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…

Finally, if we would have our inferiors to confess the truth when they are faulty and guilty, and not use lies and false excuses, we must in our government avoid too much rigour and cruelty in our corrections, which out of fear and infirmity will move inferiors to hide their faults with lies, and so to hazard their souls rather than endure bodily smart, and rather to presume on Gods mercy for the forgiveness of their sins, than ⟨p. 167⟩to confess them to such governors as are so cruel, that they can expect from them no pardon of their fault, nor moderation in their punishments: whereas if they would leave unto them some hope of finding mercy upon their confession and promise of amendment, if they would not always deal with them in severity and strictness of justice, but pardon some faults because they are sleight and venial, and some of an higher nature, because of their ingenuity and truth, which moveth them by an humble acknowledgement to submit themselves to their pleasure, and to rely upon their mercy, they would not be so apt to make lies their refuge, especially if they knew that they are so odious to their governors, that they will, if they be discovered, inflict upon them more certain and severe punishment. And as rigour and cruelty must be shunned in correction: so also injustice and indiscretion, whereby men make no difference of faults, but punish with as much severity trivial and small oversights, as great and pernicious offences; infirmities and unwilling slips and failings, as voluntary and wilful negligences. For when the delinquent doth not lye under any great guilt, nor in his conscience is convinced that he hath deserved much blame, and yet knowing in respect of his governors indiscretion, that he shall fare as ill as if he were more faulty; this causeth him to make no scruple to prevent and escape his punishment by lies: and because these light faults happen often, and so the offender is put often to his lying shifts, at last custom will bring an habit, and embolden him to use lying excuses to hide his greater faults, as well ⟨p. 168⟩as his lesser failings. The like care must be used by Superiors in their corrections, that they avoid all rashness and furious passion;

Finally, if we would have our inferiours to confesse the truth when they are faulty and guilty, and not use lyes and false excuses, we must in our government avoid too much rigor and cruelty in our corrections, which out of feare and infirmity will move inferiours to hide their faults with lyes, and so to hazard their soules rather than indure bodily smart, and rather to presume on Gods mercy for the forgivenes of their sins, than