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 ⟨image 5⟩to say, besides that which is given, under what name so ever it be cloaked. For the change of the name, doeth not take away the wickedness of the vice which abideth.
Hierom vpō Ezechiel in his .6. boke doeth write thus. Some mē thinke vsurie to be only in monei, ⟨image 4⟩the which thinge godly scripture foreseing doth take awai the ouerplus of euery thīg, so that yu maist not receiue more than thou hast geuen. Also other, for money put too vsury, are wont to take littell giftes of diuers sortes of thinges: & they do not vnderstande that the scripture calleth vsurie and ouerplus, whatsoeuer thing it be, that they take more, besides yt whiche they did geue. These be Hierōs saienges. Ambrose of Nabuthe, sayeth. Many fleinge the preceptes of the law, when thei haue deliuered their monei vnto marchā tes, do not exact vsurie in money, but of their wares thei take in valure as of vsures. Therfore let thē hear what ye law saieth. Thou shalt not take vsurie of meates, nor of any other thinge. Therefore meat is vsurie, and apparell is vsurie, ⟨image 5⟩and whatsoeuer cōmeth too the stocke is vsurie, and what name soeuer thou wilt geue it, vsurie it is. So sayeth Amb. Augustine also vppon the .36. Psalme. defineth vsurie after this sorte. If thou commit vsurie to a man (that is to say) if thou lende thy monei, of whome thou lokest too receyue any thyng more than thou haste geuen, not onely money, but anye thinge more than thou hast geuē, if it be wheat, if it be Wyne, if it be Oyle, if it be anye maner of other things, if thou loke to receiue more than thou haste geuen, thou arte an vsurer, and in that too bee disalowed. Thus sayeth he. Therefore, accordinge vnto these mennes sayinges: Vsurie is, not oneli to take, but also to hope and loke for any thinge, besides that which is called the stocke: that is ⟨image 5⟩to saye, besides that which is geuen, vnder what name so euer it be cloked. For the change of the name, doeth not take awaye the wickednesse of the vice which abideth.
