but wolde hem abide for euer so ȝouun to the clerkis, tho [So the MS., perhaps by some clerical error: thilk would be the most natural reading.] hous and feeld schulden be the hous and feeld of the preestis and dekenys for euermore, as it is open ynouȝ, Leuiticus the laste chapiter. Wherfore folewith that Holi Scripture of the oold lawe licencid and not forbade preestis and dekenis of thilk tyme forto haue in her lordschip immovable godis, (as ben housis and feeldis,) ȝouun to hem thanne bi deuocioun of the lay peple, ouer and biȝonde the xlviij. citees and the suburbis of pasturis, ȝouun to hem soone aftir the firste departing of the al hool [Perhaps it deserves notice that the scribe had written al the hool lond, but afterwards placed over the words the marks of transposi|tion.] lond to the xij. kin|redis.
ij. CHAPITER.
To the ije. bifore going argument mowe be ȝouun ij. answeris, of whiche the firste is this: That tho xlviij. citees, of whiche speken the textis of the ije. argument, weren not ȝouun into the propre hauour and lordschip of the preestis and dekenys, but into her vce oonli; so that the lordschip and propirte of tho citees abode in the lay persoones, whiche ȝauen the perpetuel vse of tho same citees to the preestis and dekenys.
And into this answere thei wolen take ij. colouris, of the which oon is bi the text of Numeri xxxve. capitulum., alleggid bifore in the ije. argument, for as miche as God seide there thus: Comaunde thou to the sones of Israel, that thei ȝeue to the dekenis of her pos|sessiouns citees forto dwelle in hem, and the sub|urbis of tho citees in cumpas; that thei dwelle in
