A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war and wys,
   A SERGEANT OF THE LAW, keen and wise,

That often hadde been at the Parvys,
Who'd often been at St. Paul's Porch, to advise,

Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
There was also, rich of superior quality

Discreet he was, and of greet reverence-
Disinterested he was, and of great dignity;   
      
He semed swich, hise wordes weren so wise.
At least it seemed so, his words were so wise.

Justice he was ful often in assise,
Often he was a judge in court, in assize,

By patente, and by pleyn commissioun.
By royal assignment or commission giving jurisdiction;

For his science, and for his heigh renoun,
Because of his knowledge and high reputation,

Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
He took large fees, had robes more than one.    

So greet a purchasour was nowher noon:
So great a land-buyer there was none.

Al was fee symple to hym in effect,
All was fee simple to him, in effect,

His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.
Wherefore his claims could never be suspect.

Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
Nowhere a man so busy of his class,

And yet he semed bisier than he was.
And yet he seemed much busier than he was.    
    
In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle
He knew all convictions, common and crime

That from the tyme of Kyng William were falle.
Recorded since King William's time.

Therto he koude endite and make a thyng,
And he could write a contract so explicit

Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng;
Not any man could trace a fault in it;

And every statut koude he pleyn by rote.
And every law he knew entirely by rote.  
        
He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote
He rode but simply in a medley coat,

Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale;
Girded with a belt of silk, with little bars,

Of his array telle I no lenger tale.
But of his outfit no more particulars.
     


 =Brian Ó Broin