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

On the other side, he that taketh usury of his money: he gathereth as it were a yearly fruit, without any decay of the stock, which by these means he may reserve hole unto his heirs. When as therefore here is no hurt, how can here be any sin against charity? and there be none, how may this usury be called unlawful?

On the other side, he that taketh vsurie of his monei: he gathereth as it were a yearelye fruite, without any dekey of the stock, which bi these meās he mai reserue hole vnto his heires. When as therfore here is no hurt, howe can here be any sinne againste charitie? and there bee none, howe maye thys vsurie be called vnlawfull?

I answer. That this must needs be granted: that there is not so great sin in this kind of usury, as in that, by the which usury is taken of the pore, which cruelty is forbidden, not only, by the laws of Christ, but also by the laws of nature.

I aunswer. That this muste nedes be graunted: that there is not so greate sinne in thys kinde of vsurie, as in that, by the which vsurie is taken of the pore, which crueltie is forbidden, not onely, by the lawes of Christe, but alsoo by the lawes of nature.

For it is plain cruelness, to seek ⟨image 27⟩after lucre, out of the labours, and calamities of the poor. Wherefore this usury, of the which we shall speak now, differeth much from that, which by no means can be tolerable. Howbeit, in the mean season it is not too be supposed, that there is nothing, which can be reproved in the usury of rich men. For the righteousness of a christen man doth not rest in that he doth burden no man in any bargain or business. Wherefore we must see, which be the circumstances of this usury, for the which it may not be commended.