Dibdin, Thomas Frognall; Spencer, George John [Oth.]: Bibliotheca Spenceriana: or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the fifteenth century, and of many valuable first editions, in the library of George John Earl Spencer (Band 4) (London, 1815) [Cicognara, 4650-4]

Second Editi]

WILLIAM CAXTON.

290

A Serjeaunt of lawe waar and wise
Was there that oft liadde be at the paruise
That was also fulle riche of excellence
Discrete he was and of grete reuerence *

He semyd suche hys wordys were so wyse
Iustyce he was ful ofte in assyse
By patent and be playn commyssion
For hys science and hys hyg’h renoun
Of fees and Robys hadde he many on
So g-rete a purchasour was thes e nowher non
A1 was fee symple to hym in effecte
Hys purchace myghte not be to hym suspecte

* The above cut is borrowed from the latter part of tbe text; tbe first four iines are
MS. in the present copy.