Page:Pleasing art of money-catching (3).pdf/15

 Others have had great estates left unto them by their friends, and who never knew the pain and care of getting them, have, as one said truly, galloped through them in a very short time: these are such as Solomon speaketh of “who having riches have no hearts, or rather the wit, to use them." These men are most aptly compared to the willow-tree, because the palms of the willow-tree are no sooner ripe, but blown away with the wind.

I remember to have heard of a wealthy citizen of London, in Queen Elizabeths time, who left his son a great sum of money, who imagined he should never be able to spend it; would usually make ducks and drakes in the Thames with shil-lings, as boys were wont to do with tile sheards and oyster shells; and at the end came to such extreme want, that he was under the necessity of borrowing sixpence, having many times more shoes than feet, and sometimes more feet than shoes, as the beggar said in the comedy.

Many also there are, who having been born to a good estate, have quite undone themselves by marriage, and that after a twofold manner; first, by matching themselves without advice of parents or friends, in heat of youth, unto proud, foolish, and light women, that one would better live on small allowance at a distance, than have a full meal at home, where he is always troubled with her never ceasing tongue. And this is the reason so many husbands travel beyond seas; or at home go from town to town, or from tavern to tavern, to look for company! and in a word, to spend any thing, to live any where, save at home, in their own houses, where they are sure to hear nothing but the brawlings of a scolding woman.