134 THE RHYMED CHRONICLE OF JOHN HARESTAFFE. 



Whom she of curtesie did nowe forbeare, 



And would not have their names in question here ; 



For w ch to her they much beholden were. 



Th' Indictment beinge drawne, y e Judge did call 



To see y e same, which he perused all : 



His reason why, himself did then expounde, 



Lest anie error might therein be founde. 



Then he comaunds y e Sheriffe to bringe in there 



Buck and his man (who still his prisoners were) 



For of y e rest not anie durst appeare. 



These two were placed at y e Prisoners Barre : 



And then was the Grand Jurie called for, 



Th' Indictment read, & gyven to theim, w th charge 



T' inquire y e truth : Her Counsell then at large 



Did open everie point of their offence, 



And proov'd the same by open evidence, 



A present verdict most men did expect, 



But what soe vyle y' some will not protect ? 



Example here, a kinsman * of her owne, 



An Auncient Squier, who nere before was knowne 



To serve on anie Jurie in this place, 



Had made appearance onelye for this case : 



And nowe was Forman of y e Great Enquest, 



Belyke of purpose t' over-rule the rest, 



Both by his credet, longe experience, 



Most subtill witt, and formall eloquence. 



This man endeavour'd nowe w th all his might 



T' extenuate the fault, and make it light ! 



And through much passion went therein so fane, 



He tooke upon him publiquelie at Barre 



To pleade for theim : y* seemes forgettinge howe 



He was noe Advocate, but Jurour nowe. 



* Mr. William Agard of Foston. [Note in the MS.] 



William Agard, of Foston (in the parish of Scroplon), was the son of 

 Nicholas Agard by his first wife Margaret, daughter of Sir Henry Vernon, of 

 Haddon. (See pedigree.) 



