aȝenst goddis hestis & ȝeueþ cursed ensaumple to oþere men dispisiþ [dispeseþ X.] more god & doþ more wrong to hym þan iewis whanne þei naileden him bodely on þe cros. For crist louede more cristene men [omitted AA.] soulis þan his owen bodily lif; & þis cursed man drawiþ fro crist alle soulis als moche as in him is, & þe iewis drowyn fro him his bodily lif þat he louede lasse; & þei slen his prophetis & apostlis, [page 102] whanne þei do cursedly aȝenst here techynge & maken it fals as moche as þei kunne: þis sentence witnessiþ ion crisostom vpon þe gospel of seynt matheu; & þus þei sillen crist & bitraien hym for money whanne þei forsaken þe treuþe of holy writt & holy lif for worldly honour & coueitise, & ambrose & bede witnessen þis poynt.
Capitulum 42.
Prelatis blasphemen aȝenst þe holy gost; for þei quenchen his ȝiftis & suffren not cristene men to teche goddis peple wiþ siche ȝiftis, but maken hem to waste þes precious ȝiftis; and so as to here entent & to here dampnacion þei quenchen þe holy gost. For in here wille þei distroien his werkis, & þe synne is demed bi þe entent, þouȝ þe ende come not forþ but be lettid bi goddis myȝt. For whanne þei ben vnable bi ignoraunce & wickid lif to teche cristene peple goddis lawe, þei wollen not suffre trewe men teche frely cristis gospel wiþ-outen here leue & lettris, þouȝ trewe men ben neuere so mochil charged & stired of god to preche his gospel. but þei don þis for þei wolden haue money for here lettris & swerynge þat men not preche aȝenst here synnes, þouȝ þei ben neuere so opyn cursed traitours of god & his peple; as men gessen þat veyn religious don to haue leue of þes goddis traitours to sewe fablis, cronyclis, & lesyngis for to robbe þe pore peple aftir-ward bi clamouse beggynge, dampnyd bi goddis lawe; & þus þei ȝeuen leue to sathanas preschours for to preche fablis & flaterynge & lesyngis, & to
