[6-text p 653] seiþ Seneca. ¶ Thi prudence schulde liue benignely wiþ þi þrallis [760] þilke þat þay clepe thralles ben goddes poeple. For humble folk ben cristes frendes þay ben contubernially wiþ þe lord
[761] ¶ Thenk eek as of such seed as cherles springen. of such seed springe lordes. as wel may þe cherl be saued as þe lord. [762] The same deth þat takith þe cherl . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] as þou woldist þi lord dide wiþ þe if þou were in his plyt. [763] Euery sinful man is a cherl as to synne ¶ I rede þe certes þat þou lord werke in such a wise wiþ þy cherles þat þay raþer loue þe þan drede þe. [764] I wot wel þer is degre aboue degre as resoun is and skil þat men don her deuoir þer as it is dewe. ¶ But certes extorciouns and despit of oure vndirlinges is dampnable
[765] ¶ And forþermore vnderstonde wel þat conquerours or tyrauntes maken ful ofte þralles of hem þat born ben of als royal blood as ben þay þat hem conqueren. [766] þis name of cherldom was neuer erst couth til noe sayde þat his sone chanaan schulde be þral of his breþeren for his synne [767] ¶ what say we þanne of hem þat pylen and doon extorciouns to holy chirche ¶ Certis the swerdes þat men ȝeuen first to a knight whan he is newe dubbyd signifieth faith and þat he schulde defende holy chirche . . . . . [no gap] [768] and as seith seint austin. Thay ben þe deueles wolues þat stranglen þe scheep of ihū crist. and doon wors þan wolues. [769] for soþely whan þe wulf haþ ful his wombe; he stintith to strangle scheep. but soþly þe pilours and þe destroy|ers of þe goodes of holy chirche ne doon nouȝt so; For þai stynte neuer to pile. [770] ¶ Now as I haue sayd. sith so is. þat synne was first cause of þraldom; þanne is it
