THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. I 23 



It was soone after Hillarie Terme begun 



When newes were brought to her what Buck had done, 



Howe he had broke her house, and seiz'd of all. 



And turned her servants out both great and small. 



These newes she did receave on fryday night, 



Imagine then she was in carefull plight : 



The Tewsdaie folio winge should her cause be heard, 



Whether she should have rents, or be debarr'd ; 



These to a woman were noe burthens small, 



Yet chanc't betwixt these two y e great'st of all. 



S r Edward Littleton as is foresaid, 



Was come up of purpose onlie her to ayde, 



He on y e Sonday unadvysedlie, 



As manie others went for companie 



In th' Earle of Essex disobeydience,* 



Who entred London then upon pretence, 



Against his private foes to gett defence. 



Whose adversaries tooke this Acte for treason, 



And caus'd it so to be proclaim'd that season : 



For w"- h himself soone after lost his head, 



And manie frendes of his were ill bestead, 



Nere to Fleete Bridge she hapned then to lye 



And from her windowe sawe the Earle goe by, 



With him a troupe disorder'd crowdinge on, 



And mongst y e rest her brother Littleton, 



Which put her all that day in great affright, 



(As it did manie others) yet at night 



Her brother's saffe retorne some comfort brought 



Though manie feares remain'd in her thought. 



* This happened on the forenoon of Sunday, February 7th, 1600-1, when 

 the unhappy Earl of Essex passed up Ludgate Hill, with a large retinue, to 

 St. Paul's Cross, intending to appeal to the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and city 

 companies, at the conclusion of the morning sermon, to accompany him to the 

 palace. He lost his head on February 25th. Harestafife's rough estimate of 

 the position seems fairly accurate ; Essex's watchword up the streets was, 

 " For the queen, my mistress," which was scarcely the cry of a traitor. The 

 fall of Essex was really brought about by his constant opposition to the insi- 

 dious policy of the Cecils. 



