Chapter 5: An Inheritance

It had started to rain that very morning, but the well-tarred wagon covers had kept the spices dry, and as one wagon after another was backed into a warehouses and unloaded whilst shielded by the slate roof, Joseph and Arno checked each barrel and sack for damage and listed content and position on the three storeys of the structure. A large number of workers from the Welser and Fugger houses worked until sunset to get everything stowed away, and the two weary men could finally report to their masters.

Joseph watched as Martin Welser’s smile grew wider and wider whilst he listed the goods he had procured for his master. Welser ordered one of his servants to fetch a bottle of his oldest and finest Franconian wine and then toasted his wagon master.

“My friend Joseph, you make this old man proud, Many a man here in the city prophesied a failure and a complete loss of ships and wares, but you came back with a King’s ransom’s worth of goods. You traded in your own name with equal success?”

“Yes, Master Welser. I retain about half as much goods as you.”

“I take it that you that you want to start your own house now?”

“If you will be good enough to give me your blessing, that is what I hope to do.”

Welser spread his hands. “With you bringing home riches for me, how can I not, my friend? I shall speak to Fugger and the others about a seat for you in the Guild.”

“Thank you, Master. That would be my fondest wish.”

“Say no more, Joseph. It is as good as done. You did as well for the other houses?”

Joseph nodded and smiled.

“Who can oppose your wish now? Your sire, Judokus, would be very proud of you.”

Joseph shrugged. “He just left me with you, and I never heard of him again, Master.”

“Speaking of old Judokus, bad tidings have reached me during your long absence. Your sire expired this time last year, and his wife died even a year earlier. This left his earthly belongings to you. Seeing how you were sailing the seven seas, I responded to the summons by sending my nephew Ewald to Heidingsfeld, to claim the inheritance in your name. ‘Tis not overly much, for Judokus was never rich, but a well-built house in Heidingsfeld is thine, my friend, and a warehouse filled with what trade goods he owned. Ewald sold off the perishables, and for the silver earned, he paid your sire’s housekeeper to stay and keep the house tidy.”

Joseph was surprised and a little sad. He had never expected to inherit anything.

“‘Tis a surprise, Master Welser. I never thought he’d leave me anything. I thought that he’d forgotten me.”

The old man smiled sadly. “Oh, I sent him letters, once a year, to tell him what a fine young man his son had become. Only his wife held such a grudge against you that he did not dare to ask you to return.”

Joseph sighed. “May her troubled soul find peace now.”

“Amen. Let me know what you plan to do with your inheritance. Mayhap, we can find ways to work together. They grow good wine in Franconian lands, always something to trade. Unless you want to continue your travels?”

“Nay, master,” Joseph laughed. “‘Tis time for me to settle down. I guess, I have to take a look at my inheritance to decide. Heidingsfeld may be a good place for trade, so close to Wirtzburg¹ and downriver from Bamberg. May I keep my ties to your house and to Augsburg’s Guild?”

“But of course, my young friend. We run wagons to Wirtzburg every spring, summer and autumn. Place your orders, and we shall restock you gladly, and at wholesale prices.”

During the next weeks, Joseph Ermeler was busy settling accounts with the share owners of the expedition, receiving the twentieth part of the merchandise as his share. Mostly, he just accepted coins in lieu of goods, for he anticipated the need for silver and gold for the next stage of his enterprises.

He also sold a part of his cacao beans to the Welsers. They knew of the drink prepared from them, but they called it cacao, like the beans.

Also, the Worshipful Guild of Merchants of Augsburg accepted him as a member, allowing him to start his trading house in Heidingsfeld as a kontor² of his Augsburg house, which he established with Welser’s help. He proudly had his right ear pierced and a heavy gold ring fitted as the outward sign of his new status as a guild merchant. Of the wares he had brought for himself, he sold off a large part to his fellow guild members, only retaining part of the spices, the coffee and cocoa beans, the sugar, and four large bales of silk he had brought from Goa.

It was early September before Joseph had finished all the dealings, and not knowing what he would find in Heidingsfeld, he had to delay his move. Instead, he took to the road with just one servant, riding on horseback, and completing the journey in just four days, sleeping in taverns on the way. They travelled on the old trade road, touching the Free Imperial Cities of Nœrdlingen, Dinkelsbühl and Rothenburg. Finally, the road led down into the valley of the River Main for the last ten miles.