The true prophecies or prognostications of Michael Nostradamus, physician to Henry II, Francis II, and Charles IX, kings of France and one of the best astronomers that ever were a work full of curiosity and learning / translated and commented by Theophilvs de Garencieres ...

THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus. CENTURY XII.

V. French.

FEu, flamme, faim, furt, farouche fumée, Fera faillir, froissant fort, foy faucher, Fils de Deité! toute Provence humée, Chasse de Regne, enragé sans crocher.

English.

Fire, flame, hunger, theft, wild smoak, Shall cause to fail, brusing hard, to move Faith, Son of God! all Provence swallowed up? Driven from the Kingdom, raging mad without spitting.

ANNOT.

The curiosity of the Author in striving to begin all his words, in the two first Verses hath made the sense of this Stanza so obscure, that I believe no body ever did or shall truely understand it, all what can be gathered out of it, is great threatning of several calamities, that were to happen upon Provence his native Countrey, as it did a little while after his death, by the Civil Wars for Religion.

XXIV. French.

Le grand secours venu de la Guyenne, S'arrestera tout aupres de Poitiers, Lion rendu par Montluel en Vienne, Et saccagez par tous gens de Mestiers.

English.

The great succours that came from Gascony, Shall stop hard by Poitiers, Lion surrendred by Montluel and Vienna, And ransacked by all kinds of Tradesmen.

ANNOT.

The words and sense of this are plain.

XXXVI. French.

Assault farouche en Cypre se prepare, La larme a l'oeil de ta ruine proche, Bizance Classe Morisque si grand tare, Deux differens le grand vast par la Roche.

English.

A cruel assault is preparing in Cyprus, Tears in my eye, thou art near thy ruine, The Fleet of Constantinople and the Morick so great damage. Two differents the great wast shall be by the Rock.

ANNOT.

A cruel Assault is preparing, signifies the shortness of the time in which it was to happen, for our Author Prophecied 1555. and Cyprus was taken by the Turks in the Month of August 1571. Selymus the II. fifth Emperour of the Turks, where the perfidiousness of the Bassa Mustapha that Besieged it is remarkable, for having the Town delivered him upon Articles; First, that the Inhabitants of the City yet alive should enjoy their lives, liberty, and goods, with free exercise of Christian Religion, that the Governour Bragadinus with the rest of the Captains and Souldiers might in safty depart with Bag and Baggage, and at their departure take with them five pie∣ces of Ordinance, and three Horses, which soever it should please them to make choise of, and that the Turks should safely conduct them into Crete, finding them both Victual and Shipping; yet all these matters agreed upon, and commenced in∣to Writting, as also by solemn Oaths on both side confirmed; the prefidious Basla nevertheless caused Bragadinus to have his Ears cut off, then caused him to be set in a Chair, and his skin to be flain off from him quick, his head to be cut from his dead body, and upon the point of a Spear to be set upon a high place, his skin also stuffed with Chaff, he caused to be hanged up at the Yards Arm, and so to be carried about.

IV. French.

Deux corps un chef, champs divisez en deux, Et puis respondre a quattre non ouys, Petits pour grands a pertius mal pour eux, Tour d'Aigues foudre, pire pour Eussovis.

English.

Two bodies, one head, fields divided into two, And then answer to four unheard ones, Small for great ones, open evil for them, The Tower of Aigues beaten by Lightning, worse for Eussovis.

ANNOT.

Out of this crabbid Stanza we shall pick what we can, and leave the rest to the judgment of the judicious Reader. First,

The two bodies, one head may be understood either a Monster that was so, as it did happen once in Italy, as Pareus witnesseth; or of the union of the two Kingdoms of France and Navarre, under Henry the IV. or of England and Scotland under King James.

The Tower of Aiguemortes was strucken with the Lightning, a while after our Author had put out his Prophecies.

V. French.

Tristes Conseils, desloiaux, cauteleux, Aduis meschant, la loy sera trahie, Le peuple esmeu, farouche, querelleux, Tant Bourg que Ville toute le paix haie.

English.

Sad Councels, unfaithful, malicious, Ill advice the Law shall be betrayed, The people shall be moved, wild & quarrelsome, Both in Countrey and City the peace shall be hated.

ANNOT.

This is plain.

VI. French.

Roy contre Roy, & le Duc contre Prince, Haine entre iceux dissension, horrible, Rage & fureur sera toute Province, France grand guerre & changement terrible.

English.

King against King, and Duke against a Prince, Hatred between them, horrid dissension, Rage and fury shall be in every Province, Great War in France, and horrid changes.

ANNOT.

This is a true picture of the miseries of the Civil Wars in France, when Charles the IX. King of France, was against Henry King of Navarre, and the Duke of Guise against the Prince of Condé.

VII. French.

L'accord & pache sera du tout rompue, Les amitiez pollues par discorde, L'haine euvieille, toute foy corrompue, Et l'esperance, Marseilles sans concorde.

English.

The agreement and contract shall be broken in pieces, The friendships polluted by discord, The hatred shall be old, all faith corrupted, And hope also, Marseilles without concord.

ANNOT.

This is a second part of the foregoing.

VIII. French.

Guerre & debats, a Blois guerre & tumulte, Divers aguets, adveux inopinables, Entrer dedans Chasteau Trompette, insulte, Chasteau du Ha qui en seront coulpables.

English.

War and strifes, at Blois war and tumult, Several lying in wait, acknowledgment unexpected, They shall get into the Chasteau Trompette by assault, And into the Chasteau du Ha, who shall be guilty of it.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy is concerning the Civil Wars of France between the King and the League.

He saith, at Blois War and tumult; because the Duke of Guise, and the Cardinal his Brother were both killed there, at the convention of Estates by the Kings com∣mand, which he calleth here acknowledgment unexpected, because the Kingdom did own the fact.

The last two Verses are concerning the two Castles or Fortresses of Bourdeaux, who in those days were sometimes by one party, and sometimes by another.

LXV. French.

A tenir fort par fureur contraindra, Tout coeur trembler, Langon advent terrible, Le coup de pied mille pieds te rendra, Girond. Garon. ne furent plus horribles.

English.

He shall by fury compel them to hold out, Every heart shall tremble, Langon shall have a terrible event, The kick shall return to thee a thousand kicks, Girond. Garon. are no more horrid.

ANNOT.

The two last Verses seem to have a relation to the foregoing Stanza, and to im∣port, that the Governour of Bourdeaux shall compel them to hold our, and because Langon, a Town 20 or 30 Miles distant from Bourdeanx, was of the contrary party, and did annoy sometimes those of Bourdeaux, it is threatned here to have a thousand kicks for one.

Gironde and Garonne are the two Rivers of Bourdeaux.

LXIX. French.

Eiovas proche, esloigner Lac Leman, Fort grand apprests, retour confusion, Loin des Nepueux, du feu grand Supelman, Tous de leur suyte.

English.

Eiovas near, yet seemeth to be far from the Lake Leman, Very great preparatives, return confusion, Far from the Neveux of the late great Supelman, All of their train.

ANNOT.

This is a notable one, directly foretelling the Enterprise or Scalado made by the Duke of of Savoy, upon Geneva: for the better Intelligence of which, we shall first give the sense word for word, and then set down the whole History as a piece of Cabinet, that the Reader after so much tedious and crabbid reading, may have some field to spatiate and recruit it self.

Eiovas near, Eiovas by Anagram is Savoy, or the Duke of it, who at that time was near Geneva; yet seemeth far from the Lake Leman, which is the Lake that pas∣seth through Geneva, called in Latine Lacus Lemannus. Very great preparatives; because at that time he made great preparations to Scale the Walls of Geneva Return, because he was forced to retire. Confusion; because he was confounded in his un∣dertaking. Far from the Neveux of the great Supelman; that is, an action much unworthy the Kindred of Henry the IV. called here great Supelman, to whom he

was Allied. All of their Train; that is, all that were with him in that undertaking, did partake of his return and confusion. Now the History is thus.

About the latter end of the year 1600. the Duke of Savoy having done before all his endeavours to take the City of Geneva by force, did resolve at last to have it by craft, and stratagem. He did frame a design full of Courage, Understanding, and Conduct, as well as of misfortune; it was long a hatching without being discover∣ed, and although it was known that he caused Ladders to be made, and that he bought every where men of courage and resolution, and had a great number of them alread•• at Chambery, well payed and maintained, waiting for the ripeness of the de∣sign, though Ignorant of it. No body could believe that it was against those of Geneva; because at that time he did treat with them of the manner of living friendly, and of the liberty of Trade, having sent to them for this purpose a few days before the President Rochette, to treat and advise of a manner of living friendly together, for the ease of the people. They did so much hearten and relish his propositions and promises, that although Cities of such condition, do not lightly believe them that have been their Enemies, nevertheless they trusted to that, and grew careless of their own preservation, thinking that there was nothing more powerfull for their security than the treaties of peace between France, Spain, and Savoy, in which they thought themselves included, under the name of the confederate with the Cantons of Switzerland; insomuch that the Dukes Subject; went thither so familiarly, that the day before this Execution some Gentlemen that knew something of the design, being come into the Town to buy some Horses, said they would come again the next day to conclude the Bargain, and others had kept the same Language for other Wares, so fully perswaded were they of a success, though Heaven, who laugheth at the thoughts of the proud, had resolved to humble and abase them.

The Governour of Lion had presently notice that the Duke of Savoy was coming on the side of the Mountain, and carryed with him scaling Ladders, of which he sent notice to the King, and provided what was necessary for the defence of Lion, although the same Advice said it was not for France; yet all this could not hinder the Execution which was in the mean time a doing. D'Albigny Lieutenant General of the Duke in those Countreys he had on this side of the Mountains, had made the Troops to pass, and for that purpose had assigned them of their Quarters in the Towns of Geneva, in several places, that they might not be so soon discovered. The Randezvous was at a place called Chambery, the time of the Execution was re∣served to the prudence of the Leader. The time was not according to the precept of the Parthians, who ever fought by night, nor of the Lacedemonians, who under∣took nothing but in the time of the full Moon; for it was one of the darkest and longest nights of all the year, the Troops began their March about six of the Clock. Brignolet Governour of Bonnes, a small Town in Fossigny, distant three Leagues from Geneva, was the man that had contributed most of his own for the performance of this design, whom he thought so certain, that he said he would die to the world, if he did not live in Geneva. D'Albigny had set up Watches upon all the passes, to stop all Travellers, for fear notice should be given of their coming; and of that of the Duke of Savoy, to whom the Execution had been represented so sure and certain, in that he should be there himself to reap the Honour and profit of it, and to end the Triumph that his Grandfather had begun. He came over the Mountains with five Gentlemen only in his Company, and the same day came to Tremblures▪ a Village distant from Geneva about three Miles; and for all that they could not hinder, but an unknown Trooper did ride as far as the New gate, and asked to speak to him that commanded there, bidding him look to themselves, because the duke of Savay, wished them no good, and so retreated galloping. This News was brought to Blondel, the fourth Syndic of the Town, and who had the

charge of the Guard that year; he answerd, he would provide for that. Another came afterwards, and told him that the Dakes Forces were about the Town, but knew not upon what design, and that himself was at Bonne; he answered, that they were not Birds, and could not fly, Mistrust is not always to be commended; but too much confidence in such business, is exceedingly dangerous.

Those that were to do the Execution, and to get up first upon the Ladders, went along by the River of Albe, that the noise of the Waters might hinder the Sentinals to hear them, Two things did happen, that were an ill Omen for them, they saw in the Skies unusual fires, a Hare did many times cross their way, and gave them a false Alarm, and as many things being considered in the night time, do trou∣ble the imagination, and that fear maketh one think that Bushes are Squadrons, and Thistles Pikes, as it did happen once at the Siege of Paris by the E••rgundians. They did discover about Eleven of the Clock some Posts, to whom the Cloth-workers of Geneva use to nail their Stuffs to dry them. Those that went formost would have Charged them, thinking they had been an Ambuscado; from thence they went all along the Rhosne to the Meadow of Plain Palais. Brignolet, and those that were ordained for the Scalado followed d'Albigny, who led them down into the Town-Ditch, on the side of the Corraterie, without being discovered by the Sentinals, although the Ducks that were in the Ditch, did (for to awake those of Geneva) what the Geese did at Rome against the French. They went over the Ditch upon Hurdles for fear to sink in the Mire, and did set up three Ladders of a wonderful in∣vention; because they could be easily carryed upon Mules, and they could be folded into so many pieces, that they could reach the highest wall that is; and besides that, so strong and firm, that no Ladder of one piece could be more; they had besides that provided Hatchets, Hammers, Pincers, and other such Tools, to cut Iron Chains, break Locks, draw Nails and Bars, they had besides several Petardoes and Petardo-Masters. Fortune, who hath a great power in such undertakings, did fail them in their need, after she had brought them to the middle of the City, and made them masters of the streets for above two hours.

By one of those Ladders went up about two hundred men, Brignolet was the first, followed by d'Attigna•• and Sonas, and did carry himself more valliantly and prudent∣ly; having got over the Wall, he su••prized the Sentinal, and drew from him the Watch-word, and his Life, then threw him over into the Ditch, and stood in his place to stay for the Round, that he might do as much to him, as he did when it came near him to give him the Watch-word. D'Albigny, and one Father Alex∣ander a Scotchman, and a Jusuite, were at the Ladders foot, incouraging those that went up. The Boy that carryed the Lanthorn saved himself, and gave notice to the Court de Garde of what had betallen his Master, at which the Court de Garde was not much moved. This was a doing between One and Two of the Clock, expecting that of four, at the which they had proposed to make their greater attempt, and in the mean while to give time to the succour to draw near, and to the day to break▪ because all Warlike Executions done by night, carry always some confusion with them. No body had gone to bed in the Town with a thought to be awakened so soon, they rested upon the assurance of the Peace. The undertakers had a whole hours time to get up, and as much before they met with any opposition. It d'Albigny had been Within to husband that time better than did Sonas, Brignolet, and d Attig∣nac, they might have cried, the Town is won. About half an hour past two of the Clock, a Sentinal that was in the Mints Tower, having heard some noise in the Ditch, shot off his Gun to give the Alarm, which compelled Brignolet to discover himself, charging all that was in the Court de Garde of the New-gate, that he might Plant the Petard, and make way for the main Body that was in Plain Palais. They got very well the Court de Garde, but against the Rule of War, which commondeth

to kill all, they let one escape that had so much wit as to get up, and to let down the Port-Cullis, to frustrate the effect of the Petard. The Town was at that time full of Cries and horrid Houlings, of which the Savoiards should have made their profit, and increased their courage, as it did weaken that of the Townsmen, that knew not where to run, some crying one way, some another. The under∣takers lost themselves in the appearance of so happy a success, those that were with∣out should have given the Alarm at some other Gate, to divide the Forces of the Town, those that were within made no use of their Hatchets, Hammers and Pin∣cers, they forgot to set some Houses on fire; the spirit of astonishment seized up∣on them, having in their thoughts the Sack and Plunder of the Town, more than the perfection of their Conquest; they made only use of a certain croaking like Frogs, as the Turks use the Bret, Bret, to animate and rally themselves. Brignolet being compelled to discover himself, marched towards the New Gate, distant from that place about 200. Paces, and there was wounded, and died a little after; the Fight began in the dark, and the Court de Garde was dispersed, one Souldier hear∣ing them call for the Petard, got upon the Gate, and cut the Rope that held the Port-Culis, and shut up the Petard between the Port-Culis, and the Gate which they went about to break open, with their Hatchets and Hammers, at the first resistance the Petards Master was killed. The Order is such at Geneva, that in all extraordinary accidents, every Citizen knoweth the place of his Randezvous, and there goeth with his Arms, and the Town House is never destitute of Soul∣diers.

In the mean time the Magistrate cryeth, He that loveth me let him follow me. Some Countrey Fellows of the Neighbouring Towns, who kept their Watch by turns, being led by some Captains and Citizens, did present themselves at the New Gate, where they were stoutly received, and beaten back, and yet the first shot of theirs killed the Petard-Master, who was much troubled with his Tools. This first Charge would not have driven them back, if the body of the Citizens had not come, and Charged them so furiously, that they lost all their Courage; Ne∣cessity which strengthens even those that want Courage, did so animate the Citizens to their defence, that the undertakers were fained to give back. The more nimble went again to their Ladders, which proved useless; because the Canon that was Planted in the Fort of Loye, near the Ditch, had broken them; so that they left four and fifty dead upon the place, and upon the Curtain of the Corraterie, and thirteen that were taken alive. If the Town had had Souldiers in readiness to make a Sally in that And••b••tism, the night being sometimes favourable to such expe∣ditions, those that were at Plain Palais, would not have retreated in so good an Order.

There were thirteen taken alive, among whom were the Baron of Attignac, the Lord Sonas, the Lord Chaffardon, upon promise of their Lives, and to be Prisoners of War, or else they had preserved an Honourable death to all the promises, to be spared in laying down their Arms; among them was d'Attignac, who fought vali∣antly, and gave his Order of St. Maurice to his man, bidding him save himself, being resolved to die with his Sword in his hand.

The Lords of Geneva would not use them as Prisoners of War; but as Thieves and Robbers come into the City over the Walls. They said that the Duke was too generous a Prince for so wicked and perfidious an action: there was several Opinions concerning their Sentence of Death, the more moderate would have them be put to Ransom, others would have them be kept Prisoners, that they might serve for exchange, if some of the Town were taken in the continuation of the War; but the more violent did stir the people, in representing unto them the loss of their Religion, the ravishing of their Wives and Maids, the Massacre, the Sack

and Plunder of the Town, and their perpetual slavery, and the complaints of the Widows and Children of those that had been killed, were so much considered, that the more moderate Opinions did not appear injust, but in how much they tended to Death. They were Condemned to be Hanged, which is thought the most Ig∣nominious Death: they desired to have their Heads cut off as Gentlemen, which was granted, but it was after they were Hanged. Fifty nine were found killed and wounded, who had all their Heads cut off. In the Ditch there were some Arms found, thirty dead, and four wounded, all their Heads were cut off, and set with the rest upon the Gallows. Of the Citizens of the Town there were seventeen found dead, most of them killed by their Companions in the dark. Their Names were John Canal, one of the Lords of the Councel, Lewis Baudiere, John Vandel, Lewis Galatin, Peter Cabriol, Mark Cambiagua, Nicolas Ba••gueret, James Mercier, Abraham de Baptista, Daniel Humbert, Martin de Bolo, Michael Monard, Philip Potier, Francis Bouzesel, John Buignet, James Petit, Gerrard Muzy, and about twenty wounded. The Sunday after Dinner, about two of the Clock, 67 Heads, as well of those that were killed, as of those that were Hanged, were fastened upon the Gallows, and the Bodies thrown into the Rhosne. The next Tuesday there was a solemn Fasting day kept, and they began to publish every where the wonders of this Deliverance.

Here followeth the Copy of their Letter, to the Governour of Lion.

My Lord,

You have known before this by many of your Letters, how his Highness of Savoy; notwithstanding he knew, and had confessed that we were included in the Peace made in the year 1600 between his Royal Majesty of France, and him; hath neverth∣less divers times oppressed us, by detaining our Rents, prohibiting of Trade, other vio∣lences and extorsions, refusing to hearken to the just and pressing remanstrances, which his Majesty hath made him several times in our behalf; but hath also contrived many de∣figns to surprise us in time of Peace. Now it is so, that for the encompasing his pernicious design, the Lord d'Albigny, Saturday last, the Eleventh of this Month, did bring be∣fore our Town, on the side of Plain Palais, about two Thousand men, Horse and Foot, all choice men, and hath caused to pass about 200. of them over our Ditch, by the Corra∣terie, and having set up Ladders one within another, hatb caused them to come into our Town about three of the Clock in the Morning, upon Sunday the Twelfth of this Month, encouraging them himself, b••ing in the Ditch; so that being come down into the Town, some went towards our New Gate to force it open, and give entrance to their Companions, who were in the ••lain of Plain Palais, others went towards the Mint Gate, that they might by this means come into the middle of the Town. But i•• hath pleased God to look upon us with his favourable Eye, and to give such a Heart to the Citizens, that they beat them back, and killed the best part of them taken upon the place, the rest hath been taken, and since that Hanged by our Order, the rest threw themselves down from the wall; so that we hear, many of them are either dead or grievously wounded. It is a wonderfull deliverance of our God, for which we are particularly bound to Praise him. But as it is probable, that the said Lord d'Albigny will continue his ill designs, by so much the more that we hear his Highness is not far from us, we do intreat and request by all our affection, that you would be pleased to consider what prejudice the taking of this place would be to his Majesty, and to continue us your favour, and assist us with our wise and prudent advise, &c.

Many did judge of the success of this enterprise by the beginning, and were more for∣ward to write, than to perform well. The King had notice that the Duke was Master of the Town, and the manner of doing was represented with so much felicity and facility, that there was less reason to doubt of it than believe it. The Truth was not known, but by the advise of the Governour of Lion, which came before any discourse that the Town did pub∣lish after its deliverance:

The Duke went Post back again over the Mountains, and left his Troops within three miles of Geneva in three places, at Tournon, Fossigny, and Ternier, he caused his Embassadours to say to the Lords of Be••ne, that he had not made that enterprise to trouble the Peace of the Cantons; but to prevent l'Esdiguieres to seize upon it for the King of of France, who should have been so powerfull a Neighbour, as would have given them great occasion of fears and jealousies.

The success of this undertaking made it appear, that God will not have those Treaties to the assurance of which his name hath been called for a Witness, to be violated, whatsoever appeararance or pretext of Religion there be.

Thus Gentle Reader thou seest by all these Circumstances the Truth of our Authors Prognostication.

LXXI. French.

Fleuves, Rivieres, de mal seront obstacles, La vielle flame d'ire non appaisee, Courir en France, cecy come d'Oracles, Maisons, Manoirs, Palais, secte rasée.

English.

Brooks and Rivers shall be a stopping to cvil, The old flame of anger being not yet ceased, Shall run through France, take this as an Oracle, Houses, Mannors, Palaces, Sect shall be raced.

ANNOT.

This hath a perfect relation to the miseries that followed the general Massacre of the Protestants in France in the year 1572. when the Rivers were a stop to the cruel∣ty of the Persecutors, and when so many Houses, Mannors and Palaces belonging to those of the reformed Religion were demolished, and to signifie the certainty thereof, he saith in the third Verse, take this as an oracle.