forme of tho charters, bi whiche the possessiouns of the chirche ben ȝouun to prelatis and to clerkis and to her successouris forto be her owne in very lordschip; and so whether thei in so holding doten, or ellis that y in my now ȝouun doctrine erre, lete the writingis and the chartours of the donatouris or of the ȝeuers be iugis, for in this mater noon othere thingis or per|soones mowen be so sure theryn iugis.
Neuertheles thouȝ y feele thus, that the clergie hath very lordschip upon the vnmovable godis ȝouun to hem, and also upon the offringis and tithis ȝouun to hem, so ferforth that as with thingis being verili heris thei mowen ther with do what thei wolen, as for eny lak or defaut of power and of lordschip hauyng ther upon, as ferforth as thei myȝten if thei hadden wonne the same godis with labour of hond or with craft, or had|den had tho godis bi successioun of heritage; (forwhi in euer either caas thei ben like very lordis of the godis;) ȝit y feele not thus, that the clerkis ben free therbi forto expende tho godis in eny point aȝens riȝt doom of resoun in pride or in glotenye or in leccherie or in waast, and ben not worthi blame of God; forwhi no temporal lord or louȝer man, hauyng more plente of good than is necessarie to the nede of him silf and of hise, is so fre; sithen al, what euer is doon aȝens resoun, is more [Probably more should be cancelled.] moral vice and synne; and therfore in caas of such vnresonable expensis doon bi clerkis and bi the laife, y holde and feele that miche more the clerkis synnen in so expending than the lay persoones in lijk maner expending synnen, and that for circumstaunce of the kunnyng in clerkis, and for this circumstance that thei ouȝten be ensaumplers of moral vertues to the lay partie. And this is the hardist point of greet perel, which y can bringe aȝens clerkis spending amys the goodis ȝouun to hem, if y
