Another prologe [This prologue is from p.] .
Joon treetith moost of the Trynyte, and of the godhede and manhede togidere. Joon wroot this gospel in Greek, and almoost al the newe testament was writen in Greek first. But the gospel of Matheu, and the pistlis to Ebrewis were first writen in Ebrew, as Jerom witnessith in his prolog on Matheu. Summe supposen resonable, that Mark wroot his gospel in Latyn, for as Jerom seith, he wroot into Italie, that is the cuntre of Latins. And so men supposen, that Poul wroot the pistil to Romayns in Latyn, for the same skille; for it was the moder tunge of that cuntre. And whi therfore schulde not men now write truly the lawe of God to cristen men in her modir tunge, that thei writen to? And alle the othere bookis off the newe testa|ment were writen in Greek. And as Jerom and othere doctouris seien, whanne ony doute is in the lettre of the olde testament, thei schulen be proued bi the origynals of Ebrewis; so whanne ony doute is in the lettre of the newe testament, it schal be proued bi the origynals of Greek. But, as Lire seith, we cristen men moten be weel war of the origynals of Ebrew in summe poyntis. For now the Jewis han corrupt her olde lettre in tho placis where it spekith openly of the godhede of Crist, and thei haue do this for hatrede to cristen men, lest we schulden conuicte Jewis bi her owne lettre, that Crist is bothe God and man; but in alle othere placis we schulen take the origynals of Ebrewis. But for cristen men the newe testament is open ynowȝ. And whanne ony doute cometh in the lettre, outhir in ony vndirstondinge of the lettre, the Holi Goost schal teche us al truthe, as Crist seith in the gospel, if we doon truli that that is in us. And therfore thouȝ wickid men hadden brent alle oure bookis, God hath writen his lawe in cristen mennis soulis and consciencis, as he seith in the xxxi. chapitre of Jeremye. And ther|fore seint Joon seith in his firste pistil to cristen men, in the ij. chapitre, that the anoyntynge, that is, grace of the Holi Goost, techith ȝou alle thingis that ben nedeful to saluacioun, and ȝe han no nede that ony man teche ȝou, but as the anoyntynge techith ȝou. For he that hath charite, hath Crist, in whom alle tresouris of wisdom and kunnynge ben. Netheles men schulde bisely lerne the bookis of holy writt, and speciali the newe testament, lest thei taken Goddis grace in veyn, and tempten God, in desirynge to haue kunnynge bi myracle, withoute traueile and lernynge of holy writ, where thei mowe come liȝtly to verri knowynge of Goddis wil, bi good lyuynge and deuoute preiers, and bisi studie and lernynge of holi writt. And God graunte us a stidefast wil hereto. Amen.