assis be hangid in his necke, & þat he be dreynt in-to [[Matt. xviii. 6.]] depnesse of þe see. þat is, seiþ gregory, it spediþ to euyl prelatis þat ȝeuen ensaumpele of synne to here sugetis þat þei weren in lowere staat of worldly labour & þer-wiþ wer dampnyd to depe helle; for þan þei schulden haue lesse peyne þan to lyue [leve X.] euele in þe heȝe staat & teche oþere men do synne, for þei ben worþi as many deþes as þei ȝeuen euyle ensaumples of synne to here sugetis. But lord, who is nowe so coueitous abouten worldly lordschipis & temporal goodis as oure prelatis, for comunly alle here visitacion, alle here sacramentis and ordris ȝeuynge & halwynge of placis & vesty|mentis & blissyng is don [ben X.] for coueitise & worldly pride & dignyte; alle here preue spekyng & prechyng & techyng in scolis is for coueitise & magnyfyynge of here worldly staat: who is more idel in goddis seruyce, more in glotonye & wastynge of pore mennus goodis in schynynge vesselis & oþere costis? & ȝif þei preien, þat is wiþ-outen deuocion to plese þe peple, & comunly for offrynge, & cotidian distri|bucion, & stynkyng lif of lecherie, robberie, pride, coueitise, glotonye; þat þei raþere stiren god to wraþe & vengaunce þan to mercy & pite, as goddis lawe, austyn & gregory & oþere seyntis witnessen. but, lord, siþ heresie stondiþ most in cursed lif, were ben more heretikes, siþ þei ben most synful in opyn & preuy cursed lyuynge; but where schal ony be deppere dampnyd in helle?
Capitulum 4m.
Prelatis also robben þe pore lige men of þe king bi fals extorisions taken bi colour of holy correccion, & ȝeuen men leue to dwellen in synne fro ȝer to ȝer, fro seuene ȝer to seuene ȝer, & comunly al here lif, ȝif þei paien bi ȝere twenti shillyngis or more or lesse, and þus bi sutilte of sathanas þei han [page 71] founde newe peynes orible & schameful to make men paye a gret raunson, to ȝeue gold & baþe hem in lustis of synne as swyn in feen. And men seyn þat summe bischopis
