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This old eagle.

posted by LockeProposal on TheGrittyPast

The last years of Henry II’s reign were sad ones, dominated by quarrels with his sons. Gerald of Wales tells us of a cruel legend about the old king (which took the fancy of the Elizabethan antiquary William Camden).

’It is said of this Henry that in a chamber at Windsor he caused to be painted an eagle with four birds whereof three of them all attacked the body of the old eagle. The fourth was scratching at the old eagle’s eyes, and when it was asked of him what thing the picture should signify, it was answered by him, “this old eagle”, said he, “is myself and these four eagles betoken my four sons which cease not to pursue my death and especially my younger son John which now I love most shall most especially await and imagine my death”.’

But it is clear from Henry’s behaviour that his children’s enmity took him by surprise, again and again.

Source:

Seward, Desmond. “The Lost Years.” Eleanor of Aquitaine. New York: Times , 1979. 145. Print.

Further Reading:

Henry II of England / Court-manteau (Henry Curtmantle) / Henry FitzEmpress / Henry Plantagenet

Giraldus Cambrensis / Gerallt Gymro / Gerald de Barri (Gerald of Wales)

John, King of England / Johan sanz Terre (John Lackland)

>The last years of [Henry II](http://i.imgur.com/yiUIoqA.jpg)’s reign were sad ones, dominated by quarrels with his sons. Gerald of Wales tells us of a cruel legend about the old king (which took the fancy of the Elizabethan antiquary [William Camden]( https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/William_Camden_by_Marcus_Gheeraerts_the_Younger.jpg)). >’It is said of this Henry that in a chamber at Windsor he caused to be painted an eagle with four birds whereof three of them all attacked the body of the old eagle. The fourth was scratching at the old eagle’s eyes, and when it was asked of him what thing the picture should signify, it was answered by him, “this old eagle”, said he, “is myself and these four eagles betoken my four sons which cease not to pursue my death and especially my younger son [John](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Jan_tomb.jpg) which now I love most shall most especially await and imagine my death”.’ >But it is clear from Henry’s behaviour that his children’s enmity took him by surprise, again and again. ______________________________ **Source:** Seward, Desmond. “The Lost Years.” *Eleanor of Aquitaine*. New York: Times , 1979. 145. Print. ______________________________ **Further Reading:** [Henry II of England / Court-manteau (Henry Curtmantle) / Henry FitzEmpress / Henry Plantagenet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II_of_England) [Giraldus Cambrensis / Gerallt Gymro / Gerald de Barri (Gerald of Wales)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_of_Wales) [William Camden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Camden) [John, King of England / Johan sanz Terre (John Lackland)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John,_King_of_England)

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