Here after ensueth a proper treatise of good worksHere after ensueth a propre treatyse of good workes

Truly this commandment seemeth but little / but in very deed it is so great / that he that will keep it must be in jeopardy of his body and his life, of his goods ⟨image 151⟩and fame of his friends and all that he hath. And yet it comprehendeth no more, but the work of a little member, the tongue / that is to say. The truth and gainsay lying / if need require / and so here be forbid many evil works of the tongue. First such as be committed by speaking, than after such as be done by holding our peace. By speaking when he that hath an evil cause in the law / laboureth to prove and defend it by an evil foundation, to take his neighbour in a trip, to lay out all that he can for to set out & promote his own cause / & hiding & making less what soever should help his neighbours cause / in the which thing he doth not to his neighbour, as he would be done to. There be some that do this ⟨image 151⟩for profit & some partly to avoid loss or slander / & both they seek more their own profit than the commandments of god / & they excuse them selves on this fashion. The law helpeth him that laboureth, as though they were not as well bound to labour in their neighbours cause, as in their own. So they willingly suffer their neighbours cause go to nought, all though they know that it be right / the which evil is now a days so common, that I fear there is no judgement nor act / but one party sinneth against this commandment. Yea & be it so that they be not able to bring their purpose about / yet they have an evil mind & will to do ill, because that they would have the good cause of their neighbour decay & their own evil cause prevail. ⟨image 152⟩And this sin is chiefly committed of the judges / ¹when the one part is a great man or enemy to the judges. For so they will be avenged of their enemy, & not have the displeasure of any great man. By this means are begun flattering & adulation / and at the lest suppressing of the truth / for here no man will suffer disdain, hurt & jeopardy for the truth sake / and so the commandment of god must needs be trodden under feet. And this is now for the most part the rule & order of the world. He that coveteth or willeth to continue in this commandment may have both his hands full of works, & be but only occupied with his tongue.