THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. Il<; 



And for his maintenance (a Pension faire) 



The Sume of two and thirtie poundes a yeare : 



She was content : although it was much more, 



Then he or anie other had before.* 



But then S r Domine had chang'd his mynde, 



For he was even as constant as the wynde. 



He had of late been drinkinge at a Poolet 



Whose secreat workinge caused him play the foole : 



His Patrones order he would not abyde 



Nor yeald to it whatere should him betyde 



Wherfore awhyle I'le lay the foole asyde : 



And since my leasure serves, I will not spare, 



An other yonge mans follies to declare. 



The man I mean was Maister Francis Buck 



Who might have done full well but had ill luck : 



What good his uncle meant him is declared, 



How much his aunt esteemed him afterward, 



And how she lov'd him she did well make knowne, 



By usinge him alyke unto her owne : 



Provydinge soe that nothinge he did lack, 



Crownes in his purse, faire clothinge on his back, 



Who but her Cozen Buck? cheefe at her table, 



Two Geldings she allowed him in her stable : 



His man and boy, all at her charge mayntayn'd 



And by her favo r then he also gain'd 



Present possession of a Tenement 



In Somershall w ch was of yearlie rent 



Worth twentie marks. Thus kyndly she him us'd : 



But all her kyndnes shortlie he refused : 



Belyke in doubt her business would miscarie ; 



Or by inticement of some adversarie : 



A verie sleight occasion he did take 



His aunt in great displeasure to forsake : 



*The annual value of Sudbury Rectory is given in the Va*or Ecclesiasthns 



(27 Henry VIII), as ,£14 13s. id. 



t Edw. Poole the Elder. [Note in the MS.] 



