Backbiters and slanderers are to be punished by the law.

Because all Christians ought to show themselves with love and charity one to another that they are the true disciples of Christ, the naughtiness of certain evil persons is to be corrected, that do so deadly hate their brethren that they will go about to undo them for ever with false slanders maliciously devised. Therefore, to the end their licentiousness may be bridled, whose/m Christian charity (the which they do wholly want), cannot mollify or temper, and whom duty /of itself/ doth not stir, we will [>have them bridled denounce them<] by the sharpness of the law.

Slanderers, when and how they should be punished.

First of all let this be ordained, that whosoever [>wittingly and willingly<] doth take away a man's good name, by [>malicious will and<] false and feigned slander, or procure by any manner, that any man be slandered, or use any contumelious words against any man, or make or write any slanderous book or bill, or when they /find/ any such book or bill written do not either tear it or burn it, but publish the same to others or cast it abroad, or procure it to be brought abroad; the same man shall first be brought by him that is thus injuried, if he will prosecute this <pro…> wrong, to the pastor and elders of the church, that they may rebuke with all vehement speech the naughtiness of such slanderers, unto whose authority if they will yield and be quiet, and be ready to speak well of him again, /and make him amends as they may/ whom before they have slandered, then we will that the matter go no farther. Neither shall he that is slandered trouble any such backbiters any more, nor yet bring them to any ordinary judge. For the chief care ought to be for the soul's health, and unnecessary charges ought to be cut off, as much as may be.