Down Memory Lane - The Royal Page

Matilda, First Lady of England – England was blessed in six of her queens; only one being obnoxious. We start far back in our history in 1135. Henry I, who died then, had lost his only legitimate son in the wreck of the White Ship. His only other legitimate child was his daughter, Matilda. To ensure her succession, he had his great nobles swear allegiance to her-an oath which they broke at once, on his death. There followed nineteen years of the Anarchy, as historians called the reign of Stephen, Matilda's usurping cousin. But Matilda never gave up. In the end she secured the succession to the Crown for her son Henry, Count of Anjou. Stephen died, so too, and opportunely, did his son Eustace. The first of the Plantagenets, Henry II, gave England firm rule and restored order throughout the country. Still, without his mother's efforts he would not have reached the throne. She was never crowned, but was known as the Lady of England, when she took her seat at Winchester, the ancient capital of the country. She may legitimately be reck­oned as the first Queen of England. (Courtesy Royal Ladies of Britain by Henry Moorshead) Sorry, no pic or graphic.

King John — As Churchill wrote, King John united the ruthlessness of a hardened warrior with the craft and subtlety of a Machiavellian. His cruelties were conceived and executed with a cold, inhuman intelligence. He did not have many redeeming characteristics but it was said he was judicious, capable and on occasion, generous. Yet, these were hidden by his violence, greed, malice, treachery and lust. It was in John’s reign that the French province of Normandy was lost. The attached pic reflects the king’s distaste for the Magna Carta and his wish that he had to sign it. But he had to, for all the Barons and common people were united in determination to end his tyranny and he signed because his crown was at stake. The Magna Carta is considered freedom’s most precious heritage.