A DECLARATION OR Remonstrance, TO HIS MAJESTY'S Loyal and Faithful Subjects; TOUCHING 

Brokers,  
Usurers,  
Scrivenors,  
And Solicitors:    
For, and in behalf of all Merchants, Citizens, Countrymen, and other His Majesty's good Subjects, within the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Dominion of Wales.  
London, Printed for George-Horton, 1660. Sept 4   

A DECLARATION TO All His Majesty's loving Subjects, touching Brokers Usurers, Scrivenors, and Solicitors; For, and in behalf of all Shoemakers, Weavers Butchers, Victuallers, Chandler's, Drapers, Clothworkers, Tailors, Wire-drawers, Gold smith's, and Silversmiths.  
AMongst the rest of His Sacred Majesties many Illustrious Titles, which like fair and beautiful Flowers, do adorn & bedeck His Royal Crown, there's ●one exc●eds and excels all the rest, aswell in Virtue as in Beauty, and that is His Title of Defender of the Faith, etc. And, indeed, as that Title is his Majesty's Honour, so the Truth of it is His Subjects Happiness. For, neither the highest Provocations, nor the strongest Tempt●tions that ever Prince met withal, hath been able to slake his victorious Faith, nor abate his holy Zeal: Witness his Gracious Majesty's first Act, after his Return ●o the Exercise of his Regal Power, in his early and timely suppressing Profaneness and discountenancing debauched persons, who know not how to express their Thankfulness unto GOD for Mercies, but by a sinful drinking them away; a practice his Majesty's Soul abhors.  
These his eminent Virtues, and excellent Qualifications that God hath bestowed upon Him, to make him every way worthy and fit for Government, invited the Parliament, with joyful heart's, to make their humble Addresses to his Majesty for his Royal Assent to several Bills; Amongst whi●h, the Bill entitled, An Act to prevent the taking of excessive Usury, was by his Majesty signed, to the great contentment of all Loyal and Faithful Subjects.  
The restraining men of avaricious minds whose Consciences are as large as their Bags, will be a great ease to the People, and an inablement to the Merchants the better to go on with their Trades. They are the laborious Bees that bring in Honey into his Majesty's Hive; and Usurers are the lazy, idle Drones, ●hat rob this precious Hive of the honey.  
For preventing all such Abuses for the Future, It is Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty, and the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, That no per●on or persons whatsoever, from and after the 29th day of September, 1660. upon any Contract, shall from and after the said Day, take directly o● indirectly for Loane of any Monies, Wares, Merchandise, or o●her Commodities whatsoever, above the value o● six pounds for the Forbearance of one hundred pounds for a year, and so after that Rate for a greater or lesser sum or for a longer or shorter time. And that all Bonds, Contracts, and Ass●r●nc●'s whatsoever, made after the time aforesaid, for payment of any Principal or Money to be lent or covenanted to be personmed upon or for any Usury.  
Whereupon or whereby there shall be reserved or taken above the rate of six pounds in the hundred as aforesaid shall be utterly void.  
And all persons whatsoever, who shall after the 29 day of September, are hereby desired to take notice, That if any person or persons shall take, accept, and receive, by way or means of any corrupt Bargain, Loan, Exchange, Shift, or Interest of any Wares or Merchandise whatsoever, or by any deceitful way, or conveyance, for the forbearing or giving day of payment for one whole year, of and for their Money, or other thing, above the sum of six pounds for the forbearing of one hundred pounds for a year, and so after that Rate for a greater or lesser sum, or for a longer and shorter Term, shall forfeit & lose for every such Offence, the triple value of the moneys, Wares, Merchandise, and other things so lent, bargained, sold, exchanged, or shifted. And all Scrivenors, Brokers, Solicitors, Drivers of Bargains for Contracts, who shall after the said 39 day of September, take or receive, directly or indirectly, any Sum or Sums of Money, or other Reward or Thing for Brokage, Soliciting, Driving, or procuring the Loan, or forbearing of any Sum or Sums of Money, over and above the Rate or value of five shillings for the Loane, or forbearing of one hundred pounds for a year, and so rateably, or above twelve pence for making or renewing of the Bond or Bill for the Loane, or for forbearing thereof, or for any Counterbond or Bill concerning the same, shalll Forfeit for every such Offence twenty pounds, and have imprisonment for half a year: The one moiety of all which Forfeitures to be to the King our Sovereign Lord, His Heirs and Successors; And the other moiety to the persons that shall sue for the same, in the same County where the several Offences are committed, and not elsewhere.   
FINIS.