A Clerk (? Malveren). And then a Clerk, Malveren as I guess, said to the Archbishop, "Sir, I pray you wit of him, how that he understandeth Chrysostom here, saying it to be sin, to swear well."
Archbishop. And so the Archbishop asked me, "How I understood here Chrysostom?
William to explain Chrysostom's Homily.
William. And, certain, I was somewhat afraid to answer hereto; for I had not busied me to study about the sense hereof: but lifting up my mind to GOD, I prayed Him, of grace. And, as fast, as I thought how Christ said to his apostles, When, for my name, ye shall be brought before judges, I will give into your mouth, wisdom, that your adversaries shall not against say [gainsay]; and trusting faithfully in the Word of GOD, I said, "Sir, I know well, that many men and women have now swearing so in custom, that they know not, nor will not know that they do evil for to swear as they do: but they think and say, that they do well for to swear as they do; though they know well that they swear untruly. For they say, 'They may by their swearing, though it be false, [a]void blame or temporal harm; which they should have, if they swore not thus.'
"And, Sir, many men and women maintain strongly that they swear well, when that thing is sooth that they swear for.
"Also full many men and women say now that 'It is well done to swear by creatures, when they may not (as they say) otherwise be believed.'
"And also full many men and women now say that 'It is well done to swear by GOD and by our Lady, and by other Saints; for to have them in mind!'
"But since all these sayings are but excusations [excuses] and sin, methinketh, Sir, that this sentence of Chrysostom may be alleged well against all such swearers: witnessing that these sin grievously; though they think themselves for to swear in this foresaid wise, well. For it is evil done and great sin for to swear truth, when, in any manner, a man may excuse him without oath."
Archbishop. And the Archbishop said that "Chrysostom might be thus understood."
A Clerk. And then a Clerk said to me, "Wilt thou tarry my Lord no longer! but submit thee here meekly to the ordinance of Holy Church; and lay thine hand upon a book, touching the Holy Gospel of GOD, promising, not only with thy mouth but also with thine heart, to stand to my Lord's ordinance?"