A short and private discourse between Mr. Bolton and one M.S. concerning usury. PublishedA short and priuate discourse betweene Mr. Bolton and one M.S. concerning vsury. Published

But suppose the Borrower sometimes in respect of the event, or by accident, be not so bitten, or damnified: yet the Common-wealth, and especially the Commonalty pay for it. Our Divines express the Point thus:

But suppose the Borrower sometimes in respect of the event, or by accident, be not so bitten, or damnified: yet the Common-wealth, and especially the Communalty pay for it. Our Divines expresse the Point thus:

If money be lent to spend upon necessaries, there is no question made, but the Borrower is sore bitten in paying Usury, when he hath spent the principal: If it be lent to lay out for gain, then must the Borrower first be sure of so much clear gain, as will pay the use; which is a reasonable gain of it self: For the Usurers of nine, or ten in the hundred do live richly of that accursed trade: yea many honest Tradesmen, will confess, that if they could with their own free stock, raise the like gain, one time with an other, that the Usurer doth with his money; and with the like security of the principal, they would think, they had made a very good market, notwithstanding all their care, and travel. This reasonable gain then, ⟨p. 15⟩must first be raised by the Borrower, to pay the Usurer; and over and above, He must exceed this reasonable gain, to maintain Himself, and His Servants, because this gain is none of His. If He do not exceed then, and that in some proportion, He hath lost His labour, and shall feel Himself sore bitten. And if the Borrower do exceed the Usurers gain, to maintain Himself; I demand then who payeth this excessive gain over and above that reasonable gain, of ten in the Hundred? Who but the Common-weal? Not so, saith the Usurer; For the Borrower must sell, as the Market goeth. It is very true. Therefore, say I, If He and His fellows be not able to raise the Market, to their own price, they shall be losers: If they can enhance it, (as they may the more easily, because the number of such Borrowers is great, and because the rest desiring to sell as dear as they can, will most willingly join with them) then the Common-weal must needs bear the burden, and especially the poorer sort, who buying all by piece-meal, at the last hand, must be sore bitten, though they know not by whom.