faire Ladies foot so well did Crispine know That none but he could please her mind the certaine truth is so Came he by night or else by day he was most welcome still With kisses sweet she did him pay and thankes for his good will So oft these Lovers twaine did meete by day and eke by night That at the last the Lady said she should be shamed quite What was the matter tell me true that so her sorrow bred Her Shoomaker most daintily had got her Maidenhead But he at length so wisely wrought as doth the Story tell Her fathers right good will he got and every thing was well And Crispianus came againe from warres victoriously Then Shoomakers made Holiday and therefore so will I. And now for Crispianus sake this wine I drinke to thee And he that doth this marke mistake and will not now pledge me He is not Crispianus friend nor worthy well I wot To have a Lady to his Love as Crispine he hath got CHAP. X. How Sir Simon Eyer being at first a Shoomaker became in the end Mayor of London through the counsell of his wife and how he broke his fast every day on a Table that he said he would not sell for a thousand pounds and how he builded Leaden Hall OUr English Chronicles doe make mention that sometime there was in the honourable City of London a worthy Mayor known by name of Sir Simon Eyre whose fame liueth in the mouthes of many men to this day who albeit be descended from meane parentage yet by Gods blessing in the end he came to be a most worthy man in the common-wealth This man being brought young out of the North Countrey was bound prentise to a Shoomaker bearing then the name of the Gentle-Craft as still it doth his Master being a man of reasonable wealth set many Iourney-men and prentises to worke who followed their businesse with great delight which quite excludeth all wearines for when seruants doe sit at their worke like Dromedaries then their minds are neuer lightly vpon their businesse for it is an old prouerbe They prove servants kind and good That sing at their busines like birds in the wood Such fellowes had this young Lad who was not behind with many Northerne Iâ—gs to answer their Southerne Songs This youth being the youngest prentise in the house as occasion serueâ— was often sent to the Conduit for water where in short time he fell acquainted with many other prentises comming thither for the same intent Now their custome was so that euery Sunday morning diuers of these prentizes did vse to goe to a place neare the Conduit to breake their fast with pudding Pies and often they would take Simon along with them but vpon a time it so fell out that when hee should draw money to pay the shot with the rest that he had none whereupon hée merrily said vnto them My faithfull friends and Conduit companious treasurers of the Water-tankerd and maine pillars of the pudding-house I may now compare my purse to a varren Doe that yeelds the Kéeper no more good than her empty carkasse or to a bad nut which being opened hath neuer a kernell therefore if it will please you to pardon me at this time and excuse me for my part of the shot I doe here vow vnto you that if euer come to be Lord Mayor of this City I will giue a breakfast vnto all the prentizes in London We doe take your word quoth they and so they departed It came to passe that Simon hauing at length worne out his yéeres of Apprentiship that hee fell in loue with a Maiden that was a néere neighbour vnto him vnto whom at length he was married and not him a shop â—â—d laboured hard daily and his young wife was neuer idle but straight when she had nothing to doe she sate in the shop and spun and hauing liued thus alone a yéere or thereabout and hauing gathered something together at length he got him some prentizes and a Iourniman or two and he could not make his ware so fast as be could haue sold it so that â—e stood in great néed of a Iourni man or two more At the last one of his seruants spring one goe along the stréet with a â—ardell at his backe called to his Master saying Sir yonder goes S. Hughes bones twenty pounds to a â—â—nny Run presently quoth he and bring him hither The boy running forth called to the man saying Good fellow come hither here is one would speake with you The fellow being a French-man that had not long béene in England turning about sayd Hea what you sea Will you speake wed me Hea what you haue tell a mee what you haue hea And with that comming to the stall the good man askâ— him if hee lackt worke We par ma foy quoth the French-man Hereupon Simon tooke him in and to worke hee went merrily where he behaued himselfe so well that his Master made good account of him thinking hee had béene a Bachelour but in the end it was found otherwise This man was the first that wrought vpon the low cut shâ—â—e with she square toe and the latchet ouerth wart the instep before which time in England they did weare a high shooe that reached aboue the ankles right after the manner of our husbandmens shooes at this day saue onely that it was made very sharpe at the toe turning vp like the taile of an Island dog or as you sée a Cocke carry his hinder feathers Now it is to be remembred that while John Denevale dwelt with Simon Eyre it chanced that a ship of the I le of Candy was driuen vpon our Coast laden with all â—inde of Lawnes and Cambrickes and other linnen cloth which commodities at that time were in London very scant and excéeding deare and by reason of a great lâ—ake the ship had got at Sea being vnable to faile any further he would make what profit he could of his goods here And being come to London it was John Denevales chance to méete him in â—he stréets to whom the Merchant in the Gréeke tongue demanded where he might haue lodging for he was one that had neuer béene in England before and being vnacquainted wist not whither to goe but while he spake Gréeke John Denevale answered him still in French which tongue the Merchant vnderstood well and therefore being glad that he had met with one that could talke to him hée declared vnto him what tempests hee endured at Sea and also how his ship lay vpon the Coast with such Commodities as he would sell. Truely Sir quoth John I am my selfe but a stranger in this Countrey and vtterly vnacquainted with Merchants but I dwell with one in the City that is a very honest man and it may be that hée can helpe you to some that will deale with you for it and if you thinke it good I will moue him in it and in the meane space I le bring you where you may
good health but I beseech you pardon mee for I know not how to call your name with that my Lord Mayor answered him saying his name is Master Eyre and this is the Gentleman that bought all the goods that came in the blacke Swan of Candy and before God though he sit here in simple sort for his wealth I doe verily beléeue he is more sufficient to beare this place than my selfe This was a man that was neuer thought vpon liuing obsâ—ure amongst vs of none account in the eyes of the world carrying the countenance but of a Shoomaker and none of the best sort neither and is able to deale for a bargaine of fiue thousand pounds at a câ—ap We doe want many such Shoomakers said the Citizen and so with other discourse droue out supper at what time rising from the Table Simon and his wife receiuing sundry salutations of my Lord Mayor and his Lady and of all the rest of the worshipfull guests departed home to their owne house at what time his wife made such a reciâ—all of the matters how brauely they were entertained what great cheare was there also what a great company of Gentlemen and Gentlewomen were there and how often they dranke to her husband and to her with diuers other circumstances that I beléeue if the night had béene six moneths long as it is vnder the North pole the would haue found talke enough till morning Of a truth quoth she although I sate closely by my Ladies side I could eate nothing for very ioy to heare and see that wee were so much made of And neuer giue me credit husband if I did not heare the Officers whisper as they stood behind me and all demanded one of another what you were and what I was O quoth one doe you sée this man marke him well and marke his wife well that simple woman that sits next my Lady What are they What are they quoth another Marry this is the rich Shoomaker that bought all the goods in the great Argozie I tell you there was neuer such a Shoomaker seene in London since the City was builded Now by my faith quoth the third I haue heard much of him to day among the Merchants in the stréet going betwéene the two Chaines Credit me husband of mine honesty this was their communication Nay and doe you not remember when she rich Citizen dranke to you whâ—ch craued pardon because he knew not your name what my Lord Mayor sayd Sir quoth he his name is Master Eyer did you marke that and presently thereupon he added these words This is the Gentleman that bought and so forth The Gentleman vnderstood you did you heare him speake that word In troth wife quoth he my Lord vttered many good words of me I thanke his honour but heard not that No queth she I heard it well enough for by and by he procéeded further saying I suppose though he sit here in simple sort hee is more sufficient to beare this charge than my selfe Yea thought I he may thanke his wife for that if it come so to passe Nay sayd Simon I thanke God for it Yea next him you may thanke me quoth she And it did her so much good to talke of it that I suppose if she had liued till this day she should yet be prating thereof and if sléepe did not driue her from it And now séeing that Simon the Shoomaker is become a Merchant we will temper our tongues to giue him that title which his customers were wont to doe and from henceforth call him master Eyer who while he had his affaires in hand committed the gouernment of his shop to John the Frenchman leauing him to be a guide to his other seruants by meanes of which fauour John thought himselfe at that time to be a man of no small reputation CHAP. XII How Iohn the French-man fell in love with one of his Masters Maides and how hee was crossed through the craft of Haunce the Dutch-man AT the same time there was dwelling in the house a iolly lusty wench whose name was Florence whom John the Frenchman loued dearely well and for her only sake he brought many a good bottle of wine into the house and therewithall so soone as their Master and Mistresse were gone to bed they would oftentimes make merry amongst themselues which Haunce a Iourney-man in the same house perceiuing sought to crosse them as much as in him lay thereby to bring his owne purpose the better to passe which was to ioyne the Maidens fauour to his owne affection And because the Frenchman had greatest gaines vnder his Master and being thereof no niggard when hee had got it the Maids did most delight in him and little estéemed the Duchman though his good will ware as great towards her as the other for they could not be in any corner of the house together nor could they méet in any place abroad but the Dutchman would still watch them Upon a time Florence being at Market her Loue John went forth of the shop to meet her and Haunce stayed not long behinde who at length espied them and heard his fellow John questioning with her in this sort What Florence what haue you in your basket hea let mée sée what you buy Marry John quoth she I haue bought Béefe and Mutton and other things Come come must you péepe in my basket quoth she away for shame away Be got Florence mee will sée a little ha ha Florence you buy the pudding hea you loue de puddings Florence hea Yea Sir quoth shee what it I doe loue puddings what care you of my tra Florence if I be your husband me will giue you pudden shall warren My husband quoth she in faith sir no I meane not to marry a French man What Florence de French man be de good man but Florence me will giue you a pinte of wine by my treat O I cannot stay now I thanke you John quoth he What Florence no stay with your friend I shall make you stay a little time and so with that taking her by the hand into the Tauerne they goe and Haunce the Dutch man following them and sate close in the next roome and by that meanes he heard all that they said and that they appointed the next Sunday to goe to Islington together and there to be merry and so the Maid hasting away they departed Well quoth Haunce secretly to himselfe it shall goe hard but I le disappoint you Sunday in the afternoone being come John the French man according to appointment went before to Islington leauing Florence to come after with another Maide which dwelt in the same house whilest hee prepared good cheare for their comming and the more to make her mâ—rry hée hired a noise of Musicians to attend tâ—â—â—â— pleasure And as it after happened his fellow Haunce preuented this sport who watching in the fields for Florence at length he spied her comming to whom he said Well met faire Florence
another wife liuing But Nicholas that all this while lay in prison being brought before Alderman Eyer rehearted the truth and crauing pardon for his offence was without more adoe deliuered And Florence being called before him hee made vp the match betwéene her and his man Nicholas marrying them out of his house with great credit giuing them a good stocke to begin the world withall also for John Frenchman dee did very much and shewed himselfe a good Master to his man Haunce and to all the rest of his seruants CHAP. XVI How Master Alderman Eyre was chosen Lord Mayor of London and and how he feasted all the Prentices on Shrove-tuesday VVIthin a few yeares after Alderman Eyre being â—haâ—en Lord Maâ—or of London changing his coppy he became one of the Worshipfull Company of Drayers and for this yéere he kept a moâ—â— be â—ntifull house At this time it came into his minde what a promise once hee made to the Prentices being at breakfast with them at their going to the Conâ—uit speaking to his Lady in this wife â—ooâ— Lord quoth hee what a chance haue wée had within these thirty yéeres And how greatly hath the Lord blessed vs â—â—uce that blessed â—e his Name for it I dâ—e remember when I was a young Prentice what a match I made vpon a Shroue tuesday morning â—einâ— at the Canduit among other of my companions trust me wise quoth he 't is worth the hearinâ— and I le tell thee how it fâ—ll out After wee had filled out Tankards with water there was some would néedes haue mee set downe my Tankard aâ—â— goâ— with them â—o breakefast as many times before I had done to which I consented and it was a breakefast of Pudding pies I shall neuer forget it But to make short when the shot came to be payd each one drew out his money but I had not one penny in my purse and credit I had none in the place which when I beheâ—d being aâ—ashed I said Well my Masters doe you giue me my breakfast this time and in requitall thereof if euer I be Mayor of London I le bestow a breakfast on all the prentizes of the City these were the words little thinking God wot that euer it should come to passe but such was the great goodnesse of our God who setteth vp the humble and pulleth downe â—he proud to bring whom he pleaseth to the seat of honour For as the Scripture witnesseth Promotion commeth neither from the East nor from the West but from him that is the giver of all good things the mighty Lord of Heaven and Earth Wherefore wife séeing God bath bestowed that vpon me that I neuer looked for it â—s reason that I should performe my promise and being able now I le pay that which then I was not able to doe for would not haue men say that I am like the Ebon tree that neither beares leaues nor fruit Wherefore wife séeing that Shrone Tuesday is so neare at hand I will vpon that day fulfill my promise which vpon that day I made Truely my Lord quoth thee I will be right willing thereunto Then answered my Lord as thou doest loue mée let them lacke neither Pudding pâ—es nor Pancakes and looke what other good cheare is to be had I will referre all to your discretion Hereupon great prouision was made for the Prentizes breakefast and Shrouetuesday being come the Lord Mayor sent word to the Aldermen that in their seuerall Wards they should signifie his minde to the Citizens to â—raâ—e their fauours that their Prentizes might come to his house to breakefast and that for his sake they might play all the day after Hereupon it was ordered that at the ringing of a Bell in euery Parish the Prentizes should leaue worke and shut vp their shops for that day which being euer since yéerely obserued it is called the Pancake bell The prentizes being all assembled my Lord Mayors house was not able to hold them they were such a multitude so that besides the great â—all all the gardens were set with Tables an◠〈◊〉 the backeside Tables were set and euery other spare place was also furnished so that at length the Prentizâ—s were all placed and while â—eaâ—e was bringing in to delight their eâ—res as well as to â—éede their bodies and to drowne the noise of their praâ—lings Drums and Trumpets were pleasantly sounded that being ended the Waits of the City with diuers other sorts of muâ—â—cke played also to begutle the time and to put off all discontent After the first seruice were all the Tables pleutifully furnished with â—udding-pâ—eâ— and Pancakes in very plentifull manner and the rest that remained was giuen to the poore Wine and Ale in very great measure they had giuen insomuch that they had no lacke nor â—xcesse to cause them to bee â—isordered And â—u the middest of this their merriment the Lord a or in his scarlet gowne and his Lady in like manner went in amongst them bidding them all most heartâ—ly welcome saying vnto them that his promise so long agoe made hée hath at length performed At what time they in token of thankfulnesse slung vp their Caps giuing a great shout and incontinently they all quietly departed Then after this Sir Simon Eyer builded Leaden-Hall appointing that in the middest thereof there should bée a Market place kept euery Monday for Leather where the Shoomakers of London for their more ease might buy of the â—anners without séeking any further And in the end this worthy man ended his life in London with great Honour FINIS
haue a very good lodging to morrow morning I will come to you againe Sir said the Merchant if you please to doe me that fauour I le not onely be thankfull vnto you for the same but also in most honest sort will content you for your paines and with that they departed Now so soone as John the Frenchman came home he moued thâ— matter vnto his Master desiring him that hée would doe what hee could for the Merchant when his Master had heard each circumstance noting there with the want of such commodities in the â—and cast in his mind as he stood cutting vp his worke what were best to bee done in this case saying to his man John I will thinke vpon it betwixt this and the morning and then I will tell you my minde and there withall casting downe his cutting Knife he went out of his shop into his Chamber and therein walked vp and downe alone very sadly ruminating hereon he was so farre in his muse that his wife sending for him to supper two or three times he nothing regarded the maides call hammering this matter in his head at last his wife came to him saying Husband what meane you that you doe not come to supper why speake you not man Heare you good husband come away your meat will be cold but for all her words he staid walking vp and downe still like a man that had sent his wits a wool gathering which his wife séeing pulled him by the sléeue saying why Husband in the name of God why come you not will you not come to supper to night I called you a good while agoe Body of me wife said he I promise thee I did not heare shee no saith it séemeth so quoth she I maruell whereupon your mind runneth Beleeue me wife quoth hée I was studying how to make my selfe Lord Mayor and thée a Lady Now God helpe you quoth she I pray God make vs able to pay euery man his owne that we may liue out of debt and danger and driue the Woolfe from the doore and I desire no more But wife said he I pray thee now tell me Doest thou not thinke that thou couldst make shift to beare the name of a Lady if it should be put vpon thee In truth Husband quoth she I le not dissemble with you if your wealth were able to beare it my mind would beare it well enough Well wife replyed he I tell thee now in sadnesse that if I had money there is a commodity now to bée bought the gaines whereof would be able to make me a Gentleman for euer Alasse husband that dignity your trade allowes you already being a squire of the Gentle-Craft then how can you be lesse than a Gentleman séeing your fonne 〈◊〉 Prinâ—e â—â—rne Tush wife quoth he those titles doe onely rest in name but not in nature but of that sort had I rather be whose lands are answerable to their vertues and whose rents can maintaine the greatnesse of their mind Then swéet husband tell me said his wife tell me what commodity is that which you might get so much by I am sure your selfe hath some money and it shall goe very hard but Iâ—e procure friends to borrow one forty shillings and beside that rather then you shall lose so good a bargaine I haue a couple of crownes that saw no Sun since we were first married and them also shall you haue Alas wife said Simon all this comes not nâ—â—re that matter I confesse it would do some good in buying some backs of leather but in this thing it is nothing for this is Merchantize that is precious at this time and rare to be had and I heare that whosoeuer will haue it must lay downe 3000 pounds ready money Yea wife and yet thereby he might get thrée and three thousand pounds profit His wife hearing him say so was inflamed with the desire thereof as women are for the most part very couetous that matter running still in her minde she could scant finde in her heart to spare him time to goe to supper for very eagernesse to animate him on to take that bargaine vpon him Wherefore so soone as they had supt and giuen God thankes she called her husband saying I pray you come hither I would speake a word with you that man is not alwayes to bée blamed that sometimes takes counsell of his wife though womens wits are not able to comprehend the greatest things yet in doubtfull matters they oft helpe on a sudden Well wife what meane you by this said her husband In truth quoth she I would haue you to plucke vp a mans heart and spéedily choâ— vp a bargaine for these goods you speake of Who â— quoth he which way should I doe it that am not able for thrée thousand pounds to lay downe thrée thousand pence Tush man quoth shée what of that euery man that beholds a man in the face knowes not what he hath in his purse and whatsoeuer he be that owes the goods he will no doubt be content to stay a moneth for his money or thrée wéekes at the least and I promise you to pay a thousand pounds a wéeke is a pretty round payment and I may say to you not much to be misliked of Now husband I would haue you in the Morning goe with John the French man to the Grecian Merchant and with good discretion driue a sound bargaine with him for the whole fraught of the Sâ—iâ— and thereupon giue him halfe a dozen Angells in earnest and eight and twenty daies after the deliuery of the goods condition to deliuer him the rest of his money But woman quoth he doest thou imagine that hee would take my word for so waighty a masse of money and to deliuer his goods vpon no better security Good Lord quoth she haue you no wit in such a case to make shift â—le tell you what you shall doe Be not knowne that you bargaine for your owne selfe but tell him that you doe it in the behalfe of one of the chiefe Aldermen in the City but beware in any case that you leaue wiâ—h him your owne name in writing he â—eing a Grecian cannot reade English and you haue no need at all to shew John the French man or if you should it were no great matter for you can tell well enough that he can neither write nor reade I perceiue wife quoth he thou wouldst â—aine be a Lady and worthy thou art to be one that dost thus â—â—â—loy thy wits to bring thy husband profit but tell me if he should be desirous to sée the Alderman to conferre with him how shall we doe then Iesus haue mercy vpon vs quoth she you say women are fooles but mée seemeth men haue néed to be taught sometimes Before you come away in the morning let John the French-man tell him that the Alderman himselfe shall come to his lodging in the afternoone and receiuing a note of all the goods that be in the ship he