HO THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. 



She did attempt by way of motion 



For to dissolve the first Injunction : 



That she might gett y e rents & thenv th all 



Discharge such debtes as for y e Funerall 



Of her late husband she stood bounde to pay : 



To w ch the Court made answer w th out stay 



That since Sir Robert Cecill* was away, 



(Who then beinge Maister did not sitt y* day,) 



They might not it dissolve for feare of blame 



Because himself had granted out y e same 



Who thenceforth sate no more whyle terme did last 



Soe y* untill y e next all hope seem'd past. 



And thereupon she was a little mov'd 



That this attempt had then nor better prov'd : 



But Harestaffe will'd her not to be dismay 'd 



When one way fay'd, other must be assayed 



And quicklie did a short Petition frame, 



Advysinge her she should prefer y e same 



Unto the Maister of y e Court with speede, 



Which she performinge, thereof did succeede 



Such good event, as comforted her well : 



And though it be an idle thinge to tell 



Ech circumstance thereof as it befell 



Yet since I now have store of idle tyme, 



Although but harsh and forced be my ryme, 



I'le borrowe leave to treate therof a whyle, 



To please myself, and idle houres begu)le. 



* This mention of Sir Robert Cecil, the scheming favourite of the latter 

 days of Elizabeth, and of the early days of James, is of much interest. The 

 subsequent realistic touches of Mistress Vernon winning the favour of a cham- 

 ber groom to place her in an inner room of the Master's Lodgings, instead of 

 in the lobby ; of two other grooms lighting a fire earlier than usual in the 

 season, and receiving four shillings for their attention ; and of Harestaffe 

 directing the dame " to knowe this greate man by his stature small," are very 

 charming, when we consider the figure round whom they centre, and who had 

 so much to do with the making of English history. Sir Robert Cecil was the 

 youngest son of William Cecil, Lord Burleigh. He was Secretary of State 

 1596-1609; in 1599 he was appointed Master of the Court of Wards, "the 

 most lucrative office held by any subject throughout Christendom ;" created 

 Earl of Salisbury in 1605 ; and died in 1612. From Sir Robert Cecil, the 

 present Marquis of Salisbury is directly descended. 



