He lived his life by a certain code, a code of honesty without deceit

Instilled in him by the example and teaching of parents whom he loved

And perhaps by other teachers as well, but that cannot be said for sure

He remembered only that it seemed always to have been that way

That code had been tested many times in his life past middle age

By events that might have been maneuvered through dishonest acts

Or by lies or deceptions more favorable to an outcome he desired

But that code, it had never failed to hold him to a proper course

He felt no loss at all for not achieving goals he might have gained so easily

Had he bent his rules for life for his own convenience or out of spite

Such acts would never have fit to the form impressed upon his soul

They would have been as pebbles in his shoes, scruples they are called

And just now those in power had accused of deceitful acts

Of something that would never have even crossed his mind to do

Of withholding facts upon which a decision might turn in favor or against

And affect the course of events important to his neighbors and himself

But his accusers seemed somehow uncertain in their claims against him

And used strongest word, deceit, for it would require the strongest proof 

So they hid behind a legal term, a euphemism to be interpreted as they will

It was he that must prove his innocence, not they to prove his guild

They knew he spoke out for change in archaic laws and things forbidden

Changes requiring careful thought and study to find the proper course

Breaks in traditions to match the modern times

Changes that might expose the leaders to questions or dissent 

Was that the cause for their accusations now, was it really fear

Fear that he might bring about a change with which they disagreed

Fear that a challenge to older ways would be a challenge to themselves

And change for many future years the way that things would come to be

They said he had advocated many things, including some forbidden

True, forbidden things had been requested, but were not allowed by him

He encouraged only the referral of such things to a higher court

But that’s the catch, for by doing that he required a decision to be made