faire and gréene and they pleasanty discoursing William of a necessarie businesse was enforced to stay behinde wherin being earnestly imploied came to him thrée tal fellows wel appointed with short swords and bucklers commanding him to deliuer his mony William being thus surprized on the sudden nothing daunted with their words presently said It is done like cowards and not men to take me at such aduantage Now I sée the old prouerbe verified It is easie kissing a mans tayle when his hose are downe If you be men as you haue the forme of men shew me faire play and do your worst The théeues hearing him so pleasant though their hast to be gone was great dreading his company should rescue him would trie what was in him setting so good a face on it willed him to chuse his first man and best do best haue William hearing such good words from so bad mindes tooke his Capcase from his Saddle bow setling himselfe to such weapons as he had Good fellowes quoth he for Gentlemen I scorne to name you that you may say hereafter you met with a true man and a good fellow there lieth my money twentie pounds I take it on this condition that if I hurt or foyle this good fellow the money to be mine without more adoor further chalēge of any of you if I receiue the like the money is yours much good may it do you with this consent of both parties to it they went William being a very tall man held him play vntill his sword brake when closing with him William shewing a Deuonshire tricke laid him flat on his backe and might haue slaine him had not his fellowes bin so neare With this the fray ended and William craued leaue to passe with his money according to promise which they deliuered William hauing it at his Saddle bow readie to take horse two of them holding him fast by the armes said Gentleman I doubt not but you wil confesse to your friends we haue vsed you as our honest promise was you haue your money and we all good friends which considered though our wants be great yet euery honest man is their words maister we will not steale for that is forbidden marrie we haue here two good Rabbets which you shall buy William hearing the théefe talke so much of honestie blessing himsefe saith when the Fore preacheth beware the Géese My maisters quoth he I haue farre home and my diet prouided in euery Inne if I haue money I haue no vse for your Rabbets therefore séek some other chapman By our Lady quoth the théefe but you shall Nay if you sweare said William I am content so your price be reasonable What must I pay all the money in your Capcasse quoth they therefore dispatch for we haue businesse Dispatch quoth William no hast but good I must haue some more time to view my commoditie before I pay my money With that they laid all hands vpon him to binde him vnto which he was loath to subiect himselfe wherefore willed them to take his money and let him go to which though they they were loath to agrée yet vpon his oath that he should not pursue them they shaked the money into their hat and bad him farewell William hauing his Rabbets the dearest commoditie hee euer bought hastneth after his company who missing him at the foote of a hill stayed his comming vnto whom he shewed no maner of discontent but ieasting said you my maisters of Barnestable and Tiuertonne being so neare make hast to be with your wuies and misse all good bargaines sée what I haue bought to make my Ioane merrie when I come home Nay quoth one though they be good and well worth the carriage yet will they not kéepe so farre the weather being so hote Therefore let vs eate them to dinner and be merry togeather before we part Eat them quoth William soft sirs they cost me more Why said they you shall haue as much as they cost you with thankes You say like honest men said William let vs ride no further then Bridgewater to night and take my bargaine on this condition you pay me what they cost and my selfe go cleare for buying and cariage To which they all assented and forward they set a round pace to Bridgewater where they dined bespake good cheare for supper where the Rabbets were a dish enuited their friends of the Towne with whom they were very merrie at supper William often demaunding how they liked their cheare which they all commended The guest gone a reckoning was called and the hoast payed Now Signior William quoth Oliuer what cost the Rabbets and wel remembred said Otho we had like to haue forgotten them Yea had said William that is all one forbearance is no quittance giue me my present money as your promise was and after I wil bestow on you to bedward a gallon of the best wine in the towne You will gaine much by that said Robert Get or loose I will do it Tell vs then quoth Walter what cost they My maisters I doubt not but you will all beléeue me speaking on my credit twentie pounds they cost me and some odde money how much I do not perfectly remember wherefore pay me twentie pounds and let the rest go Muse not at my large account for your haste was cause thereof leauing me in such manner without regard recounting all that hapned betwéene the theeues and him Whereat though they were ashamed and more gréeued for the daunger he was in they could not forbeare to laugh Well my maisters said William ieast on you shall not scape one penney better cheape for as I am an honest man you shall pay it to teach you leaue your honest friends hereafter whose life was by your negligence in great hazard So iustly sharing the twentie poundes amongst them turning it to a ieast with a good will they deliuered it William called for his gallon of wine promised which they merrily drunke to wash downe the Rabbets and the next morning when they had rid thrée or foure houres togither as their way lay they parted euery man to his home faithfull friends and true louers one of the other CHAP. XII How these famous Marchants for wrongs done them by the Frenchmen equiped twelue ships of worth by authoritie of the King and their successe THe Frenchmen in times past hauing secret enuie against our Nation some discord hapning betwéene the Kings of both the Realmes great broyles were in hand on either partie and many outrages by land and sea committed the poore Marchants euer hauing the worst whose goods were taken rifled and solde without recompence Mongst those which had great cause to complaine of their losse the Marchants of Exeter and the Westerne parts had not their parts least being men of trade aduenturing euerie where lost much so long endured without redresse that vexed thereat and some of them neare vndone by humble suite to the King obtained Letters of Reprisall to serue against
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
irkesome and Iames his tale troublesome William offering her kindnesse comming to her bed side to speake with her she violently thrust him from her turning her to the other side not caring for his courtesie or him but earnestly entreated them to take him from her This strangenesse which she shewed William whom they thought would haue bene a comfort more troubled them then any other accident especially William whom it most concerned who entred into all iudgements séeming reason sauing the principall which they neuer suspected William censuring al things to the best of her whom he dearly loued was therefore the more in spirit cumbred yet pacifying himselfe as he best might walked abroad spending time vntill the euening when he thought sléepe might better quiet her and giue some better temper to her wittes which happened not so well for no sooner came he in her sight but presently she followed her olde humor to Williams great griefe séeing other men well entreated and welcome to her he onely despiced in this chollericke humor he would haue left the house and like to haue sworn by great oaths neuer to come thither more had not the company which wished them both well pacified him at whose request and great entreatie he stayed though in small content all night to see if any alteration would be CHAP. IX How Iames was troubled in mind for that which happened and what meanes was vsed to know the cause of Ioanes sicknesse IAmes hauing ended his businesse being at some leisure began to consider what wronges he had offered his Maister and his friend and what might follow this diuellish practise in this quandary when he had wayted some time extraordinary for his Maister that came not he gat to bed where the guiltinesse of his foule offence so cumbred him that he tooke small rest The morning no sooner gaue light but Iames wearied with his nightes disquiet got vp about his businesse and not long after came William home as heauie and full of passions as a man might be losing his delight her Father and mother with wéeping neare wearied and the whole housholde mourned for their disquiet The old woman who had a motherly care of the Mayden searching all wayes and meanes for her daughters health principally noted the small content she tooke in Williams company who hearing that he was gone began more chéerfully to talke calling for such things as she liked this amendment caused her Mother to imagine some discontent it was that troubled her which would be her destruction if some meane were not found to know the cause from whence it procéeded To effect which pollitikely she insinuates with an auncient Mayden seruant of theirs that had bene her daughters bed-fellow euer since she was weaned whome Ioane loued wel to her the Mother maketh great mone promising mony plentifull and what other friendship they could do for her if she could by any deuise attain the knowledge of her griefe for that they were assured was the chiefest cause The mayden wroght by her old Mistresse promised faithfully to do her best to satisfie them not forgetting her Maister Mistresse good words and rich proffers of mony as one that could well handle the matter watching in the night with Ioane vttred many faire words bemoaning her extremitie and pittying her distresse saying she was perswaded that some secret sorrow cumbred her willing whatsoeuer was in her minde to reueale it to some one whom she best trusted therewith which would be the more comfort for her in sicknesse so might she the better ease her heart of sorrow and haue meanes to releeue her otherwise there was no hope of life Ioane hearkening to her approued friendes good counsell after she had sworne her to conseale what she had to impart vnto her and the seruant promising faithfully to fulfill whatsoeuer she was enioyned with many sighes which like smoke came from her stomack out it came which sore burned her hart and consumed her bodie vttring wherof she enueyed against her Father Mother William and all friends thereto consenting The seruant hearing her beléeued verily shee had found where the hurt lay and smoothed her more to feele the bottome of her heart which Ioane faithfully discharged at full leauing nothing hid from her With which newes the Mayden laboured as a woman with childe to be deliuered wayting opportunitie to her Maister and Mistresse she came and vnto them deliuered what Ioane vnder Benedicitie had reuealed assuring her Maister that was the cause Her mother at hearing thereof grew into admiration how Ioane should come to knowledge of so great a secret yet was glad at the heart she had that giuen her to vnderstand The better to eschew ill to such chances incident with more tender compassion bemoning her that being a woman as shée was should so be deluded loosing the benefit of youth the rytes to marriage in dutie appertaining The olde woman finding by Ioanes trustie friend where her griefe laie on the morrow came vnto her inciting her by the dutie of a childe to let her know if any thing troubled her minde and fréely speaking without blame she should be comforted if all the abilitie she had would procure it Ioane hearing her mothers spéeches though modestie willed her conseale it trusting her mother would be secret to her in like manner reuealed the substance of Iames his tale cause of her griefe which the old woman was glad of willing her to take comfort and be of good cheare for she should not haue that wrong by her consent blaming her most for so long consealing the occasion so highly to gréeue her selfe which sooner made knowne order had bene taken before that time for a husband sufficient Ioane well pleased with her mothers saying assured of her loue began to comfort her selfe in hope and by little and little recouered some strength Her mother whose secrets she could not kéepe to a Gossop a neighbour of hers reuealed the cause of her childes malladie and the imbesilitie of William So long this newes was carried that it came by a Nourse dwelling in that parish to Exeter who told her Mistresse which was wife to a wealthy Marchant what common talke was through their parish of William The Marchants wife whose husband loued William wel could not be quiet but assoone as her husband came in acquainted him with that report The good man smiling at his wiues simplicitie that was no better imployed then to spend her time hearing so bad a tale Wife quoth he I hope your modestie is more then to be a carrier of such tydings to answere you as I would do all others that speake it I will on my oath iustifie that he is a man sufficient for any reasonable woman what I speake is trueth I know it well hauing bene his bedfellow almost thrée yeares learning our language in Spaine The Marchant acquainted William herewith who in choller accompanied with some friendes hyed to the Farmers house requesting to see Ioane
either one or other of them two must part if William entended to liue in quiet William wisely waying the benefit of so good a seruant was loth to leaue him vntill by continuall clamours of his wife he was enforced whom to content he found meanes to send Iames his man to the ports of Cales and Saint Lucas in Spaine with his marchandise that he had then shipped as Marchant and chiefe Factor on which motion made to Iames by his Maister and assurance there to continue thrée yeares which was all the time he had to serue Iames was wel pleased being perswaded of his Maisters loue how much soeuer he was discontent with his Mistresse whose enuy he was assured to be principall cause thereof which with patience hée tooke in as good part as he could prouiding himselfe to go with the ship which being readie his Maister deliuered him his chartie partie and Billes of lading with many good and graue aduertisements So taking his farewell of Maister and Mistresse all his fellow seruants he left behinde him this Adieu in writing and so betooke him to his affaires Thogh parting be mourning Where friendship is deere Yet better be packing Then stay longer heere Our William sweet William Is matched with Ione Whose will not VVilliams Doth cause me to mone The wrath of a woman May no man endure For where they maligne Their woe they procure Experience hath taught it And true it doth proue The Diuel and a woman Seld conquerd by loue A woman enuious Whose chance is to wed Were better be troubled With a diuel in his bed Therefore my good fellowes From whom I must part Forget not to learne This lesson by hart What euer your Maister Appoint to be donne Regard your Mistresse If blowes you will shunne The night Crowes fauour Seeke you to obtaine More shall be your quiet But better your gaine For women how euer They chance speak you faire Will alwaies be readie Your woe to prepare If in the least sort You crosse their intent They 'l dye in the quarell But they wil cause you be shēt Say Iames for his farwell This lesson doth giue And please your Mistresse So long as you liue CHAP. XIIII How the Kings Army marched to Exeter to relieue the Citie besieged by the Cornish Rebelles AMongst sundry Tumults and rebellious assemblies wherewith in times past this lande was afflicted a route of Traytors were gathered togither in the West verie mightie was their power and their tyrannie more who spared not to waste spoyle and ruinate all along the whole Countrey as they marched together without regard of God Prince or naturall affection of that clymat where they receiued life The tyrannie of these Rebels bruted throughout the Country euery man fled for safegard of their liues wiues and children to the noble Citie of Exeter as a place of sanctuary from those blood-thirstie reprobates Where the Rebels followed with their mercilesse army and with strong siege begirt it vsing all possible means they could by force and pollicie to gaine the possession thereof which in vaine they practised many assaults they made which were manfully resisted by the honourable and true liegemen Citizens of the same and sundry valiant and daungerous scalies made by them vpon the enemy weakening their force with great slaughter and pulling from them of their store of victualls to reléeue their wants which were very many and great yet dismayed they not but continued their defence with great valour and euerlasting honour vnto them In this time of trouble was William called to high office amongst them in his owne person doing great and worthie seruice to the incouragement of the multitude whom of his owne bountie and charge of victualls he reléeued sauing their liues both by valour and liberall store of prouision famine had so generally possessed the same Of these outrages by the Rebels committed the King was aduertised who gratiously tendering their distresse and pittying those his louing subiects whose vatour and constancy to him was such spéedily leuied a power of men at armes and with such hastie iournies as was requisite marched towards Exeter for their reliefe Of whose comming the Rebels hauing knowledge like a rable of faint hearted miscreants raised their siege and departed with bagge and baggage The tydings of whose departure by Postes to his highnesse was signified who notwithstanding continued his iourney to Exeter to sée their battered walles and by his presence to encourage them and others his subiects to like loyaltie if such chaunces should happen Unto whom his Maiestie was most ioyfully welcommed as appeared by their entertainment which was graciously accepted as by his honourable thankes giuen did appeare CHAP. XV. How VViliiam and his companions Oliuer Otho and the rest to make the King sport chalenged all commers at wresling foote-ball and hurling which he performed THe King whose countenance hath purchased the Cities libertie reposed him amongst those his loyall subiects of Exeter who to shewe their loue inabled their greatest diligence Amongst which William and Oliuer whose wealth was matchlesse and best able to performe what they vndertooke entending to shewe their Countries accustomed exercises of actiuitie before his Highnesse made generall challenge throughout the Countrey of Deuon and Cornwall 24. men to 24. chuse them where they could at Exeter before the King on a day prefixed at these sportes viz. wrestling hurling and footeball This challenge giuen out William that had his felicitie in kéeping men of actiuitie chiefly excelled in these qualities sent likewise to his friends Walter of Totnes Otho of Plymouth Iohn of Barnestable and Robert of Tyuerton to furnish him with such men as as they could of their owne which were able to maintaine the chalenge Who hauing notise thereof and knowing the assured day fayled not their old friend William but accordingly brought to Exeter twelue good men of theirs to ioyne with William and his twelue To encounter which according to the proclamation repaired to Exeter many worshipfull Gentlemen with their followers and sundry chiefe and well experienced in those qualities William and his companions willing to encourage their people hath for the purpose against the first day suted all their company in Crimson Satten with scarlet Cappes and Feathers vnder which euery man to play in wore a Wastcoate of like coloured Taffata The time assgned come and the King taking his place to behold this exercise of wrestling appointed for the first dayes pastime William and his friends aboue named apparelled in Coats of black Ueluet and Chaines of Gold accompanied with many Whiflers to guard the place marched on to the Greene called Southing-Hay without the Citie walles followed with his appointed troupes attyred as you haue heard who taking their places were instantly followed by the Country men Then to answere them apparelled in suites of purple Satten and ledde by a Knight of great name who passing by his highnesse place bowed themselues and marching once or twise about the rayles