Professor Eck at Ingolstadt University 1514 justified the payment of 5% interest by a merchant and the use of the contractuum trinius in which interest was effectively paid by a borrower of money. Whilst many thinkers still dismissed the charging of interest upon forced borrowers, the requirements of merchants were increasingly seen as a justification for interest. Francis de Mayronis, Catholic theologian Navarrus and Calvin in 1574 all denied that interest for the use of money was sinful.

Nicole Oresme
Traictie de la Premiere invention des Monnoies c. 1360. Bimetallism based upon gold and silver was proposed, with the bimetallic ratio determined by market bullion prices. The Prince should control the coinage, but debasement was utterly condemned. In his writings Oresme anticipates Gresham's Law and encourages trade.

Carolus Molinaeus
French lawyer writing in the 16th century. Tractatus Contractuum et Usurarum is a major work. Molinaeus defends interest at a maximum prescribed rate.

Thomas Wilson
Writes Discourse upon Usury and condemns usury.

John Hales
Humanist, state official. Discourse of the Common Weal of this Realm of England 1581. Argues that laws should be designed to direct self-interest toward the common good.

Jean Bodin
French political and economic thinker. Wrote Reponse aux Paradoxes de Malestroit 1569. Produces a clear statement of a quantity theory of money in describing 16th century price rises, citing an influx of gold from Spain and debasement. Extravagant Kings, monopolies and the export of goods are also discussed as causes of inflation. In Les Six Livres de la Republic 1576 Bodin argues for a central sovereign secular authority.