1. THE RECKONING DAWN

Then sharply did destiny arrive,
When gilded edge came up to edge,
To wither all of earth's creations,
And sweep its ways now o'er her kin.

There came a dire legion here,
And followed them did dread arise,
Passing phantoms with sharp weapons,
Shilling torment, on the hordes of men.
With a great din, they did wage war,
And yet the foolish did not dread!

Their deadly spears, and weapons drawn,
Through open eyes, dire spirits fled.
Their deadly spears, and weapons drawn,
Through open eyes, dire spirits fled.

The bold in battle thronged with anger
As they raised their banners up high
A sign of might unto the crowds
As warriors charged into the fray,

And still the rain came from above,
A whirlwind as the arrows fly,
A travelling dart few shall escape,
Pressed onwards o'er the water's way,
A whirlwind as the arrows fly.

They with fire inside shall seethe,
To snuff those pale of flame,
Then crashing go, and shall they fall,
As ravens swart descend.


2. A VALLEY THICK WITH OAKS

Still is a valley
Surrounded by a forest of Oaks
Bespiring deeply
With the breath of our ancestors
A knot of roots
Hold steadfast the earth
Bonds that link a nation,
Foregoing generations
Eternal, unswayed

Roots of heritage
Pertain to the valley
Roots of hope
Growing strong
Entwined in the land
A valley thick with oaks

Its villages silenced
By the drift of clear water
A bell tolls for many
Their presence long gone
A voice in the wind
Telling secrets of the fallen
Lessons without words
A proud spirit remains
In the heart of every Englishman


3. A HOSTILE FATE (THE WAYFARER PT. 4)

But lo, the exile beseeches,
He who art mournful of voice
The summer's bright warden to sing,
And so the harshness of frost dispel.

Yet sorrows announce, bitter of heart,
Eroding of life, a hostile fate,
A spirit as the sea-flood, wide,
A distant, pale sun fades for he.

Fallen is now this spleandour all,
Joys are broken, passed away,
The weaker remain, hold in this world,
Wax old and sere, age comes for him.

Yet sorrows announce, bitter of heart,
Eroding of life, a hostile fate,
A spirit as the sea-flood, wide,
A distant, pale sun fades for he.

Those yearned for he grieves, long of day,
And knows his friends of old, in earth decayed,
The sons of noble ones,
Are to the earth.
The sons of noble ones,
Are to the earth enshrined.

May not his body then, when life erodes,
Pain feel, nor withered hand move,
Nor shall his mind race to the dawn,
But may absolution come.


4. ENSIGNS OF VICTORY

Then they bruited abroad in new districts,
Throughout there men were widely dispersed,
A mighty campaign, to the disgust of men,
From whom the Lord's law would hide!

Proclaimed throughout the lands, as far as the sea,
Surrounded they in every city, their walls they did invade,
Their fates forever altered, all hope like towers burned,

That Christ's cross in earth was buried, had been found,
The best of victorious signs, which before or after,
Holy under the heavens, was ever reared aloft!

Swift were they to ride, as though the early Romans,
Over the deep sea the lords lands seek out,

"Though ye them all should banish, work your hostility,
Ye here will derive, in that vengeance, an inglorious journey".

"I now a sword against you, with wrathful hand,
Purpose to bear, or worldly weapon,
Nor shall this field of God, through bloodshed, be furtive".

Twas to the warrior the most welcome of tidings,
Their banner of victory raised high over the crowds!