The Anatomy of Melancholy

Synteresis, or the purer part of the conscience is an innate habit, and doth signifie a conservation of the knowledge of the law of God and Nature, to know good or evil: And (as our Divines hold) it is rather in the understanding, then in the will. This makes the major proposition in a practicke Syllogisme. The Dictamen rationis is that which doth admonish us to doe good or evil, and is the minor in the Syllogisme. The Conscience is that which approves good or evill, justifying or condemning our actions, and is the conclusion of the Syllogisme:

as in that familiar example of Regulus the Roman, taken prisoner by the Carthaginians, and suffered to goe to Rome, on that condition he should returne againe, or pay so much for his ransome. The Synteresis proposeth the question; his word, oath, promise, is to be religiously kept, although to his enemy, and that by the law of nature. Doe not that to another, which thou wouldest not have done to thy self.

Dictamen applies it to him, and dictates this or the like: Regulus, thou wouldst not another man should falsifie his oath, or break promise with thee: Conscience concludes, therefore Regulus, thou dost well to performe thy promise, and oughtest to keepe thine oath. More of this in Religious Melancholy.