That ruleth the roste[1326] alone. Helas,[1327] I say, helas! Howe may this come to passe, That a man shall here a[1328] masse, And not[1329] so hardy on his hede To loke on God in forme of brede, But that[1330] the parysshe clerke There vpon must herke,[1331] And graunt hym at[1332] his askyng For to se the sacryng? 1030 And[1333] howe may this accorde, No man to our souerayne lorde So hardy to make sute, Nor yet[1334] to execute His commaundement, Without the assent Of our presydent, Nor to expresse[1335] to his person,[1336] Without your consentatyon[1337] Graunt hym his lycence 1040 To preas to his presence, Nor to speke to hym[1338] secretly, Openly nor[1339] preuyly, Without his[1340] presydent be by, Or els his substytute Whom he wyll depute? Neyther erle ne duke[1341] Permytted? by[1342] saynt Luke, And by swete saynt Marke, This is a wonderous warke![1343] 1050 That the people talke this, Somewhat there is amysse: The deuil cannot stop their mouthes, But they wyl talke of such vncouthes,[1344] All that euer they ken Agaynst all spirituall[1345] men. Whether it be wrong or ryght, Or els for dyspyght, Or howe euer it hap,[1346] Theyr tonges thus do[1347] clap, 1060 And through suche detractyon They put you to your actyon; And[1348] whether they say trewly As they may abyde therby, Or els that they do lye, Ye knowe better then I. But nowe _debetis scire_, And groundly _audire_, In your _convenire_,[1349] Of this premenire, 1070 Or els in the myre They saye they wyll you cast; Therfore stande sure and fast.[1350] Stande sure, and take[1351] good fotyng, And let be all your motyng, Your gasyng and your totyng, And[1352] your parcyall promotyng Of those that stande[1353] in your grace; But[1354] olde seruauntes ye chase, And put them out of theyr place. 1080 Make ye no murmuracyon, Though I wryte after[1355] this facion; Though I, Colyn Cloute, Among the hole route Of you that clerkes be, Take nowe vpon[1356] me Thus[1357] copyously to wryte, I do it for[1358] no despyte. Wherfore take no dysdayne At my style rude[1359] and playne; 1090 For I rebuke no man That vertuous[1360] is: why than Wreke ye your anger on me? For those[1361] that vertuous be Haue no cause to say That I[1362] speke out of the way. Of no good bysshop speke I, Nor[1363] good preest I escrye,[1364] Good frere, nor good chanon, Good nonne, nor good canon, 1100 Good monke, nor good clercke, Nor yette[1365] of no good werke: But my recountyng is Of them that do[1366] amys,