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
Haigh for Deuonshire A pleasant Discourse of sixe gallant Marchants of Deuonshire Their liues Aduentures and Trauailes With sundrie their rare showes and pastimes shewed before the King in Exeter Besides many pretie mery Ieasts by them performed as well in forraine Countries as in their owne Very delightfull for the Reader Written by H. R. VERITAS VIRESSIT VVLNERE TC LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede and are to be sold at his shop in Watlingstreete ouer against the signe of the Cocke neare Friday-streete 16â—â— TO THE WORshipfull and most toward Gentleman accomplisht with all vertues and graces of true Gentilitie Henry Cromwell sonne and heire to the honoured Oliuer Cromwell Esquire high Sheriffe of the Counties of Cambridge and Huntington H. R. your Worships professed humble seruant wisheth increase of all honourable vertues with long life and eternall happinesse IDelnesse is a sinne saieth the Text yet better idle then ill imployed That 's as it is taken so saide the good wife that kist her owne Cowe all men hath their humors each Plant his propertie the vildest weede dooth some good and the vnskilful writer may either delight or admonish The ancient learned tooke sometimes as great content to publish pleasant Ieasts as to profit If the learnedst writers had their pleasure in conceited myrth my hope is the more of your Worshippes fauourable acceptance of this Pamphlet albeit it may seeme rude to your iudgement yet therein may you note the maners of sundry people where the verteous are honored and the ignoble discouered From the inferiousest flowers the industrious Bee gathereth hony the Rose is not cast away for her cankor the sweet Eglentine disdained for the rough stalke nor good mens worth blemisht by vnskilfull lynes from the vertuous good notes may be takeÌ„ remembred and followed Faithfull subjects and good men in the common wealth were these famous Marchants of whoÌ„ I intreat wealthy charitable and honest How pleasant conceited or mery you find them in their wel ordered Ieasts offending none but desirous to do good to all The censure of such to your worship I humbly commend with the zealous PreseÌ„t of his dutiful affection that voweth himself in all power abilitie a deuoted seruant to you all your worshipfull ancestors from whose roote your wor being a liuely braÌ„ch may by the assistaÌ„ce of the omnipoteÌ„t deitie many yeares in happines coÌ„tinue among vs the ioy of your renowned parents your conÌ„tries general comfort a firme piller supporter maintainer of those honoured vertues loue by your auncestors gained and long time maintained At your VVor. seruice so long as euer H. Robarts To the wel intending and courteous Reader AMongst many famous Marchants inhabiting the VVesterne confines of this fertile I le there was dwelling neer and in the renowned City of Exeter Totnes Plymouth Barnestable and Tyuerton many of great substance as wealthy for vertue as rich in coyne and credit such they were as for pelfe passed not niggardnesse came not neere their Mansions their gates to the stranger alwayes opened and their liberall hands releeued the poore Two of which famous Marchants viz. William Oliuer had residence in Exeter Walter in Totnes Otho in Plymouth Iohn in Barnestable and Robert in Tyuerton These men whom God blessed with wealth had thankfull mindes to the giuer acknowledging his goodnesse whose stewards they were Noblemen for their bountie myrth and fellowship loued them and Gentlemen of their Country desired their familiar company their neighbours well esteemed them holding their friendship in great regard and the poore duly prayed for them whom they dayly comforted Loue and good opinions generally they gained at home lyking grace fauour and countenance abroad where euer they became friends flocked vnto them no man enuied their happinesse with forraine Princes and their subiects who better esteemed or more welcommed with the best they brauedit their countries credit more then coyne preferred their Prince in all places honoured and countenanced their Country-men in any action where fame was sought who more forward wrong they offered no man nor could they brooke iniuries in good causes as readie to fight as to feast with vsury they dealt not aduantages of bonds they sought not Couetousnesse they abhorred their honest Trade they liued by gaining wealth with conscience and worship by desert in myrth and good fellowship they delighted for Gold they cared not hauing this Prouerbe common among them A straw for a Peck of Ryalls hospitalitie they maintained and did good to all that sought vnto them VVhat worthie commendations they deserued their ensuing History shall shewe you perusing which if you finde they were not as merry companions as the maddest Greekes you euer met I le burne my Cap say Cut is a Iade the Shepheards Dogge a Curre and a baked white Potte no good meate Vale. To the friendly Reader IN Stories olde It hath bene tolde That many a Franion And boone companion In this Land dwelled Which in vertue excelled Whose plesant profession Wonne commendation Despising nigardie Fraughted with bountie Mongst many such men I frame my Pen Vno you to tell What of yore besell Sixe Marchants bolde More worth then golde Whose names intolde Are highly extolde In Deuon there dwelled As fame telled Gallants most braue Valiant wise and graue As few now a dayes That euery wayes With them might compare ' Men excellent rare Of sixe such men Of whom my Pen Is now to vnfolde Their stories olde Greatly I feare This many a yeare You shall not heare As to you shall appeare So honest so kinde So sranke of minde From England to India You shall not finde Farre they traueiled Much they dispended And trueth to faine Fauour did gaine Where ere they came They had the name For pelfe they carde not For crowns they spard not By sea they sayle For Englands weale And bring commodities From many Countries The poore they fed The naked clothed A goodly rable Of men seruice-able This is no fable They feed at their Table When peace they inioy Their stockes to imploy To France and Spaine Flanders and Brytaine They venture the seas Where so they best please Of these famous men And deeds done by them When you shall heare How farre and neare They doe maintaine A worthy traine Of gallant men You will say then That worthy they are To haue a share In the worldes glory And not to lye In darke obliuion Thoe hence they be gone In place where they liued They neuer grieued Either rich or poore But sought euermore Peace to maintaine Not priuate gaine Pleasant they were And full debonayre Curteous to all Hating to brawle There Prince duly They serued truly Valliantly in field They made the foe yeeld And one the salt seas Fought many stout frayes In hazerd of blood For their countries good Men of Courage And good equipage Well they be deemde And highly esteemde All men of skill Great matches they make And would vndertake With any that came For all
the other at S. Martines such as for beautie wealth and reputation might draw men of more worth to their liking of whom Oliuer and Iohn in priuate whisperings tooke great care entending that night to haue séene them and deliuer such presents as they brought from England had not this méeting of their countreymen preuented them To all which priuate talke William and Robert tooke good héede But William specially gaue eare and ouerheard their speech vnderstanding by many motions that willingly they would haue bene frée from their companies which he could well haue wished them to their best liking but that he entended to search them as he could and make tryall what mettall his countreymen were of for that purpose when he had well lined their hoodes with the iuyce of Grape a potion that maketh the coward bolde and ouerthroweth the stoutest William singleth from his companion the best demeaned Oliuer and with him of many matters discoursed betwéene whom such enchatinting words passed that an inuiolable league of friendship was profest as nothing might haue power to violate and consequently amongst them all William growing on this new-vowed friendship to more familiar parly besought Oliuer and the rest hauing acquaintance in that place to bring them to their femall friends in the Citie where they might spend that night to sée the fashions of those damsels for that they were straungers had no acquaintance for requitall of which he promised them if they could finde opportunitie to come to Roane where they had abiding they would so quite their kindnesse as they should well like of Oliuer as well disposed to mirth as his friend William and as pleasantly conceited imagined that his owne spéech to his companion Iohn was ouer heard whereon this question was propounded tooke in good part his words and thankfully acepted all friendship offered and cheare receiued Beseeching pardon not accomplishing his desire whom he assured was of more continuance in the Citie then himselfe that had not bene full foure and twentie houres a shoare and therefore rather ought to be a conductor to him and his companions his experience being more then twentie such Idiots as himselfe in such causes Therefore good brother quoth Oliuer rather let vs participate with your teminine pleasures that being Ledgers are not vnprouided and hereafter if you haue cause to vse vs it may be we poore men may proue as kinde to you vpon like occasion William thus pretily trumped by his friend Oliuer returning the point of his own weapon into his bosome thought it ill halting before a Cripple and hereby iudged his countreymen no Clownes nor their answeres to séeke which on the sudden could giue them such bones to gnaw Wherefore leauing to reply least words in ieast spoken might break their familiaritie by acceptions taking they here with a fresh carouse end their nights sportes leauing euery man to his rest taking this order with them by generall consent that euery of them should not faile at times ordinarie for repast to haue their dyets at one house to be chosen by whole consent where whosoeuer shuld be absent not hauing such businesse as the company might tollerate must forfet a summe by them to be agréed on To this when they had all said Amen and hands giuen for continuing their begun friendship they betooke themselues to their rests CHAP. II. How these new acquainted friends iournied to Roane in Normandie and what hapned to them THese gallant youths as you haue heard vsing such continuall company theyr liking encreased and their familiaritie was admired which was generally noted of all straungers in the Cittie of Burdeux where they had commendations not onely for their mirth good fellowship company kéeping but in regard of their businesse then whom none more forward vsing all times to fit purpose if leisure permitted who more frolike or what were they in the whole company of any Nation that durst vndertake these sixe gallants at any sporte exercise or gaming whatsoeuer whether in pleasure or for coyne whose purses were not tyed with miserie nor did they account of Crownes before their countries honour Oliuer Iohn and Walters being well acquainted in Burdeux well beloued and graced amongst the better sort of Marchants with whom they did vsually trafficke had offer of most the best Wines that came thither whereby they made the sooner dispatch laded their ship and made readie wines for her second returne which done and they at leisure to take their pleasure William Robert and Otho were called away to Roane for supply of businesse desirous of their good friendes companies with many sutes importuning them for the same whom after many denialls they graunt prouiding them horses and other necessaries for their iourney which done and solemne farwell taken of their friends that staid behind forward they set as pleasant and merrily disposed as might bee eache one glad of others company framing occasions of solace the better to beguile their time of trauell continuing their iollitie all that night in their lodging fearing no man nor dreading any ill to betide them But as the fairest dayes by cloudes are soone ouer cast the greatest ioyes eclipsed with plaints and all men subiect to crosses so fell it out with these faithfull friendes who taking their way by iourney as it laie through the Forrest of Ardine were beset with a company of Outlawes Théeues which laie in ambush to entercept them who comming neare the thicket where the treacherous villaines laie suddenly issued and furiously assailed them first with their Pistolles which daungerously they discharged against them renuing the fight with their Rapiers in which first assault Robert Iohn with their Pistolles were dangerously hurt William Otho Oliuer and Walter maintained the fight with great courage so applying themselues that in short time they made frée passage in despight of those villaines which made sure account to haue had their spoile of whom two were in fight slain and diuers hurt who trusted better to their héeles then staying to saue theyr liues William and his company séeing so good a riddance of these companions none séene néere them not assured what rescue might come made no stay but binding vp the wounds of Robert and Iohn as they could hasteneth on their way making all spéede to a Towne not farre from them where by a Fryer skilfull in Chirurgery they were dressed this night reposing themselues comforting their friends and the next day taking with them such Implaisters Balmes and other prouision néedfull to their wounds to serue till they came to Roane they set forward which within thrée dayes to their great content they recouered CHAP. III. How Robert and Iohn were lodged in the Nunnery of Saint Bennites in Roane where by the Lady Abbas they were cured AS soone as these good friendes recouered Roane and had housed their wounded companions to ease them whilest other prouision was made William and Otho being best acquainted knowing the Ladie Abbas of S. Bennets
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
who would not be spoken with wherfore taking her Father aside in priuate he discoursed how he was abused and vehemently protested he wold not be made a scorne by his daughter if she were a Lady therefore willed to let him know the originall of this scandall or by heauen he protested the next Sunday at diuine seruice in their parish Church to quit himselfe of so great an ignomy he would naked shewe himselfe to her and their great shame that deuised the same The old man séeing William so angry by mild spéech brought him to more reason and at his intreatie discouered vnto him what modestie forbad on which assurance her Father with his daughter and mother so preuailed that taking his word for currant and Williams for good payment she apparelled her selfe and came amongst them where all broyles were ended and promises faithfully giuen neuer more to be remembred and shortly after to both their contents were wedded Ioane finding her man Iames to be a strife-maker though she neuer for her oath discouered his doings secretly enuyed him euer after CHAP. X. How the sixe Marchants William Oliuer Otho Iohn VValter and Robert in their iourny to Bristow met and what hapned them WIlliam hauing espoused his Ioane placed her in Exeter he following his businesse which pleased Ioane and her Parentes well who hath now found his manhood and reproued the scandales Not long after the mariage was the Faire for Saint Iames at Bristow to which from all places of the West commeth Marchants Drapers and Chapmen to buy and sell amongst which resort these sire Marchants William Otho Iohn Walter Oliuer and Robert being from their owne homes on their iourney at Tanton by great fortune happily met glad of one the others company hauing taken their Inne earely they bespake their dyets to sup togither spending the time at bowels other sports till it was readie as frollicke and merry as euer they had bene none of them sparing hauing all wealth sufficient the next day to Bristow they came where they lodged orderly togither for no frends or acquaintance might part them Night approaching and their businesse for that time ended William was by a Mercer of London inuited to the horshead a Tauern to supper which he refused saying If I come I must bring my good friends and companions with me for we go togither Content quoth the Mearcer you shall all be welcome Whom William sought and tooke them with him to the place appointed where his friend the Mearcer and other Londoners met them To supper they go where wanted no cheare wine nordaintie Musick to whose company the Westerne Merchants were very welcome supper ended some betooke them to dice others to dance as best liked them William Oliuer and Robert standing ydle séeing money so plentifull and gamesters so franke fell in amongst the company where the dice running crosse Robert and Oliuer was quite of all their coyne William holding his owne in reasonable manner The Londoners which were winners frumped them and were pleasant amongst which one challenged William to throw one cast for all his money before him which was a good summe which offer Oliuer and Robert would haue taken offering to pawne their wares in the hall to make it good scorning to be braued by their betters But William was the man they shot at whom they entended to giue as drie a shauing as his companions William perceiuing whereat they aymed was more moued with his companions that sought to hinder him then the others and in choller thrust his money from him challenging the proudest to couer it who gaping for the money making a sure reckoning it was their owne was striuing who should be the man which William séeing laughed heartily saying by the holy Trinitie I neuer saw carrion crowes more gréedie then these good fellowes of my money which win quoth William and in Gods name take it when that is lost if lost it wil be I haue yet in money and credit with my neighbours a thousand crownes more which you shall haue amongst you The gamesters séeing his courage left contending couered the golde for which William had a chance and woon it wherat his companions showted This losse set our gallants in a heat which William perceiuing thus cooled Gentlemen we are poore men of the West and you of the famous Citie yet all subiects to our Soueraigne friends I trust we are if not say so Care that wil heare you friends square not without cause our money you wonne and with good will had it then be as well content to loose if you be not well loe there it lies pawne it and a gods name win it and weare it if we loose this we shall not beg to our homes The Londoners séeing his gallant mind commended him for his bountie loath to be braued put their heaps to one and had a chance for it William minding to try what was in them offered a thousand Crownes praising his chance either win the horse quoth he or loose the saddle fortune cannot begger vs with one throw at dice away the Boate and a straw for a pecke of Ryalls William shewing so pleasant a minde and franke to the standers by was wished well of all the whole cōpany but his iollitie quelled his gamesters that they durst not praise their chances The worse for William whose fortune was to win their monies and had all on the boord in his possession which with frowning countenances his fellow gamesters maligned which William perceiuing thus cheared Gentlemen you haue made vs poore men good cheare bestowing on vs Fidlers fare meate drinke and money for your sporte we thanke you and that you may know we trauellers of the West be good fellowes wishing no mans harme that would vs well the shot I will pay friends we met and so wish to continue Oliuer take here your principal you drew and Robert yours this hundreth pounds shall buy my Ioane pinnes for the rest Gentlemen if you scorne not a good fellows proffer share it amongst you that be loosers The Londoners which were farre spent in this brauerie gaue him thankes others better able to beare their losse in scorne refused his profer yet with a litle intreatie wonne to take it but generally the whole company admired and praised William who bestowed on them a costly banquet rewarded the Musitians largely paied the house and attendants For that time parting company with thankes to William for his cheare and large gifts CHAP. XI How William in his iourney homewards was robbed and how for a couple of Connyes he made in meriment his company pay his losses VVIlliam and his companions ending their businesse tooke their iourney by Bathe where pleasantly they spent a day or two feasting and making merrie with their friends From thence to Welles and so to Bridgewater ouer the downe called Poldonne a place often frequented with such as lighten honest trauellers of their monies These good companions passing the downe the way
after our countrey fashion and with his companions to the Court is come where with great welcomes of both Dukes they were entertained and feasted most costly with rare Cates spending the time of dinner with mirth and much pleasant parley Dinner ended to sundry sportes they fell some dance some discourse other court the dames Iames and other two of his companions accompany the Dukes at dice betwéene them was very great game and store of money on each side walking The Duke setting great summes which was neuer refused The Duke of Medina perceiuing it thought verily to make them turne crauen Being somewhat discontent loosing so much and few Crownes before him pulled a Iewell from his chaine valued at fiftie thousand Duckets daring in high tearmes the proudest Englishman to throw at it This sterne chalenge of the Duke dismaied our gallants who looking one on the other strained curtesie who should accept it none so so hardie to aduenture thereon the value being so great all their substance not able to counteruaile it and loath to lie in prison for a cast at Dice Iames nothing the timerousnesse of his companions chearing their faint sprites said Countreymen what all amort hath one proude word ouerthrowne you that hitherto scorned to be dared but like true Liegemen to our King hath maintained his and our countries honour No gallants no were his King here and would pawne his Crown making so peremptorie a chalenge my selfe would giue the aduenture thereon if life goods of credit would answere the losse thereof Therefore Saint George Englands honoured Patrone quoth Iames I am the man and stepping to the table clapped hand on the Iewel and couered it with his pawne promising to make good the valued summe of fiftie thousand Duckets if he lost it which the Duke accepted But in vnhappie time for Iames who lost by fortune of the Dice at that throw not onely all the wealth he had gained but his Maisters stock and all the goods he had of other Marchants to deale for as factor all which neuer daunted his courage nor could the Duke perceiue in his countenance any change but with great chearefulnesse drew the money he had of his owne and borrowed of his companions all they had about them he paide it in part pawning his honest word for the rest to be satisfied within ten dayes next following Which don spending some time in banketting they tooke their leaues all the company gréeued in heart for Iames who in that humor had vtterly vndone himselfe Iames recouering his lodging heauie in heart although he were light of substance began to consider of his estate it gréeued him more for his good friends in England his Maister and such whose goods he had lost then for himselfe In these passions of discontent when hee had a while like one lost from himselfe remained chearing his spirits hee thus said Base peasant vnworthy the name of Englishman what dishonor were it for thée and thy Nation if thy cowards thoughts by these proud Spaniards could be perceiued accountest thou more of trash then thy countries honour or shal this pelfe alter thy former contented humour drawing thy pleasant conceited minde to a laborinth of cares and so quite ouerthrow thy self No no cease to sorow a pound of care neuer paid one ounce of debt Let this be thy comfort thou wast for the time companion to the greatest Prince in Spaine then fail not to dispaire quiet thy effects follow thy businesse and satisfie the Duke least this more disgrace thy countrey for none payment then the insolent Spaniards hath gained welth by his Indies Lis farre better to die a begger in thine owne countrey then here to be disgraced and discountenanced the which all those Gallants of my countrey that shal come hereafter into these Confines with Millions of gold cannot redéeme Bestir thee then make sale of thy goods call for thy debts hauing the summe glut the myser Duke with golde though hereafter thou sterue Thus said leauing his studie with diligence he applied him against this promised time to procure the money which by his friends he conueyed to the Dukes house where he tendered the vtmost farthing The Duke of a milde and honourable inclination bethinking him what a great losse it was for a Marchant tendering his estate when he had sundry waies discoursed with him caused his Steward to returne him the one halfe of his money deuiding it betwéene them which Iames tooke in great scorne and more gréeued to be found other in the latter ende then at the beginning yet with courtesie and thankes returned the same saying to his companions That neuer Spaniard should report he was Benifactor to an Englishman So taking leaue of the Dukes of Medina and Florence departed to his lodging lamented of those Princes for his losse but highly honored for his magnanimitie and haughtie spyrit which made the Dukes censure him to be doubtlesse the sonne of some mightie Potentate how basely so euer shrowded in those his accustomed attires CHAP. XVIII How Iames trauelling from Cales to Saint Lucas encountered a gallant Lady widow of a Spanish Cauoleere of great honour IAmes this Deuonshire gallant hauing finished with the Duke and passed all accounts with his friends satisfying all such summes at full which he had taken vp for clearing this great sum had notise of the arriuall of certaine English ships at Cheryes To which place he hired a guide and post-horse to heare the newes from England taking his adieu of his companions away he goeth only accompanied with his guide So long trauelling that his horse being wearie desired his Maisters lodging in the fields for lodging that night he was not likely to recouer his guide fearing some hard measure being better horst left him thorow his threatning spéech which brought him to a very melancholy humour While he was debating with himselfe what should betide him that night hauing brought himselfe within such a Thicket or Groue of Drenge Lemmon or Pomgranat trees casting vp his eyes betwéene the glimsing of the light he espied a gallant Cauolere brauely mounted vpon a swift running Genat This sight hapning in a place so suspitious more appalled him then the losse of his money dreading more company and bad conditions of some lurking théeues to take away his life yet arming himselfe with courage resolued to make them buy it dearely if they did not ouermatch him determining with himselfe for his owne safetie he came nearer to his suspected enemie who crossed him the way betwéene the trées in such manner as might driue a man to doubt Iames comming vp to him and hauing a vigilent eye espied at his saddle bowe a Case of Pistolles and a Case of Rapiers by his side shewing in his countenance a sterne and heauie looke which made him more mistrust not without cause holding on his course with such spéed as his tired Iade would make at length well ouertooke the Spaniard hauing seene Iames making lesse haste for his