A History of England, by Mrs Markham 12th Ed. Authors Ed., Revised (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3CHAPTER XI. STEPHEN. Years After Christ, 1136 1154. Bridge creeled by Queen Mulilda, recently existing at Sunifonl-le-Ii'nv, in Kssex. (Sec p. 05.; All the precautions which Henry had taken to secure the crown to his daughter were but vain. A usurper sprang up where ho would least have expected one, in his favourite nephew Stephen, who was the second son of his sister Adela and the Count de Blois, and to whom he had invariably shown the utmost kindness, and a preference above all his other relations. He had given him a large estate in Normandy; and had married him to the heiress of Boulogne, whose mother was Mary of Scotland, sister to his own queen Matilda. But all these kindnesses could not inspire Stephen with gratitude. As soon as he heard of the king's death, he hastened to England; and though he met with a little opposition at first, yet he soon procured himself to be crowned at Westminster. Stephen, we are told, had a very graceful person; he was strong and active, and had a degree of courage that amounted to rashness. His deportment was particularly popular and engaging, and he had much pleasantry in his conversation. He was already a great favourite with the people; and to this, more than to any other cause, is attributed the success of his attempt on the crown. He was a very indulgent husband and father, and profuse in hia kindness to his friends and favourites; but his headstrong ambition sullied all his good qualities, and, without contributing to his own happiness, brought great misery on the people. This usurpation had been so totally unexpected, that no preparations had been made to guard against it; and the Empress Maude, as I think she is commonly called, and her friends seemedabsolutely stunned. This gave Stephen time to strengthen himself, before any attempts were m...