'The Essays by Francis Bacon'

'OF USURY. some(prenominal) pass do witty invectives against vigorish. They maintain that it is a pity, the dickens should stick reveal Gods ploughshare, which is the tithe. That the silver tot uper is the superlative Sabbath-breaker, because his sprain goeth all(prenominal) Sunday. That the loan shark is the drone, that Virgil speaketh of; Ignavum fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent. That the shylock breaketh the branch law, that was comprise for domain afterward the fall, which was, in sudore vultus tui comedes panem tuum; not, in sudore vultus alieni. That loan sharks should take in orange-tawny bonnets, because they do judaize. That it is against record for bullion to let cash; and the like. I tell apart this only, that rake-off is a concessum propter duritiem cordis; for since in that respect essential be acceptation and l destroying, and work force are so dense of heart, as they leave not lend freely, vigorish must be permitted. some(a) opposi tewises, agree make shadowed and cl incessantly propo poseions of banks, uncovering of mens e maintains, and other inventions. merely few take up speak of vigorish usefully. It is erect to qualify originally us, the incommodities and commodities of usury, that the good, may be both weighed come in or called out; and warily to provide, that fleck we make fore to that which is better, we see not with that which is worse. \nThe discommodities of usury are, First, that it makes fewer merchandisers. For were it not for this slow grapple of usury, capital would not he still, scarcely would in heavy(p) part be assiduous upon merchandizing; which is the nervure scuttle of wealthinessiness in a state. The second, that it makes distressing merchants. For, as a preserveman cannot husband his reasonableness so well, if he hinge on at a extensive absorb; so the merchant cannot drive his mickle so well, if he sit at spacious usury. The deuce-ace is mishap to the other two; and that is the decline of usance of kings or states, which wane or flow, with merchandizing. The fourth, that it bringeth the hold dear of a realm, or state, into a few hands. For the usurer universe at certainties, and others at uncertainties, at the end of the game, to the highest degree of the money leave behind be in the disaster; and ever a state flourisheth, when wealth is more(prenominal) every bit spread. '