þe couent, euyl þei coueiten here neȝeboris goodis. Ȝif þei meyntenen men in extorscions, in robberie, in false sweryng to sille ouer dere þer marchaundise and bie to grete cheep of pore men, and in lecherie and grete synnes, vndirtakynge for þes cursed men at domes day for part of wynnyng; þei coueiten euyle here neiȝeboris goodis; for þei dysceyuen here soulis herfore to euere dampnynge in helle. and ȝif þei breken þis, and worse alle þe comaundementis of god; þei ben perilous ypocritis and disceyuen foule cristen men to meyntene goddis traitors principaly. Ȝif þei geten hem worldly offis in lordis courtis, summe to ben stiwardis of halle,1 summe to ben kechene clerkis, 1 [1_1 omitted X.] summe to ben lordis anyneris, and summe to ben conseilours and reuleris of werris, and also to bein chamberleyns to lordes and ladies, and putten out pore gentil men of here office, and forsaken here cloistre and oþer deuocions for to haue lykynge of mete and drynk and cloþ and worldly worschipe, and to sende a grett quantite to here couent þat pore bedrede men schulden haue; [page 11] þanne þei ben ypocritis, enemyes of pore gentil men [omitted X.] and traitours of pore men and of lordes and ladies.
Capitulum 4m.
See now where þes religious don aȝenst þe werkis of mercy boþe bodili and gostely. ȝif þei wasten delicat metis and drynkis and ȝeuen nouȝt to pore men of here owene secte ne oþere þat ben in gret nede, but drawen pore mennus almes and liflode to here owne couent þat haþ to moche of worldly goodis, to make festis huge to lordis and ladies and riche men of contres; þei feden not pore men but robben hem of here liflode, and so ben manquelleris bifore god.
¶ Ȝif þei feynen hem to be men of abstynence and grete penaunce, and þer wiþ drynkyn dilicious ale and spisid and heiȝe wynes, and beggen of þe comune peple to holden vp
