Saynt Hugh.
¶ The soueraynes that ben gladde & ioyfull of theyr power and hygh rome / ben not very soueraynes / but rather (as our sauyour sayd) mercennaryes and wa∣ged seruauntes / yt haue more appetyte to haue hygh place & pleasure / than to edyfye and profyte the chir∣che of Chryst:* 1.1 they coueyte more to haue temporall lu¦cre / than the helth of soules: and more to haue tempo∣rall honour / than eterne and euerlastynge glory. And therfore (as our sauyour sayd) Receperūt mercedē suam. They receyue here theyr rewarde.* 1.2 But the pre¦lates that ben gladde and Ioyfull to mynystre and do seruyce for charite / those ben very prelates / and those done theyr offyce after the lawe and wyll of god. For they done folowe the doctryne of our sauyour / that came rather to do seruyce / than to take seruyce.* 1.3 And they done labour with all dylygence to brynge many soules vnto our lorde: moche more glad to take charge and labour / than honour and pleasure. Charite plea∣seth them / and not the rome ne power / and with bet∣ter wyll done they serue other persones / than take of them ony seruyce. So saynt Paule techeth / sayenge. Whan I was at free lyberty / I made my selfe a bon∣de seruaunt vnto all persones / that I myght wynne many.* 1.4 And yet notwithstandynge he was had in due honour and reuerence of his subiectes / and so sholde the good prelate be had of his subiectes / & so foloweth in the lettre. Honore coram vobis / prelatus sit vobis.* 1.5