Chap. IV.

How Master Eyr was called upon to be Sheriffe of London, and how he held his place with worship.')

In this space, Master Eyer, following his businesse, had sold so much of his merchandize as paid the Grecian his whole money, and yet had resting to himselfe three times as much as he had sold; whereof he trusted some to one alderman, and some to another, and a great deal amongst substantiall merchants); and for some had much ready money, which he imployed in divers merchandizes; and became adventurer at sea, having, by God's blessing, many a prosperous voiage, whereby his riches dailie increased. It chanced upon a time that, being in his study, casting up his accounts, he found himselfe to be clearely worth twelve or thirteen thousand pounds; which he finding to be so, he called his wife to him, and said: "The last day I did cast up my accounts, and I finde that Almighty God of his goodnesse hath lent me thirteen thousand pounds to maintain us in our old age, for which His gracious goodnesse towards us let us with our whole hearts give His glorious Majesty eternall praise, and therewithall pray unto Him that we may so dispose thereof as may be to His honour, and the comfort of His poore members on earth; and above our neighbours may not be puffed up with pride, that, while we think on our wealth, we forget God that sent it to us; for it hath been an old saying of a wise man that abundance groweth from riches, and disdain out of abundance of which God give us grace

to take heed, and grant us a contented mind."

So soon as he had spoken this, they heard one knocking hastily at doore, whereupon he sent Florence to see who it was. The maiden, coming again, told her

1) Sh. H. Act III, 4, 1-58 and 114-163.

2) Sh. H. Act III, 3, 66–67.

master it was one of my Lord Maior's officers that would speake with him. The officer being permitted to come in, after due reverence, he said: "Sir, it hath pleased my Lord Maior with the worshipfull Aldermen his brethren, with the counsell of the whole Communaltie of the Honourable City to chuse your worship Sheriffe of London this day, and have sent me to desire you to come and certifie your minde therein whether you be contented to hold the place or no." Master Eyer, hearing this, answered he would come to his Honor and their Worships incontinent, and resolve them what he was minded to do. And so the officer departed.

His wife, which all this while listned to their talk, hearing how the case stood, with a joyfull countenance meeting her husband, taking him about the neck, with a loving kisse, said: "Master Sheriffe, God give thee joy of thy name and place!"

"O wife", quoth he, "my person is far unworthy of that place, and the name far exceeds my degree.”

"What, content yourselfe, good husband", quoth she, "and disable not yourselfe in such sort, but be thankfull unto God for that you have, and do not spurn at such promotion as God sendeth unto you. The Lord be praised for it, you have enough to discharge the place whereunto you are called, with credit; and wherefore sendeth God goods but therewithall to do Him and your countrey service?"

"Woman", quoth he, "soft fire makes sweet mault; for, such as take things in hand rashly, repent as suddenly. To be Sheriffe of London is no little cost. Consider first", quoth he, "what house I ought to have, and what costly ornaments belong thereunto, as: hanging of tapistry, cloth of Arras, and other such like; what store of plate and goblets of gold, what costly attire, and what a chargeable train; and that which is most of all: how greatly I stand charged, beside, to our soveraigne lord, the king, for the answering of such prisoners as shall be committed to my

custody with an hundred matters of such importance which are to such an office belonging."

"Good Lord, husband", quoth she, "what need all these repetitions? You need not tell me it is a matter of great charge. Notwithstanding, I verily think many heretofore have with great credit discharged the place, whose wealth hath not in any sort been answerable to your riches, and whose wits have been as mean as your own. Truly, sir, shall I be plain? I know not anything that is to be spoken of that you want to performe it, but only your good will and to lack good will to do your king and countrey good were a signe of an unworthy subject, which I hope you will never be."

"Well wife", said her husband, "thou dost hold me here with prittle-prattle, while the time passeth on. 'Tis high time I were gone to Guildhall. I doubt I shall appear too unmannerly in causing my Lord Maior and the rest to stay my leisure."

And he having made himselfe ready, meet to go before such an assembly as he went unto, he went out of doores; at what time his wife called after him, saying, and holding up her finger: "Husband, remember you know what

I have said take heed you dissemble not with God and the world; look to it, husband."

"Go too, go too, get you in", quoth he, "about your businesse!" And so away he went.

So soon as he was gone out of sight, his wife sent one of his men after him to Guildhall, to hearken and hear whether her husband held his place or no: "And if he do, bring me word with all possible speed." "I will, mistresse", quoth her man.

Now, when Master Eyer came to Guildhall, the Lord Maior and his brethren bade him heartily welcome, saying: "Sir, the Communaltie of the City, having a good opinion of you, have chosen you for one of our Sheriffes for this yeer, not doubting but to find you a fit man for the place."

"My good lord", quoth he, "I humbly thank the City for their courtesie and kindnesse, and would to God my wealth were answereable to my good will, and my ability were able to bear it! But I find myselfe insufficient; I most humbly desire a yeer's respite more and pardon for this present."

At these words, a grave commoner of the City, standing up, with due reverence spoke thus unto the Maior: "My good lord, this is but a slender excuse for Master Eyre to make; for I have often heard him say, and so have divers others also, that he hath a table in his house whereon he breaks his fast every day, that he will not give for a thousand pounds. Wherefore, under your lordship's correction, in my simple judgement I think he that is able to spare a thousand pounds in such a dead commodity is very sufficient to be Sheriff of London."

"See you now?" quoth my lord. "I muse, Master Eyre, that you will have so lame an excuse before us as to take exceptions at your own wealth, which is apparantly proved sufficient. You must know, Master Eyer, that the Commons of London have searching eyes, and seldome are they deceived in their opinion; and, therefore, looke what is done you must stand to it."

"I beseech you, my lord", quoth Master Eyer, "give me leave to speak one word. Let it be granted that I will not give my table whereon I breake my fast, for a thousand pounds; that is no consequence to prove it is worth so much. My fancy to the thing is all, for doubtlesse no man here would give me a thousand shillings for it when they see it."

"All is one, for that", quoth my Lord Maior; "yet dare I give you as much wine as you will spend this yeer in your Shrivalrie to let me have it."

"My good lord", quoth he, "on that condition I will hold my place, and rest no longer troublesome to this company."

Palaestra XVIII.

6

"You must hold", said my lord, "without any condition or exceptions at all in this matter." And so they ended.

The assembly being then broken up, the voice went: "Master Eyer is Sheriffe! Master Eyer is Sheriffe!" Whereupon the fellow that Mistresse Eyer sent to observe how things framed, ran home in all haste, and with leaping and rejoycing said: "Mistresse, God give you joy, for you are now a gentlewoman."

"What", quoth she, "tell me, Sir Sawce, is thy master Sheriffe or no? And doth he hold his place?"

"Yes, mistresse, he holds it now as fast as the stirrop doth the shooes while we sow it."

"Why, then", quoth she, "I have my heart's desire, and that I so long looked for." And so away she went. Within a while after came her husband, and with him one of the aldermen and a couple of wealthy commoners. One of them was he that gave such great commendations of his table. And comming to his doore, he said: "You are welcome home, good Master Sheriffe."

"Nay, I pray you, come in and drink with me before you go." Then said he: "Wife, bring me forth the pasty of venison, and set me here my little table, that these gentlemen may eat a bit with me before they go."

His wife, which had been oft used to this terme, excused the matter, saying: "The little table! Good Lord, husband, I do wonder what you will do with the little table now, knowing that it is used already. I pray you, good husband, content yourselfe, and sit at this great table this once." Then she whispered him in the eare, saying: "What, man, shall we shame ourselves?"

"What, shame?" quoth he. "Tell not me of shame, but do thou as thou art bidden; for we are three or foure of us, then what do we troubling the great table?"

"Truly", answered she, "the little table is not ready now; good husband, let it alone."