Of hem þat wolen take þis lif, hou þei schullen be resceyued.
Capitulum 2m. [In W. this is reckoned as part of Chapter I.]
Ȝif ony wille take þis lif, & comen to oure breþeren, sende hem to þe mynystris prouyncials, to whom only, & not to oþere, be grauntid [page 30] leue to resceyue freris. þerfore late þe mynystris diligently examyne hem of [for X.] þe comun feiþ and þe sacramentis of holy chirche, þat ȝif þei beleuen alle þes þingis, and wilen feþfully knowleche hem, & stedefastly kepe hem to þe ende of þe world, & ȝif þei han noon wyues, or ȝif þei han wyues & here wyues ben entrid in-to religion, or ellis þat here wyues han ȝouen here housbondis lyue [leeve W.] bi auctorite of þe bischop of þe diocise & now maad a vow of chastite or contynce, and here wyues ben of sich age þat noon euyl suspecion may be reysed of hem, late þe prouyn|cials seie to hem wordes of þe holi gospel þat þei goo & sille alle here goodis & ȝeue hem to pore men, & ȝif þei may not do þis here goode wille is ynow to hem; & be þe freris & here mynystris war þat þei be not bisi of here temporal goodis, þat þei don freli of here þingis what euere þe lord inspiriþ [enpropriþ X.; inspiraverit Lat.] to hem. ¶ Neþeles ȝif conseil be nedful her-to, haue þe mynystris leue to sende hem to summe men þat dreden god, bi whos conseil here goodis schullen be ȝouen to pore men. aftirward graunte þe mynystris to hem cloþis of probacion, þat is to [omitted X.] seie tweie [two W.] cotis or kirtlis wiþ-outen hood and a girdil & a brech & a chaperon to þe girdel, but ȝif oþer þing after god be seyn to ye mynystris. ¶ But whanne þe ȝeer of probacion is endid be þei resceyued to obedience, bihetynge to kepe þis lif & reule; & in no manere schal it
