Now at this time one Frederic
Searched high and low and far,
Enquiring of our Hereward’s presence,
With plans to sieze him with mighty menace,
To hand him over to pay his penance,
Or lift his head upon a high fence,
Thus demonstrate his deeds as offence,
The motive of his heart.

His plan? To earn King William’s favour,
Secure himself a seat,
Within the Conqueror’s noble court,
Thinking that he surely ought,
Be found therein and highly thought of
By surf and lord apiece.

But Hereward heard of this attempt
Upon his life and freedom,
And so he raised a warrior band,
And with them searched throughout the land,
Until he found him plotting plans,
To work out how to sieze him.

And so he turned things upside down
And jumped on Frederic
And before he had the chance to fight,
He swung his sword with all his might,
And caused his head to swift alight,
With only one fast flick!

Time to get back to The Ballad of the Wake. Settling down tonight, I realised I’d jumped a key scene that is refered back to later when William de Warenne seeks revenge for his brother, Frederic’s, death.
(06.08.26)

© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Henry Hustava on Unsplash