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

☞ Whether usury be lawful or not.

☞ Wether vsurie bee lawfull or not.

WE do seek here too know not of usury of usuries, which the Jews do use, of the which no ⟨image 6⟩man doubteth, but that it is unlawful and abominable, & in no wise to be suffered: but of simple usury, by the which more is taken than given, whether it be much or little, whether it be done in money, or in other things. For this usury some men suppose not to be unlawful of it self, but except it too be made unlawful by unlawful circumstances. I deny not that there may be fond a kind of usury, which is not unlawful, but profitable: such is that usury, which is called earth usury, by the which much more is received, than was by sowing to the earth committed. This usury doth he give, which giveth unto all men all things, & • not withstanding, hath never the less. That usury is so given, that it hurteth nothing the giver, & much profitteth the receiver, and is not to be condemned of covetousness, ⟨image 7⟩but rather by reason of great good will and excellent well doing is much to be praised.

WE do seke here too knowe not of vsurie of vsuries, whiche the Iewes dooe vse, of the whyche noo ⟨image 6⟩man doubteth, but that it is vnlawfull and abominable, & in no wise to be suffered: but of symple vsurie, by the whiche more is takē than geuen, whether it be muche or littell, whether it bee done in money, or in other thinges. For this vsurie some men suppose not to be vnlawfull of it selfe, but excepte it too be made vnlawfull by vnlawful circūstāces. I deny not that there may be fonde a kind of vsuri, which is not vnlawful, but profitable: suche is that vsurie, whiche is called earth vsurie, by ye which much more is receiued, thā was bi sowīg to ye earth cōmitted. This vsurie doth he geue, whiche geueth vnto all mē all things, & not wtstāding, hath neuer ye lesse. That vsuri is so geuē, that it hurteth nothinge the geuer, & muche profitteth the receyuer, and is not to be cōdēned of couetousnes,