IT is by all consest, That from the first planting of Chri­stianity in this Island, the practice of Usury was not only branded with Church Censures, but exposed to grievous Penalties besies publick Infamy: For by the Statute 3 H. 7. even the Brokers of Usurious Bargains were to stand in the Pillory. The Act 35 H. 8. (limiting it to ten per Cent.) was the first Law that gave it any protecti­on, though without any Colour of Allowance in point of Conscience; Nevertheless, the Papists with open mouth then cryed shame of it; And it grew to a Pro­verb, That Ʋsury was the Brat of Heresie. Anno 5. E. 6. the said Statute was repealed, and Usury again con­demned, whereby that Reproach for the time was silen­ced. The growht of Trade, and improvement after the dissolution of Monasteries, caused much more borrowing than in former times: And as the Usurers of that Age, did by their very practice declare how little they valued Conscience or Credit, (being ipso facto excommunicated) so were their terms of lending most exorbitant: Where­upon the Statute 35 H. 8. was 13 Eliz. seasonably re­vived [Page 2]and reinforced, and their boundless Extortions a­gain limited to ten per cent. A Rate at that time judged not to be inconsistent with Improvements; But with how little Countenance to Usurers, the Act it self will wit­ness by this Preamble; Forasmuch as all Ʋsury being against the Law of God, is sinful and detestable, &c. The Papists however renewed their Clamours, not otherwise answer­ed then by recriminating them with the allowance of Fornication at Rome, which when they alledged, That they did by no means allow but rather regulate, for that they could not suppress it. The Protestant then replyed, that no more did they in the Case of Usury. That such was the sense of our first Reformers, appears not only by the last recited Act, but divers learned Treatises, and pi­ous Sermons of that time, especially of those of Renown­ed Bishop Jewel, and Bishop Downham, who from their jealousie of our Churches honour could not brook the Calumny of an Usurers Reformation, wherein none were more generous, than many honest Puritans, such as Whitaker, Smith, Rogers, &c. who scorned to come be­hind the best, in decrying Sin, or clearing Scandal: Nay we read of a samous Sect of Precifians about that time, who allowing Infant-Baptisme, yet denyed it to the Children of notorious Libertines and Usurers.

One would now marvel, how a Practice so generally and notably exploded, should so sodainly gain such Al­lowance, for in a slender interval of time, we find it creditably asserted faintly disputed; This Mistery may be worth unfolding. Certain it is, the Puritans of that Age, were at first highly confident of their Interest in the State, and hoped, if not to Engross, yet at least to Share the Government: The notable proofs they had newly given of their Constancy in Queen Maries time, [Page 4]with the Turks, recommended by the Example of divers zea­lous Ministers, who themselves desired to pass for Or­phanes of the first Rank, swallowed without chewing, by their credulous Disciples, who never suspected poyson having such tasters: From them easily dispersed, not more by the credit of its affectors, then its own allurements and singular convenience, to persons purely contemplative and men of pro­fession: Thus Usury entred like a floud upon a breach, and With continual success carries all before it.

For by this single stratagem, they avoyd all contribution of Tithes and Taxes to the King, Church, Poor, &c. (A soveraign Cordial to tender Consciences;) they decline all services and offices of burthen incident to visible Estates; They escape all Oathes, and Ties of publick Allegiance or private Fealty; They little regard forfeitures or Penal Laws; They wave all manner of Hospitablity or honest expence; They sculk, yet swarm in Cities and good Towns; with no care or trouble, little notice, much leisure, and rare oppor­tunity of running to Lectures and Conventicles, They en­joy both the secular applause of prudent conduct, and withal, the spiritual comfort of thriving easily and devourly, (no doubt by special priviledge, for so most part of the World­lings are observed not to do) leaving their Adversaries the censure of improvidence, together with the misery of Decay: They keep many of the Nobility and Gentry in perfect Vas­salage, (as their poor Coppy-holders) which eclipses Ho­nour, enervates Jústice, and ost times protects them in their boldest contempts: By engrossing Cash and Credit, they in effect give the price to Land, and Law to Markets: By com­manding ready money, they likewise command such Offices as they wisely affect, ( viz.) of little Noyse or Dignity, but great Profit and Influence: They undermine their Adversa­ries Estates, and weaken their Interests, but seather and en­large their own Nests, the Corporations: They give vast [Page 5]Portions with their Daughters, which not only recommonds them to powerful Alliances, but sets the Dice upon the No­bility and Gentry, to the greater ruine and eclipse of Noble and Loyal Families. Lastly, they are perfectly weather-wise, and by the help of their Centinels and perspectives, can upon timely foresight of a Storm, by cleanly conveyance, readily dispose of their Affairs, and shist their Countrey: For what is London more to them than Amsterdam, or Old-England than New? A Doctrine of such accommodation to the Godly, must needs be revealed from above, and who would not then be their Proselyte?

The Result of my discourse is this, That as the Doctrine of allowing Usury for a Calling or Livelyhood, is altogether new, so the present general practice is dangerous, the contri­vance subtile and deep, That the concealment of great E­states thereby, (perhaps to neer half the Capital Stock and re­al value of this Kingdom) hath long been, and now more than ever is the Canker of Loyalty, and Nurse of Disobedi­ence Inhumane: The Discovery, Taxing, Reducement, or any other Curb of Usury, is in effect the Discovery, Taxing, Reducement, and Curb of Faction, the prefervative of the sound, and Corrosive of the unsound, So as it were hard to say, whether it more immediately concern the good of the Pro­ple, or safety of the Crown, timely to provide for it.