knouleche that y and thei han failid and mowe her aftir faile, and that y haue had ther of suer expe|rience, than that the peple schulde trowe stidfastli that neither y neither thei han failid neithir schulen faile, and that for wering of oure pilleons or for prech|ing in pulpitis of oure sermons. And how schulde eny doctouris and prechers be wrooth for this what y haue of hem seid, whilis y seie and knouleche the same of mi silf which y haue seid and knoulechid of hem.
Neuertheles, whanne the comoun lay peple doon as weel and as diligentli as thei kunnen forto chese to hem a wijs and a sufficient clerk into her coun|seiler, thei ben excusid anentis God in trowing to his counseil and in folewing it, thouȝ his counseiling be vntrewe, vnto tyme thei mowe aspie the defaut of the same counseil, as schal be proued in the firste parti of The book of feith and of sacramentis in Latyn. And if eny man wole obserue and kepe the gouernauncis which y teche and counseile in the ije. parti of Cristen religioun, the [Spaces left in the MS. for the numbers.] treti the [Spaces left in the MS. for the numbers.] chapiter, to be kept, whanne euer oon man requirith and sechith and askith an other mannys counseil in eny mater, y wote weel that he schal therbi take greet waarnes that he be not bi vnsufficient and vnwijs counseil bigilid.
xvij. CHAPITER.
THAT the ije. opinioun sett and spoken bifore in the firste chapiter [See page 6.] of this present book is vntrewe, y mai proue bothe bi experiencis and bi resoun. Bi ex|perience
