96 A. D. 1546. 



intereft for what money he could put out as he could get, which in 

 fundry inftances (to be found in hiftory here and there) was before 

 this time generally higher than 10 per cent, as partly too appears from 

 the llrong exprefhons in this law, the preamble whereof fays, ' That 

 ' fundry flatutes have been made for the avoiding and punidnnent of 



* ufury, being a thing unlawful,' (and yet with the fame breath thefe 

 lawgivers eftablifli it, for this was the church's opinion of thofe times, 

 though never uniformly put in pradice), ' and of other corrupt bar- 

 ' gains, fhifts, and chevifances ; which flatuces are fo obfcure and dark 



* in intents *, and are of fo little force, that by reafon thereof little or 

 ' no punifhment hath enfued to the offenders of the fame ; for reform- 

 ' ation whereof (fays the preamble gravely), be it cnaded, that all 



* former ftatutes concerning ufury, fhifts, &.c. and all forfeitures and 

 ' j5enalties concerning the fame, be henceforth utterly void.' 



Next, this adl prohibits the tricks made ufe of to evade the laws pro- 

 hibiting ufury ; as, 1) The fhift by felling merchandize to a perfon, 

 and within three months after buying the fame of him at a lelfer price. 

 11) None fliall, by way of any corrupt bargain, lone, efchange, chev- 

 ifance, fliift, intereft of any wares, merchandizes, or other thing wliat- 

 ever, or by any corrupt or deceitful way, or by any covin, engine, or 

 deceitful way of conveyance, receive or accept, in lucre or gains, for the 

 forbearing or giving day of payment of one whole year, of and for his 

 or their money, or other thing that fliall be due for the fame wares, 

 &c. above the fum of ten pound in the hundred, neither for money 

 nor merchandize, nor yet for mortgages of lands and tenements, under 

 the forfeiture of treble the value of the principal money lent, and of 

 the iffues and profits of the fiid lands or tenements, and fhall alfo be 

 imprifoned, and make fine and ranfom at the king's will and pleafure. 

 Of this forfeiture one moiety to be the king's, and the other the in- 

 former's "f . 



In a treaty of peace between England and France, Henry VIII agreed 

 ro furrender Boulogne and its territory to Francis I in eight years time, 

 on condition of being paid by Francis two millions of gold crowns, &.c. ; 

 and all new impolitions on commerce in either kingdom for the laft fifty 

 years were agreed to be abolifhed. [^Foedern, V. xv, p. 93.] HaU'o chronicle 

 fays, that juft before the conclufion of this treaty, the Englifli fleet en- 

 tered the river Seine with 160 fail of large fhips, and came before the 

 town of Havre de Grace, where the French fleet was, confifting of 200 

 fliips and 26 galleys of force, whereof the pope had fent 20; but a ftorm 

 foon feparated the two fleets without any adion. 



* They were apparently fo frameci, on purpofc determininji that iiiterefl for the life of money was 



to lea'e room to avoid the penalties, while, to in no cafe lawful; repealed this law ; but the wifer 



pleafe the clergy, all ufury was declared finful and parliament' of the 13th year of Elizabeth rtftored 



unlawful. it, as will be feen in due time. 



•)• The good people in the reign of Edward VI, 



