The economy was hit by a recession.  The hurricane hit his fishing business hard.

[I]t [the German Sea or North Sea] enlarges more and more, and forms the Baltic, which is a mediterranean sea, extending, from south to north, near 300 leagues, if the Gulf of Bothnia, which is a continuation of it, be comprehended.

It bringeth foorth at the top of the branches little yellow floures, and afterward small rough whitish and flat huskes, and almost round fashioned like bucklers, wherein is contained a flat seede almost like to the seed of castell or stocke gilloflers, but greater.

I told him you were just a friend, and he fell for it hook, line and sinker.