Select English works of John Wyclif. Vol. 3. Miscellaneous works / edited from original mss. by Thomas Arnold.

POINT IX.

Also prelatis ande freris putten to Cristen men þat þai seyne, [9. That tithes should not be paid to bad priests, nor money given for churching, or masses for the dead.] hit ys not to gife dymes to a persoun beyng in dedely synne, ne offryngus, ne devociouns of money owen to be made in puryfy∣ingis of wymmen, ne in halowynge, ne in syngynge of massis for dede men.

Þis poynt, as mony oþer ande almoste alle þer poyntus, bene medelid wiþ lesyngus. Wherfore Cristen men seyne pleynly, þat if hit be knowen þat persouns comen to þer benefices by symony, or lyven in notary fornicacione, or done not þer offices by ensaumpul of holy lyife in trewe prechynge, but couchen in lordis courtis wrappid wiþ seculere offices, ande contynuen openly in þese cursidnessis, men schulden not receyve hem for persouns, ne gif to hem tythis, leste þai bene acursid for consent ande mayntenynge of oþer open synne. For if þai bene symonyens þai bene heretikis, cursid of God and alle his seintus, as Gods lawe ande mannes lawe wittenessen in many placis. For if þai be open lechouris, þo lawe forbedis hem to say a masse, and þo pepul is forbiden in þo same lawe þat þai here not þer masse, ande þat suche prestis take no part of þo chirche godis, as þer owne lawe wittenessis [See ante, p. 224.] , wiþ gode

resoun and grounde of holy writte. And if þai lyven proudely, wiþdrawyng techyng of Gods worde, wrappyng hem in secu∣lere offices, þai bene cursud and manslears ande thefis ande ravynouris, as Goddus lawe ande mannes ande resoun witte∣nessen; as Seynt Austyne, Gregore, and mony moo proven. Ffor if he is cursud þat wiþholdis ony dewte of holy Chirche þat God commaundis, muche more þai bene cursid þat wiþ∣drawen ensaumple of holy lyife ande trewe techyng, siþen þis is moste dewte, ande moste medeful and nedeful, and beste meene to helpe holy Chirche. Mony bokis boþe of Gregore and Austen seyne playnely, þat þe schepard slees Cristen soulis, when he is stille and cries not ageyne her synnes. Ande Ysaie [Is. lvi. 10.] sais, þat suche bene doumbe houndus þat may not berken. And Seint Austeyne in þo comyne lawe sais, þat suche a bischop is raþer an unschamefast dogge þen a bischop. Cristen men schulden have fredome in al þer doynge nowe to offer or leve, wheþer þeire conscience reulid by Goddis lawe ande resoun thynkis beste; and þai schulden not be constrayned for a blynde devocioun or worldly schame, for to bringe money to hem þat þai knowen for to have no nede, ande for to waste pore mennys lyvelode in tavernys and rybawdery, and suffer þer neyghburis in myche meschefe, and þai hemself endette hem for siche offrynge.