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

Let the rulers of the common weal find some honest remedy,¹ that the name of God be no more blasphemed among their subjects. Let them consider how loth they are, that they them selves should be evil spoken of and blasphemed. Let them weigh with them selves, how much God excelleth them, & how far his dignity doth exceed their dignity. If any man defaceth their renown, they are punished straightways, & not without a cause. But how chanceth it, that the Lord of all Lords and King of all Kings is no more feared? How cometh it to pass, that ⟨p. lxxiii⟩his most holy & blessed name is so universally blasphemed, yea & y• freely and without punishment? Were it not, think you, convenient, that the civil magistrate should earnestly provide, that the name of GOD might have his due honour, and y• it might no more be abused with abominable & unlawful oaths in their Realms, but praised & magnified, seeing that by it we obtain all our health and salvation? God by his holy spirit mought vouchsafe to breathe into the hearts of all Princes, Kings and rulers, that when they be godly assembled together for matters concerning the glory of god & the public weal, they may also entreat of this thing in their Synods, Congregations, Parliaments, councils, &c. that God may be glorified, & his most blessed name exalted of all nations ⟨image 75⟩from the East to the West. By this means shall they not only expulse vice and make their Realms to flourish with virtue unto the great glory of God and the high consolation of all the faithful, but also they shall acquire and get to them selves a crown of immortal glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Let the rulars of the comō weale fynde some honest remedy,¹ that the name of God be no more blasphemed among theyr subiectes. Let thē consyder howe loth they are, that they them selfes shulde be euyll spoken of and blasphemed. Lette them weygh wyth them selues, howe moche God excelleth them, & how farre hys dignite dothe excede theyr dignite. If ony man defacethe theyr renowme, they are ponyshed streyghtwayes, & not without a cause. But how chaū seth it, that the Lorde of all Lordes and Kyng of all Kynges is no more feared? How cometh it to passe, that