Sharon Kay Penman's Blog, page 109
August 21, 2013
The Breton duke and the French king
Two unhappy events occurred on August 21st. In 1186, Geoffrey, the Duke of Brittany, died of injuries received in a tournament, and we’ll never know how history might have been changed had he not participated in the melee that day. Certainly the lives of his wife, Constance, and their children, Aenor and Arthur, would have been very different, and so, I suspect, would his brother John’s.
Also, on August 21st, this time in 1165, Louis VII finally got the son he so wanted, and the euphoric father nicknamed him Philippe Dieu-Donne, the God-given. Philippe is considered to be one of the most successful medieval kings by French historians because he was able to wrest so much of the Angevin empire away from John, but I’d never bake him a cake. He is certainly not the worst character I’ve written about, yet there were definitely some dark corners in his soul. The Angevins could testify to that, as could his abused wife, Ingborg, and French Jews, among others.
Also, on August 21st, this time in 1165, Louis VII finally got the son he so wanted, and the euphoric father nicknamed him Philippe Dieu-Donne, the God-given. Philippe is considered to be one of the most successful medieval kings by French historians because he was able to wrest so much of the Angevin empire away from John, but I’d never bake him a cake. He is certainly not the worst character I’ve written about, yet there were definitely some dark corners in his soul. The Angevins could testify to that, as could his abused wife, Ingborg, and French Jews, among others.
August 20, 2013
Elmore Leonard, R.I.P.
The book world has just lost one of its stars--Elmore Leonard died this morning at age 87. He had a remarkable career and he will be greatly missed. http://www.today.com/books/novelist-s...
August 19, 2013
The saint and the count, plus two of history's most famous lovers
August 20, 1153 was the death date of Bernard of Clairvaux, the nemesis of the Angevins. It was Bernard who is said to have insisted that from the Devil they came and to the Devil they’d go. The scene below is from Saints, page 580. Geoffrey and Henry have come to the French king’s court and Geoffrey outrages Bernard and Louis by dragging Louis’s seneschal, Giraud Berlai, before them in chains. Since Berlai was a rebel in Geoffrey’s eyes, he was not impressed by the French king’s indignation and says coolly that he showed admiral restraint in not hanging Berlai. When Bernard warns him that his mockery is offensive to God, Geoffrey corrects him, saying his mockery is offensive to Bernard and he is not the sole interpreter of the Almighty’s Will. It rapidly goes downhill from there. When Bernard grudgingly offers to absolve Geoffrey from his “sin of disobedience” and lift the sentence of excommunication, Geoffrey responds:
“I have no intention of releasing Berlai, my lord abbot. The man is a rebel and brigand, and I see it as no sin to punish him as he deserves. But if it is a sin, then I have no wish to be absolved of it. Since you claim to have God’s ear day and night, you may tell Him that for me, that I seek no absolution for an act of simple justice.”
When Geoffrey began to speak, Bernard stiffened, righteously indignant that his olive branch should not only have been spurned, but snapped in half. By the time Geoffrey was done, though, he was speechless with horror. So were the French king and most of the onlookers, for Geoffrey’s defiance sounded to them like the worst sort of blasphemy.
(omission)
If Geoffrey had an innate sense of the dramatic, so, too, did Bernard. Drawing himself up to his full and formidable height, he thrust out his arm as if he meant to impale Geoffrey upon it. “’Be not deceived, for God is not mocked, and whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ You have prayed for damnation and the Lord God has heard you. Repent now, you impious, wicked man, whilst you still can. Heed me well, for I see your death if you do not, and within a month’s time.”
Bernard’s prophetic trances were known throughout France, and this one sent a frisson of uneasy excitement shuddering across the hall. The French king paled noticeably, some of Geoffrey’s own men began to edge away from him, while others moved in for a better view, just in case the Lord chose to take His vengeance here and now. Henry could not help admiring the abbot’s theatrical flair, but he was suspicious of the prophecy itself, for the timing was too convenient to be credible. Geoffrey looked even more skeptical; one of his eyebrows had shot upward in a familiar gesture of disbelief.
“A month, you say? Could you be more specific, my lord abbot? If you can give me the exact date, that would make it easier for me to plan Berlai’s public hanging in the time I have left.”
The abbot stared at the younger man and then slowly and deliberately made the sign of the cross. “It is true what men say, that the counts of Anjou come from the Devil’s seed. You blaspheme as easily as you breathe, mock all that is holy, you have no shame—“
“And I am doomed, too; let’s not forget that. How good of you to speak up for the Lord like this. Whatever would He do without you?” The abbot sucked in an outraged breath, but Geoffrey gave him no chance to respond. “Well, then, if I have so little time left, I see no reason to waste any more of it here.” And without a warning, without another word, Geoffrey turned on his heel and stalked from the hall.
* * *
His abrupt departure created a sensation and even Henry was taken aback, for that had not been in the script. He was not sure if he should stalk out, too, stay and try to salvage the peace talks, or make a measured, dignified withdrawal. He chose the latter, courteously bidding farewell to the French king and the abbot. But then he moved toward the stunningly beautiful woman who’d entered the hall just moments before.
* * *
“Madame,” he said gravely, and kissed her hand with a courtly flourish. But then he added, for her ears alone, “If you are not the Queen of France, by God, you ought to be.”
Her mouth put Henry in mind of ripe peaches. It curved at the corners, not quite a smile, but enough to free a flashing dimple. “My lord duke.” Her voice was as arresting as her appearance, low-pitched and sultry. “And if you are not yet the King of England,” she murmured, “by God, you will be.”
* * *
And that, of course, was the first meeting between Henry Fitz Empress and Eleanor of Aquitaine. One of my Facebook readers said he thought that was one of history’s great pickup lines, which amused me enormously. Geoffrey did not storm off as he threatened, and even agreed to some of the concessions demanded of him, at Henry’s urging, for by then he and Eleanor were making their own plans for the future. But none of them could have expected what happened next. On his way back to Anjou, Geoffrey caught a chill after swimming in the river at Chateau-du-Loir, and was dead within days. He was only thirty-nine and I do not doubt it vexed him greatly that Abbot Bernard would be able to claim that he’d foretold Geoffrey’s sudden, premature death. But if the abbot thought Henry would be intimidated by that eerie coincidence, he did not know his Angevins. Henry and Eleanor were made of sterner stuff than that and there is no evidence that even Bernard’s subsequent canonization impressed them very much.
“I have no intention of releasing Berlai, my lord abbot. The man is a rebel and brigand, and I see it as no sin to punish him as he deserves. But if it is a sin, then I have no wish to be absolved of it. Since you claim to have God’s ear day and night, you may tell Him that for me, that I seek no absolution for an act of simple justice.”
When Geoffrey began to speak, Bernard stiffened, righteously indignant that his olive branch should not only have been spurned, but snapped in half. By the time Geoffrey was done, though, he was speechless with horror. So were the French king and most of the onlookers, for Geoffrey’s defiance sounded to them like the worst sort of blasphemy.
(omission)
If Geoffrey had an innate sense of the dramatic, so, too, did Bernard. Drawing himself up to his full and formidable height, he thrust out his arm as if he meant to impale Geoffrey upon it. “’Be not deceived, for God is not mocked, and whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ You have prayed for damnation and the Lord God has heard you. Repent now, you impious, wicked man, whilst you still can. Heed me well, for I see your death if you do not, and within a month’s time.”
Bernard’s prophetic trances were known throughout France, and this one sent a frisson of uneasy excitement shuddering across the hall. The French king paled noticeably, some of Geoffrey’s own men began to edge away from him, while others moved in for a better view, just in case the Lord chose to take His vengeance here and now. Henry could not help admiring the abbot’s theatrical flair, but he was suspicious of the prophecy itself, for the timing was too convenient to be credible. Geoffrey looked even more skeptical; one of his eyebrows had shot upward in a familiar gesture of disbelief.
“A month, you say? Could you be more specific, my lord abbot? If you can give me the exact date, that would make it easier for me to plan Berlai’s public hanging in the time I have left.”
The abbot stared at the younger man and then slowly and deliberately made the sign of the cross. “It is true what men say, that the counts of Anjou come from the Devil’s seed. You blaspheme as easily as you breathe, mock all that is holy, you have no shame—“
“And I am doomed, too; let’s not forget that. How good of you to speak up for the Lord like this. Whatever would He do without you?” The abbot sucked in an outraged breath, but Geoffrey gave him no chance to respond. “Well, then, if I have so little time left, I see no reason to waste any more of it here.” And without a warning, without another word, Geoffrey turned on his heel and stalked from the hall.
* * *
His abrupt departure created a sensation and even Henry was taken aback, for that had not been in the script. He was not sure if he should stalk out, too, stay and try to salvage the peace talks, or make a measured, dignified withdrawal. He chose the latter, courteously bidding farewell to the French king and the abbot. But then he moved toward the stunningly beautiful woman who’d entered the hall just moments before.
* * *
“Madame,” he said gravely, and kissed her hand with a courtly flourish. But then he added, for her ears alone, “If you are not the Queen of France, by God, you ought to be.”
Her mouth put Henry in mind of ripe peaches. It curved at the corners, not quite a smile, but enough to free a flashing dimple. “My lord duke.” Her voice was as arresting as her appearance, low-pitched and sultry. “And if you are not yet the King of England,” she murmured, “by God, you will be.”
* * *
And that, of course, was the first meeting between Henry Fitz Empress and Eleanor of Aquitaine. One of my Facebook readers said he thought that was one of history’s great pickup lines, which amused me enormously. Geoffrey did not storm off as he threatened, and even agreed to some of the concessions demanded of him, at Henry’s urging, for by then he and Eleanor were making their own plans for the future. But none of them could have expected what happened next. On his way back to Anjou, Geoffrey caught a chill after swimming in the river at Chateau-du-Loir, and was dead within days. He was only thirty-nine and I do not doubt it vexed him greatly that Abbot Bernard would be able to claim that he’d foretold Geoffrey’s sudden, premature death. But if the abbot thought Henry would be intimidated by that eerie coincidence, he did not know his Angevins. Henry and Eleanor were made of sterner stuff than that and there is no evidence that even Bernard’s subsequent canonization impressed them very much.
August 17, 2013
Of flowers and a long-dead medieval king
August 18th is a slow medieval history day. Luckily, I have a story to fill the void. I always use www.proflowers.com/ as their arrangements are gorgeous and the service is fast and reliable. But if I was a fan before, now I am an uber-fan, thanks to their superb customer service. I recently went to their website to send birthday flowers to a friend, whose address was stored in My Account. I clicked onto it, clearly suffering a momentary brain freeze, since my friend no longer lives at that address. I did remember this a few hours later and e-mailed their customer service, without much hope. Although this was a weekend and evening, I heard back from them within an hour, telling me they’d contacted Fed Ex with the correct address and actually apologizing if this glitch caused a delay in delivery; they then won my heart by offering to replace the order if need be. Well, Fed Ex joined me on Error Island, for despite their assurances to the nice ProFlowers people, they still delivered the flowers to the wrong address. But a happy ending was had by all, including the surprised recipients of those flowers, for ProFlowers did indeed send another order to my friend at the correct address, at no extra charge. I was so impressed that I decided people need to know about ProFlowers’ good deed, for in our world nowadays, customer service is too often an oxymoron. So the next time you’re searching for an on-line florist, remember ProFlowers!
Back to medieval news, I should remind my British readers that the Bosworth Field re-enactment of that infamous battle is this weekend; there is still time today if any of you who live in the area would like to attend. You think they might listen if we lobbied them to change the outcome one year and let Richard win? http://www.bosworthbattlefield.com/in...
Back to medieval news, I should remind my British readers that the Bosworth Field re-enactment of that infamous battle is this weekend; there is still time today if any of you who live in the area would like to attend. You think they might listen if we lobbied them to change the outcome one year and let Richard win? http://www.bosworthbattlefield.com/in...
A death and a birth--fortune smiles
August 17th 1153 was a very significant day on the Angevin calendar. King Stephen’s eldest son and heir, Eustace, died suddenly at Ipswich, apparently choking on a dish of eels. He had just plundered the abbey at Bury St Edmunds and men were quick to conclude God had punished him for his impiety. His death was probably a good thing for England, but it was a sorrow to Stephen, for fathers love even greatly flawed sons. Eustace’s death seems to have taken the heart out of Stephen’s fight for the crown and it was not long before he came to terms with the young challenger, Henry Fitz Empress, agreeing to name Henry as his heir. He could conceivably have lived for another decade or so, but Henry’s Angevin luck held true and Stephen died in October, 1154. A month later, Henry was—at twenty-one---King of England.
Another event happened on August 17, 1153 besides Eustace’s unexpected death. Back in Aquitaine, Eleanor gave birth to a son, whom she named William. You may be sure that people noted the contrast—that Stephen lost his heir on the very same day that Henry gained one. The fact that she’d given Louis no sons in fifteen years of marriage and then gave Henry one straightaway was noticed, too. Many saw this as proof that Henry had God’s favor, and indeed he did, at least for the next thirty-five years. But fortune is fickle and deserted Henry for his son Richard in the last wretched year of his life, just as it would eventually desert Richard at a small castle in the Limousin known as Chalus-Chabrol.
Also on August 17th, this time in 1173, Edward IV’s second son was born, named Richard after either Edward’s father or brother, or most likely both. Edward now had his “heir and a spare” and young Richard’s future must have seemed golden to his proud parents. It seems so tragic in retrospect, doesn’t it? We often play the What If game here on Facebook, usually concentrating upon great issues like the fate of kingdoms, speculating what would have happened had Richard reached Henry Tudor at Bosworth or how English history might have been changed had Edward not burned his candle at both ends with such careless abandon. But think of the purely personal; imagine how different his sons’ lives would have been had Edward not died so prematurely. How sad is that?
Another event happened on August 17, 1153 besides Eustace’s unexpected death. Back in Aquitaine, Eleanor gave birth to a son, whom she named William. You may be sure that people noted the contrast—that Stephen lost his heir on the very same day that Henry gained one. The fact that she’d given Louis no sons in fifteen years of marriage and then gave Henry one straightaway was noticed, too. Many saw this as proof that Henry had God’s favor, and indeed he did, at least for the next thirty-five years. But fortune is fickle and deserted Henry for his son Richard in the last wretched year of his life, just as it would eventually desert Richard at a small castle in the Limousin known as Chalus-Chabrol.
Also on August 17th, this time in 1173, Edward IV’s second son was born, named Richard after either Edward’s father or brother, or most likely both. Edward now had his “heir and a spare” and young Richard’s future must have seemed golden to his proud parents. It seems so tragic in retrospect, doesn’t it? We often play the What If game here on Facebook, usually concentrating upon great issues like the fate of kingdoms, speculating what would have happened had Richard reached Henry Tudor at Bosworth or how English history might have been changed had Edward not burned his candle at both ends with such careless abandon. But think of the purely personal; imagine how different his sons’ lives would have been had Edward not died so prematurely. How sad is that?
August 16, 2013
The Sunne in Splendour cover
My webmaster was able to coerce my blog's Add Media feature into working again, so for those who have not seen it, here is the stunning cover for the upcoming British hardcover rebirth of Sunne.
http://sharonkaypenman.com/blog/?p=421
http://sharonkaypenman.com/blog/?p=421
The Sunne in Splendour UK edition - onsale 9/12
This is the cover for the new hardcover edition of Sunne, which gets its rebirth in the UK on September 12th, thanks to my British publisher, Macmillan’s. As an utterly neutral observer, I think it is spectacular. Just to jog memories, it will include a new Author’s Note and I have made some changes to the dialogue as well as correcting some typographical errors that infiltrated the original hardback edition. And Macmillan is issuing a new Sunne e-book to reflect these changes.
A video too good to miss
Wolfy Wolf posted this amazing video on my fan club page and I wanted to make sure no one missed it. Some of you may have seen a few of the rescues already, but it is inspiring to see them in a collective form like this. We agree that we need good news to balance out so much of the bad. And I dare any of those so-called experts to still contend that animals do not feel emotions after watching the reunion of the mother elephant with her baby or the sheer joy of the freed whale. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=...
August 15, 2013
Bernard Cornwell and George RR Martin
I would like to thank everyone again for all of the birthday wishes this week. I had a lovely day—several of them, in fact—and I was very appreciative of your good wishes.
For my fellow Bernard Cornwell fans, I have good news. There is a new book coming out in his wonderful Saxon series. The latest adventures of Uthred can be found in The Pagan Lord, which will be published in the UK, Canada, and Down Under in September. Sadly, it will not be published in the US until January, but for those of us—like me—who are unwilling to wait, there is always Book Depository.com with free world-wide shipping.
I wish I could tell my fellow Game of Thrones addicts that there is a publication date for the next book in George R.R. Martin’s Ice and Fire series, but no such luck. I am sure Master Martin is working very hard on it, though, no doubt feeling our collective hot breath on the back of his neck. And if I have Deadline Dragon problems, this poor man must have to fend off an army of the beasts. I do know that his Dangerous Women anthology will be published in December; he has a story in it, as do a number of gifted writers. I have a personal stake in it as it also contains my very first short story, which may be the only short story ever to have its own Author’s Note; I just couldn’t help myself. Master Martin’s contribution is actually a novella about our favorite fantasy land, Westeros, so it will have to tide us over until we can get our hands upon The Winds of Winter.
For my fellow Bernard Cornwell fans, I have good news. There is a new book coming out in his wonderful Saxon series. The latest adventures of Uthred can be found in The Pagan Lord, which will be published in the UK, Canada, and Down Under in September. Sadly, it will not be published in the US until January, but for those of us—like me—who are unwilling to wait, there is always Book Depository.com with free world-wide shipping.
I wish I could tell my fellow Game of Thrones addicts that there is a publication date for the next book in George R.R. Martin’s Ice and Fire series, but no such luck. I am sure Master Martin is working very hard on it, though, no doubt feeling our collective hot breath on the back of his neck. And if I have Deadline Dragon problems, this poor man must have to fend off an army of the beasts. I do know that his Dangerous Women anthology will be published in December; he has a story in it, as do a number of gifted writers. I have a personal stake in it as it also contains my very first short story, which may be the only short story ever to have its own Author’s Note; I just couldn’t help myself. Master Martin’s contribution is actually a novella about our favorite fantasy land, Westeros, so it will have to tide us over until we can get our hands upon The Winds of Winter.
August 14, 2013
My best Birthday Wishes ever
We are in the presence of genius. You have to read Ken John’s birthday composition for me, in which he channels all of the major characters in my novels and even manages to find a word to rhyme with Plantagenet! I can’t see medieval kings serenading a mere scribe and a female one at that, but I am very grateful to Ken for prodding them into it.
A Tribute to Sharon on her Birthday
Chinon Castle. Christmas 1183. King Henry II’s Court.
Henry: “Herald, send messengers to all the Royal characters in our dear leader’s books, that they are to attend me at my court to pay homage to their creator Sharon Kay on her birthday.”
Herald disappears only to be back moments later to announce: “Sire, they are all here and are waiting to be presented to you. Shall I have them enter in alphabetical order or chronologically?” Henry pondered a moment and then: “No, let them all in together.” In they all troop: four Eleanors; two Richards; two Henrys which with the host makes three; two Simons; two Llywelyns; one John (looking very sulky); Several Mauds or Matildas; one Stephen and two Joannas.
Henry II: “Quiet down and listen up you lot….
Now let it be known that this very day,
Is the birthday of our Sharon Kay.
I want you all, one by one,
Starting with you, the ones from ‘Sunne,’
To bless her name, give thanks to she,
Who saved us all from obscurity….”
Richard III, the last Plantagenet,
Was first to kneel, can you imagine it?
“I give my homage to her of grandeur,
Who rejected the Tudor propaganda,
That those little princes in my power
Were killed by me in the Tower.”
Llywelyn Fawr was next to bend,
His homage from ‘Here be Dragons’ to send.
“I in turn salute Sharon Kay,
Who saved me from having to pay,
Homage to him, who gave me hassle,
That bad King John, I’m not his vassal.”
Bad King John was next in line:
“Sharon, my lady, to me was grand,
Gave many gifts to John Lackland,
Though I’m last of the Devil’s litter,
I’m ok; not really bitter.
I gave Joanna, to that ingrate,
That Welsh Prince, who I really hate.
Enough of me, it’s all been said.
But, I’m really glad she burnt his bed.”
‘Falls in Shadow’ was next to come.
To laud our Sharon and give her comfort,
Came Simon, yes he; of Montfort.
“I give her thanks for all she’s done,
To make the de Montforts number one.
Thanks to her we’ll always be
Her most beloved family.”
‘The Reckoning’ ends Sharon’s story
Of Wales and England’s search for glory.
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd now pays his homage:
“Sharon Kay, that wonderful author,
Gave me my Eleanor; Simon’s daughter.
If only she could have found another
To replace that most traitorous brother,
I might have ruled to this day
And found perhaps another way,
For the Prince of Wales to be forever
A Welshman. Not an Englishman. Never!”
‘WCHSS’ was next in line.
Maud and Stephen took their time
But both then knelt before the king.
“Ours was a troubled time; we battled to a draw.
England lay in ruins; no-one wanted more.
So Sharon to our aid did come
And gave to Maud a blessed son,
A Henry two, no more no less,
Our own beloved FitzEmpress!”
‘Time and Chance’ now had its turn
And Eleanor with a look of scorn
At Henry her host, did speak:
“I will not kneel before you now,
Nor to you will I ever bow.
You who gave me little chance
Me! Queen of England; once of France!
But Sharon who was not so rude
Provided me with a Devil’s Brood.
To make you suffer; make you pay
And one by one, they made my day”
It’s ‘The Devil’s Brood’ and ‘Lionheart’ now.
Young King Hal, Richard, Geoff and sulky John
Knelt before Henry one by one.
“We come to praise Sharon and wish her well,
For weaving her magic and casting her spell.
While you dear father we learned to hate,
Sharon showed it was not too late,
For us to be good and to earn our crowns
What family doesn’t have its ups and downs?
And now the hall rings out with song.
Eleanor’s A, C, P, and M, joined every one
To sing to Sharon on this special day.
She pleases us in every way.
“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Sharon, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU”
A Tribute to Sharon on her Birthday
Chinon Castle. Christmas 1183. King Henry II’s Court.
Henry: “Herald, send messengers to all the Royal characters in our dear leader’s books, that they are to attend me at my court to pay homage to their creator Sharon Kay on her birthday.”
Herald disappears only to be back moments later to announce: “Sire, they are all here and are waiting to be presented to you. Shall I have them enter in alphabetical order or chronologically?” Henry pondered a moment and then: “No, let them all in together.” In they all troop: four Eleanors; two Richards; two Henrys which with the host makes three; two Simons; two Llywelyns; one John (looking very sulky); Several Mauds or Matildas; one Stephen and two Joannas.
Henry II: “Quiet down and listen up you lot….
Now let it be known that this very day,
Is the birthday of our Sharon Kay.
I want you all, one by one,
Starting with you, the ones from ‘Sunne,’
To bless her name, give thanks to she,
Who saved us all from obscurity….”
Richard III, the last Plantagenet,
Was first to kneel, can you imagine it?
“I give my homage to her of grandeur,
Who rejected the Tudor propaganda,
That those little princes in my power
Were killed by me in the Tower.”
Llywelyn Fawr was next to bend,
His homage from ‘Here be Dragons’ to send.
“I in turn salute Sharon Kay,
Who saved me from having to pay,
Homage to him, who gave me hassle,
That bad King John, I’m not his vassal.”
Bad King John was next in line:
“Sharon, my lady, to me was grand,
Gave many gifts to John Lackland,
Though I’m last of the Devil’s litter,
I’m ok; not really bitter.
I gave Joanna, to that ingrate,
That Welsh Prince, who I really hate.
Enough of me, it’s all been said.
But, I’m really glad she burnt his bed.”
‘Falls in Shadow’ was next to come.
To laud our Sharon and give her comfort,
Came Simon, yes he; of Montfort.
“I give her thanks for all she’s done,
To make the de Montforts number one.
Thanks to her we’ll always be
Her most beloved family.”
‘The Reckoning’ ends Sharon’s story
Of Wales and England’s search for glory.
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd now pays his homage:
“Sharon Kay, that wonderful author,
Gave me my Eleanor; Simon’s daughter.
If only she could have found another
To replace that most traitorous brother,
I might have ruled to this day
And found perhaps another way,
For the Prince of Wales to be forever
A Welshman. Not an Englishman. Never!”
‘WCHSS’ was next in line.
Maud and Stephen took their time
But both then knelt before the king.
“Ours was a troubled time; we battled to a draw.
England lay in ruins; no-one wanted more.
So Sharon to our aid did come
And gave to Maud a blessed son,
A Henry two, no more no less,
Our own beloved FitzEmpress!”
‘Time and Chance’ now had its turn
And Eleanor with a look of scorn
At Henry her host, did speak:
“I will not kneel before you now,
Nor to you will I ever bow.
You who gave me little chance
Me! Queen of England; once of France!
But Sharon who was not so rude
Provided me with a Devil’s Brood.
To make you suffer; make you pay
And one by one, they made my day”
It’s ‘The Devil’s Brood’ and ‘Lionheart’ now.
Young King Hal, Richard, Geoff and sulky John
Knelt before Henry one by one.
“We come to praise Sharon and wish her well,
For weaving her magic and casting her spell.
While you dear father we learned to hate,
Sharon showed it was not too late,
For us to be good and to earn our crowns
What family doesn’t have its ups and downs?
And now the hall rings out with song.
Eleanor’s A, C, P, and M, joined every one
To sing to Sharon on this special day.
She pleases us in every way.
“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Sharon, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU”
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