Page:The Queens of England.djvu/32

20 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. doubtless remembered that she had at least an equal right to the throne with himself. Still Matilda had need of all her woman's tact and gentleness to preserve the line between a queen exercising the power which was her right, and a wife owing all to her husband, and acknowledging with the willing- ness of love his superior rule. Hardly a year had passed since Robert of Normandy returned home, when Matilda was again called to act as peacemaker between him and her husband, and again she was successful. But here she is charged by historians with wily conduct, that seems at variance with her high character; she is alleged to have used her influence with her godfather to persuade him to relinquish the pension from the English crown, which Robert claimed as a right, and Henry tardily bestowed. However this may be, Matilda succeeded in making peace between the brothers ; but it was on a false foundation, and when the differ- ence once more broke out, it was healed no more. Henry at this time forgot the generally mild tenor of his government, and, against Matilda's will used harsh treatment towards one who ought to have received the deepest gratitude from both — Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury. The prelate either fled the kingdom or was banished ; and Henry was long inexorable to his queen's entreaties, that one who had been so instrumental in procuring their wedded happiness should be recalled. At last, Matilda's arguments, joined to those of Adela of Blois, Henry's favorite sister, produced their effect, and Anselm was recalled. Matilda joyfully received the' aged and infirm prelate, having sent her own attendants to convey him by easy stages from the coast to London ; but Anselm was hardly reinstated in his power when he issued harsh edicts, which carried sorrow over the land. He proceeded to enforce the celibacy of the clergy, and to excommunicate all those who resisted his command ; and Matilda found herself powerless to check the misery which resulted. Matilda had now two sons, William and Richard, and a daughter, who was first called Alice, and then bore the beloved name of her mother, Matilda. This princess was afterwards the Empress Matilda, or Maude, of Germany, mother of Henry the Second, in whom was continued the royal Saxon line. Richard died young; and William was the unfortunate prince who perished in the White Ship, a martyr to fraternal love. But no shadows of these coming sorrows rested upon Matilda's