and for to be take into the werkis of so greet excellence, (into which thei ben so miche abler than other, or into which ouer fewe or noon ben able;) or ellis, whether thei schulen desire and caste, ȝhe, and be constreyned to abide for better for wors per|petuali in the same bondage, in to which it happid hem in her ȝongthe or in her seid abilte not best knowun and of hem aspied to entre; in lijk maner as it is with men, whiche bi ȝongthe or bi hastynes or bi vnsufficient knowing and assaiyng of certein wommenys maners han take hem into her wyues, muste holde hem to the same wyues for better for wors, how euer myche better lijf thei couthen lyue with othere wommen to be take of the newe into her wyues than with these now takun into her wyues? But al this is not myche perteynyng to this present book, and therfore no thing into assoiling of this dout schal be seid here. Sumwhat therof is seid in The book of Cristen religioun, the firste parti, the [Spaces left in the MS. for the references.] treti the [Spaces left in the MS. for the references.] chapiter; but more and in better wise y hope schal be sett in The book of lessouns to be rad perauenture in the chaier of scolis.
vij. CHAPITER.
ANSWERE to the iije. semyng skile schal be this: Whanne thou askist of me thus, "Why made not and ordeyned not Crist tho religions to be had and be vsid, sithen thei ben so profitable to us?" I aske of thee in lijk wise, "Whi ordeyned not and made not Crist to us who schal be meyr in London in the next ȝeer, and who schal be bischop of London aftir the deceesse of the bischop of Londoun now
