
Reasons for passing this Act.; None to take above Six Pounds for a Hundred Pounds.; All Securitites, on which higher Interest reserved, void.; Persons taking, &c. by any Shift higher Interest; Penalty.FOASMUCH as the Abatement of Interest from Ten in the Hundred in former times hath beene found by
notable experience beneficiall to the Advancement of Trade and Improvement of Lands by good Husbandry
with many other considerable advantages to this Nation, especially the reduceing of it to a nearer proportion
with Forraigne States with whom wee traffique, And wheras in fresh memory the like fall from Eight to Six in
the Hundred by a late constant practise hath found the like Successe to the generall contentment of this Nation
as is visible by severall Improvements. And whereas it is the endeavour of some at present to reduce it backe
againe in practice to the allowance of the Statute still in force to Eight in the Hundred to the great discouragement
of Ingenuity and industry in the Husbandry Trade and Commerce of this Nation. Bee it for the Reasons aforesaid
Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestye and the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled
That noe person or persons whatsoever from and after the twenty ninth day of September in the yeare of our
Lord One thousand six hundred and sixty upon any Contract shall from and after the said twenty ninth  of
September take directly or indirectly for Loane of any Money Wares Merchandice or other Commodityes whatsoever
above the value of Six Pounds for the Forbearance of one Hundred Pounds for a Yeare, and soe after that Rate
for a greater or lesser Summe or for a longer or shorter time, And that all Bonds Contracts and Assurances
whatsoeyer made after the time aforesaid for payment of any principall or money to be lent or covenanted to be
performed upon or for any Usury, wherupon or whereby there shall be reserved or taken above the Rate of Six
pounds in the Hundred as aforesaid shall be utterly void, And that all and every person and persons whatsoever
which shall after the time aforesaid upon any Contract to be made after the said twenty ninth day of September
take accept and receive by way or meanes of any corrupt Bargaine Loane Exchange Cheivesaunce Shift or Interest
of any Wares Merchandise or other thing or things whatsoever, or by any deceitfull way or meanes or by
any covin, engine or deceitfull conveyance for the forbearing or giveing day of payment for one whole yeare of
and for their Money or other thing above the Su[m]me of Six pounds for the forbearing of One hundred pounds
for a yeare, and soe after that Rate for a greater or lesser Summe or for a longer or shorter Terme shall
forfeit and loose for every such offence the treble value of the Moneyes Wares Merchandize and other things soe
Lent Bargained Sold Exchanged or Shifted;
II. 
Penalty £20 and Imprisonment.
And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid That all and every Scrivenor and Scrivenors Broker and
Brokers Sollicitor and Sollicitors Driver and Drivers of Bargaines for Contracts who shall after said twenty
nineth day of September take or receive directly or indirectly any Summe or Summes of Money or other reward
or thing for Brokage Solliciting Driving or Procureing the Loane or forbearing of any Summe or Summes of Money
over and above the Rate or Value of five shillings for the Loane, or forbearing of one hundred pounds for a yeare
and soe rateably, or above twelve pence for the making or renewing of the Bond or Bill for the Loane, or for
forbearing thereof, or for any Counterbond or Bill concerning the same shall forfeite for every such Offence
twenty pounds and have Imprisonment for halfe a yeare; The one moyety of all which forfeitures to be to the
King our Soveraigne Lord His Heires and Successors, And the other moyety to him or them that will sue for the
same in the same County where the severall Offences are committed and not elsewhere by action of Debt Bill
Plaint or Information, in which noe Essoigne Wager of Law, or protection to be allowed.