"Artow thanne a bailly?" "Ye," quod he.
He dorste nat, for verray filthe and shame
Seye that he was a somonour, for the name.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Friar’s Tale. The Summoner strikes up a conversation with a Yeoman dressed in a green jacket whom he meets on the road. The Summoner falsely claims to be a bailiff, because his actual profession is so detested he is too ashamed to admit to it.