An invective against the most wicked [and] detestable vice of swearing, newly co[m]piledAn inuectyue agenst the moost wicked [and] detestable vyce of swearing, newly co[m]piled

Ah wretch, saith he, although a man at the first doth keep his perjuries & false oaths never so secret, yet may he be sure at the last that they will come to light unto his great shame, so that punishment will come upon him before he be aware for his wickedness.¹ The Greek Poet Phocylides also saith, forswear not thy self neither ignorantly nor willingly. For the immortal God hateth the false swearer, what so ever he be that ⟨p. lx⟩sweareth.² Again Cicero y• famous Prince of ornate eloquence & most eloquent Orator saith, the pain of perjury before god is everlasting damnation, & before men perpetual dishonour,³ shame, reproach & ignominy. God hate the perjury so greatly in every condition, that he grievously punished Zedechias, because contrary to his oath he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

Ah wretche, sayth he, although a mā at the fyrst doth kepe his periuries & false oothes neuer so secret, yet may he be sure at the last that they wyll come to light vnto his great shame, so that punyshment wyll come vpō hym before he be awars for hys wickednes.¹ The Greke Poet Phocylides also sayth, forswere not thy selfe neyther ignorantly nor wyllyngly. For the immortall God hatethe the false swerer, what so euer he be that ⟨p. lx⟩sweareth.² Agayne Cicero y• famous Prynce of ornate eloquence & moost eloquent Oratour sayth, the payne of periury before god is euerlasting damnacion, & before men perpetual dishonour,³ shame, reproche & ignominy. God hate the periury so greatly in euery condicion, that he greuously ponyshed Zedechias, bycause cō trary to his oothe he rebelled agenst Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babylō.