Shakespeare and his London Associates 9 



Servant vnto one Christopher Mountioye of London Tyer maker 

 [did] well Carry and behaue himselfe in the tyme of his saide 

 service w th the saide Christopher bothe iustly & to the greate 

 proffitt and advantage of the [said] Christopher, as that thereby 

 yo r saide Suppliant in all outwarde appearance did obtayne the 

 good will and affeaon of him the saide Christopher in suche 

 sorte as hee then offered vnto yo r saide Suppliant, that yf hee 

 would accept in marriage one Marie Mountioye beinge his daugh- 

 ter and only Child that then hee would giue in Marriage w th his 

 saide daughter vnto yo r saide Suppliant the somme of three scoore 

 poundes or thereabout?.? for a porcion vppon yo r saide Suppliants 

 daye of Marriage "or shortlie after and would likewise at the 

 tyme of his deceasse leaue vnto yo r said Suppliant and his saide 

 daughter the somme of two hundred pounds more vppon w ch 

 offers of y e saide Compt. u and vppon his pcrswaa'ons yo r said 

 Supp. u did shortly after entermarry w th .the saide Mary and haue 

 liued togeather by the space of theis five yeares and haue had 

 diuers Children betwixt them to the greate encrease of theire 

 Chardge and are likelie to haue manie more so that theire poore 

 trade is not able to giue them maintenance and yo r saide Suppliant 

 lent the saide Christopher the somme of fortie shillinges w ch 

 hee denies to paye or to p?rforme his former promise, But so 

 it is may it please yo r moste excellent Ma tie . that yo r said Sup- 

 pliant growinge since his saide entermarriage w th the saide Mary 

 into some want and necessitie by the reason of the encrease of his 

 Chardge as a fore saide yo r saide Supp. u therefore repaired vnto 

 him the saide Christopher desiringe him to satisfy and paye vnto 

 yo r saide Supp. u the said somme of three scoore poundes soe 

 promised by him vnto yo r saide Supp. u as all so to putt in suertyes 

 to leaue yo r Supp. u and his-wiffe tow hundred poundes att his 

 deathe, who all together forgettinge his ffatherlie promisses nor 

 pityinge the distressed poore estate of yo r said poore Subiecte and 

 his greate Chardge verie vnnaturally dothe not only nowe deny his 

 said promisse and refuse to paye the said somme of three scoore 

 poundes but likewise denieth the payment of the saide somme of 

 ffortie shillinges so lent him as a fore said. As allso hath sithence 



269 



