A Spectacle for Usurers and Succers of poor folks blood.  
Whereby they may see, God's just dislike and revenge, upon their uncharitable and Uncivil oppression.  
With a horrible murder committed by a young man, that hanged his own Mother in August last. 1606.   depiction of usurer being devoured by rats 
Imprinted at London for john Wright, and are to be sold at his shop near Christs-Church gate. 1606.   

A true treatise, declaring how miraculously an Usurer was devoured by Rats, at charet near to the city of Aix in Provence, within the Kingdom of France, on the second day of August. 1606.  
According to the French Copy, printed at Lions, by Leger Bonhomme.  
AH, what a world is this, when we must have amongst us, who are baptized in the name of Christ Jesus, and do carry the names of Christians, men so void of all charity, and so without all humanity towards their neighbours, that they are not ashamed by all forts of greedy covetousness and extortions, as by unreasonable enhaunsing the price of victuals, and all other cruel and unkind means, to oppress and utterly undo their poor Christian brethren and sisters, without any remorse or pity to the fatherless children, or distressed widows, as I may say, that we seem rather to live among Jews, than Christians? Yea, it may be avouched, that the Turks and Saracins, I had almost said, the very savage and brutish americans, would be ashamed to plot and practise such horrible and accursed means, for the spoiling and pining of poor Christians, as is daily practised among us, who make, profession to have been trained in Christ his school. Which might justly make to blush for shame our Usurers, and unsatiable greedy minded men, who care for nothing but enriching themselves: although it be with the ruin and utter undoing of infinite poor people, whom they suffer, yea cause to perish. Whose cries undoubtedly do ascend unto theeares of the Lord, and he being a just judge, will be avenged thereon. And though he punish not visibly in this life always the unmercifulness of wicked worldlings: yet hath he sundry times showed fearful tokens of his displeasure against such dealings: Among which, mark this notable example following.  
Upon the second day of August last passed, in the year of Grace 1606, at charet, a little town near to the City of Aix in Provence, within the Kingdom of France, there dwelled a rich Usurer, named George Rolet, of the age of about fifty years. He had three Graniers full of Corn, and two cellars full of wine, and much cattle of his own, feeding on both sides of Aix: besides great store of money that was owing him. And he neverlent any money, or money worth, to any, without sufficient pawns, or else to men that were wealthy. And he so dealt by lending, as every six months he would commonly double his principal: so ungraciously had he hardened his heart by wicked usuries and extortions to enrich himself.  
His wife was dead, having left him no child neither had he any body, for whom he might thus miserably strap these goods together, but one Niece: for to enrich whom, and to fulfil his own unsatiable covetousness, he omitted no vile, and abominable practices of usury unassaied, never regarding how wretchedly his soul were left quite abandoned of charity and all piety, whereby it became a bondslave to the Devil, who as a hangman or executioner of God's just wrath against the wicked, pay those their hire in the end, that are ruled by him.  
Now it so fell out, that this wretched Usurer had not sold any of his corn or wine that year, staying until a time should come when he might sell it dearer. but when he saw the year so far passed, as he could hope for no greater price, he thought it best to set open his Graniers, and to sell his corn: which he did upon a Market day. And forthwith came hasting thither, many people of sundry sexes & ages, for to buy Corne. Amongst others came a poor woman a Widow, from a Village called Montalien, being a little league distant from thence. The woman's name was Claudia Balm: who meaning to buy corn, asked him, how he sold a bushel? He answered, five shillings. What (said she) five shillings? Now that God bestoweth such plenty on us, you might well afford it for three shillings. I had rather (said he) be eaten up with Rats, than I would let it go for less than five.  
There withal, at the same instant, comes another poor woman, from another Village not far off, called Were in, to whom this Usurer had lent four crownes-worth of cor●e, upon condition, that she must pay him a third partmore then the price of the Market, and beside, to pay six pence a month usury for every crown: for assistance whereof, he had received of the said woman, named Margaret Paschall, seven rings in pawn. This foresaid day, came the said Margaret Paschall, and said unto him, Master George Rolet, I have brought you the money which I own you, and I pray you give me my rings again, He answered her, yes Gossip, you shall. Then she telling him out first the principal, and then the interest, demandeth again for rings. The Usurer taketh her money and locketh it up, & opening a cupboard▪ taketh out a folded paper, and delivereth it unto her, saying: Lo Gossip, there be your goods. She opening the paper, and's one of her rings wanting, where at being much grieved, she said unto him. I have paid you your full ask. and yet I miss here one of my rings: I beseech you deal not so hardly with met, as to keep it, but let me have it again. He denied, that he had any more of her then the six. The woman, contrariwise avouched, that she had delivered to him seven, describing unto him what manner of one it was, saying, that it was the first that ever her deceased husband had given her. He still denied it. The poor woman fell on weeping, and still affirmed, that he had her said ring. He after many other oaths and protestations, did in the end (according to his usual manner of swearing, or rather of cursing himself) beseech God, for to suffer the Rats to eat and devour him up, if ever he had, or received any such ring. This poor woman sell on her knees, saying: I pray and most humbly beseech God Almighty, that it may so come to pass, and that he show some wonderful token upon you or me, to make manifest whether of us do swear falsely: and I verily trust, that God who is most just, will declare miraculously, which of us holdeth the truth, and which the contrary.  
She had scarce made an end of her prayer, but immediately there came (a wonderful thing to the an innumerable sort of Rats, which set upon this Usurer, some on one part of him, some on another. And albeit his servants sought by all means to drive them a way, they laboured in vain: for the more they hunted them away, the more in multitudes came still, more and more assailing him.  
His friends and kinsfolk caused him to be stripped, and so to be wrapped in a clean cloth, and to be carried a way into another lodging. But he was no sooner brought thither, but these vermin Rats (as just executors of Gods will) came running thither in flocks, and gnawed his body, who had miserably sucked, gnawed and devoured the goods of very many poor people. And apply what remedies those that were about him could do by any means, yet could they not stay these Rats, but that in twenty & four hours they had deprived him of his life. So he died the second of August, in the year of our Lord 1606. about four of the clock in the afternoon. His friends and kinsfolk thought to make some funeral or burial of the remainder of his body, which these little creatures had left: whereof they were deceived, for before midnight, they had scarf left him the least show of a body, but had carried all away: so as no man can tell what became thereof.  
Thus may we learn by this wicked man's miserable end, that we are not created for ourselves alone, but to be helpers and comforters one to another: and that we ought not by usury, oppression, and such unjust means, to catch away, from others uncharitably and unconscionably, that which is not our own. And much less, that we should in any wise swear by his name rashly and falsely, who is a just judge and almighty. Neither to curse ourselves but rather to pray for God's daily blessing. God for his mercies sake amend us all.   

A Treatise most true, of a cursed young youth of Remilly in Savoy, who miserably and shamefully strangled and hanged his own mother.  
With his punishment for the same, on Saturday the 19 of August. 1606.  
According to the French Copy printed at Tholouse by Peter Chantenefue.  
NOtwithstanding that the cruel murder, committed by that first murderer Cain on the person of his brother, be left unto all posterities mentioned, as a heinous wickedness much displeasing to God, and abominable before men: yet have there been some found so inhuman and cruel, as they have imitated, if not surpassed him in such villainy. For what shall we say of Nero, who most unnaturally caused his own mother to be slain, and her womb to be ripped up, that he might see the place where he lay during the time that his mother bore him? And not much less detestably performed, will this treatise show a parricide.  
At Remilly, a little town of Savoy, there dwelled a woman named Gasparde Brisin, widow to one Anthony Moillon deceased, and she had a son called George Moillon, now come to the age of near twenty years. Her deceased husband, knowing her to be a thrifty howswife, had by will certain years before, left her mistress and governess of all his goods, without yielding account thereof to any, before her son were come to the age of twenty years: and then, if she and he did not like to dwell together any longer, she to have her part of the land, with half of the goods, and a thousand Florins overplus.  
The son now seeing himself almost twenty years old, kept ruffian like & disordered company, which is too common a thing now a days. He then must haunt taverns, play, dance, and riot lustily. The mother, on the other side sought to bridle this young colt, and would not let him have too much money, for fear he should spoil himself, with voluptuousness.  
He still was urged by those that kept him company, to force his mother to feed him with money, or else to sell her yarn, linen cloth, plate, or whatsoever else he could catch, & to make money thereof. He, as pliable as wax, to take any impression, following their counsel, was daily at his mother for money. She, (though hardly) would now and then give him a little: which not so soon received, but it was presently spent. He than cometh for more, which not obtaining, he falls to threatening and to offer fowl speeches unto her.  
At whitsuntide last, the wake being at that place then when many youths should assemble, this young man, among all other, would be stored with money & spend prodigally among his companions, took six of the best wether sheep that were in his mother's pasture, and sold them to the butcher. Then during the merriment, who but he at dancing, banqueting and play: so as the last of the three holidays he had not a penny left him of six crowns that he had received, and of whatsoever else he could steal from his mother. The same day cometh the shepherd, and his mistress, inquiring of her sheep, and the number of her wethers, understood how her son had sold six of them, coming in an evening where they were She asked her son, what he had done with the money that he had received for the wethers. He answered, that he had what to do therewith, & that he would sell many more of them, giving her sundry bad words. She takes up a cudgel to strike him. But he, being wickedly bend, can to her, and did wring it out off her hands. Hereupon, she being very angry, goeth out into the street to his companions that brought him to disorder, willing them not to maintain her son any more in his lewdness, nor to call him out to go with them henceforth, & to cause him so fond to spend his money. Her son very angry to see that his mother had uttered his faults in the open street, and that before young maids, who mocked him therewith, hatcheth within his mind a mische evous imagination, & being tempted by the Devil who watcheth how he may allure us to yield unto that which may work our endless woe, so possessed this young man's mind, that he purposed one night to kill his own mother. He used to lie in a bed by himself in his mother's chamber. This poor mother being in bed, sighed much for grief at her sons ill husbandry & carriage. He than watcheth & attendeth his time until she was a steep: & in the end perceiving her fast a sleep, takes a cord, which he had prepared of purpose, and having made a noose, he coming near his mother's bed, had at first some remorse of conscience, as he was about to put the cord about her neck: but remembering how the day before she had shamed him openly, and that before young wenches, whom he esteemed more than his mother, this accursed son, possessed with the Devil puts the cord about her neck and strangleth her. And when he saw that she had no longer any breath left in her, he hoiseth her neck up by the cord, making it fast to the upper part of the bedstead and so left her hanging. Then he takes her keys, which were under the boister of her bed, & opens all her chests, finding there about two hundred crowns, with rings, borders and other jewels: trusseth up altogether, and assoon as the Cock had crowed, he commanded to have a horse saddled, riseth, putteth on his clothes, his boots and spurs, and having shut fast the chamber door, where his mother was, goes to horseback, and told the man servant that he had appointed with his mother to go to Chambery.  
This new Orestes, or killer of his mother, being on his way, every step that he set forward, seemeth to behold burning firebrands before him: fear followed him at the heels, and a guilty conscience of that he had done affrighted him: the least noise that he heard, was ever and anon as an alarm unto him, so as he knew not which ways to turn him.  
In the mean time, when the morning was well up, his mother's maids, wondering that their mistress rose not, knocked at her chamber door, calling her, but in vain, for no body answered. At length they call in the neighbours, and brea●e open the door, and find the woman there hanging. they fetch the Castle keeper of the place, and strait way it is suspected to be her sons doing. Then he was sent after in haste, and being known all the way he went, was taken at Marches, and so carried safe to Chambery, where he freely confessed this wicked and horrible fact, and was there condemned by the Senate, to be pinched his flesh off under the paps in three places of the town with pincers red hot, and afterward to be burned to death in the market called Vernay. And so was he executed on Saturday the nineteenth of August 1606. At his execution he willed all youth to take example by him, and to be obedient to their fathers and mothers, and to beware of haunting lewd company. When the fire was burning about him, he cried unto God for mercy until the last gasp.  
This may serve an example both for parents, to be careful how they bring up their children in the fear of God. and in good nurture betimes, while they are under their government: and for youth, to take heed that they eschew riotous and lewd company, lest thereby the Devil procure them to the like desperate and damnable attempts. And so God guide us in the right way.  
FINIS.