Nor would James have been unwilling to be silent on old Douglas’s conduct if he had not been anxious to plead for the panic-stricken archers, as well as to extol the conduct of the two youths, and of the Yorkshire squires; but, as he divined that the young Hotspur would regard praise from him as an insult, he deferred the subject for his absence, and launched into a plaintive narrative ballad, to which Henry listened, leaning back in his chair, often dozing, but without relaxation of the anxiety that sat on his pale face, and ever and anon wakening within a heavy sigh, as though his buoyant spirits were giving way under the weight of care he had brought on himself.

James was just singing of one of the many knightly orphans of romance, exposed in woods to the nurture of bears, his father slain, his mother dead of grief—­a ditty he had perhaps chosen for its soporific powers—­when a gay bugle blast rang through the court of the convent.

‘The French would scarce send to parley thus late,’ exclaimed James; but the next moment a joyful clamour arose without, and Henry, springing to his feet, spoke not, but stood awaiting the tidings with the colour burning on cheek and brow in suppressed excitement.

An esquire, splashed to the ears, hurried into the room, and falling on his knees, cried aloud, ’God save King Harry!  News, news, my lord!  The Queen has safely borne you a fair son at Windsor Castle, five days since.’

Henry did not speak, but took the messenger’s hand, wrung it, and left a costly ring there.  Then, taking off his cap, he put his hands over his face, uttering a few words of fervent thanksgiving almost within himself, and then turning to the esquire, made further inquiries after his wife’s welfare, took from him the letter that Archbishop Chicheley had sent, poured out a cup of wine for him, bade the lords around make him good cheer, but craved license for himself to retire.

It was so unlike his usual hilarious manner that all looked at one another in anxiety, and spoke of his unusual susceptibility to fatigue and care; while the squire, looking at the rich jewel in his hand, declared within disappointment in his tone, that he would rather have had a mere flint stone so he had heard King Harry’s own cheery voice.

James was not the least anxious of them, but long ere light the next morning Henry stood at his bedside, saying, ’I must go round the posts before mass, Jamie.  Will you face the matin frost?’

‘I am fitter to face it than thou,’ said James, rising.  ’Is there need for this?’

‘Great need,’ said Henry.  ’Here are these fresh forces all aglow within their first zeal, and unless they are worse captains than I suppose them, they will attempt some mischief ere long—­nor is any time so slack as cock-crow.’

James was speedily ready, and, within some suppressed sighs, so was Malcolm, who knew himself in duty bound to attend his master, and was kept on the alert by seeing Ralf Percy also on foot.  But it was a great relief to him that the young gentleman murmured in no measured terms against the intolerable activity of their kings.  No other attendants went within them, since Henry was wont to patrol his camp with as little demonstration as possible.