The repressor of over much blaming of the clergy.

For answere to the [thi, MS.] ije. bifore mad argument going upon there rehercid textis it is to be markid wel, that among alle tho textis oonli the firste text aloone, ije. Pet. ije. capitulum., spekith of viciose sectis whiche schulden rise aftir the daies of Peter, and alle other textis of thilk noumbre speken oonli of viciose persoones tech|ing vntreuly and lyuyng vicioseli and not of eny vi|ciose [A later hand has wrongly al|tered this into vnviciose.] sect. Wherfore noon of alle these textis berith in him silf eny colour forto smyte or reproue or blame eny sect or religion now had and vsid in the chirche, saue oonli the firste text ije. Pet. ije. capitulum. And sithen the sectis of which Peter there prophecied he in tho wordis prophecied, that "sectis of perdicion schulden be denying the Lord which bouȝte hem," no man mai in eny colour afferme that thilk wordis of pro|phecie of Peter fallith vpon the sectis or religiouns now had and vsid in the chirche, but if he afore proue and schewe that these now had and vsid religiouns in the chirche ben sectis of perdicioun and denyen him which bouȝte hem. And therfore proue he firste and bifore that these now seid religiouns ben sectis of perdicioun, and that thei ben denying Crist, and bi|leeuen not into Crist; and thanne lete him haue the maistrie, that Petir in the wordis of his bifore allegid text prophecied or spake of the religiouns now had and vsid in the chirche. And certis open ynouȝ it is, that ellis he mai not haue euydence as bi thilk text that Peter meened or thouȝte on hem. Forwhi this folewith not in eny good argument: Petir seide that sectis of perdicioun denying Crist schulden come, therfore these now had religiouns ben tho sectis. A lewder and febler skile or argument can noman make; forwhi bi this argument, if he were auȝt, schulde be proued that ech sect or religioun mad, or which