halewid to God, and ȝit thei weren maad therbi the preestis and the dekenis godis in lordschip. Forwhi the preestis and dekenis myȝten turne thilk money into the lordschip of the lay parti, whanne euere dekenis hadden nede forto bigge ther with wijn or corn or breed or othere to hem necessarie thingis.
Also thus: No persoon mai in his owne name sille eny good, which is not his in lordschip; but so it was, that preestis and dekenis myȝten sille to lay folk the housis and feeldis, which lai folk ȝaue to God and to hem bi deuoute vowis, as is open ynouȝ, Leuiticus the laste chapiter. Wherfore nedis folew|ith, that tho housis and feeldis weren of the prestis and dekenis in lordschip and not in vce oonli. And if the preestis and dekenis hadden verri cyuyl lord|schip vpon the housis and feeldis, which came to hem bi ȝift [ȝist, MS., but without doubt accidentally.] of the comoun peple aftir her first endewing in the xlviij. citees; certis, bi lijk skile, it is not to be denied but that thei hadden veri cyuyl lordschip vpon the xlviij. citees receyued of hem in her firste endewyng,—namelich sithen noon skile of dyuersite is seen, whi the preestis and dekenys ouȝten not haue lordschip [lorschip, MS.] upon tho xlviij. citees, as weel as upon the othere immouable godis.
iij. CHAPITRE.
THE ije. answere which may be mad to the ije. bifore going argument sett in the firste chapiter of this iije. parti mai be this: Thouȝ bi the bidding of God the preestis and dekenys hadden in her verri lordschip
