Here followeth another prologe after St. Jeroms, on the pistils of cristen feith, whiche ben seuene in ordre [This prologue is from y. The prologue in p is for the greater part torn out. It began thus: Another prologe. James enformeth holy chirche general in vertues, as to ech staat in teching. . . . .] .
We reden that whanne Seynt Steuene was slayn, there was maad greet persecucioun in the chirche at Jerusalem; and alle, outaken the apostilis, weren scaterid bi the cuntrees of Juda and of Samarie. Therfore James the lasse, brothir of Judas, the apostil, and the sone of Alphei, that was bischop of Jerusalem, sente this pistil to hem that weren scaterid of the chirche, and suffride persecucioun for riȝtwiisnesse, enfoormynge hem in vertues generaly as to ech astaat. And this pistil is departid into thre partis. In the first part he techith the concupicens of the fleish, that is to saie, worldli wiisdom to be fled, in that that he stirith hem to haue ioie in temptaciouns, in whiche the fleish is turmented; and this in the first chapitre. In the ii. part he techith pride of liif to be fled; and that in the ii. chapiter and iii. chapiter. But in the ii. chapiter he schewith how it is to be fled in other persoones, bi accepcioun or worschipinge of hem. In the thridde chapiter he techith, pride and worschipe of the peple to be fled in a mannes own silf, the which ofte tymes cometh of maisterschipe. In the thridde part he techith richessis of this world to be dispised; and that in the fourth and in the fifthe chapiter. In the iiii. chapiter, as to the wille of hauynge of hem. But in the fifth chapiter, as to the holdynge of hem. And thus is maad open the dyuydynge of this pistil.
