VI. Conscience is But a Word that Cowards Use Video (MV)

Subdued from any pause for asking questions, he led me through the lines of enemies
A journey of but six or seven minutes that meant much more to all who saw, and me
I had not seen the Earl of Richmond's aspect from any distance, close enough to note
He clearly lacked a certain princely presence that such as Richard's face had always shown

From on his hill, the victor glared upon me, and who are you to carry such a thing
Within his speech, I surely sensed real danger, this could be my last moment on earth
I took my knees, the crown was given over. Head low, I held up Richard's gilded badge
Made much of it been broken at the foreleg, the rough edge flashing silver through the gold

Such damage done by Henry's mother Margaret, when we had met five miles and one night hence
To make the deal that brought the crown to Henry, to mark me as the traitor in the field
Soldiers, priests and villagers bore witness, as England's monarch kneeled upon his land
And Thomas Stanley laid the crown of Richard upon his head, thus ending one long dance

Its cuts and scars reflecting those adorning the broken corpse of Richard at his feet.
Before we moved to Leicester, there to plant a house of roses under Tudor rule
I stole back to the bush where I'd committed the bravest and the worst act of my time
I took the badge of Richard from my pocket, and pushed it deep into the bloodied ground

I may have told myself I paid him honour, I may have meant to do such in my heart in my heart, but truth,
I needed rid of that reminder my own medal of metal had been cast
Never more to even seek for gilding, or even dream that silver was my match