A brief fourme of confession instructing all Christian folke how to confesse their sinnes, [and] so to dispose themselues, that they may enioy the benefite of true pena[n]ce, dooing the woorthy frutes therof, according to th'vse of Christes Catholique Church. Newly translated into English, and set foorth together with certaine other godly brief treatises and praiers, as is to be seene in the side folowing.

The eigth Commaundement.

THou shalt beare no false witnesse: that is to saie, re∣fraine thy tong from al harme & dammage both of thy self & thy neighbour, and from al maner of lying & il report or witnesse.

How it is broken.

THis Commaundement is broken in bearing any false witnesse to the dammage of our neighbour, or in hearing the same with good wil, or in pro∣curing and causing any other to do the same. Also in vttering & disclosing any mans faultes openly, whereas few men doe openly know them, or in be∣wraying his secrete faultes, in aggrauating and augmenting his defectes and imperfections, in hiding and dissembling his vertues, in belying any man, in praising or commending ought without cause, and to no pur∣pose

and good ende, or for any euil intent & effec••: in angring or prouoking any man to in∣dignation without cause or rea∣son, in murmuring, grudging, lying, glosing, accusing, back∣byting, giuing priuie scoffes, defaming, il suspecting, in being curious and spying to know other mennes liues & secretes, and in bewraying the same, in slaundering, and sowing tales to defame him, to empaire his good name, to sprede abrode or to enlarge yl reporte of him, to iudge yl of any mā. Also in hea∣ring gladly and giuing eare to other that do such like things, or in not letting nor forbidding them if we may: in reioycing at the yl report of our neighbour, to be sorie that he hath a good report & name, to be enuious of his giftes, graces, good quali∣ties, & good dedes: not to giue good counsel, when we may

do any good thereby, or to omit and refuse, or neglect to speake wel and giue good witnesse of our neighbour, when time and place requireth.

How this Commaundement is fulfilled.

THis Commaundemente is kept and fulfilled by doing good to our neighbours with our woordes, where occasion and nede requireth, & by doing the contrarie things of al that is afore said, specially by vsing truth in al our doings and say∣ings, and in such witnesses and testimonies as we shal giue of our neighbour, beeing glad to set foorth his vertues, to couer and hide his faultes, to excuse his defectes and imperfections, & to construe & take in the best part al things that are doutful, & may any wise be drawen to a good meaning & likelyhod: to

speake and thinke wel of him, without contrarying or gaine-saying y^e manifest truth, to pro∣cure & endeuour, when it is in our power, that other also doe the same, & finally, to kepe and haue in vs alway charitie, the whiche (as S. Paule saith) for that it is patient & gentle, doth suffer al, & couer al, & taketh al in good part, except that which is euidently il of it self, or hath a spice and parttaking with yl.

Of brotherly warning and correction.

IT perteineth also to the affir∣matiue parte of this Cōmaun¦dement, to admonish & warne our brother charitably. Wherin there is some particular mentiō & consideration to be had: and that is, that wheras the same is a medicine of the soule, whereby our neighbour may auoide and come out of syn, or not fal into it:

it is requisite & behoueful, to be circumspect & warie in appliyng the same to the partie at suche time and season, as we shal per∣ceiue it to take effect & do good, or els see some likelyhood, that it shal do no harme: and then we are bound to vse the same vnder paine of great sinne. And whereas al men in some respect or other are of duetie bounde herevnto: yet Prelates, Prea∣chers, Rulers, Magistrates, Householders, and men of age & authoritie are more specially bound thereto, eche one accor∣ding to his degree and state.

Notes

• x. Cor. 13.