13° 



THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. 



Of her and Atkinson forthw lh would take, 

 That at f day due payment they should make. 

 W ch if t hey would not in good sort assure, 

 The Plaintiff Justice Townshend would p'cure 

 That sume of money to redeeme the lande, 

 If with y e Courts good lykinge it might stand 

 That by their order (harmless him to save) 

 Of all those Landes he might possession have, 

 Till he was paid his money in due fashion, 

 And ten ith' hundred for consideration. 

 His onely drift was thus to gett possession, 

 Though to secure y e land he made profession. 



Here was another straite, a sore distresse, 



Which she could fynd no meanes howe to redresse, 



For yet y e Londoners were in such feare 



By reason of the troubles latelie there,* 



They would not lend their coine on anie termes : 



As Atkinson by proofe to her affirmes. 



The Court to her doth nowe this poynt propose, 

 Who howe to answere y' in noe wyse knowes : 

 To iheim that knew her state, this case appeares, 

 Lyke unto his that held f Wolfe by th' eares : 

 She nether durst that payment undertake, 

 Nor yet consent possession to forsake : 

 But restinge in her patient sylence still, 

 Did leave it to y e Court to doe their will. 

 Who therupon did order out of hande, 

 That Justice Townshend to his offer stand, 

 And that he have possession of that lande, 

 Till of that Sume he should be satisfyed, 

 And ten ith' hundred over and besyde. 



unpopularity, and left London seething for several months. 



