Originally Posted By: A C Bowden
Henry Plantagenet,
Angered by Becket, said:
"Would I were rid of that
Turbulent priest!"

Several knights heard his
Antiepiscopal
Words, and the prelate was
Shortly deceased.

"Meddlesome" priest was the way I heard it, but it changes nothing.


I tend to pronounce "several" with only two syllables, which would make Line 5 a beat short. Unless you wanted to make it
Several knights heard his words
Antiepiscopal...
but that only shifts the missing to beat line 7.
Maybe make it "Thomas the prelate was..." or some variation.

Maybe better still would be to avoid the word "several" altogether. as it's susceptible to alternative pronunciations.