Haz. This unexpected Happiness o’erjoys me. Who could have imagin’d to have found thee in Virginia? I thought thou hadst been in Spain with thy Brother.
Friend. I was so till ten Months since, when my Uncle Colonel Friendly dying here, left me a considerable Plantation; and, faith, I find Diversions not altogether to be despis’d; the God of Love reigns here with as much power as in Courts or popular Cities. But prithee what Chance (fortunate to me) drove thee to this part of the new World.
Haz. Why, faith, ill Company, and that common Vice of the Town, Gaming, soon run out my younger Brother’s Fortune: for imagining, like some of the luckier Gamesters, to improve my Stock at the [Groom Porter’s], [I ]ventur’d on, and lost all. My elder Brother, an errant Jew, had neither Friendship nor Honour enough to support me; but at last being mollified by Persuasions, and the hopes of [being] for ever rid of me, sent me hither with a small Cargo to seek my Fortune—
Friend. And begin the World withal.
Haz. I thought this a better Venture than to turn sharping Bully, [Cully in] Prentices and Country Squires, with my Pocket full of false Dice, your [high and low Flats and Bars]; or turn Broker to young Heirs; take up Goods to pay tenfold at the Death of their Fathers, and take Fees on both sides; or set up all night at the Groom-Porter’s, begging his Honour to go a Guinea the better of the lay. No, Friendly, I had rather starve abroad, than live pity’d and despis’d at home.
Friend. Thou art in the right, and art come just in the nick of time to make thy Fortune.—Wilt thou follow my Advice?
Haz. Thou art too honest to command [any thing] that I shall refuse.
Friend. You must know then, there is about a Mile from James-Town a young Gentlewoman—no matter for her Birth, her Breeding’s the best this World affords, she is married to one of the richest Merchants here; he is old and sick, and now gone into England for the recovery of his Health, where he’ll e’en give up the Ghost: he has writ her word he finds no Amendment, and resolves to stay another Year. The letter I accidentally took up, and have about me; ’tis easily counterfeited, and will be of great use to us.
Haz. Now do I fancy I conceive thee.
Friend. Well, hear me first, you shall get another Letter writ like this Character, which shall say, you are his Kinsman, that is come to traffick in this Country, and ’tis his will you should be received into his House as such.