Rival claimants in England vied for their crown;
Dave took advantage while their guard was down,
Extended his border as far as the Tees,
Though transient only, he did it with ease.
He lost at Northallerton, playing away;1
Lands he was promised by Norman 'Enray2
Northumbria---when Henry ruled as he sought,
But once on the throne he promptly forgot.
After twentynine years in King David's care,
Scotland now was a Europe top player.
Next, grandson Malc (four), if you are counting,3
With tension twixt Henry and Malcolm now mounting,
To Northumbria, Malcolm lost all his claim,
Got Huntingdon back---not quite the same.
He reigned for twelve years but never did wed,
And as far as we know took no one to bed.
Malc's brother was next to sit on the Stone,4
An action man he, called Will "The Lyon".
Impetuous, foolhardy and brains he had few,
Got into a spat with Henry (the two),
And found himself captured round Alnwick's byways.
Became Henry's liegeman by the pact of Falaise;5
His status restored when a sharp deal was made,
With strapped-for-cash Richard, for his crusade,6>
Who tore up the Treaty of Falaise (or Valois),
For 10,000 marks that Will signed awa'7
In Southern minds the seed had been planted,
That power over Scotland had always been granted.
Oor Willie's long reign lasted fortynine years,
And despite some good deeds, t'would all end in tears.
Son Alexander had his work cut out,8
Duffing Scots nobles all round about,
Chiefly concerned with Scottish affairs,
Evicting Norse boarders from their Island lairs,
Near Oban he died while on this endeavour,
And without a grown heir that wasn't so clever.
Sandy, his son was a youngster of eight,
And without a headman some feared Scotland's fate,
But councillor rule a success proved to be,
'Til the youngster was crowned Alex (the three)9
Henry (three) slyly tried to rule the young boy,10
Smart Alex saw through his devious ploy,
Still Alex agreed to marry his daughter,
Nuptials in York, got more than he oughter,
Meg his young bride and a knighthood as well.
But threatened dark clouds o'er the North Sea's swell,
From Norway sailed Haakon, a hazard to pose---
Was smartly sent home with a right bloody nose11
So now the West Isles enter Scotia's domain,
Prosperity grew throughout the terrain;
Trade increased tenfold and this history's page,
Asserts Alex's reign as a right golden age.
But personal disaster his success has belied,
His heir and his spare, Eck and Davie, both died,
Daughter Maggie'd wed Eric, King of Norway,
Had a daughter called Margaret and then passed away.
One fierce stormy night on a visit to Fife,
Alex's horse stumbled which cost him his life,
Scots hopes for the future now lay all forlorn,
That night in the rain 'neath the cliffs at Kinghorn12
One heir alone lived---she's Norway's young Maid,13
Who held Scottish hopes but the position was staid;
As Edward the (one) poked in his long nose,14
Son Ed to wed Meg he deigned to propose,
As Margaret's great-uncle and father-in-law,
And head of the family Eddie now saw,
How he could become Scots' overlord,
Ambition achieved via the bed not the sword.
But fate intervened his ambition to foil,
Queen Margaret died on Orcadian soil,15
Enroute to Scotland to marry her prince,
The monarch's first-born, called Wales ever since.
Notes
1 Battle of the Standard, 1138.
2 Henry of Anjou, later English King Henry II, (r.1154-89). He promised to cede Northumbria
to David for supporting him in his claim to the English crown.
3 Malcolm IV, (r.1153-1165).
4 William I, (r.1165-1214).
5 Treaty of Falaise, 1174.
6 Richard I of England, "Lionheart", (r.1189-99).
7 1189.
8 Alexander II, (r.1214-1249).
9 Alexander III, (r.1249-1285/6).
10 Henry III of England, (r.1216-72).
11 Haakan, King of Norway, defeated at the Battle of Largs, 1 Aug 1263.
12 1286.
13 Queen Margaret, (r.1286-90).
14 Edward I of England, (r.1272-1307).
15 1290.
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