A Ballade of Lost Law

This England is gone staring mad,

She hath abolished Chancery,

See the long lines of suitors, sad

To find themselves unwontedly

After one day of trial free.

Pleading and seals have gone their way.

“I know,” said I, “that after me

Too quickly comes the evil day.”

I was Chief Baron, and I had

A Court of Law and Equity,

The Courts at Westminster were clad

With ancient glory fair to see.

Now County Courts have come to be

Exalted high on our decay,

And every whit as good as we;

Too quickly comes the evil day.

In days of yore we used to pad

Our deeds with words of certainty;

Alas! that now the office lad

Is qualified to grant in fee!

Lost is our old supremacy,

Lost is the delicate display

Of learning on pur autre vie;

Too quickly comes the evil day.

Thurlow, to thee we bend the knee,

When law was law, then men were gay,

‘ Tis down with port and up with tea,

Too quickly comes the evil day.