ad. THE ENGLISH A^OYAGES 



c - H37- 



At the receiving and sight of a letter, 



Here in England, seeming for the better, 



by foure pence lesse in the noble round : 



That is twelve pence in the golden pound. 



And if wee wol have of payment 



A full moneth, than must him needes assent 



To eight pence losse, that is shillings twaine 



In the English pound ; as eft soone againe, 



For two moneths twelve pence must he pay. 



In the English pound what is that to say, 



But shillings three ? So that in pound fell 



For hurt and harme hard is with hem to dwell. 



And when English marchants have content 



This eschange in England of assent, 



That these sayd Venecians have in woone 



And Florentines to bere her gold soone 



Over the see into Flanders againe : 



And thus they live in Flanders, sooth to saine, 



And in London with such chevisance, 



That men call usury, to our losse and hinderance. 



P- l 95>] Another example of deceite. 



Ow lesten well how they made us a valeys 

 When they borrowed at the town of Caleis 

 As they were wont, their woll that was hem lent, 

 For yere and yere they should make payment. 

 And sometime als two yere and two yeare. 

 || Or, lone. This was fayre II love : but yet will ye heare, 

 How they to Bruges would her woll carie, 

 And for hem take payment withouten tarie, 

 And sell it fast for ready money in hand. 

 For fifty pounds of money of losse they wold not wond 

 In a thousand pound, and live thereby 

 Till the day of payment easily, 

 Come againe in exchange : making 

 Full like usury, as men make undertaking. 

 Than whan this payment of a thousand pound 

 Was well content, they should have chaffare sound 



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