We do 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 sundrie salutations of my Lord Maior and his lady, and of all the rest of the worshipfull guests, departed home to their own house: at what time his wife made such a recitall of the matters; how brauely they were entertained, what great chear was there, also what a great company of gentlemen and gentlewomen were there, and how often they drank to her husband and to her, with diuers other circumstances, that I beleeue, if the night had been six moneths long, as it is vnder the north pole, they would haue found talke enough till morning.

Of a truth (quoth she) although I sate closely by my ladies side, I could eat nothing for very joy, to heare and see that we were so much made of. And neuer giue me credit husband, if I did not hear the officers whisper as they stood behind me, and all demanded one of another, what you were, and what I was: O (quoth one) do you see this man? mark him well, and marke his wife well, that simple woman that sits next my ladie what are they? What are they (quoth another)? Marry this is the rich shoomaker that bought all the goods in the great Argozy: I tell you there was neuer such a shoomaker seen 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 street, going between the two chains: Credit me husband, of mine honesty this was their communication. Nay, and do you not remember, when the rich citizen drank to you (which craued pardon because he knew not your name) what my Lord Maior said? Sir (quoth he) his name is Master Eyer, did you mark 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 thank his honour, but I heard not that.

No (quoth she). I heard it well enough: for by and by he proceeded further, saying, I suppose though he sit here in simple sort, he is more sufficient to beare this charge than my selfe. Yea (thought I) he may thank his wife for that, if it come so to passe.

Nay (said Simon) I thank God for it.

Yea, and next him you may thank me (quoth she³

And now seeing that Simon the shoomaker is become a merchant, we will temper our tongues to giue him that title, which his customers were wont to do, and from henceforth call him master Eyer, who, while he had his affairs in hand, committed the gouernment of his shop to Iohn the Frenchman, leauing him to be guide to his other seruants, by meanes of which fauour Iohn thought himselfe at that time to be a man of no small reputation.

HOW MASTER EYER WAS CALLED VPON 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 diuers merchandizes: and became aduenturer at Sea, hauing (by Gods blessing) many a prosperous voiage, whereby his riches dailie increased.

It chanced vpon a time, that being in his study, casting vp his accounts, he found himselfe to be clearely worth twelue or thirteen thousand pounds, which he finding to be so, he called his wife to him, and said:

The last day I did cast vp my accounts, and I finde that Almighty God of his goodnesse hath lent me thirteen thousand pounds to maintain vs in our old age, for which his gracious goodnesse towards vs, let vs with our whole hearts giue his glorious Maiesty eternall praise, and therewithall pray vnto him, that