of holynesse, for þei demen bi-fore þat men wolen teche heresie; as ȝif þei weren euene wiþ god knowynge mennys hertis. And ȝif pore men seyn þe soþe þat no man may aȝen seie, þan prelatis seyn þat it is [omitted X.] seyd for euyl entent & so hyndren þe treuþe & taken vp hem þe dom þat is [omitted X.] reseruyd to god him self, & þerfore þei ben blasphemes.
Capitulum 17m.
Also prelatis distroien most þe obedience & mekenesse of goddis lawe, for þei seie þat þei owen not to be suget to seculer lordis to paien hem taxis in helpe of þe comunes, & owen not to be amendid bi here sugetis of here opyn synnes, but only of þe pope þat is here souereyn; & he of no man in herþe for he is greteste of alle. for oure lord ihū crist was suget to þe heþene emperour & paide him tribute for hym & his chirche, & ȝit he hadde no seculer lordischipe ne plente of dymes, moche more schulden [page 89] þes riche prestis, þat han seculer lordischipe aȝenst goddis lawe & grete Iuelis & plente of worldly goodis, helpe þe kyng & þe lond to meyntene pore men in reste & charite. & siþ crist was most meke & most obediente to al men, And þes prelatis ben vikeris of crist to ȝeue ensaumple of mekenesse, þei owen to be most meke & obedient to alle here sugetis; for bi goddis lawe eche man oweþ to be suget & obedient eche to oþere in þe drede of crist. Also in dede þei schewen most rebelte aȝenst god & cristene men, lyuynge in pride, coueitise, idelnesse, extorsions, lecherie, glotyne & wastynge of pore mennus gooddis, & þus þei ben lik to lucifer & ben anticristis, holdynge hem self more worþi þan euere was ihū crist god & man. And it semeþ þat þei techen here sugetis heresie bi here false open lif, for here lif schulde be bokis of 3oþere sugetis vnder hem, & as bokes ben3 [3_3 This is added at the bottom of the page in a later hand, and sugetis is written sugenes.] false þat techen heresie, so ben þes prelatis heretikis þat techen & meyntenen synne bi here cursed ensaumple ȝeuynge.
