‘I would scarcely ask a dog to come out with me this wintry morn,’ said he, as he waved back his sleepy chamberlain, Fitzhugh, and took his brother king’s arm; ‘but I could not but crave a turn with thee, Jamie, ere the hue and cry of rejoicing begins.’
‘That is poor welcome for your heir,’ said James.
‘Poor child!’ said Henry; then, after they had walked some space in silence, he added, ‘You’ll mock me, but I would that this had not befallen at Windsor. I had laid my plans that it should be otherwise; but ladies are ill to guide.’
‘And wherefore should it not have been at fair Windsor? If I can love it as a prison, sure your son may well love it as a cradle.’
‘No dishonour to Windsor,’ said Henry; ‘but, sleeping or waking, this whole night hath this adage rung in my ears—
“Harry, born at Monmouth, shall short time live and all get;
Harry, born at Windsor, shall long time live and lose all.”’
‘A most choice piece of royal poesy and prophecy,’ laughed James.
‘Nay, do not charge me with it, thou dainty minstrel. It was sung to me by mime old Herefordshire nurse, when Windsor seemed as little within my reach as Meaux, and I never thought of it again till I looked to have a son.’
‘Then balk the prophecy,’ said James; ‘Edward born at Windsor got enough, and lived long enough to boot!’
‘Too late!’ was the answer. ‘The Archbishop christened the poor child Harry in the very hour of his birth.’