Sergeants who plead on behalf of clients in the court of which they are officers are to uphold the laws and customs of the city and shall not for any client, outsider or other, make arguments contrary to those customs. They are to take oath before the bailiffs each Michaelmas. They shall not, in court, speak of their associates [i.e. fellow sergeants representing the opposing party?] nor their adversary in a defamatory or dishonourable way, nor stir up bad feelings, but rather serve their clients in a good and honest manner. If any acts contrary to this and continues in such behaviour after three warnings to desist and behave honorably, he shall be suspended from pleading the case until he amends his behaviour and wins back into the good graces of the community.

[It was not uncommon in towns for sergeants, who were familiar with the workings of the court, also to act as legal representatives (or "countors") for a party to a case. This was not considered a conflict of interest, but there was the need, as this chapter shows, to define a code of conduct.]