The English works of Wyclif hitherto unprinted.Edited by F. D. Matthew.

Prelatis constreynen men of symple vnderstondyng to renne in-to errouris & to blaspheme god; for þei constreynen suche symple men to assente to here dampnacion of treuþes of goddis lawe, bi multitude of worldly clerkis blynde þorouȝ coueitise & pride, & bi manas & drede of prisonynge and brennynge, & suffren not men to resten in holy writt & in þingis þat þei may understonde, but constreyne hem to assente to nowelries of newe doctours, þat leuen holy writt & reson & feynen dremes & myraclis to plese coueitous clerkis & to greet veyn glorie for here witt, & þus þei bileuen blyndly in many poyntis aȝenst goddis doom. And ȝit þes prelatis desceyuen lordis & maken hem pursue & prisone trewe men þat wolen not assente to errouris ouer holy writt and reson. And þus þes prelatis ben anticristis turmentours of sathanas for to pursue & sle trewe prestis in goddis lawe, & maken lordis turmentours of þe fend to ponysche cristene men, for þei holden þe boundes of holy writt & meyntenen þe trewþe of cristis lif aȝenst worldly prelatis ful of coueitise & heresie.

Also prelatis closen or stoppen þe weie to þe blisse of heuene & open þe brode weie to helle; for þei stoppen & letten men fro kunnynge & kepynge & techynge of holy writt, þat is entre & riȝt weie to þe blisse of heuene, & neden men to bisien hem aboute studiynge & kepynge & techyng of synful mennys tradicions ful of errour, þat ben maad for pride & coueitise, & also to lerne pride & coueitise & worldly lif & to haunte & [page 95] meyntene suche wrecchid worldly lif of clerkys, & þis is þe brode weie to helle. Sumtyme men hadden traueile & werke at þe ful to studie & kepe & teche goddis lawe bi-fore þat þes newe lawes of worldly clerkis weren brouȝt vp, & nowe men ben occupied aboute