[6-text p 218] take vp-oon him so heuy charge / þat he myght nat beren it [2405] ¶ ffor þe prouerbe seith; he þat to muche embraceth / distreyneth litel [2406] ¶ and Caton seith; Assay to do swich thyng / as þou hast power to don / lest þat the charge / oppresse the so sore / þat the byhoueth to weyue thyng / þat þou hast bygonne / [2407] And if so be / þat þou be in doute / wheither þou maist performe a thyng or noo / ches rather to suffre / þan bigynne [2408] ¶ And Peter Alfonse seith; If þou hast myght to doon a thyng / of which þou must repente / it is bettre / nay / than ȝa / [2409] this is to seyn; þat the is bettre to holde thy tonge stille / than for to speke [2410] ¶ Thanne moun ȝe vnderstonde / by strengere resons / þat if thow hast power to performe a werk / of which þou shalt repente / thanne is the bettre / þat þou suffre / þan bigynne / [2411] wel seyn they / þat defenden euery wight / to assaye a thyng / of which he is in doute / wheiþer he may performe it / or no [2412] ¶ And after / whan ȝe han examyned ȝoure counseil / as I haue seid biforn / & knowen wel / þat ȝe moun per|forme ȝoure emprise / conferme it thanne sadly / til it be at an ende.
[2413] ¶ Now is it reson & tyme / þat I shewe ȝow / whanne & wherfore / þat ȝe moun chaunge ȝoure counseil|lours / with-oute ȝoure repreue [2414] ¶ Sothly a man may chaunge his purpos / & his counseil if the cause ceseth / or whan a newe cas bitydeth / [2415] for the lawe seith / vp-on thynges þat newely bityden / bihoueth newe counseil; [2416] And Seneca seith; If thy counseil is comen / to the Eris of þin enemy / chaunge thy counseil [2417] ¶ Thow maist also chaunge thy counseil [folio 166b] if so be / þat þou fynde / þat by errour / or by other cause / harm or damage / may bitide / [2418] Also if thy counseil be dishoneste / or elles cometh of dishoneste / cause / chaunge thy counseil / [2419] ffor the lawes seyn / þat alle byhestes / þat ben dishoneste / ben of no value /
