Capitulum 23. [In X the heading of this chapter is omitted.]
Þe þre & twentiþe; þe more kunnynge men of hem myspenden here witt & kunnynge in meyntenaunce of synne, as of pride & coueitise of clerkis & oppressynge of pore parischenys bi wrong customes for drede of plee & censuris, & meyntenynge false causis in constories for gold; & taken pensions of lecherous men & wommen for [omitted X.] to helpe hem to baþe hem in here synne as swyn in þe fen. & herby he þat can cracke a litil latyn in constories of heþene mennus lawe & worldly prestis lawe & can helpe to anoie a pore man bi knackis or chapitris, is holden a noble clerk & redy & wys, þouȝ he kunne not rede wel a vers in his sauter ne vnder|stonden a comune auctorite of holy writt; & siche knackeris ben as proude of here veyn kunnynge as lucifer, & setten not bi pore mennus kunnynge in goddis lawe, but dispisen hem & goddis lawe as þouȝ it were no lawe, & comenden here owene lawe & hem self more þan holy writt & ihū crist & his apostlis 5þat so blessidly lyueden5 [5_5 omitted X.] ; & þis makiþ synne & falsnesse to [omitted X.] regne, & feiþ & treuþe & charite be defoulid & quenchid.