent, 

 He should in such a place interred be, 

 Where after death herself might also lye. 

 She therefore caus'd his bodie be prepar'd 

 And drest w th odo r s sweete noe cost she spar'd 

 His Bowells to Westham* were first convey'd 

 And in the Parish Church there buried : 



* We have inquired if there is any record at West Ham of this partial 

 interment, but the vicar, Rev. Canon Scott, informs us that the registers only 

 commence in 1653 



