The English works of Wyclif hitherto unprinted.Edited by F. D. Matthew.

Also prelatis comunly ben symonyentis in here entre, in processe of here benefis, & in þe ende of here lif, & þanne in alle þes tymes þei ben heretikis, so þat alle oþere synnes ben holden for nouȝt in comparison of þis symonye, as þe beste part of þe popis lawe seiþ. for, as gregory & þe popis lawe seiþ, in þre maneres is symonye don. First whanne a man comeþ to a benefis of þe chirche bi ȝifte of money or worldly goodis bi hym self or bi oþere menes. ¶ Þe secunde tyme whanne a man comeþ þer-to bi preiere of lordis or ladies or oþere men more than for kunnynge [page 72] of goddis lawe & holy lif. ¶ þe þride tyme whanne a man comeþ þer-to bi worldly seruyce of lordis & ladies, of prelatis, or oþere myȝtty men more þanne for good lif and kunnynge; but who comeþ hellis to prelacie? & in processe þei mys|penden pore mennus goodis, in wast metis & festis of ryche men & pride of þis world, & don not here office comunly neþere in good lif ne trewe prechynge, & resignen not here benefis goten þus by symonye; & þat þei moten algatis do ȝif þei schullen be saaf vp þe popis lawe, & neuere in wille to hauen it aȝen but ȝif it be bi riȝt title, & algatis confirma|cion of god bi titel of grace is nedeful to hem. And þat comeþ not but bi verray repentaunce of synne don bi-fore, & bi trewe lif & techynge & meyntenynge of goddis lawe vpon here kunnynge & myȝt. & in here endynge þei han not comunly ful contricion for here synnes, as for myspen|dynge of pore mennus goodis, for false extorsions, for sillyng of sacramentis, for norischynge & meyntenynge of oþere men in synne, as pride, coueitise, & glotonye & alle oþere: for ȝif þei hadden þanne contricion þei schulden restore þes wickid extorsions vp here myȝt, & warne oþere men of þe synnes in whiche þei hadden norischeden hem; but þis comeþ seldom or neuere, & þerfore it semeþ þat þei dien heretikis but ȝif god helpe more in the laste poynt of partynge of þe soule & body, & ellis þei dien dampnyd