THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. 



Pretendinge he had tytle to the House 



By Maister's Parson's lease (not worth a louse) 



The Justices did frendlie him advyse, 



But their authoritie he did despyse, 



And stoutlie them w lh stood : who therupon 



For more assistance sent abrode anon : 



And when night came besett the house w th watch 



Then to the Sheriffe* their letters they dispatch, 



Requyring his assistance in this case, 



Who came next day in person to the place, 



With Posse Comitatus in their ayde, 



Where after Proclamation he assay 'd 



With gentle wordes this will-full man to win, 



Declaringe then what daunger he stood in. 



But he stood off longe tyme : yet in y e end 



He yealded (by persuasion of a frende) 



Unto y e Sheriffe, and open'd theim y e dore 



Who entringe, founde within y e house noe more 



But him and's man, (the rest were fledde before :) 



Both whom into his charge the Sheriffe did take, 



And (as y e case requyr'd) did Prisoners make : 



And soe Pie leave them till the next Assyzes, 



To answer then for these lewde enterpryzes. 



Who all the losse and damage did sustaine, 

 And nowe I will returne to her againe, 

 Whyle she herself in London did remaine : 

 ' Tis not within my knowledge what she lost, 

 But well I wott it was noe litle coste 

 W ch she was all whyle all this sturre was here, 

 For she all charge, for man and horse did beare : 

 Wherof there were such numbers here that day, 

 That some have term'd it Noddie Feildt they say. 



* Sir Francis Leake, of Kirk Hallam. 



t " Noddie Feild " seems to be a proverbial or cant expression ; we can 

 only conjecture that it may mean the field or assembly of many empty heads. 



