to death the tyrant of France, in return for which he would have the crown of martyrdom.”  Royalist writers report that he had been placed in personal communication with the friends of Henry de Guise, even with his sister the Duchess of Montpensier, and his brother the Duke of Mayenne.  When well informed of the facts, the King of Navarre returned to his quarters at Meudon, and Rosny to his lodging at the foot of the castle.  Whilst Rosny was at supper, his secretary came and said to him, “Sir, the King of Navarre, peradventure the King of France, wants you.  M. d’Orthoman writes to him to make haste and come to St. Cloud if he would see the king alive.”  The King of Navarre at once departed.  Just as he arrived at St. Cloud, he heard in the street cries of “Ah! my God, we are lost!” He was told that the king was dead.  Henry III., in fact, expired on the 2d of August, 1589, between two and three in the morning.  The first persons Henry of Navarre encountered as he entered the Hotel de Retz were the officers of the Scottish guard, who threw themselves at his feet, saying, “Ah! sir, you are now our king and our master.”

[Illustration:  Henry of Navarre and the Scotch Guard——­448]

END OF VOLUME IV.