oon clerk is different from an other in kunnyng. And ther fore, brother, take heede to doom of cleer resoun in this mater, which also is remembrid to vs bi the wise man, Ecclesiastici vje. capitulum., thus: Manie be to thee pesible, but of a thousind oon be thi counseiler. And in special be waar that thou not accepte, chese, and take a clerk forto be sufficient to thee into the now seid purpos bi this aloon, that he mai were a pilioun on his heed; neither bi this, that he is a famose and a plesaunt precher to peple in a pulpit; neither bi this, that he is a greet and thikke rateler out of textis of Holi Scripture or of Doctouris in feestis or in othere cumpanyingis: for certis experience hath ofte tauȝt and mai here teche surely ynouȝ, that summe werers of piliouns in scole of dyuynyte han scantli be worthi for to be in the same scole a good scoler; and ful manye of the ije. and iije. soortis appeering ful gloriose [gli̛ ose, MS.] to the heering of the lay parti, and also summe of othere maner of clerkis, whanne thei schul|den come forto dispute and examyne and trie and iuge in harde [her harde, MS.; but her is can|celled by a later (?) hand.] doutis of Goddis lawe, were not worthi forto therto vnnethis opene her mouth. I detecte here no man in special; who euer can proue him silf to be noon such as y haue here now spoken of, he therbi schewith weel him to be noon of hem.
Weel y wote, that thouȝ the office of preching is ful profitable into the eende of exortacioun and of re|membrauncing, certis it is not so into the eende of best teching. Forwhi it is not so into the eende of formal and groundli disputing, arguing, and prouyng, withoute which no sure trial mai be maad upon eny hard and doutable questioun of mannis conuersacioun; and ȝit if such maner of arguyng and groundli prou|yng schulde be sett in sermonyng, the sermon schulde
