Part I. On the Particular Obligations of Laymen

Not concerning absolutely all obligations, nor even concerning certain obligations of all laymen of whatever state, will it be said here; but only concerning the principal ones by which men devoted to the public good, and especially those connected with the courts, are held. For practical difficulties are accustomed to occur especially with regard to these; while, on the contrary, cases which touch other laymen, for example, workers, servants, merchants, teachers, etc., can have an easy solution from those things which have been said everywhere elsewhere.