(334)
¶ Or a kyng swere, it is ful necessarie
Line 2332
A-vise hym [hem H, hym R.] wel; for whan þat it is past,
He may his oth in no wise contrarie,
If he of sham or repreef be agast.
A kyng owéth of word be stidëfast;
Line 2336
No thing byhetë, but he it perfourme,
If he wole hym vnto his state conforme.
Line 2338
(335)
¶ A greet clerk, whiche clept is Crisostomus, [¶ Crisosto|mus super Matthaeum omelia 12. Nisi consue|tudo interdi|catur non possunt am|putari per|iuria. Ex iuramento enim periu|rium genera|tur; sicut enim qui habet in con|suetudine multum loqui neccesse est vt aliquando importune loquitur, sic, qui habet consuetudi|nem iurare in rebus ydoneis frequenter & in rebus superfluis & nolens con|suetudine trahente periurat. In Canone xxij. q. ij ¶ Isti tres. luramentum tres habet condiciones, videlicet, ve|ritatem, iudi|cium & iusti|ciam: verita|tem silicet, vt iurans sciat vel credat verum esse quod iurat; Iudicium, id est, discre|cionem vt discrete iuret, non precipi|tanter.]
Line 2339
Where he of the [the, om. H R.] matir of sweryng tretith,
Thyse arn the wordës that he writ to vs:—
"What man þe custume of othës nat letith,
In sweryng oftë, what he seith forgetith;
Line 2343
Vsage of othes, of periurie is cause."
And more he seith eke in þe samë clause.
Line 2345
(336)
¶ He seith, "periurie engendrid is of othis; [othis R, this H.]
Line 2346
ffor right as he þat custumably
Clappith and ianglith, and to stint loth is,
Moot othir whilë speke vnsittyngly,
Right so, vsage of swering, enemy
Line 2350
To trouthe is, and makith men hem forswere;"
fful necessarie is, othis to for-bere.
Line 2352
(337)
¶ Swering haþ thisë [thise R, this H.] thre condicïouns
Line 2353
ffolwynge, as trouthë, doom, and rightwisnesse.
Oth axiþ trouthe, and no decepcïouns,
But swere in his ententë sothfastnesse.
Doom moot discreetly, left [left R, lest H.] al hastynesse, [folio 41b]
Line 2357
Swere, and nat needles; and iustice also,
Leeffuly swere, and iustly euermo.
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