13 March 2016

Ancient law against usury

"Ob Jud ob Christ - ein Schuft der Wucherer ist"
(whether Jew or Christian, the usurer is a scoundrel)
German medal 1923

an old word for (excessive) growth, profit, interest, usury:

wocor - Old English
wōkrs - Gothic
wuohhar - Oud High German
wuocher - Middle High German
Wucher - New High German
wōker - Old Frisian
wuoker - Old Dutch
woeker - Dutch, Frisian

~ ~ ~

Page 20-21 of manuscript


THÉRA THAM TO MÀRKA KVME 
NE MÜGON NAVT NI WOKERJA.
Those who come to the market 
are strictly forbidden to commit usury.

KVMATH THÉR SVM.
SA IS.T THÉRA FAMNA PLICHT
HJAM KÀNBÉR TO MAKJANA INVR THÀT ÉLLE LÁND.

If any should come,
the maidens are obliged
to make them known through the whole land,


TILTHJU HJA NIMMERTHE KÉREN NAVT WRDE TO ENG AMPT
HWAND SOKA HÀVATH EN GÍRA.LIK.HIRTE.

that they will never-ever be chosen for any office
for such have a
vulture-like heart.

VMBE SKÀT TO GARJA SKOLDE HJA ELLA VRRÉDA
THÀT FOLK. THJU MODER. HJARA SIBBEN
ÀND TO THA LESTA HJARA SELVA.

To accumulate wealth, they would betray all;
the folk, the Mother, their siblings (or: relatives)
and ultimately themselves.


Marinus Claeszoon van Reymerswaele (c.1490–c.1546)
"Two tax collectors" (c. 1540)

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