From Dl For the sowlis that hym to skole foond ay Of studye took he moost cure and moost heede Noght oo word spak he moore than was neede And that was seyde in forme and reuerence And short and quyk and ful of heigh sentence Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche From Cx1 And therwith fulle soft was his speche A Sergeaunt of lawe waar and wys That often hadde been at the parvys Ther was also ful ryche of excellence Discreet he was and of greet reuerence He seemed swich hise wordes weeren so wyse Iustice he was ful often in assise By patente and by pleyn commissioun For his science and for his heigh renoun Of fees and robes hadde he many oon So greet a purchasour was nowher noon Al was fee symple to hym in effect His purchasyng myghte nat been infect Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas And yet he seemed bisyer than he was In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle That from the tyme of kyng William weere falle Therto he koude endite and make a thyng Ther koude no wight pynchen at his writyng And euery statut koude he pleyn by roote He rood but hoomly in a medlee coote Girt with a ceynt of sylk with barres smale Of his array telle I no lenger tale