In the late 1400's, France was ruled by King Louis XI, and like most of his ancestors and descendants within 8 generations, he lived a charmed life, surrounding himself with pleasures no-one in France could afford; fine wine, sumptuous women, banquets every day and....an Astrologer.
Louis was riveted by what was then thought of as a 'black art'; like all leaders, the King wanted to solidify his position beyond anything his enemies could hope to attack, and what better way than the supernatural?
King Louis hired the greatest Astrologer known at the time; he kept him on his staff a few years, and his predictions seemed to pay off; Louis rarely put a foot wrong, due to the Astrologer always making recommendations that were also tactically sound. As the years passed, Louis had the occasional, silent doubt about whether his man was actually a stargazer, or just a skilled strategist, but as his decisions turned out well, he brushed these thoughts aside.
One day, however, the milk soured; the Astrologer predicted that one of Louis' mistresses would die within 9 dies, his favourite concubine no less, and indeed
she did, on the 9th day. Even the Court Physician could not determine a cause of death.
King Louis was aghast, not so much at the loss of his best lay, but at the implication; her death meant EITHER that the Astrologer was so determined to prove his abilities that he would go so far as to murder someone, OR that the man was indeed so skilled in his craft that his powers could actually be a threat to the King.
One way or the other...the Astrologer had to die.
The King prepared a cunning trap; waiting in his Chamber, at the top of the castle, in the early hours of the morning, he arranged to have his servants wake the Astrologer for an unnanounced meeting, and when the King gave a particular signal, they were to seize the man, and throw him out of the window.
The Astrologer arrived, bleary-eyed, and mumbled, "Sire, what is your bidding?".
Louis replied, "You, stargazer, you have advised me well of the future over the years, but I have a question; what is YOUR future? More pertinently, my question to you is this;
precisely when are you fated to die?" Louis glanced quickly at his waiting servants before fixing his stare on the Astrologer, who sat and looked back at the King, and without hesitating, replied,
"I shall die but three days before your majesty".
King Louis never gave the signal. For over two decades, he lavished gifts, protection and good living on the Astrologer, indeed the man lived better than even the King himself, to assure the longevity of both men.
The twist in the tale? The Astrologer outlived Louis by 15 years.
The moral of the story? If you're going to bluff...prepare to have it called.
KS