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COsen, I vnderstand you are determined to put your youn∣ger sonne apprentise to a Merchant: beleeue mee, I allow of your resolution heerein, for I that haue trauailed farre. and seene much, can speak somewhat of them, and theire noble profession. I could well giue it a higher title, for a righte Mer∣chant is a roiall fellow, hee is desirous to see much, to trauail much, and sometime to gaine a little, doth aduenture much:
though sometime for a little aduēture he doth gain much▪ but what are the sundrie natures of perils, as well at Sea, as at land, as well of his goods, as his person, none knoweth but himselfe, or like himselfe: but hauing trauailed farre, and fini∣shed his voyage, after his safe returne, hauing giuen God thankes, note what is the course of his life: to obserue a come∣ly order in the citty▪ and enrich many poore men by the retai∣ling of his goods, who sit at ease, and sell in their sh••ps, that he with great ••oil, & danger fetched out of farre Countries. Now, say his gain be great, let it be answered, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ye desert of his tra∣uaile, shall a faire or a fine horse, brought out of Barbarie, bee heere finely kept, well fed, and neatly dressed, and richly at∣tyred: and shall not a Merchant, that hath trauailed many Miles beyond Barbarie, not bee thoughte worthy of a fine house, good land, dainty faire, and an honorable title, for the resolution of his aduenture, and the toyle of his trauaile? shall a Lute or a Citerne, brought out of Italy, bee put in a case of veluet, and laced with g••ld for well sounding? and shall not a Merchant that fetcht that Lute, and went farre further then that coūtrie for better commodities, not be thought worthy of his gaine, and honoured for his minde? shall the Lawyer f••ll breath at an high rate? and shall the merchant be grudged his price for his wares? what shall I say? who vp-holdes the state of a Citty? or the honour of a state vnder the King, but the Merchant: who beautifieth a Court with Iewels, and out∣ward ornaments, but the trauaile of the merchant? who be au∣tifies the Gardens with sundry sorts of fruites and flowers, but the trauailing merchant? he may well bee called the mer∣chant, the Sea-singer, or the maker of the Sea to sing: the Sea-singer, when hee hath faire winde and good weather, and maketh the Sea to sing, when shee sees the goodlie hou∣ses that floate vpon her waues, and cast anchor in her Sands. But let me leaue the Sea, and come to the land, consider of the sweet and ciuill man••er of their liues, whose houses more neat? whose wiues more modest? whose apparrell more comely? whose diet more daintie? & whose cariage more commendable?
valiant without quarrels, merry without madnesse, bountifull in their gifts, and coy in all their banquets? whose children are better nurtured? whose seruants better gouerned? whose house better stuffed and maintained? Furthermore, what comforte haue the distressed found beyond the Seas? and howe many poore doe they relieue at home? what Colledges? what Hospi∣tals? what almes houses haue they builded? and in effect what Citties haue they enlarged, and what Countries haue they en∣ritched? how fewe Lawyers can say so? if that be al true, which much more might be said in their honor: giue them their right, say the Merchant is a royall fellow, and goe forwardes with your intent, if you will euer haue your sonne see any thing, know any thing, doe any thing, or bee worth any thing, put him to a Merchant, and giue with him such a portion as out of his yeeres may set vp his trade or trafficke: doubte not hee will doe well, and think not he can almost do better: so besee∣ching God to bles him in al his courses, without which wil be worse then nothing, I pray you doe as I wish you, charge him to serue God, and so turne him to the world: and thus hauing truely written you my opinion touching your purpose, wish∣ing health and honour, and all happinesse, to all worthy true Merchants, in hope of your health I commit you to the Al∣mighty. London, this twentieth of August, 1604.
Your very louing cosen▪ N. B.