in his owen holy feyned lif and for likyng of veyne glorie and for wynnynge of worldly goodis; and ypocritis ben most cursed before al oþer þeues, for þei ben þeues of goodis of grace and dysceyuen oþer men in goodis of vertu, þat ben betere þan goodis of fortune or goodis of kynde, and as a þing is betere so þe mysusyng þer-of is more dampnable, as lyncolne and oþer clerkis prouen; and þerfore crist in þe gospel cursid so ofte ypocritis more þan oþere synful men.
Capitulum 2m.
See now wheþer oure religious þis day ben ypocritis.
Ȝif þei bynden hem self bi herte, word and sygnes to moste mekenesse after crist and his apostelis, and ȝit ben most proude of worldly goodes, of beaute, of welschap, of strengþe of body, of connyng, of worldly and fleschly frenschipe, of kyn, and of holynesse [page 3] of here singuler religion, þan ben þei moost cursed and synful ypocritis.
Ȝif þei maken hem self in siȝte of peple more holi [omitted X.] þan oþere men and bosten þereof in owtward signes or wordes, as morn|ynge abite, lettris of fraternite, þat crien here holynesse and synguler deuocions bifor men, and bihynde ceesen of; and do þis for worldely wynnyng and veyn glorie, and preisen more here owen longe preieris þan oþer mennus, [The MS. contraction-mark is that for -us, though 'mannes' occurs on p. 30, l. 22, and in the first two sheets at least, all the other noun flexions, except this 'mennus' (or 'mannus') are in 'is,' 'ys' or 'es.'] þei ben þan foule ypocritis.
¶ Ȝif þei bynden hem to most charite and þer wiþ ben in gret enuye amongis hem self, and han dispitt and indignacion of good lyf and trewe techyng of cristis gospel þat symple men don out of here ordre, þes ben perilous ypocritis and cursed of god for defaute of charite.
Ȝif þei ben glad of here enemys myslyuyng or techynge, to lette þer-by men to teche freliche goddis lawe, þei ben cursed ypocritis.
Ȝif þei bynden hem to most pacience and mercy and þer
