The repressor of over much blaming of the clergy.

FERTHERMORE for as myche as y haue wist this, that summe of the lay peple, whanne thei han rad or han herd red summe of the bifore alleggid textis in the [ie.] [Spaces left in the MS. for the references.] chapiter of the [ve.] [Spaces left in the MS. for the references.] parti of this book, (bi cause thei couthen applie tho textis in oon manner or other, thouȝ not moost euenli neither verili [veri, MS.] and accordingli to sectis and persoones now being and lyuyng in the chirche; and therwith thei knewen not bi reding or heering of oold stories how that sectis and persoones lyuyng in hem weren in eeldir daies, to whom the same textis myȝten euenlier and more accordingli be applied,) han thouȝt and han holde stiffeli for bettir or wors in her conceitis and wordis, that tho textis weren seid and writun for these sectis now presentli being in the chirche and for the persoones lyuyng in hem as it were oonli, as thouȝ neuere had be eny sectis bifore in oold daies into whiche tho textis myȝten be verified; and therbi tho reders han fallen out into bering of greet indigna|cioun anentis this [Apparently a clerical error for these or thes.] present sectis and religiouns, and han seid ful foule and ful vnskilfulli of hem aȝens honeste and aȝens wisdom and aȝens charite;—wher|fore [The sense strictly requires ther|fore; but see Glossary.] into remediyng of suche mennys vnkunnyng and into remediyng of her obstynat holding, and forto make hem the redier and the willier forto counceyle with leerned men vpon oold stories and oold recordis in the chirche, and forto make hem heere such oolde stories and recordis and leerne what hath be doon in eeldir daies more than they witen off, y schal now