Of the lawful and unlawful usury ammo[n]gest Christians, addedOf the lawful and vnlawful vsurie amo[n]gest Christians, added

☞ What is usury.

☞ What is vsurie.

Lest that any man might accuse me as a maintainer of usury, I will bring a definition of usury, not now devised of my felse, but long ago set forth by them, whose godliness in Christs church hath gotten such authority, as can not be rotted out by usurers, or by their defenders.

LEst that anye man might accuse me as a mainteiner of vsurie, I wil bring a definition of vsury, not now deuised of my felse, but long ago setforth by them, whose godlines in Christes church hath gottē such authorite, as can not be roted out by vsurers, or by theyr defenders.

Hierom upon Ezekiel in his .6. book doeth write thus. Some men think usury to be only in money, ⟨image 4⟩the which thing godly scripture foreseeing doth take away the overplus of every thing, so that thou mayest not receive more than thou hast given. Also other, for money put too usury, are wont to take little gifts of divers sorts of things: & they do not understand that the scripture calleth usury and overplus, whatsoever thing it be, that they take more, besides that which they did give. These be Hierons sayings. Ambrose of Naboth, sayeth. Many fleeing the precepts of the law, when they have delivered their money unto merchants, do not exact usury in money, but of their wares they take in valour as of usures. Therefore let them hear what the law sayeth. Thou shalt not take usury of meats, nor of any other thing. Therefore meat is usury, and apparel is usury, ⟨image 5⟩and whatsoever cometh too the stock is usury, and what name soever thou wilt give it, usury it is. So sayeth Amb. Augustine also upon the .36. Psalm. defineth usury after this sort. If thou commit usury to a man (that is to say) if thou lend thy money, of whom thou lookest too receive any thing more than thou haste given, not only money, but any thing more than thou hast given, if it be wheat, if it be Wine, if it be Oil, if it be any manner of other things, if thou look to receive more than thou haste given, thou art an usurer, and in that too be disallowed. Thus sayeth he. Therefore, according unto these mens sayings: Usury is, not only to take, but also to hope and look for any thing, besides that which is called the stock: that is