clergy. And if þis amortasynge wer not nedefulle, þen wer it noone almes, as it is declarid. And ouer þe tiþingis and offeringes þat ben now of certeyne, þe clerkis han many grete & smale perquisitiuys, þe whiche smachen of symony and extorcion; as þe first fruytis of vacant beneficis, prouynge of testamentis, for halowynge of chapels, chirchis, chauncellis and oþer ournementis of þe chirche, & for sacrynge of ordres, & fulle many mo þat for multitude may not [page 47] wel be nowmbred. For welle niȝ alle her blessyngis ben sett to sale and to prise in-to crystenynge & confirmacion. wherfor I may now sai, as I sayd at þe bigynnynge; "Fundamentum aliud," &cetera— "No man may putt an-oþer ground bysidis þat þat is putt, þe whiche is criste ihesu." Þe whiche grounde of lyvynge criste graunte vs to kepe, þat we may ascape þe euerlastynge paynys of helle. Amen.
[Appendix.]
[On the Wrongfulness of the Clergy holding Secular Office.]
Here-aftir it schal be schewid what peryl it is to prestis to be in seculer office, and to lordis to suffre hem þer-inne, or to excite hem þer-to.
sEynt Cypriane saiþ þat þorow þe councelle of bischopis þer [xxj q. iij cap. Ciprianus.] is made a statute, þat alle þat ben charchid wiþ presthode [page 47b] and ordeynyd in þe service of clerkis schulde not serue but to þe auter, and to mynystre sacramentis, and to take hede to prayers and orysons. Hit is for-soþe writen: "no man [2 Tim. ii. [4.]] berynge his knyȝthode to god entrike hym wiþ seculer nedis;" þe whiche oure bischopis and oure predecessouris biholdynge religiously & purveynge hoolsumly, dempten þat who so euer take mynystres of þe chirche fro spiritualle office to seculere, þat þer be noone offrynge done for hym, ne eny sacrifice halowyd for his sepulture. For þai disserven not to be
