For this word, witness, in this place betokeneth all that thing which is spoken of our neighbours, when they go to law, or contend about any matter. As when one doth arrest an other, and sayeth. I lent this fellow so much money, & now he denieth the same. Then if any third parson come in, and say I was present, ⟨image 108⟩and did see when this man lent him this sum of money, (whereas he saw no such thing in dead) then this false witness doth to his neighbour double injury. For first he causeth that his neighbour is compelled to pay that money, which he never borrowed. Secondarily he causeth him to lose his good name and credit, and to be called a shameless liar, insomuch that every man will point at him when he goeth in the streets, and say. Lo yonder goeth that unfaithful person, which borroweth money of his neighbour, and denied the same. The which thing when it chanceth, the party of whom this evil brute is spread, is undone in this world, and suffereth greater damage by the loss of his name, then if he should lose ⟨p. lxxxvi⟩all his riches. Wherefore it is not without a cause, that God so earnestly forbiddeth us to bear false witness. For as by true witness bearing, discord, strife and contention is ended, both in the law and out of the law, so by false testimonies, strife, discord and variance is sown and scattered, and wrong thereby greatly maintained. Wherefore God in this commandment forbiddeth us, that with lies we slander not our neighbour, that we give no occasion to hatred, discord or debate, but that we study to speak the truth, and (as much as it shall lie in us) to reconcile men together. For this is an excellent virtue, which highly pleaseth God. For Christ saith in the gospel. Blessed are they that make peace, for they shall be called ⟨image 109⟩the children of God. Wherefore good children, beware chiefly, that you be no liars, nor false witness bearers, but for any occasion you spare not to speak the trueth at all times and places, and specially when you be brought for witnesses into common courts or open judgements. For God himself hath ordained laws, courts and officers, to defend the good, and to punish the evil, without the which, there can be no peace or quietness in this world. They be the succour and sanctuary of fatherless and motherless children, of widows and of all oppressed persons.
For this worde, wytnes, in this place betokeneth all that thing which is spoken of our neyghbours, whē they go to law, or contende aboute any matier. As when one doth arrest an other, and sayeth. I lent this felowe so muche monie, & now he denyeth the same. Then yf any third parson come in, and saye I was present, ⟨image 108⟩and did see when this man lent him this summe of monye, (wheras he saw no suche thinge in deade) then this false witnesse doth to his neyghboure double iniurye. For first he causeth that his neyghboure is compelled to pay that monye, whiche he neuer borowed. Secōdarily he causeth him to lese his good name and credit, and to be called a shameles lyer, insomuche yt euery man wyl poynt at him when he goeth in the streates, and saye. Lo yonder goeth that vnfaythfull person, whiche boroweth monye of his neighboure, and denied thesame. The whiche thing when it chaunceth, the partie of whome this euel brute is sprede, is vndone in this world, and suffereth greater damage by the losse of his name, then yf he shoulde lese ⟨p. lxxxvi⟩al his riches. Wherfore it is not without a cause, that God so ernestlye forbyddeth vs to beare false witnes. For as by trew witnes bearyng, discorde, strife and contention is ended, both in the lawe and out of the lawe, so by false testimonies, strife, discorde and variaunce is sowen and scatered, and wrong thereby greatly mainteined. Wherfore God in this commaundemente forbyddeth vs, that with lies we slaundre not our neyghboure, that we gyue no occasion to hatred, dyscorde or debate, but yt we studye to speake ye truthe, and (asmuche as it shall lie in vs) to reconcyle men together. For this is an excellēt vertue, which highly pleaseth God. For Christ saith in the gospel. Blessed are they that make peace, for they shall be called ⟨image 109⟩the childerne of God. Wherfore good childrē, beware chiefly, that you be no liers, nor false witnes berers, but for any occasion you spare not to speake the trueth at all tymes and places, and specyally when you be brought for witnesses into commen courtes or open iudgementes. For God hymselfe hath ordeyned lawes, courtes and officers, to defende the good, and to punyshe ye euel, without the whiche, there can be no peace or quietnes in this worlde. They be the succour and sanctuarie of fatherles and motherles children, of widowes and of all oppressed persons.
