A07941:71
Of the lawful and unlawful usury ammo[n]gest Christians, addedOf the lawful and vnlawful vsurie amo[n]gest Christians, added
Of the lawful and unlawful usury ammo[n]gest Christians, added by Wolfgang Muscul unto the end of his book upon the PsalmsOf the lawful and vnlawful vsurie amo[n]gest Christians, added by Wolfgang Muscul vnto the ende of his booke vppon the Psalmes
Wesel? : H. Singleton?, 1556?
Title page typeset from the transcription.
¶ Of the usury of widows and the fatherless.¶ Of the vsurie of wydowes and the fatherles.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
They, that be tutors either of widows or of the fatherless move here a question, concerning such money as is not their own, but remaineth by inheritance unto widows and orphans, whether it be lawful for them to let out that money unto usury, and deliver it to be used of them, which without their own hinderance may yearly repay some usury. They say the money is not ours, but we be trusted with it. That, which we do, is not for our own gain, but for the widows and fatherless. ⟨image 34⟩Wherefore we are not in this too be blamed, as though by taking usury, we seek our own. For we seek not our own, but the profit of others, widows & fatherless: and so we fulfil the work of charity, and we do as we are bounden by promise unto them.
THey, that be tutors either of widowes or of the fatherles moue here a question, concerning such money as is not their owne, but remayneth by enheritance vnto widowes and orphanes, whether it be lawfull for them to let out that monei vnto vsurie, and deliuer it to be vsed of them, which without their owne hinderaunce may yearely repay some vsurie. They saye the monei is not oures, but we be trusted with it. That, whiche we do, is not for our owne gaine, but for the widowes and fatherlesse. ⟨image 34⟩Wherefore we are not in this too be blamed, as thoughe by takinge vsurie, we seke oure owne. For we seke not our owne, but the profet of others, widowes & fatherles: and so we fulfil the worke of charite, and we do as we are bonden by promes vnto them.
I answer: I know that this was a custom amongest our fathers, afore pestilent usury had defiled the church, that it was permitted unto widows & orphans, which was permitted unto none other. All usury was called evil, except that of widows & of the fatherless. At the last, all the gates were opened unto this evil, and gain of usury granted too any man. But how well widows and orphans were provided for, the corruption of the times following doeth evidently witness. There ⟨image 35⟩