and the care hée should haue to please a Mistresse had many knauish deuises hammering in his head to breake the match and to kéep his Master a Batcheler still Amongst many other his practises one onely hée intended to effect if oppertunitie would giue him leaue which not many dayes after sorted to his desires and thus vnhappily he practised it Diuers Marchantes of Exeter Williams very good friendes being ready to put to sea inuited as their custome is their familiar acquaintance to their parting banquet amongst which guests William was solemnly bidden Iames knowing his Maister safe for stirring prouided a horse and in al the hast poasted to Ioane entending to try his wittes whither hée came in the euening neare bedde time who séeing the old man and his wife sitting at the doore earnestly desired to speake with Ione vnto whom he deliuered a very solemne message in name of his Maister desiring her of all the loue shée doeth professe spéedily to come vnto him if she tooke pleasure in his life that was dangerously sicke on the suddaine so strangely taken as no life was expected This suddaine newes appalled the whole houshold Ioane cried the father lamēted and the mother with wringing hands bewailed this vnhappie fortune of William to satisfie whose minde preparation was made for Ioanes iourney Iames hearing what was broached amongst them laughed to himselfe and verie earnestly hastened the olde man to sende away his Ioane vnto whom he made tender of his seruice to be her conuoy for so small a iourney if it pleased them wherof her father was glad loth so late to be troubled himselfe or his seruants to Iames deliuered her commending them to good spéed Iames possessed of his adopted mistresse hauing her from her fathers house bethought him of his entended knauery hauing then the best oportunitie with a déep sigh voice mournfull as a graue man moued to pitie began to commend her bewty personage good gifts honest parentage and wealth likely with other her excéeding vertues worthie for the best man in the Citie to be vtterly cast away by marriage with his Maister William Ioane hearing these protestations albeit her mind was cumbred with Iames his tydings yet gaue good eare to his spéech whereof taking the aduantage cut him off and with kinde words besought him to explaine his meaning that marrying his maister she were cast away Which Iames by no means either for promise of fauour gifts or entreatie would graunt against his maister whose welfare he estéemed as his life although it mightily concerned her good These latter spéeches put her into further dumps causing more desire to be resolued But Iames in no wise would grant vntill by great oathes he swore her to conseale from all people either the cause or reuealer of the same To all which couenants Ioane sware to be iust and faithfully to kéep which done he said Sweete Mistresse Ioane though my yeares deny me that experience which many good men proue yet am I not so sencelesse but can conceiue the pleasures parents haue in vertuous children the ioyes in wedlocke and the swéete content therein where husband and wife participate in one simpathie of loue and so much the more greeue to sée such a one as your selfe marked of God to be the mother of many swéet Infants wherein your fathers aged yeares should be blessed and the world by procreation encreased should be depriued of al rights due in marriage to the poorest begger robbed of mothers honorable name and pleasure therein all procéeding from the imperfections of nature in him whose wife by full graunt you are Ioane hearing these reports from Williams owne seruant who thought she sorrowed to the death for his supposed sitnesse wished his head off so she were rid of him entring into consideration of Iames particular spéech the losse of wombes pleasures and mothers delight so nearely touched her that as in a trance she had like to haue fallen from her horse if Iames had not the more regarded her Whose extremitie whē he saw stricken with fear of his mistresse Ioanes wel doing he wished that vndone which was begunne yet taking heart of grace knowing care must be comforted cheared her with the best spéech he could so long perswading that she reuiued againe calling to minde the great losse of that she most hoped for the thought of William was loathsome vnto her wishing neuer to heare or sée him more earnestly desiring Iames as he tendered her life to returne to her fathers house for if she procéede there is no hope but to expect death Iames more willing to entreat her then Ioane to craue for fashions sake be sought her to go forward to his maister But nothing might preuaile home she would no deniall could serue whither Iames made such haste that they came before the old man was in bedde The sudden comming of Ioane with her guide Iames much amazed them especially séeing their dearest childe in such a pittifull case and not-knowing the cause thought verily that some hobgoblings or theeues had frighted them which to assure them finding Ioane in weake case and not to be questioned the mother and her maides were very carefull in hauing her to bed meane while the father earnestly enquired of Iames what the occasion of his daughters griefe was who like himselfe so suttelly pleaded that the olde man was not a whit the wiser Iames hauing broached this deuise how wel or ill so euer it spéedeth in the end After he had in secret coniured Ioane by her holy oathes to remember her promise with all spéed hasteneth to Exeter where he discharged his horse and recouered his maisters house long before the company brake vp William little suspecting what his man had bene about CHAP. VIII How the Father and Mother of Ioane seeing their daughters sicknesse increase sent for VVilliam IOane languishing in this conceited feare of her Williams want gā grow so weak that her friends had smal hope of her recouery being in best cōfort when she might be alone where with sighes and gréeuous cōplaints of her fathers rashnesse she exclaimeth on her hard fortune being so vnhappily marked aboue all the women she hath knowne vtterly inueying against William that knowing his imperfections durst seduce any woman to his deceitfull loue defying wealth honour and not caring to be married to the greatest Monarke hauing those necessary wants Her good Father whose comfort was his Ioanes health when he could not learne by all possible meanes the occasion and sicknesse rather encreasing then ceasing aduised by his kindred sent for her Loue William hoping his presence might comfort her who like a kind man leauing al to his man Iames presently procured from the Apothecaries such comfortable drugges as he could get for mony with sugars and spices of his owne store hastning to his loue Ioane where to her father and mother he was a welcome man But Ioane tooke little pleasure in his sight or company his presence being so
Iames and his wife with whom their counterfeit coyne went for currant and was of them pittied but most of the Spanish Gentlewoman bemoned that tendered more their welfare then her owne nearest of bloud The Punelles glad that it past so well of their sides without more suspect kept their owne counselles and was neuer knowne but in ieast in England betwéene themselues CHAP. XXVI How Iames at his Maister William his departure cleared his accounts and his recompence with the courtesie of his wife THe time of Williams promise with his ancient seruant Iames for his stay after the marriage grew now to end and a parting time was come how loath soeuer against which Iames by his Factors had prouided readie at Cale to be laden the best Spice Wines and Suger with costly and rich Marchandise the Countrey could affoord or money in many sought places might procure William and his friends being all wearied of that ydle life hauing some businesse for fraught of their ship could not be intreated longer to make their abode there But prouiding for their iourney Iames and his wife protested by religious oathes to accompanie them to their Porte which they performed passing the time by easie iournies pleasantly solacing themselues till they came to Cales against whose arriuall the seruants of Iames had puruayed their lodgings verie bountiful in which they reposed them that night Next morning gaue order for sale of their goods and lading the Barke which albeit by those that vnderlook it was suddenly done yet Iames his owne ship and goods was as readie to set saile for whom the wind fauourably blowing the Maister gaue notice to William and his friends At their leaue taking Iame hauing his billes of lading ready and small hope euer to sée his Maister after that time made him tender of the moneys he owed him and those summes due to such other Marchants of Exeter he dealt for Which by no meanes he would be drawne to accept but for his neighhours willed him to haue regard otherwise it might proue his greefe to heare him ill spoken of Which kindnesse Iames with teares accepted And on his knees crauing pardon besought his Maister to grant him one request which William vouchsafed Then Syr for your neighbours quoth he for whom you wish recompence to my honest Countreymen there left behinde you their stocks with interest I will deliuer for the whole time I haue detained the same For your selfe whom I know not how to deserue so great fauour be now your words warrantife for so I challenge your graunt that seeing money or other commodities for that great summe lewdly wasted by me you wil not accept in all humblenesse to my good Mistresse commend mee and as a poore votary to her and you deliuer these Letters and other Papers therein closed This ship halled into the Roade shall waite vpon you wherein I haue some seruants to attend you if for your better ease you will vouchsafe of her before your owne appointed Barke and so in gods peace at your pleasure goe aboord William circumuented by Iames could not tell what thankes to giue him waying his loue and dutifull minde though loath would not gaine say his vrgeant request but returned him many thankes and after a solemne farewel taken by their friends aboord they wēt commended by Iames and his wife to happie fortune at sea who could not forbeare effusion of many teares for the losse of so good company Who with rich Iewels and much store commended her to the father and mother of Iames and Williams wife Taking their last Adieu they stayed to sée them vnder saile sorrowing at full for their departure whom the heauens so fauoured that in lesse then eight dayes they recouered the hauen of Dorthmouth from whence taking horse they posted to Exeter where they were all heartily welcome Hauing reposed themselues two or three dayes William by his seruants gaue order for discharge of his goods feasted the Spaniards and them richly rewarded deliuered Iames and his wiues tokens to all his friends in presence of his men to whom he made a great banket recounting at large their sonnes estate with his happie fortune enioying so louing and kinde a wife Shortly after furnishing the Sparash ship with vendable commodities into that countrey he dispatched them with his kind Letters and many Tokens from sundry friends So resting himself in quiet he enioyed the blessing of God in that most famous Citie a Patrone and father of the state vntill the end of his dayes which was not sudden as hereafter shall be shewed FINIS
ship comming from England after they had a while feasted with the Marchantes of the Citie desiring their company and frollickt with his friends which done Robert and Iohn willing to shew their thankfulnes to the Lady Abbas which would receiue no money they procured two of the best Iewels and rarest they could finde which in all humblenesse they presented her which she thankfully accepted with a heauy heart giuing a loth farewell to her beloued Robert with whom when shee had in secret conuersed shee commended them to their prosperous iourney whom she promiseth in her prayers to remember giuing vnto Robert a paire of Beades so rich and beautifull as he neuer saw the like a Crucifire and chayne valued at a thoutand crowns with rewardes to Iohn which don she gaue commandement for her coach and twelue of her honest Tenants well mounted to accompanie them to Burduex Robert receiuing these great fauours in requitall tendered his loyall seruice with many humble duties by vow to be performed which was more vallued at her Ladiships handes then all the wealth he could offer such was the Ladies affection vnto him whose absence howsoeuer she for fashion sake coloured it causeth her heartes extréeme sorrow But howsoeuer the time is now come to leaue then his company brauely mounted attend to bring him on his way which made knowne the Abbas bids farewell with many kinde fauours and a million of Paternosters Aue-maries and Créedes long fastings often watchings and a worlde of religious ceremonies for his good successe what the other prittie pure soules doe for their loues good Gentle-men imagine for it is like they would be as well vsed as their mistresse Onwardes nowe are our Gallants towardes Burdeux where by the way Robert acquainted his friende William and the rest of his company with his fortunes continuing these pleasant discourses till they came to their lodging where that night they had mery chatting and carousing to their friendes the Lady Abbas and the sisters healths the next morning they tooke their leaue one of another Oliuer and his two friendes for Burdeux and William and his companions to Roane William had not long continued at Roane but a ship arriued from Exeter by the marchants whereof he receiued the wofull newes of his masters death with commandement from his mistresse and the executors to gather in his debtes make sale of such goods as hée had perfect his accounts and with the first ship to come for England All which when hée had ouerpast his sudden sorrowe for the losse of so good a friend like a carefull man to please the liuing as hée had his disceased maister with such effect followed his busines that by the ships returne hée was ready with the first to goe aboord For which voyage hauing shipped his prouision and such goods as hée had hée inuited sundry his good friendes to banquet which ended with kinde imbrasings hée biddeth farewell to them that wish his prosperitie at sea CHAP. VI. How VVilliam after his returne to England traded for himselfe in the Citie of Exeter and wooed a wife GOod Fortune fauourable windes hath safely landed William other his frends who being carefull could not be quiet nor mery with any company vntil he had deliuered his accounts which to the good lyking of the widow and the Executors he performed hauing their quittance generall which done aduised by his friendes he seated him in a good place trading for himselfe with good successe in which he so profited that wealth increased aboundantly gaining by his good behauiour charitie and good conscience the generall good opinion of the whole Cittie vnto whoÌ„ many men tendred their daughters with great dowries but that life liked he not When he had with great care and labour spent some two or thrée yeares substance encreasing and customers flocking he tooke to Prentise an honest Farmers sonne named Iames shortly after this as time ouercommeth all things and experience maketh men wise especially where man with man perswade William after many kind aduertisements of friends continually putting him in minde of the comfort of marriage and pleasures therein the ioyes fathers haue of their children and honours thereby obtained was wonne at length to consider thereoft and resoluing to marry offer was made him of a proper Mayden the onely childe of a very honest and wealthy man not farre from the Citie with whose Parents the friendâ— of William hauing conference hearing a very good report of the man her Father agreed promising a good portion with his daughter if they could like Therevpon William was by his friends inuited to her Fathers house the Sunday following to dinner against which time Ione for so the Maydens name was called in the best maner apparelled her selfe knowing to what end this iolly wooer came where he was welcome to her father but better to the childe that longed to be a wife Dinner ended where wanted no good cheare euery man betaketh himselfe to passe the time as best contenteth him William not forgetting his errant was for a wife if he could get her desired the maiden to be his conducter to the Garden where after they had walked two or thrée turnes viewing the bewtie thereof and commending the pleasure of the same William being a bashfull young man after many friuolous questions fearing to be counted a coward hauing such aduantage solicites her for loue with such pretie questions and her wittie answeres that William after the first assault became valiant whetting his wittes to answere her parley wherein he so preuailed that the skirmish waxing faint his hope was the greater to scale the Forte without more danger And like a conquerer might vaunt with honor the Towne â—â— his though with some faint denialls for modestie the said nay yet vpon conditions her father said Amen Ioane writes Content This short worke contented William well who was now pleased in thought of marriage hauing such hope in his sute hating to be long a wooing and rather chusing to liue euer without a wife then tied long to lingring suites yet to please Ioane whose ioy he now is how well soeuer his choise and her answeres pleased kept it to himselfe comforting her father and his friends that all should be well he doubted not but as they wished after this first méeting and loue of either giuen secret to other William euery day with letters solicited his Ioane betwéen whom many pretie tokens was enterchanged and of both parties accepted all furthering loue and good liking and was pleasing to father mother and his friends before whom shortly after they were made sure CHAP. VII How Iames Williams seruant abused his maister to Ioane hindering their loue WIlliam assured by promise to his Ioane and the Banes publikely asked many his familiar friendes some in iest others in good sooth bad God giue him ioy his seruant Iames enquiring of his masters forwardnesse of many was somewhat discontented and greeued considering the vncontrolled life hee then liued
content passing from one discourse to an other so long that Iames calling to minde his Maister William and other good friends in England his pleasant humour was abated and his minde not on his halfe-penny as our English Prouerbe is but studied how to satisfie them and maintaine his credit To this alteration Petronella gaue good héed imagining that her Loue tooke litle regard of all her profer wealth loue or beautie yet to bring him from his passion she said Signior Iaques since our first acquaintance which hath not bin long regarding thy welfare and tendring thy good I haue diligently noted thy person the onely content of my soule on earth and with all thy melancholy disposition and déepe fetcht sighes too too farre vnbesaeming thy selfe which hath made me much admire and causeth my great sorrow The occasion whereof if thou please to participate with me my endeuour shall be to redresse it if in my power it rest if not but that you conseale your hearts discontent and therby fall to daungerous sicknesse thou shalt encrease my griefe that loueth thée and afflict on your selfe such a mischiefe as all thy friends will gréeue to behold Pardon me deare friend quoth she and since thou art mute and wilt not say what thou thinkest let me gesse take these keyes the guard of thine owne treasury which shall conduct thee to more coyne then all Cheryes can affoord besides my Plate and rare Iewels all which with what else I possesse bâ—â—â—ow sell or otherwise imploy at thy pleasure only I craue thou frolicke and cast from thee these passiens if this will not suffice what commodities this Countrey affoordeth bargaine for I and my friends will furnish thée with them on our credites then my swéete Loue seeing all and all I haue is at thy commaund leaue longer thus to care and shew thy selfe as thou séemest so shalt thou fill my heart with ioy command in Cheryes and be honoured of my Noble friendes for my sake Iames that with great pleasure heard the wordes of his swéete Lady spoken in loue and tender regarde of his good health was more reuiued then Rosa solies or Aqua Celisties a fainting spirit for which yeelding praise to God for his comfort in this distresse rendering all curteous thankes to Petronella whom faithfully he assured to abolish all things should be displeasing vnto her assuring her on the faith of an Englishman that what she would request he would fulfill and on this profer a solemne vowe was consumate betwéene them violable to endure to the ende of their liues Taking their lodging togither and full possession of all the wealth he had séene they passed the night in content Petronella blessed in her choyse hauing some doubt that Iames through his long aboad in Spaine had learned the manner of her Country-men who care not for a widow in marriage how vnworthie so euer he be and the widowe of good account especially the Noble and Gentlemen This thought arising in Petronella which was loth to exchange her Loue caused her earely in the morning to send for her Confessor vnto whom she reuealed what had past and had absolution by whome all rytes and holy cerimonies was in the Chamber performed betwixt them for which he was well rewarded and they both pleased Petronella at her husbands request entreateth the holy Father to conseale what was done till time should giue leaue to summon his friendes to their marriage to which he said Amen And taking leaue departed to his Colledge Iames to his Countrey men with whom he frolikes Petronella to her prayers thanking God for so good and kinde a husband CHAP. XXI How William by one of his neighbours was aduertised of Iames his bad fortunes and how William gaue him his answere IT is commonly séene that ill tydings suddenly tunne farre as by this had fortune of Iames appeared who hauing in his prosperitie many louing and kind friends that loued him dearely at his downfall hath shewed themselues secret enemies rather reioysing at his misfortunes then any way tendering it Amongst which enuious company one being kinsman to a Marchant for whom William was Factor by the first Poast aduertised in his Letters Iames his prodigalitie particularly as it happened The report whereof was no sooner come but William by his neighbour was aduertised thereof The suddaine hearing whereof somewhat appalled him hauing his best part of wealth with him yet pacifying choller and framing himselfe to patience he againe perused the contents of the Letters the effect and particulars whereof when aduisedly he considered rather commended Iames for his good minde doing his Country that honour not to be dared with so great a Prince but more admired his high spirit scorning to receiue the one halfe offered him by the Duke With these conceits being reasonably pacified turning him to his neighbour thus said Syr it is your bad hap to be the first messenger of any ill happe befallen me and I pray God you may be the last for your losse I am more sorie then for mine owne which I will sée in some sort recompenced in my mans behalfe shewe me your accounts and bate me but ten in the hundreth and I will cleare you Prouided this that you do not by any scandalous spéech depraue my seruants reputation that hath shewed himselfe a true Englishman and by his losse gained his Country honour preferring his reputation before coyne and his credit aboue his life for which I commend him and ioy to heare he hath no otherwaies coÌ„sumed my substance nor what he had of other mens and while I liue his good deserts shal be thought on farre beyond those puling Crauons his Country men that held it no dishonour to be by a straunger dared William being so earnest in his man Iames his cause his neighbour was sory to sée him so moued being of such countenance in the Citie besought him of patience desiring him for that the example of ryot was perilous to be knowne amongst seruants he would conseale it and reforme his seruants at home who spend their mony in Lauernes liberally and procured theirs to do the like and others all consuming both their goods and their owne stocks William who tendered his seruants as himselfe hearing this complaint was more displeased then before charging him with great vnkindnesse in such maner to withdrawe his loue from his people who were for the most part Gentlemen of worship being in number twentie very proper men well maintained and of good education the most of them commonly on his affaires in other Countries said in very great anger Sir sir if your comming be to no other ende then to teach me to order my seruants you might haue kept you stil where I care not how soone you be gone if thou dreadest thy wealth consumeth too fast looke more heedfully to them that spend it for my men what they do I allow nor wil I fauour any one of them that shall more account of his purse then my