Belvoir Chapel,

 

The head of Sir Thomas 9th Baron Roos d.1543, carved in alabaster on his chest tomb in the chancel of St Mary's, Bottesford

Neil Fortey

A Westminster Abbey in the Vale of Belvoir
Nobility assembled with all the
Flamboyance of a peacock in pride,
Medieval Knight
Head hooded in a hawberk of rings,
Chivalric Knight of the Garter,
Thomas, my Lord Roos,
Conical bassinet and chain mail tippet,
And his courtly lady,
A filet over her forehead, French fashion.

And then, the stars
Dazzling the courts of
Henry, Elizabeth, James,
Right ordered, by degree,
Knights and Earls resplendent in
Coronets and tabards,
Bawdricks, swordbelts,
Robes of state,
And of course the garters
Blue, embroidered with gold lace.
Honi soit qui mal y pense.

Ladies, and Countesses,
Graceful in silken gowns and
Ermined mantles,
Fine linen sleeves,
Puffed and puckered,,
Vandyked cuffs
And ruffs at the wrists,
Glittering with
Gold, sapphire and rubies,
Emeralds embellishing these
Constellations in the Royal firmament.