The repressor of over much blaming of the clergy.

AFTIR y had herd and had writun thus as is now passid of these iij. opiniouns, ther came into my know|ing that among the peple bifore spokun is holde this iiije. now to be rehercid opinioun. And for as myche as he is ful perilose and worthi it is forto him aȝen|stonde and him forto proue be vntrewe, therfore y thouȝte forto plaunte into this book the writing of him here next to the othere thre opiniouns, and forto sette my bisynes forto bringe him into nouȝt. The opinioun in him silf is this. If eny man be not oonli meke, but if ther with al he kepe and fulfille al the lawe of God so miche and in the maner as it is long|ing to him forto it kepe and fulfille, he schal haue the trewe vndirstonding of Holi Scripture, thouȝ no man ellis teche him saue God. And tho men whiche ben not trewe lyuers in the lawe of God schulen not falle vpon the trewe and dewe vndirstonding of Holi Scripture, thouȝ thei putte therto al her natural power and diligence, with the help and counseil of othere suche persoones like to hem. And thanne here by for as miche as to her seming the bischopis and archidenes, [Probably we should read archidekenes.] doctouris, and othere clerkis lyuen alle out of Goddis lawe, therfore thei wenen that noo bischop or archideken or doctour or eny other such persoon of the clergie cometh into the trewe and dew vndirstonding of Holi Scripture; and therfore thei trowen that ech bischop and ech such other clerk bileeueth amys and techith amys, and thei wolen not trowe to his teching, but thei trowen to the doctrine which thei fynden among hem silf bi studiyng in the Bible oonli. For hem silf oonli thei