King Stephen (1135-1154)

King Stephen 1135-1154

The next in line was but a daughter.
Dad's friends had promised to support her,
But she was pregnant, and in France,
So cousin Stephen took his chance.

The Scots attacked. The Welsh did too.
Invasion followed from Anjout -
Matilda's claim no mere illusion:
All was chaos and confusion.

Terror the whole land embraced.
The countryside was laid to waste.
The king himself must now confess
It really was an awful mess.

Compromise an urgent need,
So Stephen in the end agreed
That, when he died, Matilda's son
Should next be king. The deed was done.

For details of my other books - Britannia's Glory and James the Third - please see the blog/post of each, both dated October 2024.