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…

And he that should go about to overturn this common refuge of all persons that suffer wrong, it can not otherwayes be, but he must needs sin against the ordinance ⟨p. lxxxvii⟩of God, and grievously hurt his neighbour. But no man doth pervert and overturn justice, courts, and judgements, more, than a false witness, wherefore this is a very heinous sin before God. For a false witness doth forswear himself against the second commandment, he doth as much as lieth in him to overturn and destroy courts and judgements, founded and established by God, he despiseth and deceiveth the judge, he hurteth his neighbour both in his name and goods, he stoppeth the peace, friendship and agreement, the which should have ben made between the parties by the judges true judgement, he maintaineth wrong, and continueth hatred, debate and contention, of the which followeth brawling, fighting and ⟨image 110⟩oftentimes manslaughter. The which heinous since God will not suffer to escape unscourged, but horribly will punish them. Wherefore let every man avoid false witness bearing, as they would fly the plague or poison. By this commandment also God withdraweth us, from all evil suspicions, that we think not evil of our neighbour, nether expound his words or deeds to the worst, that we suspect him not without a cause nor utter to other our suspicions conceived against any man, as long as we know not certainly the truth. For they which grounding them selves upon suspicions, do raise evil tales or untrue brutes against their neighbour, they do bear false witness against him, and do more hurt then open liars. ⟨p. lxxxviii⟩For they that lye openly, or that in the face of the court bear false witness against a man, may be accused & punished for their offence. But men can not so easily avoid the venomie of such persons, which secretly by poisoned words, or other means, causeth his neighbour to be suspected.

And he that shoulde go about to ouerturne this commen refuge of all persons that suffre wrong, it can not otherwayes be, but he muste nedes synne against ye ordinance ⟨p. lxxxvii⟩of God, and greuously hurt hys neyghboure. But no man doth peruerte and ouerturne iustyce, courtes, and iudgementes, more, thē a false wytnes, wherfore this is a very heynous synne before God. For a false wytnes doth forsweare himselfe againste the seconde commaūdement, he doth as much as lieth in him to ouerturne and destroye courtes and iudgements, founded and establyshed by God, he despiseth and deceueth ye iudge, he hurteth hys neyghbor both in his name and goods, he stoppeth ye peace, frēdshyp and agremente, the whiche shoulde haue ben made betwene the parties by the iudges trewe iudgemēt, he mainteineth wrōg, and continueth hathred, debate and contention, of the whiche foloweth brawlyng, fyghtyng and