"[The Merchant's] pursuit of gain was considered against the laws of God, because he was not a producer of real goods, but rather a re-saler, or a usurer. The objection to the presence of commerce and banking in early medieval times was spearheaded by the clergy, who thundered against the sinful nature of their calling. No sin was worse than that of the usurer, no activity more repugnant to the Lord." (Brown University, Decameron Web)
Medieval King Henry VIII “Old Coppernose”
“In 1526 and Henry VIII was King. He needed money to pay for the wars against Scotland and France. His Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, decided to debase the coinage (mix the precious metals of silver and gold with cheaper ones) so that he could make more coins for the same amount of precious metal and therefore mint more money at less cost.” (The Royal Mint, 2012)
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://blog.royalmint.com/old-coppernose-quantitative-easing-the-medieval-way/
Image source: http://blog.royalmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Henry-VIII_11.jpg
“In 1526 and Henry VIII was King. He needed money to pay for the wars against Scotland and France. His Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, decided to debase the coinage (mix the precious metals of silver and gold with cheaper ones) so that he could make more coins for the same amount of precious metal and therefore mint more money at less cost.” (The Royal Mint, 2012)
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://blog.royalmint.com/old-coppernose-quantitative-easing-the-medieval-way/
Image source: http://blog.royalmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Henry-VIII_11.jpg
"This leather box was probably used to store important documents, money, or other precious objects. It is decorated with courtship scenes and was originally painted and highlighted with gilding." (Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore)
"The economy's never been better. Here's another potato!"
One could argue the constant marauding and pillaging of the Medieval times prevented economic organization and growth. Here is drawing of two medieval peasants in a barren field digging potatoes. "Famines were relatively common during the Middle Ages with the average person being affected by three or four during their lifetime. It was during famines that people often resorted to killing their horses and farm animals for food and in some towns even cannibalism was recorded." (http://www.medievality.com/famine.html)