And ferst he let the Prestes take,
And for thei scholde it noght forsake,
He put hem into questioun;[325]
Bot thei of the suggestioun
Ne couthen noght a word refuse,[326]
Bot for thei wolde hemself excuse,
The blame upon the Duck thei leide.
Bot therayein the conseil seide
That thei be noght excused so,
For he is on and thei ben tuo, 1020