ESSAYS CIVIL AND 



that the pood may be either weighed out, or culled out ; and warily to 

 pr vide, that while we make forth to that which is better, we meet not 

 with that which is worse. 



The discommodities of usury are : first, that it makes fewer mer- 

 ch-ints For were it not for this lazy trade of usury, money would not 

 lie still, but would in great part be employed upon merchandizing; 

 which is the vena port* of wealth in a state. The second, that it 

 in ikes poor merchants. For as a farmer cannot husband his ground 

 so well if he sit at a great rent ; so the merchant cannot drive his 

 trade so well, if he sit at great usury. The third is incident to the 

 other two ; and that is, the decay of customs of kings pr states, which 

 ebb or flow with merchandizing. The fourth, that it bringeth the 

 treasure of a realm of state into a few hands. For the usurer being at 

 certainties, and others at uncertainties, at the end of the game most of 

 the money will be in the box ; and ever a state flourisheth when wealth 

 is more equally spread. The fifth, that it beats down the price of land: 

 for the employment of money is chiefly either merchandizing or pur 

 chasing ; and usury way-lays both. The sixth, that it doth dull and 

 damp all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money 

 \\ould be stirring, il it were not for this slug. The last, that it is the 

 canker and ruinol many men s estates, which in process of time breeds 

 a public poverty. 



On the other side, the commodities of usury are : first, that how 

 soever usury in some respect hindereth merchandizing, yet in some 

 other it advanccth it ; for it is certain that the greatest part of trade is 

 driven by young merchants, upon borrowing at interest ; so as if the 

 usurer either call in or keep back his money, there will ensue presently 

 a great stand of trade. The second is, that were it not for this easy 

 borrowing upon interest, men s necessities would draw upon them a 

 most sudden undoing ; in that they would be forced to sell their 

 means, be it lands or goods, far under foot ; and so whereas usury 

 cloth but gnaw upon them, bad markets would swallow them quite up. 

 As for mortgaging or pawning, it will little mend the matter : for 

 cither men will not take pawns without use ; or if they do, they will 

 look precisely for the forfeiture. I remember a cruel moneyed man in 

 the country, that would say, &quot; The devil take this usury, it keeps us 

 from forfeitures of mortgages and bonds.&quot; The third and last is, that 

 it is a vanity to conceive, that there would be ordinary borrowing 

 without profit ; and it is impossible to conceive the number of incon 

 veniences that will ensue, if borrowing be cramped. Therefore to 

 speak of the abolishing of usury is idle. All states have ever had it 

 in one kind or rate, or other. So as that opinion must be sent to 

 Utopia. 



To speak now of the reformation and rcglement of usury : how the 

 discommodities of it may be best avoided, and the commodities 

 retained : it apjxMrs by the balance of commodities and discommo 

 dities of iuury, two tilings are to be reconciled. The one, that the 

 to -th of usury be grinded that it bite not too much : the other, that 

 there be lelt open a means to invite moneyed men to lend to the 



