Here begynneth the boke called the Pype, or tonne, of the lyfe of perfection The reason or cause wherof dothe playnely appere in the processe.

¶Of the mysuse of these lawes and ordinaūces of of the churche. The .ix. Chapitre.

ANd yet al is to lytel / or at the leest doth ly∣tel auayle. For fewe monasteries shall ye fynde / or yet here tell of in Englāde: y^t ben clene voyde / & done {pre}cisely lyue without {pro}priete. For other the {pro}fessed {per}sones bretherne or systers / haue (as I sayd byfore) stipende celary or wages / that is / a certeyne sūme of money deputed / appoynted / & delyuered vnto theyr owne hand{is} cu∣stody / & disposiciō therw^t to {pro}uide for thē selfe aray & to bye al necessaries / & vse al at theyr owne wyl / & pleasure / sel agayne or chaūge y^e thynges boght af∣ter theyr mynde / & do therw^t what they wyl / as lēde & borowe / play for money at al maner of games / de∣cyng / cardyng boulīg. &c. & sōtyme at worse or more

incōueniēt thyng. And in some monasteries the bre¦therne done wryt / lumyne / paynt / make clauicord{is} / and suche other laboures / and take all the gaynes vnto them selfe. And the systers ī other places done sowe / brawdre / weue / and make sylke werkers / tea∣che chyldren / take sogiournaūtes to borde as ale wy¦ues done in the contre / and done inioye the gaynes therof / and vse the money as they wyll. And by rea∣son therof in theyr firmary / a place ordened for seke persones: they done receyue gestes / eate and drynke with them / cōmune and speake / & make good chere syng and laghe / play and sporte / and be as mery as lay people / whiche thynge is moche vnaccordynge vnto theyr state and doth nothyng agre with religi¦ous perfection. And is also agayne theyr rule and profession.