The date is September 1153. Stephen is due to meet with Henry of Anjou, his rival claimant to the throne. Stephen doesn't have a great track record at negotiation, or anything else for that matter. His followers suggest assertiveness training.

It's true that someone else addressed his troops on his behalf because his voice was too soft. His wife was a very strong woman; some might say that she wore the trousers in the relationship. Both his wife and his rival were called Matilda so it must have been confusing! He did let Matilda go when she was under siege and she ran straight back to her followers in the South West. He did make the King of Scotland's son Lord of Carlisle.

It's also true that his nobles did get as much as they could from him and if they didn't get their way, they fortified their castles against him and rebelled. He was basically blackmailed. He couldn't keep the Welsh or the Angevins happy either. He failed to stamp his authority in either place. He seemed to do the opposite of whatever advice was given him. And hence was taken prisoner for nine months. He did get sick in 1142 and everyone thought he was dead. I suspect it was wishful thinking. He did hand over the crown to his rival which may have been the best thing he ever did.

If you want to find out more about Stephen, check out the sources and places below:

The Plantagenets: The Kings Who Made England - Dan Jones

Penguin Monarchs Series: Stephen - Carl Watkins

The English Monarchs Series: King Stephen - Edmund King

Stephen and Matilda: The Civil War of 1139-1153 - Jim Bradbury

King Stephen and the Anarchy: Civil War and Military Tactics in 12th Century Britain - Chris Peers