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

wille & teche it in word & dede, & be [by AA.] myrrour of holynesse to þe peple, & goddis angelis, as god seiþ bi þe prophete. [Mal. ii. 7.]

Prestis also sclaundren þe peple bi ensaumple of ydelnesse & wauntounnesse; for comynly þei chouchen [couchen AA.] in softe beddis whanne oþere men risen to here labour, & blabren out matynys & masse as hunteris wiþ-outen deuocion & contemplacion, & hien faste to mete richely & costly arayed of þe beste, & þan to slepe; & soone a-noon to tablis & chees & tauerne & betynge of pauement, & þan speken of lecherie, of de|prauynge of goode men, þat wolen [omitted X.] not sue here companye; & þanne comeþ dronkennesse, chidynge & fiȝttynge & many tymes mansleynge, & bi þes prestis & here wantownesse moche peple is brouȝt to lecherie, glotonye, ydelnesse & þefte.

Also prestis occupien hem ouer moche in worldly occu|pacions & seculer offices aȝenst holy writt for plesynge of lordis & hope of benefices; for comunly prestis ben stiwardis & clerkis of kechene & resceyuouris & rente gedereris & hunteris, & leuen here gostly office vndon, & han more [page 138] wakynge & rekenynge & traueile for a litel worschipe & muk þan haue many trewe seruauntis of god for alle here doynge, & þe endis ben ful dyuerse. for þe first bisynesse & care, but ȝif god helpe þe more, bryngeþ euerlastynge care & peyne of helle; & þe toþer [þat other AA.] liȝt traueile & ioiful bryngiþ euer|lastynge blisse of heuene in body & soule.

Prestis also disceyuen cristen men bi here veyn preieris & abhominable to god for here lecherie & oþere synnes; for þei taken ful mochil hire for to seie here matynes & masse &