A Discourse vppon vsurye , by waye of Dialogue and oracions , for the better varietye , and more delite of all those , that shall reade thys treatise .

By Thomas Wilson , doctor of the Ciuill lawes , one of the Masters of her maiesties honorable courte of requestes .

¶ Seene & allowed , according to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions . 1572.

THe Stoike Philosophers ( righte honorable & my singuler good Lorde ) haue saide both truly and wysely , that the worlde is made for man , and man is made for god , to th ende that man may haue all pleasure , and god maye haue all honour . Seinge then , that such a creacion of man , and the world , is thus framed by the myghtie finger of god , & man especially made for god : I doubte not , but your honor beinge goddes liuely image vppon earth , and fashioned to hys lykenes , concerning the reasonable soule , as all others suche hys creatures are : will remember for your parte , to forsee and to doe your dutie from tyme , to time , and indeuour youreselfe in all your actions to haue god alwayes before your eyes , and to exercyse your mynde all your lyfe longe , with all godly practises , aswell in aduauncing religion , to goddes glorye , as in dooyng Justice for mans benefite , that god alone as hee is alwayes praysed in Heauen amongst hys aungels , maye euen so haue hys holy name onely honored here vpon earth amongst hys people . But because mans nature , throughe Adames falle , is altered from that perfection , wherin it was at the first , and is muche subiecte therfore to great corrupcion of lyfe and maners : It is to be feared , that all men will not alwayes be myndefull of their dutie , excepte they bee often warned and put in mynde of that they oughte to doe , wherby they maye consider still what they are . For by wanting the remembrance and exercise of wel dooyng : they may declyne from god , ( a thing sone donne where god is not feared ) and so wallowe in synne , the playne effecte of gracelesse people . For the deuill beinge greate aduersarie to all goodnes , ( whom that auncient father of famouse memorie Hughe Latymer , called the moste vigilant byshop in hys vocation ) is neuer ydle , but still occupied and busie , in sowing cockle and darnel amongst the good corne and pure wheate of the lords haruest . So that yf their be not as quicke wedyng hookes , & as sharpe yron forkes ; readye at hande to clense the soyle from tyme to tyme , as the weedes are , and wil bee readye to spring vp & growe : in the ende all wil be wedes , and antichrist hymselfe will be lorde of the harueste . This muste I saye , that warenes in all thinges is euermore very wisdome , & of aduised dealynges comes perfection , and thinges foreseene do always the lesse harme . For which cause lawes are enacted , not onely to punishe euill , when anye is committed , but also to preuent euill not to bee committed at all , that men being warned before hand , may take hede the rather , how to offende lawes for feare of the sworde , & lyue in good order , to escape the seueritie , and sharpe rodde of iustice . I doe wishe therefore that man were as apte to doe righte , as hee is readie to speake of right , and to be all together , as he would seme to bee : least otherwise lawes stand not in vaine , when great occasion geeues iust cause of speedie redresse . And in thys behalf magistrates are to be put in remembrance , that they hauing gouernement and execucion of iustice in their handes , maye bee good ryghters of all wrong doynges , and iust dispensers of gods lawe , and mans lawe , both to lowe and hyghe , to ryche and poore , without any respecte or regarde of parson . For most true it is , that where iustice is dulie ministred , there is god moste hyghly honoured , and sweete is that sacrifice to god , when the lyues of lewde men are offered vp to suffer paynes of death for wicked dooynges . I will not speake to aggrauate execucion for all mysdeedes , eyther seuerally or generally , because I thinke it both nedelesse , and a great follie also , and a thinge almoste impossible for man to hope by onely demaunding , to haue the amendement of all thinges preciselye , that presentlye are amysse : but thys I reache at , that where amongst a nomber of gawles and great greefes in thys common weale , there spredeth one especial mischiefe as yll , nay woorse than anye plague : my meaning is to sett all other faultes aparte , and to disclose this one aboue the rest vnto your Lordship , that by your honorable meanes and great aucthoritye , it maye at the leaste bee some what refourmed , yf not all together amended or taken away . I do meane that ouglie , detestable and hurtefull synne of vsurie , whiche being but one in grossenes of name , caries many a mischief linked vnto it in nature , the same synne beinge nowe so rancke througout all Englande , not in London onelye , that men haue all together forgotten free lending , and haue geuen themselues wholye to lyue by fowle gayning , makinge the lone of monye a kinde of merchandize , a thinge directlye against all lawe , against nature , and against god . And what should this meane , that in steade of charitable dealing , and the vse of almose ( for lending is a spice therof ) hardenes of harte hath nowe gotten place , and greedie gayne is cheefelye folowed , and horrible extorcion commonly vsed . I do verely beleue , the ende of thys worlde is nyghe at hande . And the more is thys euill to bee pitied , because men doe lulle themselues with the exercise thereof in such sorte , as thoughe there were none offense in it at all , wheras amongst all other offenses next to Idolatrie , & the renouncing of god , and hys magistrates vpon earth , there is none more heynous , none more offensiue , and none more hurtfull , to anye well gouerned common weale . For besides that the very sinne of vsurie , is expreslie forbidden by godds worde , aswel as either thefte , aduowtrie , or whoredome : the countrey and realme where thys offense is commonlie vsed , cannot longe continue in prosperous wellfare . And sorie I am to saye it , but I see it & knowe it ouerwel , and therefore I must needes saie it : I do not knowe anye place in christendome , so muche subiect to thys foule synne of vsurie , as the whole realme of Englande ys at thys present , and hathe bene of late yeares . For men of wealth are nowe wholy geeuen euery wheare all together to idlenes , to gett their gaine with case , & to lyue by lending vpon the onely sweate & labour of others . Wheras god willeth euerye man to lyue in hys vocation , and hee that will not laboure eyther with body or minde , according to his callyng rightly , should not eate at al , forbidding men to make lending a kinde of liuing . But these men do not liue in any vocation , but being the diuels knowen apprentices in earth , & bound to doe , as hee woulde haue them : seeke when they are dead to serue hym in hell , as I take it . For god sayeth by hys prophete Dauid , Psall . 15. that he shall neuer dwell in hys tabernacle , that hathe put out hys mony for vsury . And therfore , whether should suche men looke to goe , when they are deade , but straighte to the diuell , seeynge in earth they serue such a master .

There bee two sortes of men , that are alwayes to bee looked vpon very narrowly , the one is the dissemblinge gospeller , and the other is the wilfull & indurate papistes . The first vnder colour of religion , ouerthroweth all religion , and bearing good men in hande , that hee loueth playnesse , vseth couertelie all deceypte that maye bee , and for pryuate gayne , vndoeth the common welfare of man . And touching thys sinne of vsurie , none doe more openly offende in thys behalfe , then do these counterfeite professours of thys pure religion . The wilfull Romaniste , as he professeth an hatred to thys religion , so hauing mischiefe boyling within hym , deuiseth by indirecte meanes to aduaunce his welfare , that hee maye haue monye in store againste a good hower , suche as hee loketh for . So that betwixt the secrete dissembler , and the open blasphemer , the world is made a praye , and deuided betwixt them , and god thereby moste hyghely dishonored . Neyther doe either of these people followe you for youre persone or vertue , but for youre fortune and aucthority . Cicero sayethe wiselye , holsome seueritie , doth greatly excede the vayne shewe of folish pitie . Clemencie is good , I deny not , but that is to bee vsed to good men , or else towardes suche as of whome there is good hope of theire better behauioure hereafter . But where clemencie is altogether abused , and maketh as it were an open waye to all lowsenes in maners and carnall libertie of lyfe , there seueritie must needes stryke a stroke . For to what ende are good lawes made , yf there bee no execucion of them ? As good pyke strawes , as make lawes that want a magistrate , to see them well kepte obeyed and fulfilled . For the lawe it selfe , is a dumme magistrate to al men , wheras magistrates are a speakynge lawe to all people . And therefore , as gouernours do submit themselues to lawe , and lyue thereafter : so will the people submitte themselues to gouernours and theire doynges : suche force ( lo ) hath example of life , especiallie in magistrates . Neyther are gouernours priuate persons , to lyue honestly to them selues onelye , but they are publique officers to do good vnto many , and by wise aduise , to haue care ouer them , that neyther will , nor can haue care of themselues . And thys I saye , that like as one maye bee a good magistrate to the people , and yet no god man to hymselfe : euen so may one bee a good man to hymselfe , and proue no good magistrate to the people . And of these two , lesse harme doth that man , who priuatelye offendeth in hys lyfe : than hee that publikelye offendeth in his charge . Nedeful therfore were it , that all magistrates were good men in theire offices , because the common welfare dependeth vppon their wel doyng . And good it were also neuer to remitte apparante greate faultes vnto any person in aucthority . For the magistrate abusing hys office , deserueth more punishmente than doth the priuate personne . For as hee abuseth hys charge , so doth hee deceaue hys trust , & by example geeuethe great cause of muche euill But lett no men in any estate presume therfore to doe euill , because they hope to hyde their euil . doyngs from the princes knowledge . For tyme doth discouer all , and god hath graunted thys priuylege vnto prynces , that wicked attemptes , shall neuer haue deepe roote . For although wrong dealings maye be shrowded for a space , and bee kepte vnder couerte : yet they will oute at laste , and bee opened with shame , the rather to set forth gods myghty iustice , and to aduaunce hys endelesse glorye

Amongst the Romaynes , there were censores , appoynted as commissioners , to searche out the doyngs of such as eyther had borne office , or were notorious offenders : and finding any such to bee faultie , they did streighte wayes remoue them , and punish them with infamie . The same order is yet vsed in Italie , Spayne , and Portugale , and good iustice done againste all vniust magistrates , and euil lawyers . And thus it is . Such as ouer hastelye haue rysen to great welth , haue ben sifted for theire life and doings by commission , and stripped out of all , when they were taken in a trippe . Now then , needes must I saye thus at thys time , that amongst all sortes of men , sinne aboundeth here for wants of chastisemente , euill men beinge ouer ryfe , & good men ouer scante , such as shoulde do good . Or els how is it , that vsurie amongst other synnes ( for I will at thys tyme say nothing of magistrates ) is so vniuersally vsed , whiche ought in any wise to be weeded out aboue all other fa●tes . For as I thinke , and must saye stil , vsurie onely , is the cheefest cause of the greatest miserie in thys lande , aswell to geeue occasion of great waste , as also to make muche wante , and wil be in the ende , the vndoynge of all , yf it bee not loked to in tyme . The Romaynes neuer began to decaye , till vsurie lorded amongst them , for then priuate gaine thrust oute common profite , luste was holden for lawe , ydlenes more vsed then labour , ryott in steede of diett , vice better regarded then vertue , no charitye at all , no loue betwixt man and man , but euery man for hymself , and the whorlepole of pride and ryote ouerflowed in all thynges , and in all places .

Plato saieth , there must bee three thinges in euerie good state . A magistrate to gouerne , lawes whereby to gouerne , and execucion of lawes for maintenaunce of gouernement . And Diogenes sayed well , where neither lawes haue force , nor water hath course : there shoulde no wise man willingly seeke to dwel . For wher euill men beare rule , ( as it is alwayes , there where lawes are stopped of theire ordinarie course ) there cannot anye good man haue place , because they are alwayes contrarie . And thys I saye , that in al common weales , it is as great a blame not to cherishe & mainteine the good & godly , as it is a great shame to suffer the offendor & wicked man to goe vnpunished . For both must haue theire desertes , or else that state is not iustely gouerned . And as weedes are to be rooted out of euery gardeine , so are good herbes to be often watred & cherished stil , with good earth or els they wil perish , and wyther soone away . And amongest all others , I woulde the religiouse learned men of thys lande , were so cherished and esteemed , as they haue well deserued , and together with theire good cherisinge , I would theire good warninges were throughly folowed . Yea I woulde they were better holden vp , in that which they haue mainteined and professed in good learnynge : although their liuings and entertainements were not made muche greater : The preachers I doe meane , & the godly ministers of this time , for they still exclaime maynely against sinne to discharge their duties , they crie out continually against all vsurers with open mouth , and in all their sermons , and yet , what auailes it ? nothing at al. The reason is , for that the ciuil magistrate doth not ioyne with them , and see that executed by censures of the lawe , whiche they so earnestly rebuke in the pulpite , and shewe foorth godds threates most vehemently , for suche synnes so muche suffered , and so lyttle punished . For what sayeth the lewde man , when the good preacher hath donne ? See howe properlye hee gyrdes at the matter , yonder sellie man ( sayeth hee ) hath saide , but he can do no more , thankes be to god . And fond is the man , sayeth the vsurer to others , whatsoeuer hee bee , that will not suffer a poore simple preacher to haue his wordes , when others haue the deedes , and lyue in all wealth and iolytye in thys world . Lorde god send to Englande some Solon , for thys redresse , who toke away the vsurers bookes and their gaynes from them , & forbadde such filthy lucre , & brought in nouas tabulas , whiche are sayde in greeke to bee Seiuachtheia , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as who should say , an easement of a burdeine . For that all debtours were discharged from all such creditours that had lent theire money for vsury and gayne , or at the least wise , were eased from the vsurie of it . Thus did Solon in the detestacion of vsury , a sharpe kynde of dealynge no doubte , and a straunge : but in great diseases , sharpe corrysiues muste needes bee vsed , when lenitiues will not serue . And shall I name one , that hath bene in oure age , and wishe hym now a lyue , to cure so great a cancre ? Woulde god Englande had a Cromwell , I will saye no more . I doe reade , that long before the conquest , king Edgare , that iuste gouernoure and seuere magistrate agaynste all lewde officers and extorcioners in thys lande , did amongst hys other good deedes make proclamacion to haue al the wolfes killed in Englande and Wales , because they were rauenouse beastes , and deuourers of sheepe and other cattell , to the great harme and hynderaunce of hys subiectes . And to haue thys the better done , hee appoynted manye to paye for theire fines and reuenues , wolfes heades yerelye : some moe , and some lesse , and such as could not bring wolfes heades in , payed theire fines and reuenues in mony . Now suche force toke thys good order in this lande , that within a while , there was not a wolfe to be had , neyther in England ▪ nor yet in wales . And Laudwallus prince of Wales brought in 300. wolfes heades in one yeare for hys tribute , which hee was bounde to pays yerely . And afterwardes when no moe wolfes heades were to bee had , hee payd to the kynge a certayne yerely reuenue . Thys was a good deede surelie , and a gracious proclamacion : for since that tyme , whiche is sixe hundreth and odde yeres past , no wolfes haue troubled this land .

Nowe yf youre lordeship , with others could procure by your good meanes , that in your tyme , there mighte bee neuer an vsurers heade in England : I doe thinke you shoulde doe a greater good deede to thys lande , then euer was doone by kyllinge of wolfes . For these bee the greedie cormoraunte wolfes in deede , that rauyn vp both beaste and man , who whyles they walke in sheepe skynnes , doe couertlye deuowre the flocke of England , vnder coloure of their wealth & counterfeit honesty . And what if there were therefore a lawe to searche out these hypocrites , and to vnuisar these maskinge minyons , and suche as they bee , that make warre of sett purpose against god and hys lawes , that stryue so maynelye againste hys holye will and commaundementes . And the same lawe to be so executed , that as wolfes haue bene ridd out of thys lande , they shoulde all likewise either suffer the paynes of death , or be banished thys realme for euer , that there myght herafter no moe vsurers bee found in Englande , than are wolfes to bee had here at thys daye ? I do thinke surely , this woulde bee as swete a smelling sacrifice in the sight of god , as euer was offered since England was firste conuerted to the faithe . Kynge Dauid praiyng god to sende vnto his sonne Salomon iudgement and righteousnes , saieth that hys sonne being assisted by the myghty power of god , shal bee honored of all princes vpon earthe , because hee should deliuer the people from vsury . A great good deede no doubt , and worthy of such great honor as Salomon afterwardes enioied , and a verie meete example for al princes to followe , that they mighte haue like honor . And touchinge a lawe to bee made , I doe not see , but it is as necessary to haue one against vsurers as against theues , and a great deale more . For theues steale manye tymes for necessitie , wheras vsurers robbe and vndoe all men , for greedy gluttonye . The one stealeth a crowne in the hyghe waye , the other robbeth men in the hyghe streate , of al that they haue : the one stealeth a little , to susteyne nature : the other scratcheth vp the whole treasure of England , to serue hys owne couetous and wretched desire , to the vtter vndoynge of thousandes . Therfore it were good , these vsurers were all gone one waye or other , out of thys realme , for here in Englande they do no good at al , nay , they doe all the myschiefe that is donne , and wil be the cause of vtter ruine to thys lande , yf they bee not taken vpp in time , and cutt shorter by the heades . Good men therfore must haue this care to sifte out lewde men , and till gouernours geue good example of good lyfe , euill men will continue to be euill stil. But if this lawe seeme blodie , although the hanging of poore wretches for small matters , is counted nothing blodie at all : then woulde I , that the olde lawes of England were put in execucion , such as are called kyng Edwards lawes , or the common lawes of England , whereof one was , that the goodes of an vsurer after hys decease , should turne to the benefite of the prince , when twelue men had founde by proofe , that the partie deceased was an vsurer in his lyfe time . For in those dayes , no enquiry was made by verdict so long as a man lyued , whether he was an vsurer or no : but the matter was referred wholly to that ecclesiasticall lawes during mens lyues . This I thinke would make the fewer vsurers , when twelue men shoulde bee triers after their deceases what trade they vsed in theire lyfe , and finding them by profe to haue committed vsury ( whiche as Glanuil sayeth , Glann . l● . 7. 〈◊〉 . 16. & li. 10. 〈◊〉 . 3 is then done when anye thing is receiued ouer and aboue the principal ) to geeue vp straight wayes the dead mans goodes from hys heyres , executours and assignes , to the prince and gouernour of the lande . But some will saye , yf the lawes were put in execucion , it would turne to the hurte of all men , for that none would lend hereafter to anye bodie , eyther more or lesse , and nede there wil bee alwayes , as there hathe been heretofore . I do aunswere , and saye , that the hungry desyre of man , dothe enforce neede manye tymes further , then there is cause of neede in deede , seekynge for a great deale more in all thinges , than nature craueth . To whose sufficience , if mans gredy appetite , could aunswere , and yelde themselues content , with the blessed frute of this lyttle paradise of Englande , one man shoulde haue little cause to borrowe of an other . Or if they had can se ( as I cannot deny but neede may bee , & that great neede sometymes , ) yet yf men were envred ▪ with the feare of god , and acquaynted to lende freely , and to doe to others , as they would that others should doe to them : I woulde not doubte , but that charitie would abound vniuersallye , and the moste would bee as loth to lende for gayne , as theye would bee loth to kill , or to murder a man by the hyghe waye side . And I truste also that men woulde then as fast runne from a knowne vsurer , as they would flie nowe from a madde dogge , or rather from the diuell hymselfe , if they sawe hym in hys likenes . But what doe these worldlings now a dayes ? They doo not lende to helpe the neede of others , but to benefite themselues , and wher they finde the greatest vnthrifte , that hath landes , or other lyuinges lefte vnto hym : there they wil be moste redie , to feede hym in hys ryott and vimecessarie expences , makynge theire gayne to bee hys chiefest hurte , yea a greater hurte in deede , then all hys wilfull and folish charges otherwise , as maye well appeare in the discourse of thys my deuised booke . Wheras they that feare god , and wil bee suche men in deede , as they would seme to be , should not deale in thys sorte , but following theire trade , in what vocation soeuer it be , oughte to helpe the needie and worthie parson , with some parte of those goodes , that they haue lawfullie gotten by theire trade and maner of liuyng , whereby they maye receiue vsurie at godds handes , who dothe geue an hundred for one , to all them that geue or lend frely for hys sake . Thus I haue boldlye , and I trust with godds spirite moued your honor to loke well to your charge and calling , desiring you to take in good parte my good meaninge , for my desire is , that my naturall countrey , might bee parfite and blessed , without daunger of euill , or infection of mischefe , to corrupt this state , or destroy thys noble land . And the boulder I am to deale thus with your honor before others , because I haue knowne you , and that noble race of youre brethren , euen from theire yonge yeares . And with your honor , and that famous erle of Warwike deceased , and your noble brother , nowe earle of Warwike lyuinge , I haue had more familier conference , then with the rest : and especially with your honor ( I doe thanke you most humblie therefore ) I haue had sufficient proofe of youre carefull mynde , euen in reading not onely of the latyn , but also of the Italian good & and sounde wryters , to knowe and to vnderstande the best vsed gouernement , and the chefe lawes that haue ben made in all ages . And as youre mynde hath bene thus godly enclyned to knowe , so it appeareth very wel , you haue euer had a good mynde , to put youre knowledge in practise . And this must I saye , that godds prouidence is greatly shewed in thys behalfe , and the queenes maiesties blessed estate most euidently appeareth to bee the stronger , in that it hathe pleased her hyghnes , to haue chosen so stayed & so discrete a noble man , as you are , to deale in the affaires of the state . For I knowe , and therfore wil not feare to saye , that you haue ben next to the Queenes maiesties most mylde and gracious disposition , a great helpe and meane of thys most calme and mercifull gouernement , a thing so ioyfull to all good people as nothinge can be more : although it hath playnely fallen out in profe , that both the Queenes mercie & your nature hath ben greatly abused , and the princes goodnes especially moste vnthankfully recompensed . Whereupon her maiestie hath ben enforced much against her nature , to vse the sworde , a thinge so needefull when gentle meanes wil not serue , that without so doing no state coulde stande , nor man could lyue . And such hath thys world ben , is , and wil bee euer , that princes vpon cause must doe , & in reason are bound to do that whiche they would not of themselues doe , yf it were not for very necessity , to auoyde a greater inconuenience . And therefore are counsellours about a prince , that they might alwayes geeue the best counsel , and procure thereby the safety both of prince and state , that when clemencie will not serue , they maye vse the contrary . But amongst all other needefull aduertisements , I do wishe that your honor and others of youre callinge shoulde neuer at any tyme lett slippe anye good occasion offerd for the welfare of Englande , muche lesse to bee carelesse in that greate trust , which is committed vnto you . And therfore as the master of a shippe , hath euer an eye to keepe a righte course , a phisicion alwayes a good mynde to heale hys paciente , a capitayne euermore a carefull heade , to gette the victory : euen so my good lord , I pray god you may be a faythfull counsellour to the prince , and a watchefull magistrate to the people , to the aduauncement of godds moste holy worde , and for the welfare of thys lande . And so to care for the whole bodie of the state , that whilest you take the defense of some one parte , you do not leaue other partes of the state vndefended or smallye estemed . Thus yf you doe , as I pray god you maye doe , and I hope in god , you will do no lesse : I do well assure my selfe , that vsurie amongest other faultes will no more shewe her face hereafter in Englande , than the starynge Owle , will loke vpon the bright sunne , or the fearefull mouse , abyde the wilie catte . And I hope , that by such good meanes , thys noble real me will greatly florishe , and the people will become euery daye better and better : and in might waxe stronge : in riches , plentiful : in renowne , famous : in vertue , honest , and in religion zelous . All whiche blessed and happy welfare , god graunte for hys sonnes sake Jesus Christ , in whom your honor , & al others do lyue , moue , and haue a being , whose name bee therefore praysed for euer . Amen . From the Queenes maiesties hospital at saincte Katherynes , thys twenty of Julye . 1569.