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

It is incredible, to consider how great the biting and burden of the Common-wealth is in this Case. For who doubts, but that many millions of pounds are put out to Usury in this Land yearly: partly in money borrowed upon Usury; partly in wares taken on trust, whether by Merchants themselves, or by ⟨p. 16⟩retailers from them, or by the particular buyers from the Retailers: the Usury of every million, which are many, after ten in the hundred, being an hundred thousand pounds. Of which biting and burden the Common-wealth might be eased, If Usury were abolished.

It is incredible, to consider how great the biting and burthen of the Common-wealth is in this Case. For who doubts, but that many millions of pounds are put out to Vsury in this Land yearely: partly in money borrowed upon Vsury; partly in wares taken on trust, whether by Merchants themselves, or by ⟨p. 16⟩retailers from them, or by the particular buyers from the Retailers: the Usury of every million, which are many, after ten in the hundred, being an hundred thousand pounds. Of which biting and burthen the Common-wealth might be eased, If Vsury were abolished.

Hear your own Man, whom you produce as a Patron of Usury, that Reverend and Worthy Jewell: upon 1 Thess. 4. pag. 83. A Merchant taketh up of his Neighbour an hundred pounds, and must answer again an hundred and ten pounds. He bestoweth it all in corn, and buyeth for his hundred pounds, an hundred quarters of corn. He sendeth it to the Market, the people have need of it, and buy it. If He sold it for eight groats a Bushel, he might make up his hundred pounds, and be a gainer. But unless He make up an hundred and ten pounds to discharge his Usury, He must needs be a looser, and undone. But undone He will not be: He will rather undo many others. Therefore He setteth price at three shillings, and so maketh His money, and payeth the Usurer, and saveth Himself, and is no looser. Who then payeth the ten pounds? Who is the looser? Any man may see. The poor people which buy the corn. They find it and feel it in every morsel they eat. Thus, saith He, if the Merchant Borrower be not hindered by the Usurer: yet the people that buyeth His wares are plagued. Thus it is no hard matter to find, that howsoever Usury be used, it is always