The history of religious thought on questions of social ethics is a topic which has been treated in England by the late Dr. Cunningham, by Sir William Ashley, whose essay on _The Canonist Doctrine_ first interested me in the subject, by Mr. G. G. Coulton, Mr. H. G. Wood, and Mr. G. O’Brien. But it is no reflection on their work to say that the most important contributions of recent years have come from continental students, in particular Troeltsch, Choisy, Sombart, Brentano, Levy and, above all, Max Weber, whose celebrated essay on _Die Protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus_ gave a new turn to the discussion. No one can work, on however humble a scale, in the same field, without being conscious of the heavy obligation under which these scholars have laid him. While I have not always been able to accept their conclusions, I am glad to have this opportunity of expressing my indebtedness to them. I regret that Mr. Coulton’s _The Mediæval Village_ appeared too late for me to make use of its abundant stores of learning and insight. It only remains for me to thank the friends whose assistance has enabled me to make this book somewhat less imperfect than it would otherwise have been. Mr. J. L. Hammond, Dr. E. Power, and Mr. A. P. Wadsworth have been kind enough to read, and to improve, the manuscript. Professor J. E. Neale, in addition to reading the proofs, has helped me most generously throughout with advice and criticism. I am deeply indebted both to Miss Bulkley, who has undertaken the thankless task of correcting the proofs and making an index, and to the London School of Economics and the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Fund for enabling me to make use of her services. My obligation to the help given by my wife is beyond acknowledgment. R. H. TAWNEY. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION ix CHAPTER I. THE MEDIEVAL BACKGROUND 1 THE SOCIAL ORGANISM 14 THE SIN OF AVARICE 36 THE IDEAL AND THE REALITY 55 II. THE CONTINENTAL REFORMERS 63 THE ECONOMIC REVOLUTION 66 LUTHER 79 CALVIN 102 III. THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND 133 THE LAND QUESTION 137 RELIGIOUS THEORY AND SOCIAL POLICY 150 THE GROWTH OF INDIVIDUALISM 175 IV. THE PURITAN MOVEMENT 195 PURITANISM AND SOCIETY 198 A GODLY DISCIPLINE VERSUS THE RELIGION OF TRADE 211