The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise

THAT WE OVGHT NOT TO TAKE UP [ 10] MONEY UPON VSVRIE.

The Summarie.

THe covetous desire of earthly goods, is a passion inturable, but especially after that it hath gotten the masterie of the souse, in such sort, as the advertisements which are made in regard of covetous men, be not proposed for any thing els but for the profit and benefit of those persons who are to keepe themselves from the nets and snares of [ 20] these enemies of humane societie. Now among all those who haveneed of good coun∣sels in this behalfe, we must range them that take up money upon interest, who serving as a pray and bootie to these greedie and hungry hunters, aught so much the rather to looke unto their owne preser∣vation, if they would not be cruelly devoured. And as this infortunitie hath bene in the world ever since the entrie of sinne, that alwates some or other, yea, and great numbers have endevoured to make their commoditie and gaine by the losse and dammage of their neighbours; so we may see heere, that in Plutarchs time things were growen to a woonderfull confusion, the which is nothing diminished since, but contrariwise it seemeth that in these our daies it is come to the very height. And for to ap∣plie some remedie heereto, our authour leavethusurers altogether as persons gracelesse, reprobate and ancapable of all remon strance, addressing himselfe unto borrowers, to the end that he might discover [ 30] and lay open unto them the snares and nets into which they plunge themselves; and this he doth with∣out specifying or particularising over neere of usurie, because there is no meane or measure limited nor any end of this furious desire of gathering and heaping up things corruptible. Considering then that covetous folke have neither nerve nor veine that reacheth or tendeth to the pittie of their neighbours, meet it is and good reason that borrowers should have some mercie and compassion of themselves, to weigh and ponder well the grave discourses of this authour, and to applie the same unto the right use. He saith therefore, that the principall meanes to keepe and save themselves from the teeth of usurie, is to make the best of their owne, and shift with those things that they have about them, before they ap∣proch unto the denne of this hungrie and greedie beast, and that men ought to make an hand & quicke dispatch of that which is not very necessary, before they come thither; where he taxeth those who had [ 40] lever lay to gage and pawne their goods, and remaine under the burden of usurie, than to sell up all and disgage themselves at once. After this, he presenteth the true remedie of this mischiefe, namely, to spare and spend in measure; and to cause us to be more warie and better advised, he proposeth the live∣lie image of this horrible monster, whom we call an Usurer, describing him in his colours, with all his practises and passions. Which done, he sheweth the source of borrowing money upon interest, and the way to stop the same; he directeth his pen particularly first unto the poore, gi∣ving them a goodly lesson, and then unto the richer sort, teaching the one as∣well as the other, how they are to demeane and carie themselves, that they be not exposed in the clutches of usurers. And for a con∣clusion, he exhorteth them to behold the example of cer∣teine [ 50] Philosophers by name, who chose rather to abandon & forsake all their goods, than to undoe themselves in the possession & hold∣ing thereof.

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO take up money upon usurie.

PLato in his books of Lawes, permitteth not one neighbour to make bolde with anothers water, before he have digged and sunke a pit so deepe in his owne ground, that he is come to a veine of clay or pot∣ters earth; untill (I say) he have sounded thorowly, and found that the plot of ground is not apt to ingender water, or yeeld a spring; [ 10] [for the said potters clay being by nature fattie, solide and strong, reteineth that moisture which it hath once received, and will not let it soke or passe thorow:] but allowed they are, and ought to fur∣nish themselves with water from others, when they have no meanes to find any of their own, forasmuch as the law intendeth to provide for mens necessitie, and not to favour their idlenesse; even so there ought to be an ordinance and act as touching money; That it might not be lawfull for those to borrow upon usurie, nor to goe into other mens purses (as it were) to draw water at their welles or pits, before they have cast about all meanes at home, searched every way, and gathered (as it were) from everie gutter and spring, trying and assaying how to draw and come by that which may serve their [ 20] owne turnes, and supplie their present necessities. But now it falleth out contrariwise, that ma∣nie there be, who to furnish their foolish and riotous expenses, or els to accomplish their super∣fluous and chargeable delights, never serve their owne turnes, nor make use of those things which they have, but are readie to seeke unto others, even to their great cost, though they stand in no need at all: for an undoubted & cerreine proofe hereof, marke how usurers do not ordina∣rily put forth their money unto those who are in necessity & distresse, but to such as be desirous to purchase and get that which is superfluous, and whereof they stand not in need; insomuch as that which is credited out and delivered unto him that borroweth, is a good proofe and suffici∣ent testimonie, that he hath somewhat to take to of his owne; whereas indeed he ought (since he hath wherewith) to looke unto it, that he take not upon interest, and conrrariwise, not to be [ 30] credited nor to be in the usurers booke, is an argument that such an one is needie.

Why doest thou repaire and make court (as it were) obsequiously to a banker or merchant? goe thy waies and borrow of thine owne banke, make a friend of thine owne stocke; flaggons thou hast and pots, chargers, basons and dishes all of silver plate; imploy the same about thy necessities, for to supply thy wants, and when thou hast disfurnished thy table and cup-boord, the gentle towne Antis or els the isle Tenedos, will make up all again with faire vessel of earth and pottery, which is much more neat & pure than those of silver, for these cary not the strong smel nor unpleasant sent of usury, which like rust or canker, every day more & more, sullieth, fretteth & eateth into thy costly magnificence; these will not put thee in minde daily of the calends and new moones, which being in it selfe the most sacred & holy day of the moneth, is by meanes of [ 40] the usurers, become odious and accursed. For as touching those, who choose rather to lay their goods to gage, & to pawn them for to borrow money thereupon & pay for use, than to sel them right out, I am verily perswaded that god Jupiter himselfe surnamed Ctesius, that is, Possessor, can not save them from beggery. Abashed they are to receive the price and value of their goods to the woorth; but they be not ashamed to pay interest for the lone of money. And yet that wise and politike Pericles caused the costly robe and attire of the statue of Minerva weighing forty talents in fine gold, to be made in such sort, that he might take it off and put it on as he would at his pleasure; To the ende (quoth he) that when we stand in need of money for maintenance of warre, we may serve our turnes therewith for the time, and afterwards put in the place againe an∣other of no lesse weight and woorth; even so we likewise in our accusations and affaires, like as [ 50] in the besieging of a citie, ought never to admit the garrison of an usurer or enemie, nor to en∣dure to see before our eies our owne goods delivered out for to continue in perpetuall servi∣tude, but rather to cut-off from our labour all that is neither profitable nor necessarie; likewise from our beds, form our couches, and our ordinarie expenses in diet whatsoever is heedlesse, thereby to maintaine and keepe our selves free, in hope and with full intent to supply and make amends againe for it, if fortune afterwards smile upon us. Certes, the Romane dames in times past were willing to part with their jewels and ornaments of gold, yea and give them away as an

offering of first fruits to Apollo Pythius, whereof was made a golden cup, and the same sent to the citie of Delphi. And the Matrons of Carthage shore the haire of their heads, to make thereof twised cords for to winde up and bend their engines and instruments of artillerie in the defence of their countrey, when the citie was besieged. But we, as if we were ashamed of our owne suffi∣ciencie, and to stand upon our owne bottomes, seeke to enthrall our selves by gages and obliga∣tions; whereas it behooved us much more by restraining our selves and reducing all to such things onely as be profitable and good for us, of those needlesse, unprofitable and superfluous vessels which we have, after they be either melted, broken in pieces, or sold, to build a privileged chappell of libertie, for our selves, our wives and children. For the goddesse Diana in Ephesus, yeelded sanctuarie, franchise and savegard unto all debters against their creditours, who fled for [ 10] succour into her temple. But the sanctuarie indeed of parsimonie, frugalitie and moderate ex∣pense, into which no usurers can make entrie, for to hale and pull out of it any debter prisoner, standeth alwaies open for those that are wise, and affoordeth unto them a large space, of joious and honorable repose. For like as that Prophetesse which gave oracles in the temple of Pythius Apollo, about the time of the Medians warre, made answere unto the Athenian Embassadors: That God gave vnto them for their safetie a wall of wood; whereupon they leaving their lands and possessions, abandoning their citie, and forsaking their houses and all the goods therein, had recourse unto their ships for to save their libertie; even so, God giveth unto us woodden tables, earthen vessels, and garments of course cloth, if we would live in freedome:

Set not thy minde upon steeds of great price, [ 20] And chariots brave, in silver harnesse dight, With claspes, with hookes, and studs by fine device Ywrought, in race to shew a goodly sight.

for how swift soever they be, these usurers will soone overtake them and run beyong. But rather get upon the next asse thou meetest with, or the first pack-horse that commeth in thy way, to flie from the usurer, a cruell enemie and meere tyrant, who demaundeth not at thy hands fire and water, as sometimes did that barbarous King of Media; but that which woorse is, toucheth thy libertie, woundeth thine honor and credit by proscriptions, writs, and open proclamations. If thou pay him not to his conteut, he is ready to trouble thee; if thou have wherewith to satisfie him, he wil not receive thy payment, unlosse he list; if thou prize and sell thy goods, he will have [ 30] them under their worth; art thou not disposed to make a sale of them? hee will force thee to it; doest thou sue him for his extreame dealing, he will seeme to offer parley of agreement; if thou sweare unto him that thou wilt make paiment, he will impose upon thee hard conditions, and have thee at command; if thou goe to his house for to speake and conferre with him, hee will locke the gates against thee; and if thou stay at home and keepe house, thou shalt have him rap∣ping at thy doore; he will not away but take up his lodging there with thee. For in what stead served the law of Solon in Athens, wherein it was ordained, that among the Athenians, mens bo∣dies should not be obliged for any civill debt? considering that they be in bondage and slaverie to all banquers and usurers, who force men to keepe in their heads; and that which more is, not to them alone (for that were not such a great matter) but even to their verie slaves, being proud, [ 40] insolent, barbarous and outrageous, such as Plato describeth the divels and fiery executioners in hel to be, who torment the soules of wicked and godlesse persons. For surely these cursed usurers make thy hall and judiciall place of justice, no better than a very hell and place of torment to their poore debters, where after the manner of greedie geirs and hungrie griffons, they flay, mangle and eate them to the verie bones,

And of their beaks and talons keene, The markes within their flesh be seene.

And some of them they stand continually over, not suffring them to touch and taste their owne proper goods; when they have done their vintage and gathered in their corne & other fruits of the earth, making them fast & pine away like unto Tantalus. And like as king Darius sent against [ 50] the citie of Athens his lieutenants generall Datis and Artaphernes, with chaines, cordes and halters in their hands, therewith to binde the prisoners which they should take; semblablie these usurers bring into Greece with them their boxes and caskets full of schedules, bils, hand∣writings, and contracts obligatorie, which be as good as so many irons and fetters to hang up∣on their poore debters; and thus they go up and downe leaping from citie to citie, where they sow not as they passe along good and profitable seede, as Triptolemus did in old time; but plant their rootes of debts, which bring foorth infinite troubles and intolerable usuries, whereof there

is no end, which eating as they goe and spreading their spaunes round about, in the end cause whole cities to stoupe and stinke, yea and be ready to suffocate and strangle them. It is reported of hares that at one time they suckle young leverets and be ready to kinnule others that be in their bellies, and withall to conceive a fresh: but the debts of these barbarous, wicked and cruell usurers, do bring foorth before they conceive. For in putting out their money, they redemand it presently; in laying it downe, they take it up, they deliver that againe for interest, which they received and tooke in consideration of lone and use. It is said of the Messenians citie,

Gate after gate a man shall here find, And yet one gate ther's alwaies behind.

But it may better be said of usurers: [ 10]

Usurte here, upon usurie doth grow, And end thereof you never shall know.

and here withall in some sort they laugh at natural philosophers, who holde this Axiome, That of nothing can be engendred nothing: for with them usurie is bred of that which neither is, not ever was; of that I say which never had subsistence nor being. Howbeit these men thinke it a shame & reproch to be a publicane, and take to farme for a rent the publike revenewes, notwith∣standing the lawes do permit and allow that calling, whereas themselves against all the lawes of the world, exact a rent and custome for that which they put foorth to usurie; or rather to speake a truth in lending their money they defraude their debtors as bankrupts do their creditors. For the poore debter who receiveth lesse than he hath set downe in his obligation, is most falsely [ 20] coufened, deceived, and cut short of that which he ought to have. And verily the Persians re∣pute lying to be a sinne, but in a second degree: for in the first place they reckon to owe money and be indebted; in as much, as leasing followeth commonly those that be in debt. But yet usu∣rers ly more than they, neither are there any that practise more falshood and deceit in their day debt bookes wherein they write, that to such a one they have delivered so much, whereas indeed it is farre lesse; and so the motive of their lying is faire avarice, & neither indigence nor poverty, but even a miserable covetousnes and desire ever to have more and more; the end whereof tur∣neth neither to pleasure nor profit unto themselves, but to the losse and ruine of those whom they wring and wrong: for neither till they those grounds which they take away from their deb∣ters; nor dwell in the houses out of which they turne them; nor their meat upon those ta∣bles [ 30] which they have from them; ne yet clad themselves with their apparell, of which they spolie them; but first, one is destroied, than a second followeth after, and is allured as a prey by the other. And this is much like to a wilde fire, which still consumeth, and yet encreaseth al∣waies by the utter decay and destruction of all that falleth into it, and devoureth one thing after another. And the usurer which maintaineth this fire, blowing and kindling it with the ruine of so many people, gaineth thereby no more fruit than this, that after a certaine time, he taketh his booke of accounts in hand, and there readeth what a number of debters he hath bought out of house and home, how many he had dispossessed of their land and living, from whence he hath come and whither he hath gone in turning, winding, and heaping up his silver. Now I would not that you should thus thinke of me, that I speake al this upon any deadly war and enmitie that [ 40] I have sworne against usurers,

For God be praised they neither horses mine Have driven away, nor oxen, ne yet kine.

But onely to shew unto them who are so ready to take up money upon usurie, what a villanous, shamefull, and base thing there is in it, and how this proceedeth from nothing else but extreame folly and timiditie of heart. If thou have wherewith to weld the world, never come into the usu∣rers booke, considering thou hast no need to borrow. Hast thou not wherewith, yet take not money up and pay not interest, because thou shalt have no meanes to make paiment. But let us consider the one and the other apart by it selfe. Old Cato said unto a certaine aged man, who be∣haved himselfe verie badly: My friend (quoth he) considering that old age of it selfe hath so ma∣nie [ 50] evils; how commeth it to passe, that you adde thereto moreover the reproch and shame of leawdnesse and misdemeanor? even so may we say, seeing that povertie of it selfe hath so many and so great miseries, do not you over and above go and heape thereupon the troubles and an∣guishes that come of borrowing and being in debt; neither take thou from penurie that onely good thing, wherein it excelleth riches, to wit, the want of carking and pensive cares; for other∣wise thou shalt be subject unto the mockerie implied by this common proverbe:

A goat alone when beare unneth I may, An oxe upon my shoulder you do lay.

Semblably, you being not able to sustaine povertie alone, do surcharge your selfe with an usuter, a burden hardly supportable even for a rich and wealthie man. How then would you have me to live? haply some man will say: And doest thou indeed aske this question, having hands and feet of thine owne? having the gift of speech, voice, and being a man, unto whom it is given both to love and also to be loved; as well to doe a pleasure, as to receive a courtesie with thankesgiving. Thou maist teach Grammar, bring up yoong children, be a porter or doore-keeper; thou maist be a sailer or mariner, thou maist row in a barge or galley: for none of all these trades is more reprochfull, odious, or troublesome, than to heare one say unto thee: Pay me mine owne, or [ 10] discharge the debt that thou owest me. Rutilius that rich Romane comming upon a time at Rome to Musonius the Philosopher, said unto him thus in his eare: Musonius, Juptter surnamed Saviour, whom you and such other Philosophers as you are, make profession to imitate and fol∣low, taketh up no money at interest: but Musonius smiling againe, returned him this present an∣swere: No more doth he put foorth anie money for use.

Now this Rutilius who was an usurer, reproched the other for taking money at interest, which was a foolish arrogant humour of a Stoicke: for what need hadst thou Rutilius, to meddle with Jupiter Saviour, and alledge his name, considering that a man may report the selfe same by those very things which are familiar and apparent? The swallowes are not in the usurers booke, the pismiers pay not for use of money, and yet to them hath not nature given either hands or rea∣son, [ 20] or any art and mysterie; whereas she hath indued man with such abundance of understan∣ding, and aptnesse to learne and practise, that he can skill not onely to nourish himselfe, but also to keepe horses, hounds, partridges, hares and jaies: why doest thou then disable and condemne thy selfe, as if thou wert lesse docible and sensible than a jay, more mute than a partridge, more idle than a dogge, in that thou canst make no meanes to have good of a man, neither by double diligence, by making court, by observance and service, nor by mainteining his quarrell and en∣tring into combat in his defence? seest thou not how the earth doth bring foorth many things, and how the sea affoordeth as many for the use of man? And verily as Crates saith:

I saw my selfe how Mycilus wooll did card, And how with him his wife the rols did spin: [ 30] Thus during warre when times were extreame hard, Both jointly wrought, to keepe them from famin.

King Antigonus when he had not of a long time seene Cleanthes the Philosopher, meeting him one day in Athens, spake unto him, and said: How now Cleanthes, doest thou grinde at the mill, and turne the querne-stone still? Yea sir (quoth Cleanthes againe) I grinde yet, and I doe it for to earne my living; howbeit, for all that, I give not over my profession of Philosophie. O the admirable courage and high spirit of this man, who comming from the mill, with that verie hand which turned about the stone, ground the meale and kneaded the dough, wrote of the na∣ture of the gods, of the moone, of the starres and the sunne! But we do thinke all these to be base and servile works; and yet verily, because we would be free (God wot) we care not to thrust our [ 40] selves into debt, we pay for the use of money, we faltter vile and base persons, we give them pre∣sents, we invite and feast them, we yeeld (as it were) tribute under-hand unto them; and this we do not in regard of povertie, (for no man useth to put forth his money into a poore mans hand) but even upon a super fluity and riotous expense of our owne: for if we could content our selves with those things that are necessarie for the life of man, there would not be an usurer in the world, no more than there are Centaures and monstrous Gorgones. But excesse it is and dein∣tinesse, which hath ingendered usurers; like as the same hath bred gold-smithes, silver-smithes, confectioners, perfumers, and diers of gallant colours. We come not in debt to bakers and vinteners for our bread and wine; but wee owe rather for the price and purchase of faire houses and lands, for a great number and retinue of slaves, of fine mules, of trimme halles and dining [ 50] chambers, of rich tables and the costly furniture belonging thereto, besides other foolish and excessive expenses, which we often-times are at, when we exhibit plaies and solemne pastimes into whole cities for to gratifie and do pleasure unto the people; and that upon a vaine ambiti∣on and desire of popular favour; and many times wee receive no other fruit of all our cost and labour, but ingratitude. Now he that is once enwrapped in debt, remaineth a debtour still all the daies of his life; and he fareth like to an horse, who after he hath once received the bit into his

mouth, changeth his rider eftsoones, and is neuer unridden, but one or other is alwaies on his backe. No way and meanes there is to avoid from thence, and to recover those faire pastures and pleasant medowes, out of which those indebted persons are turned; but they wander astray to and fro, like to those cursed fiends and maligne spirits, whom Empedocles writeth to have bene driven by the gods out of heaven:

For such the heavenly power first chas'd downe to the sea beneath; The sea againe, up to the earth did cast them by and by; Then after wards, the earth them did unto the beames bequeath Of restlesse sunne, and they at last sent them to starrie sky.

Thus fall they into the hands of usurers or bankers, one after another; now of a Corinthian, [ 10] then of a Patrian, and after of an * 1.1 Athenian; so long, untill when all of them have had a fling at him, he become in the end, wasted, eaten out, & consumed with usurie upon usurie for like as he that is stepped into a quavemire, must either at first get forth of it, or els continue still there, and not remove at all out of one place; for he that striveth, turneth and windeth every way, not only doth wet and drench his bodie, but mireth it all over, and beraieth himselfe more than he was at first, with filthy durt; even so they that do nothing but change one banke for another, making a transcript of their name out of one usurers booke into anothers, loading their shoulders eft∣soones with new and fresh usuries, become alwaies overcharged more and more; and they re∣semble for all the world, those persons who are diseased with the cholericke passion or flux, who will not admit of any perfect cure to purge it at once, but continually taking away a certeine [ 20] portion of the humor, make roome for more & more still, to gather and ingender in the place; for even so these are not willing to be ridde and cleansed at once, but with dolour, griefe and an∣guish pay usurie euery season and quarter of the yeere; and no sooner have they discharged one, but another distilleth and runneth downe after it, which gathereth to an head; and so by that meanes they are grieved with the heart-ache and paine of the head; whereas it behooved that they should make quicke dispatch, and give order to be cleere and free once for all; for now I direct my speech unto those of the better sort, who have wherewith above their fel∣lowes, and yet be nicer than they should be; and those commonly come in with such like words and excuses, as these: How then; would you have mee unfurnished of slaves and ser∣vants? to live without fire, without an house and abiding place? which is all one as if hee [ 30] that were in a dropsie and swollen as bigge as a tunne, should say unto a physician; What will you doe? would you have me to be leane, lanke, spare bodied and emptie; and why not? or what shouldest not thou be contented to be, so thou maiest recover thy health and be whole a∣gaine? and even so may it be said unto thee? Better it were for to be without slaves than to be a slave thy selfe; and to remaine without heritage and possessions, that thou maiest not be posse∣sed by another. Hearken a little to the talke that was betweene two geires or voltures as the tale goes; when one of them disgorged so strongly, that he said withall; I thinke verily that I shall cast up my very bowels: the other being by, answered in this wise: What harme wil come of thy vomiting so long as thou shalt not cast up thine owne entrails, but those onely of some dead prey which we tare and devoured together but the other day; semblably every one that is indeb∣ted [ 40] selleth not his own land, nor his owne house; but indeed the usurers house & land of whom he hath taken money for interest, considering that by the law the debter hath made him lord of him and all. Yea marie will he say anon; but my father hath left me this peece of land for mine inheritance: I wot well and beleeve it; so hath thy father left unto thee freedome, good name and reputation, whereof thou oughtest to make much more account than of land and living. He that begat thee made thy hand and thy foot; and yet if it chance that one of them be morti∣fied, he will give a good fee or a reward to a chirurgian for to cut it off. Ladie Calypso clad Ulysses with a vesture and robe senting sweet like baulme, yeelding an odor of a body immortall which she presented unto him as a gift and memoriall of the love that she bare unto him; and this he did weare for her sake; but after that he suffred shipwracke and was readie to sinke, being hardly [ 50] able to flote above water, by reason that the said robe was all drenched and so heavie that it held him downe, he did it off and threw it away; and then girding his naked brest underneath with a certeine broad fillet or swadling band, he saved himselfe by swimming, and recovered the bank: now when he was past this danger, and seemed to be landed, he seemed to want neither raiment nor nutriment: and what say you to this? may not this be counted a verie tempest, when as the usurer after a certeine time shall come to assaile the poore debtors and ay unto them: Paie,

Which word once said, therewith the clouds above, He gathereth thicke, and sea with waves doth moove: For why, the winds anon at once from east, From south, from west do blow and give no rest.

And what be these windes and waves? even usuries upon usuries, puffing, blowing and rolling one after another; and he that is overwhelmed therewith & kept under with their heavy weight, is not able to swim foorth and escape, but in the end is driven downe and sinketh to the verie bottome, where he is drowned and perished together with his friends, who entred into bonds, and became sureties and pledges for him.

Crates the philosopher of Thebes therefore did very well, who being in daunger and debt to [ 10] no man, onely wearied with the cares and troubles of house-keeping, and the pensive thoughts how to hold his owne, left all, and gave over his estate and patrimonie which amounted to the value of eight talents; tooke himselfe to his bagge and wallet, to his simple robe and cloke of course cloth, and fled into the sanctuarie and liberties of Philosophie and povertie. As for A∣naxagoras he forsooke his faire lands and plenteous pastures: but what need I to alledge these examples? considering that Philoxenus the musician being sent with other to people & possesse a new colonie in Stcilie, and having befallen to his lot a goodly house and living to it, enioying (I say) for his part a good portion wherewith he might have lived in fulnesse and plentie; when he sawe once that delights, pleasures, and idlenesse without any exercise at all of good letters reig∣ned in those parts; Par die (quoth he) these goods heere shall never spoile and undoe me, but I [ 20] will rather (I trow) make a hand and havocke of them; leaving therefore unto others his portion that fell unto him by lot, he tooke sea againe & sailed away to Athens. Contrariwise those that be in debt are evermore sued in the law, become tributaries & very slaves, bearing and induring all indignities, like unto those varlets that digge in silver mines, nourishing and mainteining as Phineus did the ravenous winged harpies: for surely these usurers alwaies flie upon them, and be ready to snatch and carie away their very foode and sustenance; neither have they patience to stay and attend times and seasons; for they buie up their debtors corne before it be ripe for the harvest; they make their markets of oile before the olives fall from the tree, and likewise of wine: For I wil have it at this price (quoth the usurer;) & withal the debter giveth him presently a bill of his hand for such a bargaine; meane while the grapes hang still upon the vine, waiting [ 30] for the moneth of September, when the star Arcturus riseth and sheweth the time of vintage.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or Corin∣thian againe.