Their late King, Henry V, when he was studying at Oxford, had learnt there the rules of divination by the stars.

For his own special use he kept in his coffers two astrolabes, one of silver and one of gold.

When his queen, Catherine of France, was about to be confined, he himself cast the horoscope of the expected child.

And further, as there was a prophecy in England[975] which said that Windsor would lose what Monmouth had gained, he determined that the Queen should not be confined at Windsor.

But destiny cannot be thwarted.