Question — Decretum of Gratian
Question III
GRATIAN. But that to pursue profits beyond the principal is to exact usury is proved by the authority of Augustine, who writes on Psalm 36, [at the verse “All day long”], saying:
GRATIANUS. Quod autem preter summam emolumenta sectari sit usuras exigere, auctoritate Augustini probatur, qui in psalmo XXXVI. [ad. uers. "Tota die"] scribit, dicens:
Friedberg, col. 733/734
C. I. One who seeks more than he gave receives usury.
If you lend at interest to a man—that is, if you give your money as a loan—from whom you expect more than you gave, not money alone but anything more than you gave, whether it be wheat, wine, oil, or anything else, if you expect to receive more than you gave, you are a usurer and in this are to be condemned, not praised.
C. I. Qui plus quam dederit expetit usuras accipit.
Si feneraueris hominem, id est si tu mutuum dederis pecuniam tuam, a quo plus quam dedisti expectes, non pecuniam solam, sed aliquid plus quam dedisti, siue illud triticum sit, siue uinum, siue oleum, siue quodlibet aliud, si plus quam dedisti expectes accipere, fenerator es, et in hoc inprobandus, non laudandus.
Friedberg, col. 735/736
C. II. Whatever is exacted above what was given is usury.
Likewise Jerome on Ezekiel, book VI, [at c. 18]. Certain persons think that usury exists only in money. Foreseeing this, divine Scripture removes the excess of every thing, so that you do not receive more than you gave. Likewise: § 1. Others are accustomed to receive little gifts of various kinds for money lent at interest, and they do not understand that Scripture calls usury and excess whatever it is, if they have received more than what they gave.
C. II. Quicquid supra datum exigitur, usura est.
Item Ieronimus super Ezechielem, libro VI. [ad. c. 18.] Putant quidam usuras tantum esse in pecunia. Quod prouidens diuina scriptura omnis rei superhabundantiam aufert, ut plus non recipias quam dedisti. Item: §. 1. Alii pro pecunia fenerata solent munuscula diuersi generis accipere, et non intelligunt scripturam usuram appellare et superhabundantiam quicquid illud est, si ab eo, quod dederint, plus acceperint.
Friedberg, col. 735/736
C. III. Whatever accrues to the principal is usury.
Likewise Ambrose, On Naboth. Many, evading the precepts of the law, when they have given money to merchants, do not exact usury in money, but receive profits from their wares as though they were interest. Therefore let them hear what the law says: “You shall accept neither usury,” it says, “of foods, nor of any things.” Likewise: § 1. Food is usury, clothing is usury, and whatever accrues to the principal is usury; and whatever name you wish to impose upon it, it is usury. Likewise: § 2. If anyone thinks that a banquet is to be furnished, he sends to a merchant so that he may bring him freely a small cup of absinthe wine; he directs a request to an innkeeper for Picene or Tyrian wine; to a butcher, so that he may procure a sow’s womb for him; to another, so that he may prepare fruits for him.
C. III. Quicquid sorti accidit usura est.
Item Ambrosius de Nabuthe. Plerique refugientes precepta legis cum dederint pecuniam negotiatoribus, non in pecunia usuras exigunt, sed de mercibus eorum tamquam usurarum emolumenta percipiunt. Ideo audiant quid lex dicat: "Neque," inquit, "usuram, escarum accipies, neque omnium rerum." Item: §. 1. Esca usura est, et uestis usura est, et quodcumque sorti accidit usura est; et quodcumque uelis ei nomen inponas, usura est. Item: §. 2. Si quis instaurandum conuiuium putet, ad negociatorem mittit, ut absinthiati cupellam sibi gratis deferat, ad cauponem dirigit, ut Picenum uinum aut Tiriacum requirat; ad lanium, ut uuluam sibi procuret; ad alium, ut sibi poma adornet.
Friedberg, col. 735/736
C. IV. When more is exacted than is given, usury is received.
Likewise from the Council of Agde. Usury exists where more is sought than what is given. For example, if you give ten solidi and seek more, or give one modius of grain and exact something in addition. GRATIAN. Behold, it is shown evidently that whatever is exacted beyond the principal is usury.
C. IV. Quando amplius exigitur quam detur, usura accipitur.
Item ex Concilio Agatensi. Usura est, ubi amplius requiritur quam quod datur. Verbi gratia, si solidos decem dederis, et amplius quesieris, uel dederis frumenti modium unum, et super aliquid exegeris. Gratian. Ecce euidenter ostenditur, quod quicquid ultra sortem exigitur usura est.
Friedberg, col. 735/736