A mild Manciple was there from Temple,
Who buyers should take as an example
To teach them the skills of shopping for food.
When using cash or credit he was so good
At waiting for just the right moment to buy
That he was always in pocket, profit high.
Now isn't that a sample of God's grace,
That such a plain man's wit should so outpace
The wisdom of a heap of learned men?
He was servant to thirty plus of them
Who were all expert and skilful lawyers,
And twelve of them, Lords who are employers
Of stewards of rent and land, would have been glad
To use, for any such posts as they had -
Paying them sufficient to live not badly,
Without any debt (unless they spent madly),
Or to live as frugally as they would,
But able to serve the whole county's good
In any circumstance which might chance to fall;
Yet this plain buyer, made fools of them all.
A gentil Maunciple was ther of a temple,
Of which achatours myghte take exemple
For to be wise in byynge of vitaille.
For wheither that he payde or took by taille,
Algate he wayted so in his achaat
That he was ay biforn, and in good staat.
Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace,
That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
That weren of lawe expert and curious,
Of whiche ther weren a duszeyne in that hous
Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
Of any lord that is in Engelond -
To maken hym lyve by his propre good,
In honour dettelees (but if he were wood),
Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire,
And able for to helpen al a shire
In any caas that myghte falle or happe;
And yet this Maunciple sette hir aller cappe.