a courier from France carried news of his
death to Germany eight days before it happened. On the altar, at
Montargis, was found a paper, announcing that in a few days he would
perish by the hand of an assassin. Public prayers were offered up in
some parts of the Spanish territory for the success of a great
enterprise to be carried on in France; and many warnings were given
to Henry himself. The monarch, however, would pay no attention to
them, notwithstanding the presentiment with which he himself was
filled; and it is said that when, on the day of his death, his son,
the Duke of Vendome, came to tell him that La Brosse, the astrologer,
had predicted that great danger menaced him that day, Henry merely
laughed, saying, 'La Brosse is an old fox who wishes to have your
money, and you a young fool to believe him. Our days are counted
before God.' Perhaps more attention might often have been paid to
astrologers by great men if they had recollected that such
intimations may sometimes come from other sources than the stars, and
that many of those persons looked upon it as a part of their trade to
obtain intelligence of meditated designs in support of their
pretended science.

"The coronation of the Queen passed off without any accident; and her
ceremonious entrance into Paris was appointed for the 16th of the
month. The troops of the crown were already assembled on the
frontier, fifty pieces of artillery had been sent on to wait the
coming of the King, and he was to set out immediately after the
approaching pageant, in order to put himself at the head of his
troops: but, to the surprise of all, Spain and the Low Countries
remained in a state of the most perfect tranquillity; no preparations
for resistance were seen, no movement was made to turn away the
coming storm. This is the only circumstance which could throw the
slightest suspicion on the Archduke of taking any part in the crime
about to be perpetrated. On the 14th of May the King showed himself
restless and uneasy, but nevertheless he went, as usual, to hear mass
at the church of the Feuillans, and returned in safety to the palace.
The Queen, frightened by the predictions of the astrologers, besought
him not to go out any more that day. Henry laughed at her fears, but
still showed himself gloomy an