The repressor of over much blaming of the clergy.

THE iiije. principal conclusioun of this present ve. partie is this: Holi Scripture allowith [allowith and approueth, MS. (first hand), thrice.] the seid vje. principal gouernaunce sett in the bigynnyng of this present ve. parti. That this conclusioun is trewe, y proue this: Religioun (as the name in Latyn therof schewith) is not ellis than an holding aȝen or a bynding aȝen or a tiyng up of a mannys wil bi ordi|nauncis therto chosun and takun, that he vse not his fredom in moral conuersacioun so largeli as he myȝte withoute forbode of resoun and of God. Certis other thing than such now seid is not religioun, and ful weel religioun mai be likened to the binding aȝen or the holding up bi which a man holdith vp with the bridil the heed of his ambuler, lest if [if is added in the margin by a much (?) later hand: it would most naturally be placed after perauen|ture.] perauenture the hors were left to his fredom of the bridil he schulde be in perel forto the oftir spurne, and the wors to throwe him silf and the sitter on him; name|lich whanne the sitter knowith weel the same ambuler be freel and prone and redi into stumbling, thouȝ the wey be smothe and euen. Now that such religiose gouernaunce fyndable bi mannys avise is allowid [allowid and approued, MS. (first hand).] bi Holi Scripture forto be take withinne the bondis of the comoun lawe of kinde and of comoun feith to gidere, y proue thus. And first that Holi Writt of the Oold Testament allowith [allowith and approueth, MS. (first hand), thrice.] it, y argue thus: What euer deede or thing Holi Scripture of the Oold Testa|ment tellith or affermeth God haue do, Holi Writ al|lowith and confermeth, or ellis at the leest it allowith. [allowith and approueth, MS. (first hand), thrice.]