They, which defend customable ⟨image 8⟩usury, do devise many things which they may show forth, & whereby they may be bold to say, that it is not unlawful. They bring the law out of the book, called the code in the treatise of usures, by the which is permitted, yea ordained the hundred, & the half of the hundred &c. & they think that the authority of the civill law maketh it, which they do, either not to be usury, or if it be usury, not to be unlawful usury: we answer that the law maker was forced of necessity, not to defend usury, but too set some stay of exceeding covetousness, the which thing the text of the law it self proveth, for it taketh away great hurtfulness of usury, & appointeth certain measures, over the which nothing may be claimed. His desire was without doubt, that such charity might prevail among christians as should leave no place unto usury: but for because that covetousness ⟨image 8⟩did grow past measure, he judged it needful that it should be kept in by lattices or rails, & therefore he cut away the hurtfulness of usury, even unto the middest of it. Wherefore the law doeth not maintain usury, & make it lawful, but rather witnesseth that charity among christians was waxen cold, & most filthy & abominable covetousness grown so far that it must be kept under, by the authority of the Emperor. And so as the law of divorce, made by Moses, did not excuse the Jew afore god, which used the law as to be guiltless of breaking wedlock: likewise this civill law doth not make usury so lawful that a christen man may use it without offence afore god. As Christ spake unto the Jews of the law of divorce: It was not so from the beginning, & for the hardness of your harts, Moses did suffer a bill of divorce, & so sent them back unto the first beginning of lawful wedlock, ⟨image 9⟩unto the which they ought to conform them selves: even so in this case or cause of usury, we christians must look unto the pureness, beginnings, righteousness and equity of christen religion, which is to be seen Math .5. & Luc .6. & we must not look unto the civil laws. For they are not made for christians, which have no need of civill laws, to the end that they there by should be stayed from their covetous desire, lest that the break & leap over the border of measure.
They, which defend customable ⟨image 8⟩vsurie, doe deuise manye thinges which thei mai shewforth, & wherby thei mai be bold to sai, that it is not vnlawful. Thei brīg ye law out of the boke, called ye code in ye treatise of vsures, by ye whiche is permitted, yea ordeined ye hūdreth, & the halfe of ye hundreth &c. & they thinke yt ye authorite of ye ciuill law maketh yt, which thei do, either not to be vsurie, or if it be vsurie, not to be vnlawful vsurie: we aūswer yt the law maker was forced of necessite, not to defēd vsurie, but too set some stai of exceding couetousnes, ye which thing ye text of ye lawe it self proueth, for it taketh awaye great hurtfulnes of vsury, & apoī teth certē measures, ouer ye which nothing mai be claimed. His desire was without dout, yt such charitie might preuail amōg christiās as shuld leaue no place vnto vsurie: but for because yt couetousnes ⟨image 8⟩did grow past measur, he iudged it nedefull yt it shuld be kept in by latises or railes, & therfore he cut awai ye hurtfulnes of vsurie, euen vnto ye middest of it. Wherefore ye law doeth not maintein vsurie, & make it lawful, but rather witnesseth yt charite amōg christiās was waxē cold, & most filthi & abominable couetousnes growē so farre yt it must be kept vnder, by ye authoritie of ye Emperor. And so as ye law of diuorce, made by Moises, dyd not excuse ye Iew afore god, which vsed ye law as to be giltles of breaking wedlock: likewise this ciuill law doth not make vsuri so lawful yt a christē mā mai vse it withoute offēce afore god. As Christ spake vnto ye Iewes of ye law of diuorce: It was not so frō ye beginninge, & for ye hardnes of your harts, Moyses did suffer a byll of diuorce, & so sente them back vnto the fyrste begynninge of lawfull wedlocke, ⟨image 9⟩vnto the which thei ought to conforme thē selfs: euē so in this case or cause of vsurie, we christians must loke vnto ye purenes, beginnings, righteousnes and equite of christē religiō, which is to be sene Math .5. & Luc .6. & we must not loke vnto the ciuil lawes. For thei are not made for christiēs, whiche haue no nede of ciuill lawes, to ye ende yt thei there by should be stayed frō their couetous desire, lest that the breake & leape ouer the border of measure.
