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?
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Manciple, who works for a law school, is in charge of buying food and supplies there. Questions are raised about his honesty. For we learn that whether he purchases with cash or credit, he always manages to come out ahead on his accounts. It is suggested that he is cooking the books and making money for himself, as we are told with delicious irony that this unlearned man surpasses the wisdom of his masters, a bunch of lawyers.