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

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⟩could have ben brought no evil more noisome into the church of Christ, by the which afterward the goods of widows & fatherless began miserably too be wasted. For when as the fire of usury hath eaten up all the wealth of a family, after the death of the father of the family, what remnant remaineth unto widows & fatherless, that may be let out unto usury.

I aunswere: I know that thys was a custome amongest oure fathers, afore pestilente vsurie had defiled the church, that yt was permitted vnto widowes & orphāts, which was permitted vnto none other. All vsurie was called euil, except that of widowes & of ye fatherles. At the laste, all the gates were opened vnto this euell, and gaine of vsurie graunted too anye man. But how wel widowes and orphanes were prouided for, the corruption of the times folowing doeth euidently witnes. There ⟨image 35⟩coulde haue ben brought no euill more noysomme into the churche of Christe, by the whiche afterwarde the goodes of widowes & fatherles began miserably too be wasted. For when as the fyre of vsurie hath eaten vp all the welth of a familie, after the death of the father of the familie, what remnant remaineth vnto widowes & fatherles, that maye be lette oute vnto vsurie.

Should it not have ben better for the provision of widows & of the fatherless, if liberty of usury cold no where have had any place among christians? Now, because gain of usury is crept in under the pretence of widows & orphans, unto them can not come of the usury of these times any so great gains, as hurt and hinderance, that is sprung out of that sufferance