A treatise against lying Wherein is showed what it is, the nature and causes…A treatise against lying Wherein is shevved vvhat it is, the nature and causes…

But though the care of reforming this vice ¹ought to be chiefly in Rulers and Magistrates, yet not in them only; but every Christian ought to do his best to maintain and nourish Trueth, and to suppress this Vice of lying both in himself and others. Especially it concerns every man to take heed, that he so carry himself in his intercourse and dealings, that he be not a cause or occasion unto his neighbour of falling into this sin. And because it is most frequently committed in buying and selling, the Seller labouring to raise his commodity by telling untruths, and the Buyer to pull down the price by dispraising it, therefore let us not only watch over our own tongues that we do not offend, but also avoid all occasions whereby our neighbour with whom we deal may fall into this sin. Now this is done when as we do not in driving our bargain, delight in using many words which are seldom free from lies, but take a plain and fair course in our asking and offering with all convenient sparingness of speech. And as the Seller is not by his lavish praises to draw on the Buyer to speak worse of the commodity than either ⟨p. 165⟩it deserves, or he thinks, so let not the Buyer by his dispraises, move the Seller to use untrue commendations, that hereby he may dazzle his eyes, and allure him to a better liking. And as the one must not ask at the first excessive prices for his wares, from which height he doth not usually descend to his selling price, but (as it were) by the steps and stairs of lies and untruths, so must not the other by too much hucking and niggardly offers as much under the just price, move him to the practice of his lying arts and eloquence; nor by distrusting his words when he speaketh truth, occasion him to further the bargain by speaking lies, because he seeth that the one is believed as well as the other.

But though the care of reforming this vice ¹ought to be chiefly in Rulers and Magistrates, yet not in them onely; but every Christian ought to doe his best to maintaine and nourish Trueth, and to suppres this Vice of lying both in himselfe and others. Especially it concernes every man to take heed, that hee so carry himselfe in his entercourse and dealings, that he be not a cause or occasion unto his neighbor of falling into this sin. And because it is most frequently cōmitted in buying and selling, the Seller labouring to raise his commodity by telling untrueths, and the Buyer to pull downe the price by dispraising it, therefore let us not only watch over our owne tongues that wee doe not offend, but also avoid all occasions whereby our neighbour with whom we deale may fall into this sinne. Now this is done when as wee doe not in driving our bargaine, delight in using many words which are seldome free from lyes, but take a plaine and faire course in our asking and offering with all convenient sparingnesse of speech. And as the Seller is not by his lavish prayses to draw on the Buyer to speake worse of the commodity than either