than ben the yuelis comyng bi this, that lay men vsen the Bible in her modir tunge; neither gretter than the yuelis which comen bi this, that preestis ben and that prechers ben. Wherfore this iije. bifore seid and sett doom of resoun is not sufficient for to lette the having and the vsing of ymagis, but if he schulde lette the hauyng and the vsing of alle maners of craftis, and the hauing and vsing of Holi Scripture among the lay persoones, ȝhe, and but if he schulde lette the being of alle preestis and of alle prechouris, namelich sithen the worschiping, bi which perauenture manye persoones worschipen ymagis more than resoun wole, is not a greet vice; so that thilk worschiping be such, that thei not worschipen tho ymagis as God: and bifore it is schewid, that no persoones taken eny ymage for verri God.
Confirmacioun to this argument is this: Summen wolen knele deppir and louȝer to a knyȝt, than summe othere men wolen; ȝhe, and thei wolen sixe sithis more preise and worschipe him in word and dide, than summe othere men wolen; [wolen is interlineated by a later hand.] ȝhe, and pera|uenture more than resoun wole that he be worschipid. What harme or yuel is this forto be so myche chargid, that the good knyȝt be put out of mennys cumpa|nying: sithen this worschiping is fer fro godli wor|schiping; and fer fro this, that eny worschipers of him takyn hym for her God? Wherfore folewith bi sufficient likenes, that thouȝ men worschipen ymagis more than resoun wole hem be worschipid, ȝit this is not vice of so greet fors that for it ymagis be put doun; namelich, sithen thilk worschip is noon such, wherbi the worschipers maken tho ymagis to be her God or her Goddis. Goddis forbode that for ech folis folie stable gouernaunces weel takun of wise men
