The Revolt of the Eaglets by Jean Plaidy

Heaven would not allow him to prosper.
    In the circumstances there were some who were ready to support the young King against the old and the former, discovering who these were, made his plans for escape.
    They had reached the chateau of Chinon. It had been an exhausting day’s ride and the older Henry was very tired. He said they would retire early and get a good night’s sleep before setting off early in the morning.
    No sooner had his father fallen into a deep sleep than young Henry rose from his bed, dressed hastily and made his way to the stables. There horses were saddled and waiting and he and a few of his trusted knights rode with great speed towards the French border.

    When the King awoke to find his son had gone his rage was intense. He roared at his attendants, cuffing them right and left. Why had he not been told? Who had aided his son? Who had gone with him? By God’s eyes, they should be sorry they had ever been born.
    But he was quick to realise that he was wasting his time giving way to his fury. His son would have gone to the French border. He had hinted as much. He would seek sanctuary with Louis which was the last thing Henry wanted him to do.
    He shouted instructions. They were leaving at once and they would change direction. They were going to the French border. He sent riders in several directions and mounting the fastest of his horses he set out on the chase.
    Young Henry, however, had had a good start and although his father made every effort to catch up with him, he failed to do so and after two days Henry arrived at the Court of France.
    Louis was delighted to see him. At the evening’s banquet given in Henry’s honour, he sat at the right hand of the King of France. He told young Henry that he would support him in his claim for Normandy for he thought it fair to do so. The young man had sworn his oath of allegiance to Louis his suzerain and therefore the King regarded him as a vassal. If he wished to gain territory which by right belonged to him then his cause was a just one and the King saw it as his duty to aid his vassal.
    Young Henry was delighted. He had taken the first step and it had been comparatively easy.
    When the King of England heard that his son was at the Court of France and being entertained with honour by the King of France, his anger flared up.
    He sent a message to Louis in which he said that the King of England demanded that his son be sent back to him.
    Louis’s reply was: ‘I do not understand this message. The King of England is with me. If by the King of England you mean the King’s father, then I do not regard him as the King of England. He was I know formerly King of England but he resigned his crown to his son, and is no longer King.’
    When Henry received this message he bit his lips and hit his thighs with his clenched fists until he was bleeding and bruised.
    He was angry as much with himself as with his son and the King of France.
    He had no doubt now that his greatest act of folly had been to allow his son to be crowned King.

    The news reached Eleanor of Aquitaine where she was holding one of her Courts of Love in which her troubadours sang romantic songs and brought their literary efforts for her to judge.
    The messengers came from the Court of France and she stopped the singing that she might hear the news without delay.
    When she heard that her son Henry had successfully escaped from his father she laughed with pleasure.
    ‘Rejoice,’ she cried. ‘He is my true son after all. He has decided that he will no longer endure the bonds of tyranny. Ah, how I wish I could have seen my husband when he received that news. I doubt he ever fell into a greater rage. No more singing. I wish to be alone with my sons.’
    When the troubadours had left in a somewhat crestfallen manner she turned to Richard and said: ‘You know what this means?’
    ‘It means that we are going to war against my father.’
    ‘Henry must not be foolish. He will not be, I am sure. Louis