it were not to obeie, Poul reproueth, ie. Thim. ie. capitulum., bi a fair processe. And thus miche is ynouȝ for the dew vndirstonding of the first text takun into ob|ieccion.
The dew vnderstonding of the ije. text takun into the same obieccioun, whanne it is seid, Nile ȝe manye be mad maistris, is this: Iames seiyng and knowing weel that it is hard forto execute perfitli and dewli eny office or state or degre of ouerte, and therfore perilose it is to ful manye that eny of hem be take into such office, state, or degre, (namelich sithen Scrip|ture ther upon, Sapience vje. capitulum., seith ful gastfulli thus: Men of power schulen myȝtili suffre tormentis; and sithen also "ech of us alle offenden in ful manye thingis" of lasse hardnes to performe than ben the deedis dew to suche statis or officis, in so myche that no man kan kepe him fro yuel speche and "reule his owne tunge," as Iames seith, and experience it schew|ith, and therfore miche hardir it schulde be [be is interlineated in a later hand. Perhaps to should be added.] him to reule othere mennys tungis and othere mennys membris and deedis to gidere and his owne,) therfore Seint Iame was moued for to counseile not to ech man but to manye of alle men, that thei take not vpon hem to be maistris, that is to seie, state and dignite and degre of ouerte; so that he leeueth to ech mannys owne doom and conscience, whether he be of thilk ouer freel manye or of thilk ouer freel multitude or no. And therfore it is to be markid weel how Iames spek|ith in hise wordis as in sentence thus: Manie ȝe, nyle be callid maistris; as thouȝ he seide thus, "O manye of ȝou, awaite ȝe that ȝe be not mad maistris." [St. James' words are: ….] And the perel anoon forthwith aftir he settith ther|to thus: Witing that ȝe taken the more doom; for
