Knight Betrayed

Back from the Holylands tired and sore,
Galeran of Heywood is home from the war.

His castle he finds under siege, his men
Thinking long dead was their liege.

Lord of his castle the fight not yet over,
Witnesses remains of a hostile take over.

His vassals hold tight to the castle,
Right now Galeran needed not the hassle.

All within believed him dead,
Guilt of their defense there was not a shred.

His wife with a child yet from another,
The scandal too big to smother.

Betrayed by his wife who thought he was dead,
Now stands silent bowing her head

At first she had gone quite white,
To see living,this long dead knight

Ordered before the king to appear,
The sad situation once and for all to make clear

His life shattered like an ivory rose,
He tried to put back together before the king chose.

To explain all that happened to a king on a throne,
He'd rather not cast the very first stone.

His wife in her sadness over the loss of their son,
To another knight's arms she was said to have run.

Betraying a husband she thought had been killed,
Gave her a fright that left her quite chilled.

The Bishop of Durham decreed,
The lady be punished for the nasty deed.

Her husband betrayed felt no such compunction,
To punish his wife who showed so much gumption.

Off to a convent the lady was sent,
Stay there for protection and repent.

Her sins against the knight she loved,
Into a cell to be guarded she was shoved.

On the babe's blanket a message was sent,
To help her escape from her cell in the convent.

So the help of the King's Champion was sought,
Hoping that the effort would not all come to naught.

Once the king heard both sides of the tale,
Sent the naughty Bishop off to jail.

Off to the tower to repent his sins,
That should teach him evil never truly wins.

Home to their castle the couple ride,
The knight, the babe, and his wife by his side.

Inspired by Jo Beverley's SHATTERED ROSE

Written by Yvonne

| Home |