alle persoones of the lay parti not leerned ouȝwhere ellis bi the now seid clerkis or bi othere bokis of moral philsophie forto make miche of bokis maad to hem in her modiris langage whiche ben clepid thus: The donet into Cristen religioun: The folwer to the donet: The book of Cristen religioun, (namelich the first parti fro the bigynnyng of the iije. treti forth|ward): The book filling the iiij. tablis: The book of worschiping: The book clepid The iust apprising of Holi Scripture: The book clepid The prouoker of Cristen men: The book of Counceilis, and othere mo pertenyng to the now seid Book of Cristen religioun. Forwhi in these now spoken bokis thei schulen leerne and kunne (in a ful notable quantite and mesure and in a fair fourme) the now bifore seid moral philsophie being so necessarie forto be vndirstonde, and being in it silf the more parti of al her moral lawe and seruice to God, as it is open bi the vije. conclusioun; and being so necessarie forto expowne or interprete or glose dewli and treuly Holi Scripture in alle placis where he spekith of Goddis lawe and seruice, except thilk fewe placis where yn he spekith of the making and vsing of the fewe newe sacramentis of Crist, as it is open bi the ixe. bifore sett conclusioun. Wher|fore miche ouȝten lay persoones forto make and apprise and loue the now spoken bokis. And ferther|more ouer this now seid the now spoken bokis techen ful clereli and bihouefulli the treuthis and gouernauncis of Goddis lawe whiche ben groundid in Holi Scripture, and also othere treuthis of feith whiche ben not lawis and ben groundid in Holi Scripture; and also thei treten ful nobili the positijf lawis of Criste aboute the newe sacramentis, and therfore ful miche good (as y hope) schal come bi the reeding, leernyng, and vsing of the now spoken bokis.
Of this same mater it is quikli and smertli spoken in a litil book therto and therfore maad, which y
