paie tribute to Cesar the Emperour of Rome," Crist answerid and seide, Schewe ȝe to me the koyne of the money, and thei offriden to him a denarie. Thanne Crist askide: Whos is this ymage and the aboute|writing? [aboute writing, MS.; but aboutewriting just below.] And thei seiden: It is the ymage and the aboute-writing of Cesar, the Emperour. Thanne seid Crist: Ȝelde ȝe therfore to the Emperour that that is his, and ȝelde ȝe to God what is Goddis. Lo how Crist approued weel hem forto ȝelde to the Emperour the denarie, in which the ymage of the Emperour was graued; and alle men witen weel that thei myȝten not ȝelde to the Emperour such money so koyned, but if thei schulden haue and vse the ymage of the Emperour graued in thilk money. Wherfore nedis folewith that Crist approued weel hem forto haue and vce a graued ymage of the Emperour, as of her souereyn lord in erthe. An whi not thanne Crist schulde allowe and approue men forto haue and vse a grauen ymage of the Emperour in heuene, as of her Souereyn Lord in heuene? And at the leest herbi folewith needis, that bi the seid text Exodi xxe. capitulum. and Deutron. ve. capitulum., Thou schalt not make to thee eny graued ymage, is not forbode alle graued ymagis to be had and vsid; for thanne God hadde be contrarie to him silf.
The iiije. principal argument is this: If in sum other place of Holi Scripture than in the bifore alleg|gid text Exodi xxe. capitulum. and Deut. ve. capitulum. it is founde that bi this word "graued thing" is signified no thing ellis than a graued God or a mawmet, certis no man mai cleyme and avowe and stonde bi vttirli, that in the bifore rehercid text Exodi xxe. capitulum. and Deut. ve. capitulum. this word "graued thing" schulde needis bitokene a graued ymage dyuers fro a mawmet and fro a graued feyned God. Forwhi no skile he can fynde whi this word "graued thing" in eny othere placis of Scripture
