Stephen of England

Stephen (1092 or 1096 – 25 October 1154), often referred to as Stephen of Blois, was King of England from 22 December 1135 to his death in 1154.

Quotes

• Stephen (by the grace of God), king of the English, to the justices, sheriffs, barons, and all his servants and liegemen, both French and English, greeting. Know that I have granted, and by this my present charter confirmed, to all my barons and vassals of England all the liberties and good laws which Henry, king of the English, my uncle, granted and conceded to them. I also grant them all the good laws and good customs which they enjoyed in the time of King Edward. Wherefore I will and firmly command that both they and their heirs shall have and hold all these good laws and liberties from me and my heirs freely, fully and in peace. And I forbid anyone to molest or hinder them, or to cause them loss or damage in respect of these things under pain of forfeiture to me.
  • Charter (probably 1135), quoted in English Historical Documents, Vol. II. 1042–1189, eds. David C. Douglas and George W. Greenaway (1953), p. 402

Quotes about Stephen

• When the traitors understood that he was a mild man, and gentle and good, and did not exact the full penalties of the law, they perpetrated every enormity. They had done him homage, and sworn oaths, but they kept no pledge; all of them were perjured and their pledges nullified, for every powerful man built his castles and held them against him and they filled the country full of castles.
  • The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: A Revised Translation, ed. Dorothy Whitelock and David C. Douglas and Susie I. Tucker (1961), pp. 198-199

• King Stephen was a worthy peer;
    His breeches cost him but a crown;
  He held them sixpence all too dear,
    Therefore he called the tailor ‘lown.’
  He was a king and wore the crown,
    And thou’se but of a low degree:
  It’s pride that puts this country down:
    Man, take thy old cloak about thee!
  • Anonymous, from "The Old Cloak" (16th century), as reported in The Oxford Book of English Verse (1900)