kynde, & þe mynging of þes two were venemous, ȝe in þe pope. for þis lordchip [page 32] wolde quenche þe pouert þat crist haþ bedun. & a coorde is a good þing, & faste knytting þer-wiþ is good boþe to man & to beeste in plasis where it wolde do good; but knytte þis coorde to mannus þrote & it myȝte soone strangle þis man. so bynde þou lordchip of þis world to seculer men þat han wit & vertu to worche aftir þis lordchip, aftir þe lawe þat crist haþ ȝouyn, & it may do myche good, goddis worchip & his chirchis profit; but knytte þis lordchip to cristis prest & it wole lette hym to speke þe lawe of god & soulis heelþe, & strangle hym & many oþere. þus alle þe resouns þat þe fend can make aȝenus crist & cristis prestis may be auoydid bi oure feiþ, & make heretikis to shame of hem.
Capitulum 10m.
ȝit argueþ anticrist þat bi þis fel foly perpetual almes in abbeys & in collegies shulde be destried: but where were more synne? & siþ it is greet meede to do almes for a tyme, it were myche more meede to contynue perpetual almes; & þus charteres of lordis & kyngis of þer perpetual almes shulden be destried, & goostly help þat sueþ þer-of, & no drede þe pope is ground of alle siche perpetual almes. Heere han trewe men ofte seyd þat it were myche betere þat men lyueden opyn lif þan in siche nestis of þe fend; for siche abbeys & collegies ben hordis of synne to herbore hym. & herfore seiþ crist in þe gospel þat men shulden not be [Matt. vi. [25.]] bisi to þe morowe; but anticrist haþ hardy maner to holde his castel for many ȝeere. & þus þat crist durste not do, ne his apostlis aftir hym, anticrist dare blyndly do in holding of siche castels, & þis is a fendis cautel þat he haþ brouȝt yn of newe. heritage of erþly lordis goiþ ofte tyme amys whanne tirauntis & goddis traytours comen eyris aftir gode men; but ȝit god ordeyneþ grace heere, & ordeyneþ summe to wante eyris, & bi many priuey weyes he takiþ yuel fro gode men
