To the matter therefore wherewith you are grieued, I thus much dare affirme vnto you in his behalfe, that in all your imaginations you haue greatly misconceiued, and the reasons leading me thereunto are these.
[Sidenote: Answere to the cause of coniecture.]
First, where your selfe doe confesse that the onely matter you haue in apparance inducing you to accuse him, is the credible report of a friende of yours, that sawe him and your daughter at London, and a suppose thereby, that shee is at his disposition, and the theft of your goodes to them both an indifferent finding. I saie the validitie of all this is nothing, for omitting that by diuers casualties men and women at aduenture doe daily meete, experience whereof is in common vse amongst our selues, and euen then when we least do thinke of it, and most woulde woonder at it, the reason whereof I ouerpasse, because to the accident I am but a straunger, what reason haue you so resolutelie to thinke that the expenses whereon they remaine (so bee it they doe as you alleadge continue togethers) must onelie bee drawne out from that part of your lost substaunce, and so by consequence aggrauate a likelihoode of his stealing your daughter? I neede not I trust perswade you of his kindred, nor abilitie of his friendes, it resteth not in doubt, you knowe it: then vnderstande you sir, it may also bee as possible, that some one or other of them might at the length by some more gentle motion then before time tender his good. Whereof I need make no question, my selfe can assure you, for that an Aunt of his dying of late, left him possessions to three hundred poundes value, which beeing at his choise either to accept a diuision or money, it is like he hath the coine and let the lande goe, and therupon is the better enabled to do what is reported vnto you both for her and himselfe.
Hereupon you begin to call in reckoning his life, and I knowe not what late reportes and informations of his liuing, to coniecture thereupon his common disposition and ill vsage, with abilitie to doe you a displeasure, performed by your owne countenance. Alas sir, why shuld you be so far led awry by these vncertainties? Know ye not that reportes are manie times slaunders? and that men for the most parte speake generallie when they find a man in any sort to be iniured particularlie? Hee is my kinsman I confesse, but not for that would I yet defende him in his treacheries, but for mine owne knowledge of him from the beginning, canne I witnesse the contrarie, I must tell you to conclude thereupon, you do him small equitie. What if hee fell into your notice by a little penurie? Manie an innocent and good man by want hath beene driuen to ill companie, yet themselues vnknowing, and not weeting at all of their facultie, and so truelie may I herein deeme of him, gladlie in the meane time thanking you, and himselfe eftsoones confessing the weight hee then receiued of your curtesie.