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of Usury, that the good may be either weighed out, or culled out; and warily to provide, 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 merchants; for were it not for this lazy trade of Usury, money would not lie still, but would in great part be employed upon merchandising, which is the vena porta of wealth in a State. The second, that it makes 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 or states, which ebb or flow with merchandising. The fourth, that it bringeth the treasure of a realm or 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 merchandising or purchasing; and Usury waylays both. The sixth, that it doth dull and damp all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring, if it were not for

this slug. The last, that it is the canker and ruin of many men's estates, which in process of time breeds a public poverty.

On the other side, the commodities of Usury are: first, that howsoever Usury in some respect hindereth merchandising, yet in some other it advanceth 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 doth but gnaw upon them, bad markets would swallow them quite up. As for mortgaging or pawning, it will little mend the matter; for either men will not take pawns without use, or if they do, they will look precisely for the forfeiture. I remember a cruel monied man in the country that would say,-The devil take this Usury, it keeps us from forfeitures of mortgages and bonds. 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 inconveniences 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 regulation of Usury, how the discommodities of it may be best avoided, and the commodities retained. It appears by the balance of commodities and discommodities of Usury, two things are to be reconciled: the one, that the tooth of Usury be grinded, that it bite not too much; the other, that there be left open a means to invite monied men to lend to the merchants, for the continuing and quickening of trade. This cannot be done, except you introduce two several sorts of Usury, a less and a greater. For if you reduce Usury to one low rate, it will ease the common borrower, but the merchant will be to seek for money. And it is to be noted, that the trade of merchandize, being the most lucrative, may bear Usury at a good rate; other contracts

not so.

To serve both intentions, the way would be chiefly thus that there be two rates of Usury, the one free and general for all, the other under licence only to certain persons and in certain places of merchandising. First, therefore, let Usury in general be reduced to five in the hundred, and let that rate be proclaimed to be free and current; and let the State shut itself out to take any penalty for the

same. This will preserve borrowing from any general stop or dryness. This will ease infinite borrowers in the country. This will in good part raise the price of land; because land purchased at sixteen years purchase, will yield six in the hundred, and somewhat more; whereas this rate of interest yields but five. This by like reason will encourage and edge industrious and profitable improvements, because many will rather venture in that kind, than take five in the hundred, especially having been used to greater profit. Secondly, let there be certain persons licensed to lend to known merchants, upon Usury, at a high rate; and let it be with the cautions following. Let the rate be, even with the merchant himself, somewhat more easy than that he used formerly to pay: for by that means all borrowers shall have some ease by this reformation, be he merchant or whosoever. Let it be no bank or common stock, but every man be master of his own money. Not that I altogether mislike banks; but they will hardly be brooked, in regard of certain suspicions. Let the State be answered some small matter for the licence, and the rest left to the lender; for if the abatement be but small, it will no whit discourage the lender. For he, for example, that took before ten or nine in the hundred, will sooner descend to eight in the hundred, than give over his trade of Usury, and go

from certain gains to gains of hazard. Let these licensed lenders be in number indefinite, but restrained to certain principal cities and towns of merchandising, for then they will be hardly able to colour other men's monies in the country, so as the licence of nine will not suck away the current rate of five; for no man will lend his monies far off, nor put them into unknown hands.

If it be objected, that this doth in a sort authorise Usury, which before was in some places but permissive; the answer is, that it is better to mitigate Usury by declaration, than to suffer it to rage by connivance.

Of Youth and Age.

A MAN that is young in years, may be old in hours, if he have lost no time; but that happeneth rarely. Generally Youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second; for there is a Youth in thoughts as well as in Ages: and yet the invention of young men is more lively than that of old, and imaginations stream into their minds better, and, as it were, more divinely. Natures that have much heat, and great and violent desires and perturbations, are not ripe for action till they have passed the meridian of their years; as it was with Julius Cæsar, and Septimius Severus; of the latter

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