Here byginnith another prologe to Filemon [This prologue is from y.] .
The entent of the apostle is, to biseche forȝeuenesse of Filemon to Onesymus, his seruaunt, that wente awei with summe thingis of Filemon, but aftir he was cristened of the apostil Poul, whanne he hadde herd the gospel, he was recounsilid. Therefore Poul writith to Filemon, and preieth him, that he forȝeue Onesymus, and that he thanke God that he resceyuede him siche; and that he now gesse him not a seruaunt, but a most derworthe brothir. And in this pistil ben thre partis, aftir the salutacioun. In the first part is doinge of thankingis to God, for the feith and the pitee that Filemon hadde among britheren. In the ij. part is bisechinge, and tellinge of the dede and the conuersacioun of Onesymus, there he seith, For that thing, etc. In the iij. part is of his obedience, and of the harboringe of Poul, and of the salutaciouns of britheren.