a husband
he would make her the richest marriage in London, because she was so
willing out of her own purse (when he was altogether penniless) to lay
out for his adventure. To the pilot, and master, and every officer, and
common saylor he gave liberal according to their degree, even to the
ship boy, and then to every servant of the house, nay to the very
kitchin wench who was so churlish unto him, and had so often basted him
instead of her roast meats; having caused her to be called unto him he
gave her an hundred pounds towards her marriage.

This being done, taylors were sent for, sempsters and the like to put
him into cloaths and linnen of the best, who were to accommodate him
with all speed possible, and his lodging in the garret was chang'd into
the best chamber of the house. And when the barber had been with him and
the rest to make him compleat in his habit, there was a strange and
sudden metamorphosis; for out of a smoky and dirty kitchin-drudge there
appeared a proper and well-proportioned man, and gentile merchant, in so
much that his young mistris began to cast a more amorous eye upon him
than before, which not a little pleased Master Fitzwarren her father,
who intended a match betwixt them.

The brute of this great adventure was presently revised through the
whole city, insomuch that his master intreated his late servant to walk
with him into the Exchange to see the fashion of the merchants, which he
did, when all of them came about him and saluted him, some bid God give
him joy of his fortune, others desired of him better and further
acquaintance, and every one as his several fancy led him: some commended
him for his person, others for his modest answers and discreet carriage.
Indeed, wealth is able to make all these good where they are most
wanting, which was not in him as appears by the sequel.

Within few weeks the match was propounded betwixt Master Whittington
and Mistris Alice, and willingly entertained by both parties and not
without great cost, with the invitation of the Lord Mayor and the
Aldermen very nobly celebrated, and the bridegroom by this means had got
acquaintances with the best.

After this his father-in-law demanded of his son what he purposed to
take in hand (his freedom being offered him). Who made answer again that
since God had so blest him in his small adventure he would not leave it
of so, but prove his goodness in a greater, and that his purpose was to
turn merchant, which rep