Everich, for the wisdom that he kan,
Was shaply for to been an alderman.
For catel hadde they ynogh and rente.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The Narrator Chaucer is referring to the five tradesmen – haberdasher, carpenter, weaver, dyer and tapestry maker. He says that each of them is suitable to be an alderman, an important town leadership position, because they have the necessary wisdom. But then he goes on to say that it is their wealth and possessions that really qualifies them for that role. Chaucer is being ironic here.