THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. 109 



Enforcinge her to borrovve upon band, 



For to maintaine this cause newe tain in hand. 



Besydes daies of great paym ls then drew nere 

 To Harvey and to Jackson, landes to cleare 

 And wheras for y' purpose dyvers landes 

 In Staffordshire (w ch then were in the handes 

 Of Atkinson) were poynted to be sould, 

 That by Injunction latelye was controul'd. 



These were sore crosses to begin w th all, 

 Yet manie more did shortlie her befall : 

 To treate of all would be a taske too greate, 

 It shall suffyce some part here to repeate : 

 Because to wryte at full her greate distresse, 

 (And her faire carriage therin to expresse) 

 Requyres a worthier pen I doe confesse. 



Such and soe greate her troubles some were growne, 



That most men thought her state quyte overthrown 



The Tenants all or most did her forsake 



And with her adversaries part did take : 



Manie of those whose right she did defend 



Against her whollye did their forces bende : 



And others on whose fredship she did grounde 



Did now in tyme of tryall prove unsounde 



Yea some whom blood & nature should have bounde. 



But Atkinson prov'd constant to the end, 



On whom her chiefest hopes did then depend 



He shew'd himself a faythfull trustie frende, 



And he was faythfull too that this hath pen'd, 



The one with fayre advyse did her assiste, 



The others care and paynes could not be mist, 



They comfort her and still her hopes confirme, 



And in the end of Michaellmas longe terme 



(In w ch the Playntiffs first this suite did move 



And had proceeded as is said above) 



