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

Capitulum 13^m.

Possessioners holden þat religion þat crist made lesse perfit þan is religioun founden of a synful man, for þei holden a reule maade not of seyntis but of here owene worldly hedis more perfit þan religion of presthod þat crist [omitted X.] made in his fredom; for þei holden here owene tradicions more perfit þan reulis þat crist made in þe gospel. for ȝif reulis of presthod maad in þe gospel were more perfit þan þe reules of newe monkis, it were laweful for a prest to leue here reules & gon to reulis of presthod as crist made hym in þe gospel, for it is laweful to passe fro þe lasse perfit to þe more perfit, but monkis wolen not suffre for no reson, but þei

w[olen] suffre a monk goo to beggeris ordre whanne he axiþ leue, þouȝ hee gete it neuere; & þus þei holden þe ordre of beggeris maad of synful men more perfit þan religion of presthod maad of ihū crist god & man.