cause thei weren kunnynger and better leerned; and therwith many mo such han be sithen.
Also hou euer in bodili maner almesful preestis and prelatis han be in eny tyme to gidere bifore the seid endewing, so almesful in bodili almes han be to gidere preestis and prelatis sithen; ȝhe, and miche more so almesful, as is open ynouȝ; for thei hadden possessiouns, wher of thei myȝten miche more avorthi into almes, than thei that hadden litil and as it were nouȝt.
Ferthermore, as holi confessouris and as manie in the same lengthe of tyme han be of preestis and pre|latis sithen the seid endewing, as were bifore the seid endewing a this [athis, MS., and similarly a little below.] side the Apostlis; and as holi and as manye and mo of martiris bi deeth, (and other wise troublid bi exile and bi prisonyng,) hanbe [hanben, MS. (first hand). The conjunction of the words is probably not accidental.] of preestis and of prelatis sithen the seid endewyng in tyme to gidere, than were bifore in eny tyme of lijk quantite to gidere. And thouȝ in tho [Probably we should read the.] daies of Em|perouris Nero and of Traian and of Domician and of Dioclician and othere suche manie mo martiris weren made than in tyme [intyme, MS.] of lijk quantite sithen tho daies, certis, ȝit the multitude of tho martiris were lay men and not preestis or bischopis. Forwhi alle the bischopis and othere preestis, that weren in tho daies thoruȝ manie ȝeeris to gidere, weren ful fewe. And also thouȝ it hadde be so, that mo bischopis and preestis hadden be martiris in the daies of tho princis than in the daies of princis a this side the Emperour Con|stantyn, ȝit it was oonli for this, that persecucioun of tirantis was redier in tho daies than was sithen in the daies of Constantyn and aftir hise daies; and it
