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

Fourthly also this is to be considered, how this kind of usury letteth the works of charity. As concerning that money, which yt usurer hath unoccupied, and needeth not to be bestowed upon any necessary household affairs, that it do not remain idle and unfruitful, but that he may take some profit of it, he supposeth that it ought to be let out unto some ⟨image 32⟩use. Therefore he letteth it forth unto usury, and this way he thinketh that he doth well provide for his own profit. But I beseech you when shall he, being of this mind, help his neighbours round about him, that be pore and needy? That, which he taketh up of usury, he appointeth partly unto necessary uses, and partly unto the gain of usury, to increase his stock yearly by such gains, as he can get. Whereof, can a man think, that he will give unto the pore: whereof will he freely and without usury lend unto the pore that asketh: of that, of the which he findeth him self and his: No, I suppose: wherefore should I give, sayeth he, unto others that, which I need my self? Paul sayeth: that your abundance may fill up their want. Here is no abundance, ⟨image 32⟩all that I have is necessary. I must take heed too beautify this estate, which I •eceyued of my ancestors, I must regard mi name and my honour, I must, as mere is, keep my wife and children not beggarly & barely, but liberally. Here is need, not of a little and common sum of money, but of a great and notable. Will he give of that, which he appointeth unto usury? No, no. These he thinketh be holy things, not too be touched. What then remaineth, but that in such a man yt works of charity be suppressed by diligence to get money: especially if this usury be thought not unlawful, so that a mind, possessed with love of money, can be nipped with no feeling of sin, but as in a lawful matter thinketh there is no danger.

Fourthly also this is to be considered, how this kinde of vsurie letteth the workes of charite. As concerninge that money, which yt vsurer hath vnoccupied, and nedeth not to be bestowed vpon any necessary houshold affaires, that it do not remayne idell and vnfruitefull, but that he maye take some profitte of it, he supposeth yt it oughte to be let oute vnto some ⟨image 32⟩