The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde,
That of a crueel herte he wikkedly,
For he a povre womman wedded hadde,
Hath mordred bothe his children prively.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Clerk’s Tale. Walter’s reputation takes a big hit as the scandal spreads far and wide that he had his two children murdered in secret, all because he was wedded to a poor woman. Because of his cruelty the loyalty of his people for him takes a nosedive.