What do the Friar's clothes in the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales suggest about him?

Much characterization exists in "The Prologue" to
The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer that reveals the Friar's character,
probably the least of which is what he is wearing.  The narrator chooses to center on
other elements of the Friar's character instead, such as his getting women pregnant then
buying a husband for them to keep himself out of trouble (lines 216-128).  But the
speaker does mention clothes in a few lines:

readability="21">

Not then appearing as your cloistered
scholar

With threadbare habit hardly worth a
dollar,

But much more like a Doctor or a
Pope.

Of double-worsted was the semi-cope
[cape]

Upon his shouldners, and the swelling
fold

About him, like a bell about its
mold

When it is casting, rounded out his dress. 
(267-273)

The Doctor is
actually a scholar with a master's degree, which was extremely prestigious at the time. 
In short, the Friar wears a great, expensive cape.  He did not dress like a poor
scholar, but like a wealthy scholar or the pope, who in Chaucer's day was known for his
lavish ornamentation.  He was wealthy, due to his underhanded and corrupt methods of
begging.   

Of course, this is indicative of of his
character and his vocation.  The Friar is all about pleasure and
money.