Note 21 — Chapter XXXIII
Reading edition
Chaucer mentions the Temple thus:—
"A manciple there was of the Temple, Of which all catours might take ensemple For to be wise in buying of vitaile; For whether he pay'd or took by taile, Algate he wayted so in his ashate, That he was aye before in good estate. Now is not that of God a full faire grace, That such a leude man's wit shall pace The wisdome of an heape of learned men? Of masters had he more than thrice ten, That were of law expert and curious, Of which there was a dozen in that house, Worthy to been stewards of rent and land Of any lord that is in England; To maken him live by his proper good In honour debtless, but if he were wood; Or live as scarcely as him list desire, And able to helpen all a shire, In any case that might have fallen or hap, And yet the manciple set all her capp."
[22] The 'De Laudibus' was written in Latin; but for the convenience of readers not familiar with that classic tongue, the quotations from the treatise are given from Robert Mulcaster's English version.