bifore seid effect, as is the forbering of money touch|ing; ȝit therof folewith not, that who euer chesith to take oon of these forberingis, that he schulde take ther with the other of hem, neither he is worthi be [to be, MS. (first hand).] chalengid, which takith the oon and not takith bothe. Forwhi whanne a man is fre to leue bothe, it is preseable [Perhaps a clerical error for preisable.] and fair and honest, if he take the oon and not bothe; and nameliche sithen fewe othere taken eny of hem bothe. And thus y answere to the ij. now bifore going obiecciouns or chalengis.
Confirmaciouns to this answere mowen be mad ful weel bi ensaumplis thus: If a man wole for a iust cause faste ech Friday in the ȝeer as bi boond and not as bi fre deuocioun oonli, were this a iust chalenge theraȝens for to seie thus, "Whi fastith not he ther with also bi boond the Saturday or the Wednesday?" And if he wolde forbere fisch and mylky mete in ech Friday in the Lente, were this a iust chalenge ther aȝens for to seie thus, "Whi for|berith he not ther with fisch and mylki mete also in ech Wednesday of the Lente?" Open ynow it is, that these chalengis weren not resonable. For bettir it is forto do oon good of the tweyne, into of whiche neuer neither he is bounde, than forto leue of hem the euereither vndoon. Ferthermore if eny man wolde chalenge a frere of Seint Frauncessis ordre, and seie to him thus, "Frere, thou louest money as myche as othere men [men is added in the margin by a later hand.] louen, and more than othere men louen; for ellis thou woldist not so bisili begge for to haue it: whi wolt not thou thanne handle money as othere men handlen?" the frere myȝte weel answer thus, "Sir, if y loue money more than othere men louen, and more than y schulde loue;
