the writing hereof.

May 22, 1627, my master died at the corner house in the Strand, where I
also lived so long. He died intestate; my mistress relinquishing the
administration, it came to his elder brother, who assigned the estate
over to me for payment of my master's debts; which being paid, I
faithfully returned the remaining part unto his administrator; nor had
one penny of the estate more than twenty pounds per annum, which was
allowed me by contract, to undertake the payment of my master's debts.

OF MY MARRIAGE THE FIRST TIME.

My mistress, who had been twice married to old men, was now resolved to
be couzened no more; she was of a brown ruddy complexion, corpulent, of
but mean stature, plain, no education, yet a very provident person, and
of good condition: she had many suitors, old men, whom she declined;
some gentlemen of decayed fortunes, whom she liked not, for she was
covetous and sparing: by my fellow-servant she was observed frequently
to say, she cared not if she married a man that would love her, so that
he had never a penny; and would ordinarily talk of me when she was in
bed: this servant gave me encouragement to give the onset: I was much
perplexed hereat, for should I attempt her, and be slighted, she would
never care for me afterwards; but again, I considered that if I should
attempt and fail, she would never speak of it; or would any believe I
durst be so audacious as to propound such a question, the disproportion
of years and fortune being so great betwixt us: however, all her talk
was of husbands, and in my presence saying one day after dinner, she
respected not wealth, but desired an honest man; I made answer, I
thought I could fit her with such a husband; she asked me, where? I made
no more ado, but presently saluted her, and told her myself was the man:
she replied, I was too young; I said nay; what I had not in wealth, I
would supply in love; and saluted her frequently, which she accepted
lovingly; and next day at dinner made me sit down at dinner with my hat
on my head, and said, she intended to make me her husband; for which I
gave her many salutes, &c.

I was very careful to keep all things secret, for I well knew, if she
should take counsel of any friend, my hopes would be frustrated,
therefore I suddenly procured her consent to marry, unto which she
assented; so that upon the eighth day of September, 1627, at St.
George's church in Southwark, I was married unto her, and for two w