But wife (said he) I pray thee now tell me, doest thou not think that thou couldest make shift to bear the name of a lady, if it should be put vpon thee.

In truth husband (quoth she) Ile 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 be bought, the gains wherof would be able to make me a gentleman foreuer.

Alas husband, that dignitie your trade allows you already, being a squire of the Gentle Craft, then how can you be lesse than a gentleman, seeing your sonne is a prince borne?

Tush, wife (quoth he) those titles do 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 maintain the greatnesse of their minde.

Then sweet husband, tell me (said his wife) tell me, what commodity is that which you might get so much by? I am sure your self hath some money, and it shall go very hard but Ile procure friends to borrow one forty shillings, and beside that, rather then you should lose so good a bargain, I haue a couple of crowns that saw no sun since we were first married, and them also shall you haue.

Alasse wife (said Simon) all this comes not neere 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 merchandise that is precious at this time, and rare to be had; and I hear that whosoeuer will haue it must lay down three thousand pounds ready money. Yea wife, and yet thereby he might get three 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 mind, she could scant finde in her heart to spare him time to go to supper, for very eagernesse to animate him on, to take that bargain vpon him. Wherefore so soon as they had supt, and giuen God thanks, she called her husband, saying, I pray you come hither, I would speake a word with you: that man is not alwayes to be blamed that sometimes takes counsell of his wife; though womens wits are not able to comprehend the greatest things, yet in doubtful matters they oft help on a sudden.

Well wife, what mean you by this (said her husband)?

In truth (quoth she) I would haue you to pluck vp a means heart, and speedily chop vp a bargain for these goods you speak of.

Who I? (quoth he), which way should I do it, that am not able for three thousand pounds, to lay down three thousand pence?

Tush man (quoth she) what of that? euery man that beholds a man in the face, knows 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 three weeks at the least: And, I promise you, to pay a thousand pounds a week 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 with Iohn the Frenchman to the Grecian merchant, and with good discretion driue a sound bargain with him for the whole fraught of the ship, and thereupon giue him halfe a dozen angels in earnest, and eight and twenty dayes after the deliuery of the goods, condition to deliuer him the rest of his money.

But woman (quoth he) dost thou imagine that he would take my word for so weighty a masse of money, and to deliuer his goods vpon no better security?