Matilda, the wife of the Count of Anjou, to succeed him; but this did not please the barons, who dislike the thought of being ruled by a woman. Henry, however, made his barons swear to support Matilda and her baby son. Soon after this Henry died, and the land was once more thrown into confusion by the disputes and wars of rivals for the throne.
15. Civil War.—Although the barons had sworn to support Matilda, yet the most of them chose Stephen, the son of Adela, the Conqueror’s daughter, to be their king. They did not care to have a woman rule over them, and they know that Stephen was weak and good-natured, and could not hinder them from having their own way. So Stephen came to England and was crowned king in Matilda’s absence. But Matilda’s uncle, David of Scotland, with the help of some of the barons, made war against Stephen in her behalf, and fought and lost the famous “Battle of the Standard” at Cowton Moor, in Yorkshire. This battle took place in 1138, and its name arose from the fact that the English had as their standard a ship’s mast hung with sacred banners. This was, however, only one of many battles fought between the barons who supported Stephen and those who supported Matilda. At one time Matilda was not victorious and Stephen was a prisoner; and then it was Stephen who was victorious and Matilda a prisoner. In 1147 Matilda, discouraged, left England for a time.
16. Misery of the People.—In no reign did the people suffer so much from the wickedness and cruelty of their rulers as in the reign of Stephen. The struggle between Stephen and Matilda left the barons to do as much as they liked. They built strong castles, coined money, and made war against one another. Their castles were nothing but robbers’ dens whence the barons came forth to plunder, slay, and burn. “They burnt houses and sacked towns. If they suspected any one of concealing his wealth, they carried him off to their castle, and there they tortured him to make him confess where his money was. They hanged men by the feet and smoked them with foul smoke. Some were hanged up by their thumbs, often by their heads, and burning things were hung on to their feet.” The people cried to Heaven for help, but for many years no help came. “Men said openly that Christ and his saints slept.”
