Catechismus, that is to say, a short instruction into Christian religion for the singular…Catechismus, that is to say, a shorte instruction into Christian religion for the synguler…

YE have heard in the exposition of the sixth commandment how we should behave our selves toward our own wives and our neighbours wives also, by the which commandment, as God hath fortified wedlock that no man shall besiege or assault it, so by the virtue and strength of this seventh commandment. Thou shalt not steal, he ⟨image 96⟩defendeth our neighbours goods and riches, whereby he liveth himself, his wife, children and family. For this precept teacheth us, how we should order our selves towards our neighbours goods, and cattle, that by fraud or stealth we convey nothing from him, that by violence or extortion we take nothing from him, but study to defend and increase his riches, with as good a will, as we would do our own.

YE haue hearde in the exposition of the syxte cōmaundemente howe we shuld behaue our selfes toward our owne wifes and oure neyghbours wifes also, by the which commaū demente, as God hathe fortifyed wedlocke that no man shal besyge or assaut it, so by the vertue and strength of this seuenth commaū dement. Thou shalt not steale, he ⟨image 96⟩defendeth oure neyghbours goodes and riches, wherby he lyueth himselfe, his wife, children and familie. For this precepte teacheth vs, howe we should ordre our selues towardes oure neyghbours goodes, and cattell, that by fraud or stealth we conuey nothinge frō him, that by violence or extorcion we take nothynge from hym, but study to defende and encrease hys riches, with as good a wyll, as we would do oure owne.

And here note good children, that this word, theft, doeth not only signify open robberies, extortions and manifest polling but also all manner of crafts, and subtle ways by the which we convey our neighbours goods from him, contrary to his knowledge or will although the guile have never so fair a colour of ⟨p. lxxv⟩virtue and honesty. And to the intent you may the better understand this thing, I shall declare it unto you by certain examples. And first I will begin with Magistrates or common officers. God hath commanded us to pay to princes and governors of the common wealth, rents, services, tributes, customs, toll, subsidies, pensions and other yearly revenues, whereby they may be the more able to sustain and bear the charges of the common administration, and also to punish them that be ill, and to defend those that be good. But when the magistrates do overcharge their subjects, and exact more of them then is needful to the maintenance of the common charges, and so impoverish and oppress them, whom they ought from all