In the administration of justice much depends upon the witnesses, and
therefore it is necessary to the common good that witnesses be
principled as they ought to be; for, 1. A witness that is conscientious
will not dare to give in a testimony that is in the least untrue, nor,
for good-will or ill-will, represent a thing otherwise than according
to the best of his knowledge, whoever is pleased or displeased, and
then judgment runs down like a river. 2. But a witness that will be
bribed, and biassed, and browbeaten, will utter lies (and not stick nor
startle at it), with as much readiness and assurance as if what he said
were all true.