Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/587

Rh The joy of this event, and the pleasure of his daughter's company, made Henry take up his residence in Normandy, the education of her children being his only business, where he died 1135, leaving his daughter heiress of all his dominions; and, from the steps which had been taken to secure her inheritance, she had reason to expect to succeed to both. But the aversion of the feudal barons to female succession prevailed over their good faith, and made way for Stephen of Blois, grandson of William the first, by his daughter Adela, who accordingly usurped the sceptre. But her uncle David, king of Scotland, who at first was a competitor, appeared in her defence, 1138, at the head of a considerable army, penetrated as far as Yorkshire, and laid the whole country waste. These barbarous outrages enraged the Northern nobility, who might otherwise have been inclined to join him, and proved fatal to Matilda's cause. The earl of Albemarle, and other powerful nobles, assembled a great army, gave battle to and routed the Scots with great slaughter, and their king narrowly escaped.

Stephen, however, believing his throne secure, engaged in a contest with the clergy; and Matilda, encouraged by the discontents it occasioned, and invited by the malcontents, landed in England, accompanied by Robert, earl of Gloucester, natural son of the late king, and a retinue of one hundred and forty knights. She fixed her residence at Arundel Castle, whose gates were opened to her by Adelais, the queen dowager, now married to William de Albini, earl of Sussex. Her party daily increased; she was joined by several barons: war raged in every quarter of the kingdom, and a grievous famine desolated the land.

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