THE FIRSTE CHAPTRE.
THE vje. principal gouernaunce or point to be tretid in this present ve. partie, for which gouernaunce summe of the lay peple blamen and vndirnymen vniustli and vnworthili the clergie is this: That bothe of preestis and of lay persoones ben sectis clepid religiouns, maad to men and also to wommen forto be streiȝter to hem in eting and drinking, in speking, in wering, in going, in sleping, and in aboute walking, and in othere deedis of worldlihode and fleischlihode, than is the fredom of lawe of kinde with the settingis to of Cristis sacramentis. Al this summe of the lay peple blamen bothe for the dyuersite and nouelte so takun to be in other wise than is the comoun maner of othere men and wommen; and also thei beren an honde that the religiouns, whiche now ben had and vsid, han summe statutis and ordynauncis being aȝens charite, and therfore aȝens the lawe of God. And ferthermore, these blamers not oonli maken hem blamers, but also diffamers; for thei ascriuen and ȝeuen the fynding and the mentenaunce of alle such sectis or relegiouns to the feend and anticrist, and thei callen it to be werk of the feend; and manye mo reproues thei ȝeuen to religiouns and to therof the religiose persoones, which schame is for to reherce.
That this now rehercid blamyng and vndirnymyng is vniust and bering an hond vntreuli, for that the now rehercid vje. principal gouernaunce is leeful and iust, good and expedient, y schal proue bi v. principal conclusiouns, of whiche the firste is this: Holi Scrip|ture weerneth not and lettith not the now rehercid vje. principal gouernaunce to be take and vsid with
