USURER

Come on, I am every day troubled with these needy companions, what news with you, what wind brings you him there. You young Gentleman is my money ready. Is the wind in that door, if thou hast my money so it is, I will not defer a day, and hour, a minute, but take the forfeit sir consider that my lose was great by the up, you know sir I borrowed of you forty I had ten pounds in money, and thirty pounds , which when I came to fell again, I could get for them, so had I sir but fifteen pounds for In consideration of this ill bargain, I pray you sir month longer. Come to morrow to Me, and see how I will use Thee. What a spite is this, hath sped of his Crowns, if he had missed but one half hour, what a goodly Farm had I God ten for forty pounds, well 'tis my cursed fortune, O have I no shift to make him forfeit his recognisance. Stay, what is this a clock four, let me see, to be paid between the hours of three and four in the afternoon, this goes right for me, you sir, hear you not the clock, and have you not a counterpaine of your Obligation, the hour is passed, it was to be paid between three and four, and now the clock hath strooken four, I will receive none, I'll stand to the forfeit of the recog nisance. Why didst thou not tender thy money then? if I offer Thee injury take the law of me, complain to the Judge, I will re ceiue no money. Hang beggarly knave, comest to me for a Cow, did I not bind her bought and sold for a penny, and was not thy day to have paid yesterday, thou gettest no Cow at my hand. Thou gettest no Cow of me knave, I cannot stand pra ting with you, I must be gone. What pratest thou, have I not answered Thee thy day is broken? I have other matters to talk on, farewell fellows. I'll deliver Thee none, if I have wronged Thee, seek thy mends at the law. Sir here is forty angels for you, and if at any time you want a hundredth pound or two, 'tis ready at your command, or the feeding of three or four fat bullocks: whereas these needy slaves can reward with nothing but a cap and aknée, and therefore I pray you sir favour my case. What master Lawyer what make you here, mine adversary for these Clients? I know you know the old Proverb, He is not wise, that is not wise for himself. I would not be disgracest in this acti on, therefore here is twenty angels say nothing in the matter, and what you say, say to no purpose, for the Judge is my friend. That first he had no Lute-strings of me, for look you sir, I have his own hand to my book for y e receipt of forty pound. This is manifest contrary sir, and on that I will de pose, for here is the obligation, to be paid between three & four in the afternoon, and the Clock struck four before he offered it, and the words be between three and four, therefore to be ten dreaded before four. Friend let me see it. How were they got? Honest men, towards men, good men, my friends, Like to prove good members, use me, command me, I will maintain your credits, there's money, now spend not your time in idleness, bring me commodity I have crowns for you, there is two shil lings for Thee, and six shillings for Thee. Good fellows, proper fellows, my companions, far well, I have a pot for you. Groaning in conscience, burdened with my crimes, The hell of sorrow haunts me up and down. Tread where I list, methinks the bleeding ghosts Of those whom my corruption brought to noughts, Do serve for stumbling blocks before my steps. The fatherless and widow wronged by me. The poor oppressed by my usury, Methinks I see their hands reared up to heaven, To cry for vengeance of my covetousness. Where so I walk, I'll sighs and shun my way. Thus am I made a monster of the world, Hell gapes for me, heaven will not hold my soul. You mountains shroud me from the God of truth. Methinks I see him fit to judge the earth. See how he blots me out of the book of life. O burden more then Atna that I bear. Cover me hills, and shroud me from the Lord. Swallow me Licas, shield me from the Lord. In life no peace: each murmuring that I hear, Methinks the sentence of damnation sounds, Die reprobate, and High Thee hence to hell. What fiend is this that tempts me to the death? What is my death the harbour of my rest? Then let me die: what second charge is this? Mée-things I hear a voice amid mine ears, That bids me stay: and tells me that the Lord Is merciful to those that do repent. May I repent? o thou my doubtful soul? Thou mayest repent, the Judge is merciful. Hence tools of wrath, stales of temptation, For I will pray and sighs unto the Lord. In sackcloth will I sighs, and fasting pray: Oh Lord in rigor look not on my sins. Oh Lord of light forgive me my misdeeds. Come forth my friends whom wittingly I wronged, Before this man of God receive your endue, Before our King I mean to make my peace. Jonas behold in sign of my remorse, I hear restore into these poor men's hands, Their goods which I unjustly have detained, And may the heavens so pardon my misdeeds, As I am penitent for my offence. Confused in thought, o whither shall I weened? Exet.