University of Virginia Library

The Diuell, and the Usurer.

Good husband, carefull man, to thriue and liue,
Imbrace the gainfull counsell that I giue,
Keepe not thy Coine a rusting on thy hand,
But put it out, it is thy house and land,
Make profit of thine owne, be't to thy Brother,
And make thy hundreds one beget another,
Thou shalt haue me and all the Diuels in hell
To take thy part, that thou doest wondrous well,
Although some conscience Christian, some nice foole,
That will haue onely Scripture for his schoole,
Doe tell thee that it is a damned thing,
To be a Vsurer, and places bring
To proue the same. Why, man if that be all,
I can my selfe t' alledging Scripture fall,
As once in Wildernesse I did inlarge
Tis written, He shall giue his Angels change,
Thou shalt not dash thy foote against a stone.
And so for thee. Tush, let the Diuell alone.
For Vsury this Scripture I haue found,
Of him that hid his Talent in the ground,
And did not put it out to make a gaine,
As did his fellowes: here's a place serues plaine,
He was condemned for to let it lye,
And no increase of profit come thereby.
Thou lend'st thy money vnto one that takes it,
And very gainefull in the vse he makes it.
He giues gratuitie to thee for lending:
You both get wealth, this course deserues commending.
And therefore in the Diuels name goe on,
It is thy money thou must liue vpon.
Name me one handycraft, shew any trade,
VVill sell his ware, at that same price he payd.
Let Vsury be kept in practise than,
For it maintaines many an honest man.
Innumerable multitudes of Iewes,
And countlesse Christians, that the trade doe vse:
The sonnes of Mammon, mony-monger slaues,
With bribing Scriueners, and with broking Knaues,
That if it were not for the soules of such,
Lucifers Kingdome would diminish much,
That golden Legion are his constant friends,
To whom his gracelesse fauours he commends.
And one thing more, my sonne, thou maist be bold,
The Mony-monger, of all trades will hold:
When Merchant, Mercer, and the rest proue weake,
My hold-fast Vsurer will neuer breake.
VVho euer sheare the Hogs, hee'le sheare the sheepe,
And like a Lawyer, is for catch and keepe.
They two (though with the Fox th' are often curst)
Yet still fare well, for neither of them burst.