whanne thei weren in possessioun of tho same vn|movable possessiouns.
And ferthermore thei holden this ije. conclusioun, that if eny bischop, preest, or clerk do not dewli the werkis of his office anentis his peple ouer whom he is sett and putt, the same peple mowe iustli with|drawe [w t drawe, MS. (without hyphen).] and aȝenholde the tithis and offringis and alle othere paymentis of rentis and dewtees, with whiche the same seid bischopis, preestis, and othere louȝer clerkis ben for hem and her successouris endewid.
Wherfore it is now next to be encerchid whether this holding be trewe or not trewe. Into which eende, entent, and purpos y schal here sett forth xj. open trouthis, bi whiche it schal be knowe sureli, whethir the now rehercid conclusions and opinions ben trewe or no.
The firste trouthe is this: Noman ouȝte be iuge in his owne cause which he hath anentis his neiȝbour, neither eny man ouȝte be redresser of the wrong which his neiȝbour dooth to him, but if he him silf be the hiȝest iuge of alle othere, and hath no iuge in erthe aboue him, bi whom his cause or wrong mai be iugid and redressid. Forwhi, if eny man or if many men schulden be iugis in her owne causis had bitwixe hem and othere men, God wolde not haue ordeyned in the temporal parti kingis and princis and dukis and othere powers vndir hem to be for to heere and iuge causis and redresse wrongis, of whom Poul spekith, Rom. xiije. capitulum., and ie. Cor. vje. capitulum., and ie. Thim. ije. [i e., MS.] capitulum., and Peter spekith, ie. Pet. ije. capitulum. Nei|ther God wolde haue ordeyned in the clergie to be bischopis aboue the louȝer preestis, and archebischopis aboue bischopis, and the pope to be aboue alle the othere, as it is proued aftir in the iiije. parti of this
