Hou sathanas & his children turnen werkis of mercy vpsodom & disceyuen men þer-inne & in here fyue wittis.
Capitulum primum.
[page 179] First crist comaundiþ men of power to fede hungry pore men; þe fend & his techen to make costy festis & waste many goodis on lordis & riche men & to suffre pore men sterue & perische for hunger & oþere myscheuys; ȝe, men þat feynen hem ful of charite & religion gadren propre goodis to hem seluen & festen delicatly lordis & ladies & riche men & suffre here pore breþren begge for meschef & fare ful harde. crist comaundiþ to ȝeue drynk to þrusty men & wymmen; þe fend & his techen to purueye heiȝ wyn & spised ale & strong for riche men & lordis to make hem dronken & chide & fiȝtte & forȝete god & his lawe, & to suffre pore þat han nouȝt of here owene & may not labore for febilnesse or sikenesse & blyndenesse drynke water & falle in feueris or ellis perische. crist comaundiþ to cloþe nakyd men & wymmen whanne þei han noȝt of here owene; þer-to þe fend & his techen to ȝeue costly cloþis & manye to riche men & mynstralis or shaualdours for worldly name, & suffre pore men haue nakid sidis & schakynge lippis & hondis for cold þat woo is hem wiþ þe lif. Ȝe, prelatis & men of singuler religion, þat taken þe charge to ben procuratouris & dis|penderis of pore mennus liflode, cloþen fatte horsis & gaie sadlis & bridlis & mytris & croceris wiþ gold & siluer & precious stonys & suffren pore men & children perische for cold; & ȝit þes prelatis & newe religious comen in staat of cristis pouert & his apostlis, & techen & crien þat what euere þei han is pore mennus goode. ȝit riche men cloþen [closen MS.] dede stockis & stonys wiþ precious cloþis, wiþ gold & siluer & perlis & gaynesse to þe world, & suffren pore men goo sore a cold & at moche meschefe. Crist techiþ to herbwre pore men þat han non houses ne peny to peye for here innys; þe
