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A Creditor is a man whose estate is wrapped vp in sheepe-skins, his rising growes by his debtors fall, his credit relyes vpon his debtors per∣formance, and the death of a young gallants father is more pleasing to him thē fasting dayes to a Vsurer, or death to a Broker, hee growes rich onely by putting forth commodities, which
mediately conuerts▪ to discommodi∣ties, hee will not put out money for tenne in the hundred, for vsury is hate∣full to him, but hee loues extortion and makes that his summum bonum, for he will marchandize with you, whereby hee will gaine sixty in a hun∣dred, hee is your Cities honest man, which is, to speake the truth, more thē a knaue, for a knaue that is crafty needs no broker, but hee cannot liue with∣out one. He is a man composed of all loue, and protesting kindnesse to pleasure the occasions of his gallant debtor, with his much affirmation of his respect, how willing he is to doe his worship a pleasure, whereby the chiefe ayme of his pleasure is to haue a footing vppon some capitall messu∣age, or else to be fingring some petty Lordshippe, or cōely mānor, who ha∣uing no sooner glutted himselfe with the rich banquet of his debtors deere cost, but immediately to physick him∣selfe he is at the charge of a faire hack∣ney Coach with three most absolute lades to draw him (whither hee most willingly is drawne) with his curi∣ous wife, and two or three of his owne
conditioned neighbours, to see this goodly purchase, who prepare them∣selues some fortnight before hand, and prune themselues vp in their Pea∣cocks feathers like the puppets in a Lord Maior his pageant, and for this his great act he is admired at amongst his neighbours as the Owle in the day time amongst other birds, and esteemed of with as much respect as that captaine Pigmi was, which was commander in that bloudy warres against the terrible black Crowes.
A Creditor may further be said to bee either, homo, monstrum, or demon. A man when he casts his debtor into Prison with a determination to seeke his owne, not to ruin him, and if he bee not able to pay all, to take what he can spare, and giue him day for the rest, and so release him: this man is (homo homini Deus) that as he doth punish, so he doth preserue.
A Monster when he hath not onely extended his substance but casts him in Prison, and is as deafe as an adder to heare of releafe till he haue paid him the vtmost farthing.
A Diuell when hee hath ruined him doth reioyce to see him fall, and in stead of coyne will haue his carkasse, but to finde a creditor both Homo et Angelus, that will release his prisoner when he is not able to pay him, and that will consider that vltra posse non est esse. Such a one is Rara auis in terris, &c.
Some creditors are pittifull, And mercy still will show: And some as flint will harder be, Which many debters know.
Similis si∣mili gaudet.