whenever he put his Hand into it he drew out ten Angels of Gold entailing it upon him and his Sons Of the noble Entertainment he had afterwards How he was imprisoned by Duke Rodolphus and suspected as a Robber for his great Profuseness and upon what Terms he gained his Liberty FOrtunatus being freed from another Danger left the City and resolved to go for Paris when passing thro' a great Wood and being at a loss which way to go as he gazed about he saw a comely Shape in Woman's Apparel crossing his way and coming up to him he demanded who she was and her Business in that Desart My Name reply'd she is Fortune and here am I placesed by the Great Distributed and Disposer of all the things by whose command I have Power to give six Things to such as stand in need of them for but one of them can by my means fall to any one Man's share Be prudent in your Choice for you may not chuse again He now supposed he had found his good Angel which made him greatly rejoyce and reflecting on his former Poverty he chose Riches saying Give me so much that I may never be poor again so he well knew what Power Money had in the World it answering all things as make a Knave pass for an honest Man a Fool for a Wit a Dowdy for a Beauty a Coward for a valiant Man upon this she gave him a Purse curiously wrought in Needle-work with various Figures of Providence workt thereon in Silk Gold and Pearl saying Take this Purse and be thankful for it to Almighty God for in whatsoever Land thou art put thy Hand into it and you shall as often as you do so draw out ten Angels of Gold of that Country Coin For this he gave her a thousand Thanks leaping for Joy to which she repâ—â—â— Direct them to the Divine Giver of all things I am but the Hand to distribute them as he Directs For continued she I neither see nor have regard to the Persons on whom I bestow them but am always Hood-wink'd as you see therefore had Wisdom been your Pâ—â—â—ion she would have taught you better Upon this Fortunatus bowing low begged her Pardon Then she bid him not be proud but always charitable and curteous to the Poor and then the Virtue of the Purse should hold to him and his Children and no longer then directing him out of the Wood she vanished from his sight which made him greatly wonder and scarcely believe but it was a Vision and nothing of Reality in it till coming to an Inn he tried the Experiment and found it to be otherwise But his Garments were so poor that the 〈◊〉 till he saw his Money 〈◊〉 to let him have either Victuals or Drink but seeing him draw out Gold so fast he began to be sweet upon him made him a Fire carried him into the best Room ordering his Daughter diligently to attend him the best in the House being at his Service so that he staid there all Night And seeing a curious imbroider'd 〈◊〉 for a Horse â—e asked his Host to whose Horse it belong'd To none said he at present for it is left here to be sold Upon which 〈◊〉 to beat it no longer upon the Hoof since he had such 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 to buy a Horse bargained wâ—â—â— him for it for 〈…〉 and the next Morning there being 〈…〉 to a Village ten Miles furthe◠〈…〉 stood on a Hill here he put i◠〈…〉 know if there were any good Horses to 〈…〉 â—ost told him there was a Merchant neâ—â—y arrived 〈…〉 very stately ones out of Barbary which he 〈…〉 at the Feast that was to be held there upon the Duke of 〈…〉 which suddenly was to commence Upon this he desired 〈…〉 the Hoâ—â— seeing him so meanly clad inwardly laughed knowing the Horses were of great Price yet seeing some Money to humour his Guest he went with him and agreeing contrary to his expectation he payed 3 hundred Crowns for them and brought them to the Inn then he supposed him to be some noble Man in disguise especially when he asked him for to help him to two Servants he designing to keep them to attend him But long they had not passed away the time merrily before Duke Redolphus who had bid Money for the Horses sent for them at the Merchant's Price they having differed before but when he understood they were sold he stormed grievously and sent to know who it was that durst buy them out of his Hands The Host told the Messenger It was a Stranger in plain Habit newly come which he at first did not think was capable of purchasing an Ass Whereupon he sent to apprehend him suspecting he had committed some Robbery and notwithstanding all his Excuses he could make sent him to Prison and compelled him e're he could be delivered from the Misery he suffered there to deliver the Horses up to him to pay three hundred Crowns as a Fine set upon him and obâ—â—ged to depart his Territories with an Oath never to discover what passed between ' em Upon this hard Hap he went to Anguries a considerable City in that Province and there appeared very splendid at the Duke of Saxony's wedding buying him Horses and getting him Seravnts with an extraordinary Equipage so that he past for a Noble Man taking up the best Inn keeping Company and equally spending with the Nobility and Gentry of the best Rank who mightily esteemed him Chap. IV. How Fortunatus took Acquaintance with an Irish Man how they travelled into Ireland view'd St. Patrick's Purgatory how they travelled to Rome and other Places FOrtunatus being at the Duke's Wedding where were many Princes Earls and Lords in the height of their Jollity which was very splendid divers Musicians came in to entertain 'em and amongst others one Leopold an Irish Man they all said They 'd been Gentlemen bred and great Travellers but having spent their Fortunes were reduced to that Employ whereupon they gave them plentifully And an Earl asked Leopold if he would be content to live with him and be Tutor to his Children But he 〈◊〉 it saying I have left my Wife and Children many Years and am now desirousto see them and in Order to it am returning to my own Country Fortunatus observing the Carriage and Behaviour of the Man when Dinner was ended sent for him and contracted a strict friendship with him plentifully 〈◊〉 his Necessities and promised to go with him into Ireland provided he would travel afterwards so passing through France England and Scotland seeing many Rarities by the Way they came to Ireland but Leopold through his long Absence was unknown to his Wife and Children till he made them sensible who he was by many Tokens they had kept in Memory then they receiv'd him with Joy And Fortunatus gave an Entertainment to the whole Town of Waldâ—inâ— After this they went to visit St. Patrick's Purgatory with other Rarities of the Country in which descending too far into
THE Comical and Tragical History OF FORTUNATUS Wherein is contained his Birth Travels Adventures last Will and Testament to his two Sons to whom he bequeathed his PURSE and WISHING-CAP Together with their Lives and Death Abbreviated for the Good and Benefit of young Men and Women whose Impatience will not allow them to read the larger Volume The whole being Illustrated with divers 〈…〉 to the History Licens'd and Enter'd according to Order London Printed by and for C. Brown and are to be sold by the Book-sellers of Pye-corner and London-bridge The History of FORTVNATVS Chap. I. Of Fortunatus's Parentage and Birth in the famous Island of Cyprus How growing up in Learning and Knowledge his Father by his Lavishness was reduced to Poverty and he going to seek his Fortune was entertain'd by the Earl of Flanders in his return from Jerusalem how the Servants envyed him for the Love their Lord bore him with the Stratagem they used to make him secretly withdraw from his Service to the great Grief of the Earl IN the renowned City of Famogosta in the pleasant Island of Cyprus in times past there dwelt one Thedorius descended of noble Parentage who left him a great Estate but being brought up to nothing but Pleasure he pursued it so far in all manner of Sports and Riots that it consum'd a-pace his friends being grieved hereat thought of no better way to check his proceedings and bring him within bounds of Moderation than by matching him to some discreet Woman whose Wisdom and good Humour might bring him to live soberly and frâ—gally This being concluded on contrary to his Knowledge upon diligent search they found one suitable to what they had proposed in the City of Nicovia a virtuous young Virgin Daughter to a Merchant rich and beautiful whose name was Gratiana and proposing it to him with many Reasons and Arguments how much it would be for his good he resolved to visit her and liking her comely shape good features but above all her modest carriage and witty expressions suiting his Humour after a few months Courtship they were married in splended manner most of the principal Men of either City being at the Wedding who gave large gifts as it is the Custom to the Bride and Bridegroom and so for many years they lived in Content and great Felicity in which space they had a Son whom they named Fortunatus at whose Christening an old Woman taken to be a Prophetess came in and uttered these Words The Child is Fortune's Darling he shall share Vnsought those Riches which she will prepare To Travel he his Thoughts full soon will bend Though cross'd in some yet all shall happy end This was noted of many but more particularly when the Success answered her Prediction As he grew up his Father not be restrained by the tears and intreaties of his Wife squandred away all his Patrimony which much grieved Fortunatus tho' he saw no way to redress it and his Father too late seeing his Folly fell into a deep melancholy often sighing and shedding Tears which so afflicted his Son that thinking he might have done something that grieved him he came and kneel'd before him entreating to know what caused his Afflictions and if he had contributed towards them he would amend and do any thing that might be pleasing in his sight But the sorrowful Father sighing told him He had been very dutiful which was the greatest comfort he had yet being afflicted with Poverty which had brought him to be despised by his Inferiours it much afflicted him Upon this Fortunatus begged leave to rid him of the charge he put him to by suffering him to travel not doubting as he said considering his Education but he should shift for himself and Fortune might so befriend him and enable him to do for him and his Mother who had been so tender and gave him such liberal Education His Father easily consented but his Mother not without great Reluctancy but finding there was a necessity for it with many tender embraces they parted Fortunatus having the World to ramble in made to the Sea and at the next Haven found a great many armed Men landed which at the first made him start as supposing it an Invasion of the Island but he upon enquiry found it was Baldwin Earl of Flanders who had put on shoar to refresh him in his return from the Wars against the Turks and Sarazens in the Holy Land he took courage and kneeling before the Earl offer'd his Service telling him he was put forth to seek his Fortune and that he would be very subservient to his Commands The Earl eying him and perceiving him a very promising Youth of a comely Personage after a little enquiry into the Circumstances of his Parentage and former Life he made him his chief Servant and so well he behaved himself that he gained this great Lord's entire Affection and so departed with him in the Gally to the next Port which was the famous City of Venice built in a Marsh in the Sea about three Leagues from the main Land and desended from the raging of the Ocean with mighty Banks and monsterous Pits through whole Streets run several Chanels so that great Boats and Lighters came with Goods and Merchandize to the Doors of their Houses Fortunatus knew the Language of this Country which he had learn'd from a Venetion in his own so that meeting with divers Merchants there he bought up by his Lord's Order store of Jewels and other rich Merchandize which wonderfully pleased him the which he intended to bestow upon the Duke of Cleve's Daughter to whom he was contracted before his going to the War and at his return designed to marry and at this Marriage being Justs and Turnaments the Earl to encourage his Servants to do well set up a Jewel valued at three hundred Crowns to those that should overcome after the Nobles and Knights had ended their Debates Fortunatus carried the Prize from them all which made 'em greatly envy him and the more because a new Comer should have the advantage of their Lord's Favour and so they consulted together to find out a Contrivance to remove him which they effected by this Stratagem one Robert an old Servant came to him as he was reading and told him that their Lord being to depart and leave his Bride was by reason of her Beauty so jealous that he had ordered Surgeons to come the next morning to secure himself of his Servants by gelding them This so terrified Fortunatus the Man urging he reveal'd this in Good-will to him that without further consideration he besought him to help him to make his Escape for he would not be so served for his Lord's Earldom Robert observing this told him he was loath to part with him but if he would go he desired to know where he would reside that when the rest were gelded and his Lords Jealousie over he might return to his Service again and very probably escape But he
said he would not return again whatever betide him so getting a Horse he was lead by Robert who inwardly was pleased and laughed in his sleeve at the Fallacy he had put upon him and being without the Gate rode away with all the speed he could never looking behind him till he was many Miles from the Palace The Earl at his return missing Fortunatus made great enquiry for him but the Servants utterly denyed they knew what was become of him then he asked his Lady whether she had given him any cause of Offence but she was altogether ignorant of any such thing so he was forced to content himself though much against his will saying However he should at one time or other find it out and he would severely punish the Occasioners of it which made Robert who had contrived his flight much affraid lest he should return and make a discovery of what Stratagem had been used to cause his absenting his Lord's Service Chap. II. How travelling through many Countries he embarked for England and was entertained by a Florentine Merchant who together with all the Family being falsely accused of the Murther of a Knight of the King's Court was with the rest condemned to die and by what means he onâ—y escaped and went for France FOrtunatus getting away in manner aforesaid was resolved to follow Fortune and so coming by divers ways to Callis he got passage for England where he fell into the Company of two Cyprus Merchants and lived with them righteously spending in Wine and upon Harlots till his and their Stocks was utterly exhausted and being in a poor condition void of Succouâ— his Mistress on whom he had spent his Pleasure thrusted him out of Doors and refused to relieve him as he wander'd about London he was taken notice of by one Jerinomus Roberti a Florentine Merchant who examining him found he was of a prompt Wit and Education and therefore agreed with him to come into his Service which he joyfully accepted and being acquainted with the Customs of Merchants was so diligent and so well behaved himself that he got the good Esteem not only of his Master but of all the Servants who entirely loved him But soon after a great Calamity befel the Family by means of a Villain which cost all but Fortunatus their Lives and he very narrowly escaped for one Andrew a young Spend-thrift Florentine having been sent by his Father to sell a Cargo of Goods not only â—avished away all the Money he had for them but continued to draw Bills upon the old Man with promises of large returns till he had near ruined him before he had discover'd the Cheat at what time being put to his shifts he left England and went for Bruges where hearing of an English Merchant who lay in Irons in a noisome Dungeon for forging the King of England's Pass-port he went to visit him The Merchant no sooner knew he cam from England but he was exceeding glad enquiring what News and the Welfare of his Friendâ— all which he told him as well as he understood The Merchant said You see what in â—â—â—ser able condition I lie here if you would return to England and acquaint my Friends with it I make no doubt but they will use their Purses and Interest at Court to release me To be brief he promised to do it upon consideration of three hundred Crowns and so took the Names of those Friends he proposed and Mony for his passage Now among this Merchant's Friends was Roberti Fortunatus's Master by which means this wicked Florentine came acquainted with him to his ruin for having proposed to lay down three hundred Crowns for the Merchant's Ransom if any others would come in for Part-Security Andrew at last told him he had found a Gentleman of a great Estate that would do it and that he should provide a Dinner and he would bring him this being agreed to he went to a Knight of the Court whom the King had employed to get the richest Jewels that might be had to make a Present to his Sister who was to be married to the Duke of Burgundy telling him there was a Jeweller of Florence who hearing of the King 's Enquiry after Rarities was come over with such that the like had never been seen in the Nation and so invited him to come and see 'em at Roberti's where he said he lodged desiring him to bring his own with him that they might compare them The Knight little dreaming of the Treachery designed promised so to do and accordingly came when after Dinner having him into a private Chamber he stabbed him but for what reason we knew not for he had not brought the Jewels with him whereupon he took his Keys and his Signet and ran to his House delivering them to his Wife as a Token to give him the Jewels for the King was to send them away upon search she could â—ind none nor were they found for some time after so that the Murtherer frustrated of his expected Prize came to Roberti's again where the Murther was discover'd by the dropping of the Blood through the Ceiling but he laboured to calm their Oâ—teries by saying The Murthered was a meer Cut-throat and designed to have killed him for this Mony however he would rid them of the Body and so taking it on his Shoulder he threw it into a Privy and fled by a Back-way for fear of being apprehended The Knight being missing great enquiry was made this Merchant's House where they had Intelligence he went was searched but nothing found till being about to depart one cryed Come let 's see in the Privy we have not searched that yet And there by throwing in a lighted Paper they saw the Murthered's heels standing upright The King being certified of this the Merchant and his Servants were examined by Tortures all of them confessing what they knew of the Muâ—ther but Fortunatus whom they had kept ignorant of it he being then abroad But of the Jewels they could tell nothing so that hereupon they were condemned to be hanged and of seven only Fortunatus escaped at the Gallows by the others protesting his Innocence in the Matter About half a Year after the Widow of the Knight being advised to think of a young Lover and remove her Bed into another Room to put her out of her Melancholy putting the latter in practice found a little Cabinet under it and in it the Jewels which by the Advice of a Kinsman she carried to the King who for her Fidelity gave her the Mannor of Woodstock and caused a young Knight to marry her settling a thousand Pounds a Year upon them during their Lives Fortunatus having lost his Master and happily ' scap'd the Gallows grew so fearful of such another bout that he resolved to stay no longer in England but getting on board soon sailed over to France Chp. II. How travelling from Orleance to Paris he met with Dame Fortune who gave him a Purse of such a Virtue that