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

CAP. VII.

Also freris chargen more brekyng of hor owne tradiciouns [The abandon∣ment of the habit is treated as a heinous sin.] þen brekyng of þo comaundementis of God. Ffor a frere schal more be punysched for brekyng of one of hom, þen for brek∣yng of Gods heestis, for brekyng of Gods heestis is not charged of hom. And in þis þei schewen hou þei loven hor owne wor∣schip more þen Gods; and þus þei taken to homself þo worschip þat is appropred to God; and so ben blasphemes and heretikis. And so þei chargen more hor bodily habite þen charite and

oþer vertues. Ffor if a frere leefe his bodily habite, to þo whiche he is not bounden by Gods lawe, he is holden apostata and scharply pursued, sumtyme to prisoun, and sumtyme to þo deth, þof he serve better God wiþoute his habite þen þerinne. Bot þof he trespas ageyns charite by impacience and fals lees∣ingis, or pride or coveitise, hit is litil or noȝt charged, bot raþer preysed, if hit bringe hom worldly [So in X; W has wordly.] mukke.