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HENRY & ALINOR

by Galen of Bristol

(c) 1995, Paul T. Mitchell, all rights reserved.

I

Henry am I, the young Count of Anjou,
The Empress Matilda wills me her claim,
By Geoffrey's sword, Duke of Normandy, too.
Stephen of Blois' usurped throne is my aim.
From Louis' goodwife I have Acquitaine
And from her Plantagenets will be born.,
Only my writ will rule in my domain
The day's greatest family now sees its morn.
My arms will be England's, now and always.
My glorious name go down through the years,
The empire I'll forge will stretch wide in my days
From my life will I banish any tears.
My realm will be finest in history.
Can anyone see this vision but me?



II

Alinor they call me, Eleanor, too.
I have ruled over my lands since my youth.
In France was I Queen, crusading to do,
Armed with power and wealth I seek truth.
Up from Normandy I see him come now,
Like a hero of legend to his seat,
The victory laurel adorns his brow
I can tell that this man dares any feat.
He dreams the great dreams, and he lives life well.
He knows how to rule the world, fears nothing!
It in he who is worthy, I can tell.
For Henry will I leave my wedded king.
To rule all of Europe at Henry's side:
What Queen could enjoy any greater pride?



III

At Wallingford now do the armies meet.
From the south bank I confer with my foe;
And Stephen will lay his realm at my feet.
I soon will be king here, as all well know.
The unlawful castles I soon will raze;
A thousand strong shelters for evil men.
The wisest of men will counsel my ways
And peace will be in my people's ken.
By war and diplomacy I will spread
Through all these islands and the continent
By marriage and treaty to crowned head
With my arms cast wide, then am I content.
For the folk in this land will enjoy this
That into their lives I bring true justice.


IV                                                           

I am again Queen now, of England here.
My first son is born, and has so soon died;
Again now with child, a daughter I fear;
I hope to breed heroes to rule with pride.
To my King I give counsel, like many
Others about him, some fools and some not.
He's often away for him or any
Who calls for the king to secure his lot.
But this will pass, and we'll be together,
When our throne is secure and the land quell'd.
I'll bear him a son, defeats we'll weather,
All will be well with his enemies fell'd.
My patience in my assurance of bliss;
I'll hold fast awaiting my husband's kiss.


V

So much is wrong throughout all my lands.
The Barons the people cruelly opress.
The answer lies in my two hands;
From war and injustice comes their distress.
Much is wasted, much is lost in this way.
That could otherwise do so much great good.
The crops they will burn, the people they slay.
Which ought to be growing my soldiers' food.
Each baron and bishop holds his own court,
And each has his own notions of justice.
Protecting their own is their fav'rite sport;
For this great wound I have a good poultice.
In losing this power they may curse me,
But my folk will live better, as you'll see.


VI

He has rid us of the fortune-soldiers,
E'en the Earl of Kent -- appoints new sheriffs,
Diminish'd unlicens'd castles' holders
Revoked the old grants and plans new tariffs.
Beckett is Chancellor, working his will
With such wisdom and skill at all affairs,
Bringing the revenues into his till.
Improving the tower now his chief care.
Yet still I seldom see my husband-king.
The weather here is cold and wet and dark
And steals my good cheer in any good thing.
Again with child, I cannot go to park.
At Worcester to St. Wulfstan gave our crowns,
In thanks for such good fortune making rounds.


VII

So few know how he help'd me to my throne.
I only myself learn'd of it later!
For Theobald he went to holy Rome
That Eustace not succeed from his pater.
Now Beckett in my goodly Chancellor;
He bears the royal seal in my service.
He fights my battles, be they in France or
In my council chamber without notice.
At his well-set table he holds my place;
He shares my vision and ev'ry idea.
I know that with him, my trust will be safe,
Throughout this land, Cheviots to Mercia.
Who could have thought I'd reach such a good end,
In all of this world to find such a friend?


VIII

Henry's son Henry, his pride and his joy, 
Plays well with his sisters and my Richard. 
We smile an we debate which the best boy, 
How could any child better my orchard?  
But Geoffrey lies here, quiet and healthy, 
Not strong like his kin, but clever, I see.  
He'll master his foes by cunning stealthy, 
Careful planning and boldest trickery.  
The next I'll call John, if he be a lad.  
A hero like his brothers he'll turn out.  
So four Princes they'll write King Henry had, 
As the scribes record all they know about.  
And my weighty power grows by some tons.  
None dare criticize the Queen who bears sons.


IX (Beckett)

Theobald is dead, the Chancellor is now
To serve me in another lofty post:
Archbishop of Canterbury, I trow,
Will at last place the church within my host.
But Thomas is contrary now declares
That the church cannot bow beneath the crown.
So I will now thwart him, I've fought such wars,
And sanctuary and his courts go down.
I'm cross'd and mock'd at ev'ry turn, this man
Wields his episcopal power right well.
Though I might banish him from all my land,
Still can he banish me to burn in hell.
What cowards have I about me at feast,
That none deliver me from this base priest?


X

Rosamonde was not such a cross to bear 
As many say, and I did not kill her;
Nor did I, of his other woman care
Though he gifted them gold, cloth'd them in fur.
Until he stole my Richard's lovely bride.
The daughter of a King, to wed a Prince
Goes to Henry's bed to feed his great pride.
No water this dark-stain'd honor can rinse.
Richard is insulted, Louis is, too.
England is dishonored, its king a knave.
His sons resolve that this act he will rue.  
His foeman join'd, what ally can him save?  
But worst of all that's damaged is my name, 
And for this will I destroy Henry's fame.


XI	

I worked to make them Kings and Princes all.
To rule the greatest empire ever known.
Now their mother urges them to my fall.
Do they not know that they'll destroy my throne?
I can never give her up, she's my love,
My Alais, the lady of my own heart.
If I am the lion, she is my dove,
And nothing can ever pull us apart.
Though I lose all, I fight them to the end.
Let Philip and Alinor plot and plan.
I'll catch her up, to some tower send,
And show Philip what's left in this old man!
But my time in closing, I now grow old;
My sons should warm these days, not make them cold.


XII

The lion is dead, my Richard's first act
Was to free me from my long confinement,
Only then to consolidate the fact
That he is king; no other refinement.
A suitable wife will I find my swain
And see that he is safely wed without fear;
Then he to crusade, and I, Acquitaine,
To make my Courts of Love, minstrels to hear.
His coronation is marked with much blood,
But his thoughts were to ready for crusade.
As regent I released many long-held
Who promised to pray that Henry be saved.
What will come in these future years can't be
So grand as if ruled by my King Henry.