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 ...

CENTURY I.

I. French.

EStant assis, de nuit secrette estude, Seul, reposé sur la selle d'airain, Flambe exigüe, sortant de solitude, Fait proferer qui n'est a croire vain.

English.

Sitting by Night in my secret Study Alone, resting upon the Brazen Stool, A slight flame breaking forth out of that solitude, Makes me utter what is not in vain to believe.

ANNOTATION.

IN this Stanza, Nostradamus expresseth those Humane dispositions which he made use of to be favoured of God, for the knowledge of future things, to the benefit of the Publick.

The first Disposition, was the tranquility of Mind, when he saith, Sitting by night; Because a troubled Mind cannot see clearly the Things it is busie about, no more than tossed Waters can distinctly represent the Objects that are opposed to them. Thus we read in the Scripture, that the Prophet Elishah, being transported with Zeal against Joram King of Israel; and nevertheless willing to consult God concerning the event of the Warr against the Moabites, called for a Minstrel, that the Harmony of the In∣strument might quiet his Mind, as it did happen. And it came to pass when the Minstrel played, that the Hand of the Lord came upon him, 2 Kings chap. 3. ver. 15.

The Author in his Dedicatory Epistle to his Son Caesar, calleth this Tranquility of Mind, A long Melancholick Inspiration; because the Melancholick Humour and Mind sequestreth a Man from the concerns of worldly things, and maketh him present to himself, so that his Understanding is not darkned by a multitude of Species that troubles its Operation.

The Second Disposition, was, the Silence of the Night; For Man who is com∣pounded of Body and Soul, doth notably intricate himself in External things by the commerce of the Senses with the Objects; which obligeth him to withdraw himself from visible things, when he intends to apply himself to some serious Study. And as the silence of the Night causeth in the Universe a cessation of noises and clashings in Business, Visits and Colloquies, the Mind is then more at rest. Besides that, Night covering with her Darkness our Hemisphere, our Senses are less distracted, and our Internal Faculties are more united to serve the Operations of the Understanding.

Therefore the Author in his two Liminary Epistles, makes often mention of his continual Nocturnal Watchings, of his Sweet-smelling nocturnal Studies, and of his Nocturnal and Prophetical Calculations.

The Third Disposition, was Solitariness; that is, having no other Conversation then that of his Books, being retired in his Study, Alone. For it seemeth that God commonly maketh use of Solitariness when he doth impart himself to Men, and re∣vealeth them his Oracles: And the Sybils were chosen to be Prophets, as much for their Solitariness, as for their Chastity.

The Author saith, that with those three Dispositions he raised himself to the knowledge of future things; which is signified by those words, Resting upon the Brazen Stool. Servius in his Commentaries upon Virgil, speaking of this Brazen Stool, saith two things of it. The First, that this Stool was a Table set upon a Trevet, called by the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and by the Latines Tripus. The Second is, that the Sybils, or the Priests of the Delphick Temple of Apollo, got upon that Table, when they went about to pronounce their Oracles. Pliny, in his 33. Book, Chap. 3. saith, that they called those Tables Cortinas, and that some were made of Brass for the use aforesaid.

From the use of that Brazen Trevet is come the Proverb, Ex tripode loqui. When one speaketh like an Oracle. Thus the Author willing to express, that being in his Stu••y in the solitariness of the Night, he raised himself to the Knowledge of Future things, to write them, and transmit them to Posterity; he saith, He was sitting or rest∣ing upon the Brazen Stool.

Thus raising himself, and taking his Pen in hand to write what he should learn, he saith in the Third Verse, that A slight Flame, or small Light did insinuate it self in his understanding, by whose splendor and brightness he saw future things.

The Author in his Epistle to Caesar his Son, expoundeth always this Prophetical Light, by the comparison of a shining Flame, and calleth it rather a Flame than a pure Light, because this Light doth not only discover the Mysteries, but more-over it lightens in us a certain Heat and Prophetical Power, as himself terms it; as if we should say a Sacred Enthusiasm, even (saith he) as the Sun coming near us with his Light, not only darteth upon all Elementary things the brightness of his Beams, but withal infuseth in them a certain quickning heat, which causeth the Vegetables to grow, and

upholdeth the Being of all other natural things; Even so (saith he) this good Ge∣nius, as the Ancients term it; or as we Christians say, that Divine Spirit of Prophe∣cy coming near our understandings, not only importeth a Light to them, but more∣over a certain heat and Prophetical Power, which strenghteneth them in the know∣ledge of the aforesaid things, and causeth them to breath out, as by a Sacred En∣thusiasm some Prophetical Verses.

Which happeneth to them (saith the Author) coming out of Solitude, that is to fay, when their Spirit stoopeth down, and by degrees cometh down from that sublime Region and high elevation, taking the Pen to write down the future time. There∣fore he with his dispositions participating of that slight flame, coming out of his soli∣tude, began to write and to utter, What is not in vain to believe.

The things that the Author hath written, shall not be unprofitable as we have proved already, and the time will come, when by the means of Divine Providence the Church shall receive the fruit thereof, at which we ought not to wonder, seeing that God saith of himself in Isaiah Chap. 48. Ver. 17. I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit.

The Author foretelleth many wonders, of which we ought to be certain by the verification of those that are already past, seeing that it is the same Spirit that shewed them all.

The same Prophecies are also profitable, in that every where the Author con∣demneth Seditious and Rebellious persons, and Prophecieth the Churches Victory over her Enemies.

They are also profitable for particular Men that understand the meaning of them, for by it they may provide for their own business, according to the storm, under∣taking nothing but upon sure grounds, following always the best party, and dispo∣sing themselves to patience, when the calamities are general, and involve together the guilty and guiltless. Therefore our Author saith well, A slight flame breaking forth out of that solitude, makes me utter what is not in vain to believe.

II. French.

La Verge en main, mise au milieu des Branches, De l'Onde je moüille & le Limbe & le Pied, En peur j'escris fremissant par les manches; Splendeur Divine: le Divine prez s'assied.

English.

With Rod in hand, set in the middle of the Branches, With water I wet the Limb and the Foot, In fear I writ, quaking in my sleeves, Divine splendor! the Divine sitteth by.

ANNOT.

Amongst the customs, the Ancients observed, before they pronounced their Oracles; one was to take a Tuffie Branch of Laurel, and with it dipt in water, to sprinkle the edges and Columns of the Table, that was upon the Brazen Trevet, by which ceremonies they procured credit to their Oracles.

The Author willing to let us know, that his Verses were not only a simple writ∣ing,

ing, but also Prophetical and full of Oracles, doth represent them to us by this Me∣taphore of the Ancients, when they did amuse the people with their ambiguous, and many times fallacious Oracles.

Being then sitting and quiet in his solitariness; coming out of that great devotion of mind, animated by the virtue of his good Genius, he putteth first the Rod into his hand, that is the Pen, and putteth it in the middle of the Branches, putting it between his Fingers. Secondly he dippeth this Rod into Water, dipping his Pen in his Ink; with this Pen dipt in Ink, he wetteth the Limb and the Foot, writing upon his paper from one end to the other, and from the top to the bottom.

Which we must understand by this word Lymbe, which is a Latin word, signify∣ing the long and narrow pieces of stuffe, which women wore at the bottom of their Petticoats, therefore the Latins called them Lymbos, from the Latin Verbe Lambo, which in matter of cloths signifieth, to leek or sweep; and because those pieces of cloath were in the bottom of their Garments, the word hath been afterwards em∣ployed to signifie the brims of some things, so that the Lymbs of a sheet of paper, are the two margines, and the top and the bottom, as if it were the four ends of a Quadrangular Figure.

The third Verse sheweth the internal disposition of the Author, after he hath described his external one; that disposition was a Sacred quaking, which putting his heart into a palpitation, caused his hands and arms to shake, as if he had been taken with some fit of an Ague. This quaking is the disposition which the good Genius causeth in Prophets, that they may be humbled, and not be puffed up with pride, when they come near the Majesty of God, as we read in Daniel, St. John, and the 4th. of Esdras. Therefore the Author saith:

In fear I write, quaking in my sleeves. And because the Divine spirit after he hath cast down those, to whom he will impart himself, doth afterwards quiet them; the Author therefore addeth, that a Divine splendor did sit by him.

III. French.

Quand la littiere du tourbillon versée, Et seront faces de leurs Manteaux couvers, La Republique par gens nouveaux vexée, Lors blancs & rouges jugeront a l'envers.

English.

When the litter shall be overthrown by a gust of wind, And faces shall be covered with Cloaks, The Common-wealth shall be troubled with a new kind of men, Then white and red shall judge amiss.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses signifie that a great tempestuous wind was to happen, in which a litter should be overturned, and every one should muffle his face in his Cloak, for the sierceness of the wind.

And that presently after the Common-wealth should be troubled with new Sects and Opinions, which may be understood of the beginning of Reformation by Luther and Calvin, which was about that time.

The last Verse by the white and red signifieth here (as it doth thorough all the Book) the French and the Spaniards, because the French wear white Scarfes, and the Spaniards red ones: and consequently the troubles and jars that happened presently between those two Nations.

IV. French.

Par l'Univers sera fait un Monarque, Qu'en paix & vie ne sera longuement, Lors se perdra la Piscature Barque, Sera regie en plus grand detriment.

English.

In the World shall be one Monarch, Who shall be not long alive, nor in peace, Then shall be lost the Fishing Boat, And be governed with worse detriment.

ANNOT.

That Monarch was Henry the II. King of France, who did not Reign long, but was unfortunately slain, running at Tilt against the Earl of Montgomery, (as we shall see hereafter) and almost during all his Reign had Wars with Charles the V. Empe∣rour, and his Son Philip the II. King of Spain; the said Emperour in that time did sack Rome, took the Pope Clement the VII. prisoner, which is signified here; as also in several other places by the loss of the Fishing Boat; the Roman Church being of∣ten compared to a Ship or Boat.

V. French.

Chassez seront fans faire long combat, Par le Païs seront plus fort grevez, Bourg & Cité auront plus grand debat, Carcas, Narbonne auront coeurs esprouvez.

English.

They shall be driven away without great fighting, Those of the Countrey shall be more grieved, Town and City shall have a greater debate, Carcas, Narbonne shall have their hearts, tryed.

ANNOT.

Herein is nothing mystical, the meaning is that some of the Protestant party in∣tending to take or vex the Cities of Carcassone and Narbonne in Languedoc, shall be ea∣sily repulsed, and shall afterward fall upon the Countrey round about, which shall suffer for.

VI. French.

L'oeil de Ravenne sera destitué, Quand a ses pieds les aisles sailliront; Les deux de Bresse auront constitué, Turin, Verceil, que Gaulois fouleront.

English.

The eye of Ravenna shall be forsaken, When the wings shall rise at his feet, The two of Brescia shall have constituted, Turin, Verceil, which the French shall tread upon.

ANNOT.

This is a confirmation of the fourth Stanza, concerning the loss of the Pope, Clement the VII. who is called here the eye of Ravenna, because he is Lord of that famous City, which was once an Exarchat of the Empire.

The wings that shall rise at, or against his feet, shall be those of the Eagle, which are the Arms of the Emperour.

The two of Brescia were the Governour and Proveditor of Venice in that place, who would at that time have endeavoured to seize upon Turin and Verceil, the two chiefest Towns of Piemont, but were prevented by the French.

VII. French.

Tard arrivé, l'execution faite, Le Vent contrare, Lettres au chemin prinses, Les Conjurez quatorze d'une Secte, Parle Rousseau seront les entreprinses.

English.

One coming too late, the execution shall be done, The Wind being contrary, and Letters intercepted by the way, The Conspirators fourteen of a Sect, By the Red-hair'd Man the undertaking shall be made.

ANNOT.

The sense of the whole is this, there shall be fourteen Conspirators of one mind, and their Ring-leader, a Red-haired man, who shall be put to death, because their Reprieve could not come timely enough, being hindered by cross winds, and Let∣ters intercepted. I could find no particular things in History concerning this.

VIII. French.

Combien de fois prinse Cité Solaire Seras, changeant les Loix barbares & vaines, Ton mal s'approche, plus seras tributaire, Le grand Adrie recouvrira tes veines.

English.

How often taken O solar City, Shalt thou be? changing the barbarian and vain Laws, Thy evil groweth nigh, thou shalt be more tributary, The great Adria shall recover thy veins.

ANNOT.

It is hard to judge what he meaneth by the Solar City that shall be so often taken.

As by Adria, it is certain he meaneth Venice, that was so called anciently, because of its scituation in the Adriatick Sea.

IX. French.

De l'Orient viendra le coeur punique, Fascher Adrie, & les hoirs Romulides, Accompagné de la classe Libique Trembler Melites, & proches Isles vuides.

English.

From the East shall come the African heart, To vex Adria, and the Heirs of Romulus, Accompanied with the Libian feet, Melites shall tremble, and the Neighbouring Islands be empty.

ANNOT.

This was a clear and true Prognostication of that famous Invasion made upon Maltha, by the grand Signor Solyman the magnificent, in the year of our Lord 1565. and just ten years after the writing of this Prophecy, wherein that Island, and some of the Neighbouring ones were wholly depopulated by the Turks, to the terror of Venice, called here Adria, and of all the Islands of the Adriatick Sea. For the better understanding of this, the Reader must observe, that Punicas in Larin signifieth Afri∣ca, so that the African heart signifieth the help the Turk had from Tunis, Tripoly, and Algier, Cities seated in Africa, and under the Turkish Dominion; by which not only Maltha (which in Latin is Melita) but Venice and Rome were put into a great fright; the conclusion of this Siege was, that after six weeks time, and the loss of 26000. Men, the Turks were constrained shamefully to retire. Vide the Turkish History. French.

X. French.

Sergens transmis dans la Cage de Fer, Ou les Enfans septains du Roy sont pris, Les vieux & Peres sortiront bas d'Enfer, Ains mourir voir de son fruit mort & cris.

English.

Sergeants sent into an Iron Cage, Where the seven Children of the King are, The old Men and Fathers shall come out of Hell, And before they die shall see the death and cries of their fruit.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy signifieth, that some Sergeants or Executioners shall be sent into a Prison, to put to death seven Children, servants of a King that were Imprisoned there, and that some old Men their Fathers, shall see their death, and hear their cries.

XI. French.

Le mouvement de Sens, Coeur, Pieds, & Mains, Seront d'accord, Naples, Leon, Sicile, Glaives, Feux, Eaux, puis au Noble Romains, Plongez, Tuez, Morts, par cerveau debile.

English.

The motion of the Sense, Heart, Feet and Hands Shall agree, Naples, Leon, Sicily, Swords, Fires, Waters, then to the noble Romans, Dipt, Killed, Dead, by a weak-brain.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses signifie the concord that shall be among the Spanish domi∣nions, expressed here by Sense, Heart, Feet, and Hands. After which, the Romans or those of Rome, shall be evilly intreated, being drewned, killed, and put to death by a weak brain. I guess this to have come to pass, when the Emperour Charles the V. his Army sacked Rome, under the command of the Duke of Bourbon, who was killed at the Assault; and of the Prince of Orange, who permitted licentiousness to his Soul∣diers, and suffered them to commit more violence, than ever the Goths or Vandales did, and therefore is called here weak brain. This Prince of Orange was of the House of Chalon, after which came that of Nassau.

XII. French.

Dans peu ira fauce brute fragile, De bas en haut eslevé promptement, Puis en estant desloyal & labile, Qui de Verone aura gouvernment.

English.

Within a little while a false frail brute shall go, From low to high, being quickly raised, By reason that he shall have the Government of Verona, Shall be unfaithful and slippery.

ANNOT.

This foretelleth of a wicked person, who in a short time shall be from a low de∣gree exalted to a high one, by reason that those that have the Government of Verona, shall be unfaithful and slippery. That person seemeth to be some Pope, who from a low degree shall be exalted to that dignity, by the unfaithfulness and slipperiness of the Venetians, who are now Lords of the City Verona in Italy,

XIII. French.

Les exiles, par ire, haine intestine, Feront au Roy grand conjuration, Secret mettront ennemis par la mine, Et les vieux siens, contre eux sedition.

English.

The banished, by choler, and intestine hatred Shall make against the King a great conspiracy, They shall put secret enemies in the mine, And the old his own against them sedition.

ANNOT.

Although this Prophecie seemeth to be indefinitely spoken, because in every Countrey or Kingdom where there is banished people, they most commonly plot against their King and Countrey; nevertheless I find two remarkable Histories to make this good, one in France, and the other in England. That of France is thus.

The Cardinal of Lorrain, and the Duke of Guise his Brother, being in great fa∣vour with Henry II. the Queen Mother promoted them in the beginning of the Reign of Francis II. his successor, so that the Cardinal was made Lord high Trea∣surer, and the Duke General of the Armies, to the prejudice of the Constable of Montmorency. Those two favourites, fearing the persecution that is raised by envy,

did remove all the great ones from the Court, whether they were commanded to do so, or whether they had any other pretences.

The Princes of Condé, and of la Roche sur yon, were sent into Flanders to Philip 11. Condé, to confirm the alliance between the two Crowns, and la Roche sur yon to carry the Order of France.

Diana of Poitiers Dutchess of Valentenois, was banished from Court, and compel∣led to surrender to the Queen all the Jewels she had extorted from the King, be∣sides the Castle of Chenonceaux, which the Queen took for her self.

The Marshal St. Andrew was likewise banished from the Court. The King of Navarre was in Bearn.

The Constable took also his leave, and surrendred to the King the Seal of his Office. On the other side, the Protestants began to stir notably, having on their part many Princes, as that of Condé, of Porcien, Gaspard, of Coligny, Admiral of France, d'Andelot, and the Cardinal of Chastillon his brothers, Magdalene of Mailly, their Sister, Lady of Roye, the King of Navarre. All these discontented persons, and the Protestants made a great conspiracy under pretence of Religion, and of freeing the King from the tyranny of the Guisians.

They did by Choler, the Protestants because they had been so ill used, in the time of Francis I. and Henry II. and lately by the Guisians. And the discontented, for to pull down their power, it was also by an intestine hatred, because the Constable could not brook to be dispossessed of his Office of great Master, which was given to the Duke of Guise; and the others to see themselves from the management of Affairs, and the Protestants by the spirit of a Contrary Religion.

Their conspiracy tended to expel the Guisians, and to seise upon the Queen, the King, and his Brothers.

To compass their end, they secretly sent some trusty persons of their own, who ne∣vertheless feigned to be their Enemies; insomuch that the King of Navarre sent them word, that he would be always of their party, though apparently he took the Courts part.

But the old his own, saith the fourth Verse, that is to say, the Kings old friends shall raise Sedition against them, which happened in the year 1650. when the Guisians having discovered the conspiracy that was made at Nantes, the 1. of February 1560. whose chief Ring-leader was the Lord La Renaudie; they presently got the King out of Blois, and carryed him to Amboise, caused the Town to be fortified, and set strong Guards upon all the passages.

The day appointed for the execution of the conspiracy at Blois, was the 10th of March: But the King being got to Amboise, the Conspirators went thither in such great numbers, and under such specious pretences, that had they not been betrayed, no body would have suspected them. All the Suburbs and the Countrey Towns thereabouts were full of them. the Prince of Condé, the Admiral, d'Andelot, and his Brother the Cardinal, were all there.

Then the Guisians began to fall to work, and to set upon the Conspirators on all sides.

Abundance were taken, some in the City, some in the Suburbs, others in the Countrey round about.

Most of these were slain before they could come to Town, or be carried to Pri∣son. And their process was so short that they were hanged in their Boots and Spurs.

The Scouts did every where kill those they met withall. To conclude, it proved a very Bloody Tragedy.

La Renaudie the Chief of the Conspirators, was met with by the Lord Pardaillan a Gascon. At the first approach La Renaudie killed him; but himself was killed

by Pardeillan's Servant, and his dead body brought and hanged at Amboise.

The second History is concerning England, which palpably makes this Prophecie good, if we make reflection upon what hath happened in this last Century of years, concerning banished people that have conspired against their King and Countrey, as we may see through all the Life of Queen Elizabeth, and by that famous Plot of the Gun-powder-Treason in King James's time, which must be understood here by the Mine,

XIV. French.

De gens esclave, chansons, chants, & requestes, Captifs par Princes, & Seigneurs aux prisons, A l'aduenir par Idiots sans testes, Seront receus par divins oraisons.

English.

From slavish people, Songs, Tunes and requests, Being kept Prisoners by Princes and Lords, For the future by headless Idoits, Shall be admitted by divine prayers.

ANNOT.

This is a prognostication of the beginning and increase of the Protestants in France, who began to sing their Psalms in French, and from time to time present∣ed their request for tolleration. The Author being a zealous Papist calleth them Idiots, and that notwithstanding the persecution that should be against them, being put in Prison by Princes and Lords, they should at last be admitted by reason of their often praying to God.

XV. French.

Mars nous menace par la force bellique, Septante fois fera le sang respandre, Auge & ruine de l'Ecclesiastique, Et par ceux qui d'eux rien ne voudront entendre.

English.

Mars threatneth us of a Warlike force, Seventy times he shall cause blood to be shed. The flourishing and ruine of the Clergy, And by those that will hear nothing from them.

ANNOT.

The Author having premonished us in his Preface, that God having imparted to him the knowledge of many future things, he was curious to know if his Divine

Majesty had written the same thing in the Coelestial Book, as concerning the States, Empires, Monarchies, Provinces and Cities, and he found that it was even so as it had been revealed to him, so that the Book of Heaven, written with Gods own hand, in so many shining Characters, might serve to studious men for a light and a Torch to discover very near the common estate of the world.

He then having learned from God in his solitariness, the prosperities and afflictions of the Clergy, from the beginning of the year 1555. to the end of the world; he found that there was an agreement between his prophetical Knowledge, and the motion of the Heavenly Bodies; because having made the Systeme of the years after 1550. he found that Mars was in a dangerous Aspect to the Ecclesiastical estate, and found that this Planet by its position did presage a long, bloody and horrid Catastrophe in the world, by which the Ecclesiastical estate should suffer much.

To make good this prediction, the Author doth assure us in his Preface, that he had considered the disposition of this Planet, not only in the year 1555. but also in the years following, and joyning together all that he had found in his Ephemerides, he found that this Planet did on all sides presage most bloody actions. Although, saith he, the Planet of Mars maketh an end of its course, and is come to its last Period: nevertheless it will begin it again, but some gathered in Aquarius for many years, and others by long and continual years.

As if he would say that his prediction ought not to be rejected; because Mars ended his course, and cometh to its late period; for it would take again its Exaltati∣on and Dominion with a worse conjunction, having his Astronomical dignities, with the Conjunction of other Planets in the Sign of Aquarius during many years, and in the Sign of Cancer for many years more.

Which maketh the Author conclude, that within the space of 177. years, three months and eleven dayes, the world shall be afflicted with Wars, Plagues, Famines and Innundations, that scarce any body shall be left to Till the Ground. By which prediction we learn that those evils began in the year 1555. the first of March, which is the date of the Authors Book, and shall last till the second of June 1732. abating the ten days of the Gregorian Calender.

During which time, he saith, that Mars threatneth us with bloody Wars that shall be reiterated 70 times.

This word seventy doth not signifie a determinate number, but a great number indeterminated according to the Phrase of the Scripture, which by the number of seven signifieth many times, and by that of seventy incomparably many times more. Thus the Scripture saith, that the just man falleth seven times in one day, that is many times, and our Saviour saith to St. Peter, that we ought to forgive our Ene∣mies, not only seven times, but seventy times seven; that is innumerable times.

We have found the truth of this Prophecie to this very day. 1. In France, by the Wars between Henry II. and Charles V. and Philip II. 2. By the Wars of Charles IX. against the Protestants, wherein so much blood was spilt on both sides. 3. By Henry III. against the same Protestants, and factions of his time, and then against the Parisians and others of their league. 4. Between Henry IV. and those of the league in his revolted Kingdom. 5. By the Wars of Lewis XIII. against the Protestants, against the Duke of Savoy, in the Valteline, in Piemont, in Lorrain, in Alsatia, in Catalonia, in Franche-Conty, in Flanders, and for the defence of Portugal, which have been continued by his successor Lewis XIV. now Reign∣ing.

Italy did also find the truth of this prophecie, by the Wars between Paul IV. and the Spaniard, between Pius V. and the Turks, between Clement VIII. and the Duke of Ferrara, between the Emperour and the Duke of Mantua, between Urban VIII. and the Duke of Parma, between the Venetians and the Florentines,

by the revolt of the Kingdom of Naptes, under the conduct of the Duke of Guise.

England hath had its share of it under Queen Elizabeth, by the revolt of York∣shire, and some other Provinces, by the Spanish fleet of 88.

By the death of Queen Mary, by the revolt of the Kingdom against Charles I. And by the horrid perfidiousness of Cromwel.

Germany hath made it good by the War against the Turks, the Protestants and the Swedes.

Poland hath done the same against the Russians, Tartars, Turks, Cassaks and Swedes.

And Venice against the Turk, for the Islands of Cyprus and Candia, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Wars of Dalmatia.

This Mars besides presageth two contrary things, one is the Auge or Exaltation, the other the ruine of the clergy: where it is to be observed, the Auge in tearms of Astrology signifieth mounting or ascending, and cometh from the Latin verbe au∣gere, which signifieth to augment or increase. This augmentation and ruine of the Clergy is made good by the several changes that have been in the Ecclesiastical estate, in France, England, Low-Countreys, Denmark, Swede, Poland, Hungary, Valachia, Transylvania, Moldavia, Dalmatia, Geneva, Switzerland, &c.

The fourth Verse saith. By those that will hear nothing from them: that is by the Protestants that will hear nothing from the Roman Catholicks.

XVI. French.

Faux a l'Estang, joint vers la Sagittaire, En son haut Auge de l'Exaltation, Peste, Famine, mort de main Militaire, Le Siecle approcher de renovation.

English.

The Sith to the Fish-pond, joyned to Sagittarius In the highest Auge of the Exaltation, Plague, Famine, Death by a Military hand, The age groweth near to its renovation.

ANNOT.

The sense of all this is, that when a Meadow that was a Fish-pond before, shall be Mowed, the Sign of Sagittarius being in its Auge or ascendant, then shall Plague, Famine, and War Reign, and that age (which a Century of years shall be near its end and renovation viz. of another Century.)

XVII. French.

Par quarante ans l'Iris n'apparoistra, Par quarante ans tous les jours sera veu, La Terre aride en siccité croistra, Et grand deluge quand sera apparceu.

English.

During fourty years the Rainbow shall not appear, During fourty years it shall be seen every day. The parched Earth shall wax dryer and dryer, And great Flouds shall be when it shall appear.

ANNOT.

The Interpretation of this is easie, and signifieth nothing else but that during 40. years the Rainbow shall not be seen, and during that time there shall be an exceeding great drought upon the Earth, and that for 40. years after the Rainbow shall be seen every day, which shall cause great flouds and innundations.

XVIII. French.

Par la discorde, negligence Gauloise, Sera passage a Mahomet ouvert, De sang trempé la Terre & Mer Senoise, Le Port Phocen de Voiles & Nefs couvert.

English.

Through the discord and negligence of the French, A passage shall be opened to Mahomet, The Land and Sea of Sienna shall be bloody, The Phocen Haven shall be covered with Sails and Ships.

ANNOT.

In the year 1559. Sultan Solyman called Leonclavius, according to the alliance made between him and Francis I. King of France, was desired by Henry II. his Son to send him some succours: Whereupon he sent some of his Gallies to scour the Tyrrhenean Sea (otherwise the Sea of Tuscany) to give a diversion to the Spanish forces in Italy, while the King by the means of the Marshal of Brissac, should continue his Conquests in the Piemont and Milanese.

All what this Turkish Fleet did, was to plunder and over-run the Island of Elbe, and to attempt Piombino without effect; and because these places were seated upon the Sea of Sienna, called in Latin Mare Tirrhenum, the Author saith that both the Land and Sea of Sienna shall be died with Blood, and at that time the Heaven of Mar∣seilles, which was called by the Ancients, Port-Phocen was full of Sales and Ships, as well to go into the Island of Corse, as for other designs. This History makes good that Stanza which saith, that through the discord and negligence of the French, a pas∣sage shall be opened to Mahomet, wherein it is to be observed that the Marshal of Brissac doing wonders for the King in Piemont, his virtue got him abundance of enviers and enemies in the Kings Councel, which was the cause of a great discord among them, by the diversity of opinions, and this diversity was the cause of a pro∣digious negligence in sending to him relief, as Turpin witnesseth in his History of Naples, and Paradin in the continuation of his History.

By this discord and negligence, a passage was opened to Mahomet, his Fleet going freely upon the Mediterranean Sea 〈…〉〈…〉ar the Coasts of France. And the reason of it was, because this discord and negligence did compel Henry the II. to ask succours of Solyman, that the Spaniard might be compelled to divide his Forces in sending some to the Sea-Towns, and so should not be so strong in Piemont; and thus must be un∣derstood the French discord and negligence, in the first and second Verse. As for the many Sails and Ships that were then in the Haven of Marseillés, to go into the Island of Cersica, the following Stanza's are full of predictions concerning it.

XIX. French.

Lors que Serpens viendront circuir l'Air, Le sang Troien versé par les Espagnes, Par eux: grand nombre en sera fait tare, Chef fuit, caché aux Marets dans les saignes.

English.

When Serpents shall come to encompass the Are, The Trojan blood shall be vexed by Spain, By them, a great number shall perish, Chief runneth away, and is hid in the rushes of the Marishes.

ANNOT.

By the Serpents, the Author being a Roman Catholick, meaneth the Protestants, who then began to appear numerous in the Reigns of Francis the I. and Henry the II. in whose time the Admiral Coligny was the chief among them, for his great seats in War.

These Serpents or Protestants begun to encompass the Are, that is to say, the Church and the Altar, which in Latin is called Ara.

And that happened when the Trojan-blood was vexed by Spain. By the Trojan-blood, the Author meaneth the French blood, according to the vulgar opinion, that the French are descended from the Trojans. The French were then vexed by the Spaniards, at the Battle of St. Laurence, and at the taking of St. Quentin, and other places in the Year 1557.

The third Verse saith by them, that is by the Protestants a great number shall perish, that is to say, a great number of French. Among whom the Admiral of Chatillon having done what was possible to be done at the defence of St. Quentin, and seeing the Town taken, run away with three more, and hid himself among the Rushes that are in the Boggs about the Town, where he was found, and carried Prisoner to the Duke of Savoy, who received him very honorably, according to his valour and deserts.

Observe that the word Saignes here signifieth in old Proven al a Marish.

XX. French.

Tours, Orleans, Blois, Angers, Renes & Nantes, Cités vexée par soudain changement, Par Langues estranges seront tendues Tentes, Fleuves, Darts, Rennes, Terre & Mer tremblement.

English.

Tours, Orleans, Blois, Angers, Renes, and Nantes, Cities vexed by a sudden change, By strange Languages Tents shall be set up, Rivers, Darts, Rennes, Land, and Sea shall quake.

ANNOT.

All the Cities mentioned in the first Verseare seated by the River of Loire, and are threatned here of a sudden change, and that some strangers shall set up their Tents against them, and chiefly at Rennes, there shall be an Earth-quake felt both by Sea and Land.

XXI. French.

Profonde argile blanche nourrit rocher, Qui d'un abysme istra l'acticineuse, En vain troublez ne l'oseront toucher, Ignorant estre au fond terre argileuse.

English.

A deep white clay feedeth a Rock, Which clay shall break out of the deep like milk, In vain people shall be troubled not daring to touch it, Being ignorant that in the bottom there is a milky clay.

ANNOT.

It is a Rock in the middle of the Sea, whose Roots are fed by a white clay, which is at the foot of this Rock, in the bottom of the Sea, and therefore called deep.

This clay being softned, and dissolved by the Sea-water, shall appear upon the superficies of it like milk about the Rock. Those that shall see this wonder, being ignorant that in the bottom there is a milky clay, shall in vain be troubled at it, and shall not dare to touch it.

XXII. French.

Ce qui vivra & n'aura aucun sens, Viendra le Fer a mort son artifice, Autun, Chalons, Langres & les deux Sens, La Guerre & la Glasse fera grand malefice.

English.

That which shall live, and shall have no sence, The Lion shall destroy the art of it, Autun, Chalons, Langres, and both Sens, The War and the Ice shall do great harm.

ANNOT.

This is a great Riddle, which was never found out till now; and had I not been born in the Countrey where the History did happen, it might have been unknown to this day, and buried in oblivion.

In the year of the Lord 1613. which was that of my Birth. There was in the Town of Sens a Taylors Wife named Columba Chatry, who presently after her mar∣riage conceived, and for the space of 28. years persuaded her self to be with Child, had all the signs of it in the beginning of her impregnation, and ha∣ving * 1.1 gone her compleat time, she begun to feel the pains of a woman in Labour, with great gripings in the Guts. The Urine was sup∣pressed for a while, but at last it broke out with a strong current. This quantity of water not coming so much out of the Bladder as was supposed, as from the womb, by the breaking of the Membrane, called Amnion, seeing that with those serous ex∣crements, she avoided some conjealed blood. After that her breast begun to fall, and the Child had little or no motion, her pains being less than they were, which caused no small admiration to the Midwifes, who expected a safe deliverance. For the space of three years after, this woman kept her Bed, and was brought to Deaths door, complaining of gripings and a hard swelling, which she desired all the Physi∣tians and Chyrurgeons to feel, having lost all appetite, but that little which she reco∣vered by the use of sharp things, as Verjuice, Lemmons, &c. she was wont to say to her Neighbours, that she bare a Child that should be the cause of her death. After she was dead, her Husband got two experienced Chyrurgeons to open her body, who having opened the belly, and taken away the Peritonaeum, saw the Womb of several colours, as the flesh that is about the head and neck of a Turky-cock, but as it were of a Horny substance. They begun to make an incision in it with a Rasour, but find∣ing it resisted the edge, they begun to use their Incision knives with all their strength; at last one of them by chance hit the Scull, and after that some Ribs, and then the Shoulder bone, by which, knowing that there was bones contained in that lump, with greater strength they made a deeper Incision, and having parted the edges of the womb, saw in the bottom of the womb a Child, wrapped in the membrane, called Allantoides; at which the Chyrugeons wondering, sent for the Physitians to have their opinion in a thing that is almost beyond belief; in the mean time people flock∣ing thither from all parts, and troubling the Chyrurgeons in their operation; they thought good to take away with their Instruments all that Lump, as a Tree from its Roots, and to carry it home, that they might with more time and leasure examine the whole Anatomy of it. In that hasty pulling out of the Child, they had no time to observe what Chorion it had, what umbilical Vessels, and what connexion there was of the Allantoides with the Womb, and with the Child, chiefly about the right hip, the Buttocks, and the Back-bone being all grown solid together.

The scituation of the Child was almost Spherical, the face leaning upon the breast, and the Nostri••s upon the Knees; the bones of the Head were but thin, but very hard, and shining like Horn; the skin of the Head was hairy in many places; the head did hang so much upon the left arm, that the Ear, and part of the skull had given way to the Shoulder-bone; the Elbow was bent towards the Shoulder stretching on∣ly his hand, which was so close shut, and the fingers sticking so fast to the Palm of it, that although they did appear distinct one from another, never theless it was all but one and the same stone; the right arm did strerch its hand towards the Navel, which unadvisedly was broken by the wrist, and left in the Mothers Belly; the left Thigh, Knee and Leg were on the top of the right ones, with which they were so entangled, that the left heel, and the sole of the foot were planted upon the right foot,

who seemed to have given place to them, and were almost inseparably joyned; for all such hardness of the matter, the body was not less than that of other Children of the same age, but kept a perfect fulness and proportion all the internal parts, as the Brains, the Heart, the Liver, had their natural shape, and were not altogether so hard as the ex∣ternal parts, so that to this very day this little body defieth all kind of corruption.

This Child was kept in my time by one Mr. Michel a Chirurgion of Sens, who kindly shewed it to all the strangers that came far and near to see it. The Fame of it was so great, that Doctor Mayerne coming from Switzerland to England, took his way through Sens to see it, and would have perswaded King Charles I. to buy it, as himself told me; since that I hear it was fallen into the hands of the Venetians. In this History there is two observable wonders. One, that the Child dying in the Womb, did not corrupt, and so cause the death of its Mother. The other, by what vertue or power of the body this child was petrified, seeing that the Womb is a hot and moist place, and therefore more subject to putrifaction. Those that will satis∣fie themselves with the reasons of it, and the truth of the History, may read Johannes Alibosius Physician of Sens, who was an eye witness of it, and Sennertus in his book of Sympt. qum seminis in utero accidunt.

Now this accident being so rare, and without parallel, our Author thought fit to foretel it, and to cover it in abscure tearms, that he might not appear ridiculous in so admirable an eveut. When therefore he saith, That which shall live and shall have no Sense, he meaneth this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or child petrified, which had a Life while it was in the Mothers belly, being tied to it by the several Vessels and connexions, known to Anatomists, and yet was senseless in that it was petrified. When in the second verse he saith, The Iron shall destroy the art of it, he meaneth that it should be spoiled by the rasour, in the two last verses he saith, that the Towns of Autun, Chalons, Langres, and Sens the Town in which this did happen should that same year suffer much damage by Hail and Ice, which did come to pass, as many persons may justify in that Countrey, that are alive to this day.

XXIII. French.

Au mois troisiesme se levant le Soleil, Sanglier, Leopard, aux champs Mars pour combatre, Leopard lassé au Ciel estend son oeil, Un Aigle autour du Soleil voit sesbatre.

English.

In the third month at the rising of the Sun, The Boar and Leopard in Marth camp to fight; The Leopard weary, lift his eyes to to Haven, And seeth an Eagle playing about the Sun.

ANNOT.

This signifieth a particular accident, viz. that in the third Month, which is that of March, at the rising of the Sun, the Boar and the Leopard, that is, two persons of quality hidden under these names, shall go into the fields to fight a Duel. The Leopard one of them being weary, shall lift up his eyes to Heaven, calling upon God, and thereupon shall see an Eagle playing about the Sun, that is, shall get the Victory, of which the Eagle is the Emblem.

XXIV. French.

A Cité nevue pensif pour condamner, Loisel de proie au ciel se vient offrir, Apres Victoire a Captifs pardonner Cremone & Mantoue grands maux auront ouf••ert.

English.

In the new City for to condemn a Prisoner, The Bird of pray shall offer himself to Heaven, After the Victory, the Prisoners shall be forgiven, After Cremona and Mantua have suffered many troubles.

ANNOT.

This name of new City is appropriated to several ones in every Countrey. The French have many Villeneufuas, the Germans many Newstads, the Italians and Spa∣niards many Villanovas, so that it is hard to guess which of them the Author mean∣eth. The missing of this dore makes the rest of the Prophecie so obscure, that I had rather leave it to the liberty of the Reader, than to pretend a true explication of it. I shall only say, that Cremona and Mantua are two famous Towns in Italy, which are here threatned.

XXV. French.

Perdu, trouvé caché de si long siecle Sera Pasteur demy-Dieu honoré, Ains que la Lune acheve son grand Siecle, Par autre vents fera deshonoré.

English.

Lost, found again, hidden so great a while, A Pastor as Deme-God shall be honoured; But before the Moon endeth her great Age, By other winds he shall be dishonoured.

ANNOT.

The Prophecie is concerning the body of a famous Churchman, which was lost, and shall be fonnd again, and worshiped as a Demy-God, but before the Moon hath run her great age, which is of 13 Months, it shall be vilified and dishonoured.

XXVI. French.

Le grand du Foudre tombe d'heure diurne, Mal & predit par Porteur populaire, Suivant presage tombe d'heure nocturne, Conflit Rheims, Londres, Etrusque Pestifere.

English.

The great Man falleth by the Lightning in the day time, An evil foretold by a common Porter; According to this foretelling another falleth in the night, A fight at Rhemes, and the Plague at London and Tuscany

ANNOT.

This is concerning some great man, who being premonished by a common Car∣rier not to travel upon a certain day, did slight the advice, and was strucken by Light∣ning in the day time, and another in the night; at the same time there was a fight at Rhemes, and the Plague at London and in Tuscany, which in Latin is called Etruria.

XXVII. French.

Des soubs le Chesne Guyen du Ciel frappé, Non loin de la est caché le Thresor, Qui par long Siecles avoit esté grappé, Trouvé mourra, l'oeil crevé de ressor.

English.

Under the Oak Guyen strucken from Heaven, Not far from it is the Treasure hidden, Which hath been many Ages a gathering; Being found he shall die, the eye put out by a spring.

ANNOT.

The sense of it is, that somebody (who is named here Guyen) being under an Oak shall be strucken with the lightning, and that near that place there is a great Treasure, that hath been many years a gathering, and that he who shall find it shall die, being shot in the eye with a Fire-lock.

XXVIII. French.

La Tour de Bouk craindra fuste Barbare, Un temps, long temps apres Barque Hesperique, Bestial, gens meubles tous deux feront grand tare, Taurus & Libra, quelle mortelle pique?

English.

The Tower of Bonk shall be in fear of a Barbarian Fleet, For a while, and long after afraid of Spanish shipping, Flocks, peoples, goods both shall receive great damage, Taurus and Libra, O what a deadly feud.

ANNOT.

The Tower of Bouk is a strong place seated by the Rhosne, where it entereth into the Mediterranean Sea; it is said here that it shall be in fear of a Barbarian Fleet, and after that of a Spanish one, and that both the Spaniard and the French shall have great losses in Cattle, People and Goods, and this shall happen when the Sun shall be in the Signs of Taurus and Libra.

XXIX. French.

Quand le Poisson, Terrestre & Aquotique, Par forte vague au gravier sera mis, Sa forme estrange suave & horrifique, Par Mer aux murs bien tost les Enemies.

English.

When the Fish that is both Terrestrial and Aquatick; By a strong Wave shall be cast upon the Sand, With his strange fearful sweet horrid form, Soon after the enemies will come near to the Walls by Sea.

ANNOT.

This signifieth no more but that after, a Fish, Terrestrial and Aquatick, that is which, liveth in Land and Water, called by the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, shall be cast upon the Sand by a storm, then a little while after, that Town which lieth near to that place where the Fish was cast, shall be Besieged by her Enemies, who shall come by Sea.

XXX.

La Nef estrange par le tourment Marin, Abordera ptes le Port incognu, Nonobstant signs du rameau palmerin. Apres mort, pille, bon advis tard venu.

English.

The Outlandish Ship by a Sea storm, Shall come near the unknown Haven, Notwitstanding the signs given to it with Bows, It shall die, be plundered, a good advice come too late

ANNOT.

It is a Forrein Ship which by a storm shall be driven to an unknown Harbour, and notwithstanding the signs that shall be made to it with Branches, by those that are upon the Land to beware of the entrance of the Harbour, it shall be cast away, and plundered; thus a good advice shall come too late.

XXXI. French.

Tant d'ans les guerres, en Gaule dureront, Outre la course du Castulon Monarque, Victoire incerte trois grands couroneront, Aigle, Coq, Lune, Lion Soleil en marque,

English.

So many years the Wars shall last in France, Beyond the course of the Castulon Monarque, An uncertain Victory three great ones shall Crown, The Eagle, the Cock, the Moon, the Lion having the Sun in its mark

ANNOT.

That is, the Wars shall last so long in France after the death of one King of Spain, till three great ones shall challenge an uncertain Victory, these three great ones are the Emperour designed by the Aigle, the King of France by the Cock, and the Turk by the Moon, and this shall happen when the Sun is in the sign of the Lion. I suppose that came to pass in the time of Charles the V. Henry the II. and Soliman. For the Turk had no great odds upon the Emperour, nor he upon the King of France.

XXXII. French.

La grand Empire sera tost translaté, En lieu petit qui bien tost viendra croistre, Lieu bien infime d'exigue Comté, Ou au milieu viendra poser son Scepter.

English.

The great Empire shall soon be translated, Into a little place which shall soon grow afterwards. An inferiour place of a small County, In the middle of which he shall come to lay down his Scepter

ANNOT.

This is concernig the same Charles the V. Emperour, who about three years before his death, being weary of the World, resigned his Dominions of Spain and of the

Low-Countries, to his Son Philip the II. and his Empire to his Brother Ferdinand, and retired himself into a Monastery of Castile, called l'Escurial, which after his death, was much enlarged and beautified by his Son Philip: and that is the meaning of our Author when he saith:

Into a little place which shall soon grow afterwards, An inferiour place of a small County,

For this Escurial being seated in a Desert place of a County of Spain, called Casti∣lia, which the Spanish vanity calleth a Kingdom, (whose Use, Fruit, or Revenues, the said Charles only reserved for his maintenance) is now by the Spaniards accounted to be the eight wonder of the World.

XXXIII. French.

Pres d'un grand Pont de plaine spacieuse, Le grand Lion par force, Cesarées, Fera abatre hors Cité rigoureuse, Par effroy portes luy seront reserrées.

English.

A great Bridge near a spacious Plain, The great Lion by Caesarean Forces, Shall cause to be pulled down, without the rigorous City, For fear of which, the Gates shall be shut to him.

ANNOT.

The meaning of this is, that a great Captain, Commander of the Imperial Forces, shall cause a Bridge that was built near a spacious Plain to be thrown down. The City near the Bridge being terrified at it, shall shut up their Gates against him.

XXXIV. French.

L'Oiseau de proye volant a la Fenestre, Avant conflict, fait au Francois parure, L'un bon prendra, l'autre ambigue sinistre, La partie foible tiendra pour bonne augure.

English.

The Bird of Prey flying to the Window, Before Battle, shall appear to the French; One shall take a good omen of it, the other a bad one, The weaker part shall hold it for a good sign.

ANNOT.

It is a Hawk which in presence of two Armies ready to give Battle, shall fly to a window and perch upon it, in the presence of them all, one of the Armies shall take

it for a good sign; and the other, for an ambiguous and sinister one. In Conclusi∣on, the weaker party shall get the Victory.

XXXV. French.

Le Lion jeune le vieux surmontera, En champ bellique par singulier Duelle, Dans Cage dor Loeil il lui crevera, Deux playes une puis mourir mort cruelle.

English.

The young Lion shall overcome the old one, In Martial field by a single Duel, In a Golden Cage he shall put out his Eye, Two wounds from one, then he shall die a cruel death.

ANNOT.

This is one of the Prophecies that hath put our Author in credit, as well for the clearness as for the true event of it.

Caessar No stradamus our Authors son, in his History of Provence, writeth that by this Stanza his father intended to foretell the manner of Henry the second's death.

The French Histories relate that this great Prince desiring to honour the Nuptial of his Daughter Elizabeth, married to Philip II. King of Spain, did appoint a Tour∣nament to be kept in St. Anthony's street in Paris, where himself would be one of the Defendants against all comers, and for that purpose chose for his companions and associates Don Alfonso d'Este Duke of Ferrara, and Francis of Lorrain, Duke of Guise.

The Tornament being almost ended, in which the King had shewed much Valour being mounted upon a Horse of the Duke of Savoy, Philibert's, Emanuel his Brother in Law, this Duke intreated the King to leave off, because he had got the Victory; and the weather was hot, and the night drawing on: But this Martial King would need break one Launce more, and commanded the Captain Gabriel de Lorges to be called, a young and valiant Lord and Captain of the Scottish Guard. Being come, the King commanded him to run against him, which he refused a great while; but the King waxing angry, he obeyed, and set Spurs to his Horse, he did hit the King in the lower part of his Beaver, the Launce was broken into shivers, and the mean stump lifting up the Beaver, a splinter got in, and wounded the King a little above the right Eye, where finding the Bone too hard, it went very deep under the said Eye, and broke some Veins belonging to the Membrane, called Pia Mater.

The blow was so violent that the King bended his head towards the lists, and fell, into a Swound, being presently disarmed, they perceived the splinter of the Launce in his Eye, and his face all bloody. He lived ten days after, and died with great Convulsions, because the Sinews were offended, whereupon he suffered grievous Torment.

His death was also foretold by Luke Gaurick a great Astrologer, who being con∣strained by the Queen Catharine of Medicis, to tell her by what kind of death her Husband should end his days, told her it should be in a Duel, which made him to be hissed at, Kings being exempted of those accidents.

According to this Narrative the Author calleth the King an old Lion, and the Captain Lorges, since Earl of Montgomery, the young Lion; because both fought like Lions. The young Lion overcame the old one in Martial field, and in a fight of one against one, and consequently a Duel.

He overcame him by putting his Eye out in a Golden Cage, that is, in his Gilded Helmet.

Of which Wound there came another, because the blood of some broken Veins, creeping into the Brains by the vehement agitation of the head, caused an Impostume there, which could not be remedied: therefore the Author saith two Wounds from one, that is, one wound made two: and the King died of a cruel death, as we have said before.

XXXVI. French.

Tard le Monarque se viendra repentir, De navoir mis a Mort son Adversaire, Mais viendra bien a plus haut consentir, Que tout son sang par Mort fera deffaire.

English.

The Monarque shall too late repent, That he hath not put to death his Adversary; But he shall give his consent to a greater thing than that, Which is to put to death all his Adversaries Kindred,

ANNOT.

The words of this are plain, though it be questionable whether the thing is come to pass already, or not.

XXXVII. French.

Un peu devant que le Soleil sabsconse Conflict donne, grand peuple dubieux, Profligez, Port-Marin ne fait responce, Pont & Sepulchre en deux estranges lieux.

English.

A little before the Sun setteth, A Battle shall be given, a great people shall be doubtful Of being foiled, the Sea-Port maketh no answer, A Bridge and Sepulchre shall be in two strange places.

ANNOT.

The two first verses I believe are concerning the Battle of Saint Denis, which was fought in the Evening hard by Paris, and where the Constable of Mont∣morency

was kill'd, which made that great people of Paris to be doubtful. The other two Verses I leave to the interpretation of the Reader.

XXXVIII. French.

Le Sol & l'Aigle Victeur paroistront, Response vain au vaincu lon asseure, Par Cor ne cris, harnois narresteront, Vindicte paix, par Mort lacheve a l'heure.

English.

The Sun and the Eagle shall appear to the Victorious, A vain Answer shall be made good to the vanquished, By no means Arms shall not be stopped, Vengeance maketh Peace, by death he then accomplisheth it

ANNOT.

This Stanza being full of Figures and Equivoques, I will not interpose my Judge∣ment in it, lest I undertake too much, and perform too little.

XXXIX. French.

De nuit dans le lit le supresme estrang'é, Pour avoir trop suborné blond esleu, Par trois l'Empire snbroge Exancle, A mort mettra, Carte ne Pacquet leu.

English.

By night in the bed the chief one shall be strangled. For having 100 much suborned fair Elect, By three the Empire subrogate Exancle. He shall put him to death, reading neither Card nor Packet.

ANNOT.

The Author hath purposely obscured this Prophecie in the third Verse, to take away the Knowledge of it from the Reader; because the parties concerned were then alive, viz. Philip II. King of Spain, who caused his only son Don Carlo to be strangled in his bed, for suspicion of being too familiar with his wise Elizabeth of France, and Daughter to Henry II. The last Verse saith, that he was so implaca∣ble, that he would read neither Card nor Packet, that is, no requests.

XL. French.

La tourbe fausse dissimilant folie Fera Bizance un changement de loix, Istra d'Aegypt qui veus que l'on deslie, Edict, changant Monnoys & alloys.

English.

The false Troup dissembling their folly, Shall make in Bizance an alteration of Laws. One shall come out of Aegypt who will have united The Edict, changing the Coin and allay.

ANNOT.

There is two things in this Prognostication, the first that in Bizance, which is Constantinople, a Troop of tumultuous persons gathered together, and dissembling their folly, shall cause an alteration in the Laws.

The other, that some Bassa come out of Aegypt, shall perswade them at Constanti∣nople to alter their Coin, and the allay of it.

XLI. French.

Siege a Cité & de nuit assaille, Peu eschapez non loing de Mer conflict, Femme de joye, retour fils, de faillie Poison & Lettres caché dedans le plic.

English.

A Siege laid to a City, and assaulted, by night Few escaped, a fight not far from the Sea, A woman swoundeth for joy to see her son returned; A poison hidden in the fold of Letters.

ANNOT.

After the taking of Vulpian, the French came to Montcalvo, and in the night surprized it by Scalado, and Paradin saith, that not a drop of Blood was shed on either side.

The Town being taken, the Citadel did hold out a good while, and at last did surrender, Don Arbre, who was in the place of the Marques of Pescaire, and of the Duke of d'Alva, knowing that the besieged had not made a sufficient resistance, caused the Captain, and eleven more of the chief ones to be hanged; because the place was of consequence, and those within had not made a sufficient resistance.

The Author saith in the first Verse, Siege was laid to a City, that is, it was resolved to besiege Montcalvo, as the Martial of Brissac had advised. In the exe∣cution it was assaulted by night, in the taking few escaped; for they were all taken,

and yielded to the Victorious. There were none killed or wounded, all were taken, except few who ran away, and carried the news to the Spaniards.

At the same time a fight not far from the Sea, that is, at the same time there was another Battle by the Sea, between the Spaniards and the Pope, as we shall shew here∣after.

The third and fourth Verses are concerning a particular accident, which happened presently after the taking of Montcalvo, which is, that a woman seeing her Son come back safe, fell in a swound, or died for joy, because knowing the danger wherein he was, she had lost all hopes of ever seeing him. This fellow had brought Poison in a Letter to give to one that had not rewarded him according to his desire. His wickedness being discovered, his Master put him in Prison, whence he escaped, and came back again to Montcalvo; the Author speaketh of the same in another place, which we shall set down in its order.

XLII. French.

Les dix Calendes d'Avril de fait Gothique, Resuscité encor par gens malins, Le feu estaint, assemblée Diabolique, Cherchant les Os de Damant & Psellin,

English.

The tenth of the Calends of April, Gothik account, Raised up again by malitious persons, The fire put out, a Diabolical assembly, Shall seek for the Bones of Damant and Psellin.

ANNOT.

The tenth of the Calends of April is the 23. of March, Gothik account signifieth the old account of the Calendar, before the reformation of it by Pope Gregory the XIII. which old account is called here Gothik, because it is kept still by the Nothern Nations, which do not acknowledge the Pope, as Sweden, Denmark, Holland, En∣gland, &c. at that time saith our Author, a Magician shall be raised up by malitious persons; which fire or tumult being put out, that Diabolical assembly will go about to seek the bones of two famous Magicians, viz. Damant and Psellin that were dead before.

XLIII. French.

Avant qu'aviene le changement d'Empire, Il adviendra un cas bien merveilleux, Le Champ mué, le Pilier de Porphyre, Mis, translaté sur le Rocher Noileux.

English.

Before the change of the Empire cometh, There shall happen a strange accident, A field shall be changed, and a Pillar of Prophyry, Shall be transported upon the Chalky Rock.

ANNOT.

This will not seem incredible to those that have read the English Chronicles, who relates that in a County of England (I think it is Herefordshire) there was an Earth∣quake, which transposed a large piece of ground in another place, with the Trees that were in it, and if I remember well, half a Chappel, those that have the Books may examine the truth of the History, and satisfie themselves better.

XLIV. French.

En bref seront de retour Sacrifices, Contrevenans seront mis a Martyre, Plus ne seront Moins, Abbez ne Novices, Le Miel sera beaucoup plus cher que Cire.

English.

Within a little while Sacrifices shall come again, Opposers shall be put to Martyrdom; There shall be no more Monks, Abbots, nor Novices, Honey shall be much dearer then Wax.

ANNOT.

This is a true Prophecy of the miserable condition of the Church and Clergy in our Fore-fathers times, and chiefly of Henry the II. in France, and Henry the VIII. in England, when in the beginning of the Reformation there was such a confusion of opinions, and such unsettledness in Ecclesiastical Government, that sometimes the Popish party prevailed, and put to death the Opposers; at another time the Protestants, who drove away the Monks, Abbots and Novices, as is expressed here, and proved true in Henry the VIII. time. As for what he saith, that Honey shall be much dearer than Wax. It is to be understood of the downfal of the Romish Reli∣gion, who maketh use of Wax Candles and Tapers in their superstitious ceremo∣nies, as if he would say, that the Romish Religion being down, Wax shall be cheap, and Honey dear.

XLV. French.

Secteur de Sectes, grand paine au Delateur, Beste en Theatre, dresse le jeu Sceniquè, Du fait antique ennobly l'Inventeur, Par Sectes, Monde confus & Schismatique.

English.

Follower of Sects, great troubles to the Messenger, A Beast upon the Theatre prepareth the Scenical play, The Inventor of that wicked fact shall be famous, By Sects the World shall be confounded and Schismatik.

ANNOT.

The Author being a Papist, is probable that in this Prophecy he aimed at Luther, after whose coming the world hath been full of Sects and Schisms.

XLVI. French.

Tout aupres d'Auch, de Lectoure & Mirande, Grand feu du Ciel en trois nuits tombera, Chose adviendra bien stupende & mirande, Bien peu apres la Terre tremblera.

English.

Near Auch, Lectoure and Mirande, A great fire from Heaven shall fall three nights together, A tbing shall happen stupendious and wonderful, A little while after, the Earth shall quake.

ANNOT.

Auch, Lectoure and Miranda are three Towns in Guyenna, a Province of France, the chief City whereof is Bourdeaux. The rest is easie.

XLVII. French.

Du Lac Leman les Sermons fascheront, Des jours seront reduits par des Sepmaines, Puis mois, puis an, puis tous defalliront, Les Magistrats damneront leurs Loix vaines.

English.

The Sermons of the Leman Lake shall be troublesome, Some days shall be reduced into weeks, Then into months, then into year, then they shall fail, The Magistrates shall condemn their vain Laws.

ANNOT.

The Leman Lake, in Latin Lacus Lemanus, is the Lake of Geneva, therefore it is palpable, that by this Prophecy, the Author aimeth at Calvin, and his Successors, who began the Reformation in that Town. I leave the rest to the Readers Judge∣ment, it is enough I have opened the door.

XLVIII. French.

Vingt ans du Regne de la Lune passez, Sept mil ans autre tiendra sa Monarchie, Quand le Soleil prendra ses jours laissez, Lors accomplit & fine ma Prophecie.

English.

Twenty years of the Reign of the Moon being past, Seven thousands years another shall hold his Monarchy, When the Sun shall reassume his days past, Then is fulfilled, and endeth my Prophecy.

ANNOT.

All this signifieth no more, but that the Authors Prophecies extend to the end of the world.

XLIX. French.

Beaucoup, beaucoup avant telles menées, Ceux d'Orient par la vertu Lunaire, L'An mil sept cens feront grands emmenées, Subjugant presque le coin Aquilonaire.

English.

A great while before these doings, Those of the East by the virtue of the Moon, In the year 1700. shall carry away great droves, And shall subdue almost the whole Northern corner.

ANNOT.

I desire Posterity to take special notice of this Stanza, that in case it should come to pass, our Author may be admired for the specification of the time, which is so punctually set down, here that it admitteth no ambiguity. The plain meaning is, that the Turks, which he calleth those of the East. By the virtue of the Moon, which is their Ensign and Badge, shall in the year 1700. carry away abundance of people, and shall subdue almost the whole Northern Countrey, which to them is Russia, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Denemark, &c.

L. French.

De l'Aquatique triplicity naistra, Un qui fera le Jeudy pour sa feste, Son Bruit, Loz, Regne & puissance croistra, Par Terre & Mer, aux Orients tempeste.

English.

From the Aquatick triplicity shall be born, One that shall make Thursday his Holiday, His Fame, Praise, Reign, and Power shall grow, By Land and Sea, and a Tempest to the East.

ANNOT.

The meaning is, that at that time, as (such conjunction of Planets shall be, which he calleth here Aquatick triplicity, there shall be born upon a Thursday a famous man, such as he describeth here, who shall be a foe and a terrour to the Turks, signified here by the Orients.

LI. French.

Chef d'Aries, Jupiter & Saturne, Dieu Eternel quelles mutations! Puis apres long siecle son malin temps retourne, Gaule & Italy quelles emotions?

English.

Heads of Aries, Jupiter and Saturn, O Eternal God, what changes shall there be! After a long age his wicked time cometh again, France and Italy, what commotions?

ANNOT.

This signifieth, that when Jupiter and Saturn shall be in conjunction in the head of Aries, that then shall be great commotions in France and Italy.

LII. French.

Les deux malins de Scorpion conjoint, Le grand Seigneur meurtry dedans sa salle, Peste a l'Eglise par le nouveau Roy joint, L'Europe basse, & Septentrionale.

English.

The two malignants of Scorpion being joyned, The grand Seignor murdered in his Hall, Plague to the Church by a King newly joyned to it, Europe low, and Septentrional.

ANNOT.

This third position of the Celestial bodies foretelleth the death of the great Turk, who should be murdered in his own Chamber, as happened to Sultan Osman, who was strangled in his Chamber, by the command of Daout Bassa great Vizeir, about the year 1622. vide the Turkish History.

The rest of the Prophecy is concerning a King, who being newly joyned to the Church, (I suppose of Rome) shall bring much mischief to it, and in his time Europe shall be brought very low, and in a manner confined to a corner of the North, which hath relation to the foregoing 49. Stanza, which see in its place.

LIII. French.

Las, qu'on verra grand peuple tourmenté, Et la Loy Sainte en totale ruine, Par autres Loix toute la Chrestienté, Quand d'Or, d'Argent trouve nouvelle Mine.

English.

Alas, how a great people shall be tormented, And the Holy Law in an utter ruine; By other Laws, all Christendom troubled, When new Mines of Gold and Silver shall be found

ANNOT.

This is a true Prophecy of the mischiefs that have happened in the World by the finding of the Mines in America; first to the Indians themselves, called here a great People, by the cruelty of the Spaniards, and then to all Christendom besides, by the evils that this Idol Mammon hath brought into it.

LIV. French.

Deux revolts faits du malin facigere, De Regne & Siecles fait permutation, Le mobil signe a son endroit s'Ingere, Aux deux egaux & d'Inclination.

English.

Two revolts shall be made by the wicked Link-carrier, Which shall make a change of the Reign and the Age, The moveable Sign doth offer it self for it, To the two equals in inclination.

ANNOT.

This obscure Stanza must be interpreted thus.

Two revolts shall be made by the wicked Link-carrier; that is, Paris which is the Link-carrier of France, and whose example the rest of the Towns follow, shall re∣volt twice, the first revolt was against Henry III. in the time of the Barricadoes, the second against Henry IV. his successor.

Which shall make a change of the Reign and the Age: This happened when the house of Valois was extinguished. and the house of Bourbon came in, and that is the change of the Reign. The change of the Age, was, because this did happen about the end of the year 1599. and the beginning 1600. which was a change of Age.

The moueable sign offers it self for it: That is, the position of the Heavens was such as to forward these accidents.

To the two equals in ambition: That is, to Henry III. and Henry IV. who both intended, and went about to reduce Paris to obedience.

LV. French.

Soubs lopposite climat Babilonique, Grande sera de sang effusion, Que Terre, & Mer, Air, Ciel sera inique, Sectes, Faim, Regnes, Pestes, Confusion.

English.

In the Climat opposite to the Babylonian, There shall be a great effusion of Blood. Insomuch that the Land, and Sea, Air and Heaven shall seem unjust Sects, Famine, Reigns, Plague, Confusion.

ANNOT.

There is nothing difficult here, but what Climat is that is opposite to the Babylonian, of which every body may satisfie himself by perusing the Globe.

LVI. French.

Vous verrez tost ou tard faire grand change, Horreurs extremes & vindications, Que si la Lune conduite par son Ange, Le Ciel sapproche des inclinations.

English.

You shall see soon or late great alterations Extreme horrours and revenges, The Moon leaden by her Angel, The Heaven draweth near its inclinations.

ANNOT.

I conceive there is some things omitted, and corrupted by the Press in this Stan∣za, which rendreth it so difficult, therefore I had rather leave it to the decision of the impartial Reader, than venture my opinion upon it.

LVII. French.

Par grand discord la trombe tremblera, Accord rompu, dressant la teste au Ciel, Bouche sanglante dans le sang nagera, Au Sol la face ointe le loit & Miel.

English.

By great discord, the Trumpet shall sound, Agreement broken, lifting the head to Heaven, A bloody mouth shall swim in blood, The face turned to the Sun anointed with Milk and Honey.

ANNOT.

The words and sence are plain, and I cannot believe that there is any great myste∣ry hidden under these words.

LVIII. French.

Trenché le ventre, naistra ave deux festes, & quattre bras, quel qu'ans entiers vivra, Jour qu'Aquilare celebrera ses festes, Fossan, Thurin, chef Ferrare fuiera.

English.

Slit in the belly, shall be born with two heads, And four Arms, it shall live some years, The day that Aquilare shall celebrate his Festivals, Fossan, Thurin, chief Ferrare shall run away.

ANNOT.

In the first Verse the Author speaketh of a Monster that had two heads, and four Arms, and the Belly slit, that is to say, it was a female.

His Son Caesar in his History of Provence, saith, that in the Town of Senan in Provence, a Child was born with two heads, and that it was foretold by some that were skilful in Astronomy, by which words I guess he spake of his Father, sith the Astrologers cannot foretel the birth of a particular Monster, and therefore Nostra∣damus only was able to do it in those days.

He faith in the same place, that it was born in February 1554, and was brought to Salon to be shewed to his Father, and thence was carried to Claudius Earl of Savoy Governour of Provence, who commonly had his residence at Salon.

He maketh no mention if he had four Arms, nor what Sex it was of, it may be that being in swadling cloths, no body took notice of the Arms or Sex.

The Author Prophecieth that it should live some years, it may be two or three, and that is was preserved to see, whether in time it should have the use of its Senses, of the Tongue, and understanding of its two Heads, to see whether there were two Souls, or onely one, and to say the Truth. I think that in such an accident both Heads ought to be Baptized. that in case there should be two Souls, both should partake of the blood of Christ, for their Eternal Salvation.

I do not find in the same History how long it lived, it being a thing not much material to History. In the third Verse he marketh, The day that Aquilare shall celebrate his Festivals; and in the fourth he saith that Fossan, Thurin, chief Ferrare shall run away.

To understand this, one must suppose here that the Town of Cazal is called here the chief of Ferrare; because it is the chief City of Montferrat, and as Paradin saith, is called Cazal St. Bas, a handsom and strong place, honoured with many Nobles and antient Families, as of the Earls of St. George and of Biandratte.

Secondly, We must suppose that in the year 1554. the Lord Figuerol, Lieute∣nant to the Governour of Milan did command in that place. Of this Figuerol I find in the Author of the four Volumes of the States and Empires, (when he speaketh of Spain) that the House of Figueroas was the root of that of Aquilar, which hath several branches, out of which came the Duke of Feria, and the Marquess of Pliego, so that Figuerol and Aquilar is the same thing.

If it be objected that Figueroas and Figuerol are not the same, Paradin teacheth us, that this Figuerol was bred up amongst the Genoeses, and the corrupted Italian of Genoa may have named the Captain Figuerol in stead of Figueroas.

Thirdly, We must suppose here that Cazal was taken in the night that is between Shrove-Tuesday and Ash-Wednesday, and that from Shrove-Sunday to that day there were great rejoycings, because of a famous Marriage that was made between two persons of quality, where the Lord Figuerol was one of the chief persons invited.

Fourthly, That these rejoycings were the occasion of the taking of Cazal; be∣cause the Lord Salvaison Governour of Verrue hearing of this Feast, resolved to be among them, though with a different intention. He had before hand made him∣self sure of one Fontarole, who under pretence to sell fruit, went up and down the Town to spie what was a doing.

Fifthly, The resolution of surprizing Cazal was agreed upon, and the time ap∣pointed to be the night between Shrove-Twesday and Ash-Wednesday, when the Go∣vernour, Inhabitants and Souldiers should be buried in sleep, weary of debaucheries committed the day before.

Sixthly, This resolution was so happily put into execution, that Figuerol hear∣ing

the noise of the French being in Town, came out of his house, having only his night Gown upon him, and a Halbert in his hand, to quiet those whom he only thought to be some drunken persons; but hearing the cry of France, Fraence, he pre∣sently retired into the Castle, with all those that were come to the Nuptials.

Seventhly, The Marshal of Brissac coming about seven of the Clock in the Mor∣ning, caused the Tower of Cazal to be assaulted, which was taken with a considera∣ble loss of the French, and after that the Castle which held out 12 days.

All this being supposed, mark what the Author ••aith in the third Verse.

The day that Aquilare shall celebrate his Festivals, that is, the day that Figuerol of the house of Aquilare shall celebrate his Festivals, not only one Festival, but his Festivals, that is of three days.

Fossen, Thurin, saith the fourth Verse, Chief Ferrare shall run away.

Fossen, Thurin, doth not signifie two Towns, but one onely; for although Fos∣sen and Thurin be two Towns, of which Fossen in the time of the Wars in Italy under Henry 11. belonged to the Spaniard, and Thurin to the French. These two Towns signifie but one, which is that of Fossen, to which to distinguish it from Marseilles, he giveth the Epithete of Thurin, so much as to say, that he speaketh of Fossen a Town of Piemont, the chief Town of which is Thurin, and not of Fossen, which the Au∣thor taketh often for Marseilles.

Which the Author maketh plain, when he saith in the singular number, that Fossen, Thurin, chief Ferrare shall run away, to shew that it is onely one Town of which he speaketh, otherwise if he had intended to speake of two, he would have put it in the plural number, which is more manifest by the History, wherein we learn that Fossen belonged to the Spaniards, and Thurin to the French, and conse∣quently, being of contrary parties, they could neither follow, nor fly from a Town which belonged to one of them.

If any one should object, that the sense of the fourth Verse is, that the Chief Ferrare shall fly or follow these two Towns, the preceding reason is repugnant to that sense; because a Town that is of one party, cannot be friend to two ••owns, one of which is of its party, and the other of the contrary.

The reading of this work shall convince every body, that the Author setteth down sometimes two Towns for one, to distinguish them from others, as he nameth Paul Mansol, to distinguish that Town of St. Paul, which is three Leagues from the Rbosne, over against Pont St. Esprit, from that St. Paul which is in Provence.

Now that Fossen in Piemont shall run from Cazal the chief City of Montferrat; be∣cause that being taken by the French, Fossen could not expect but perpetual damages from it.

But why? will you say, doth the Author speak rather of Fossen, than of other places that held for the Spaniards? I answer, because Fossen was the strongest place that the Spaniards had in Piemont, and which could not be taken by the French, though her neighbour Saviliane was, as we shall shew hereafter.

In the Vulgar impression of this Stanza, there is two saults, one is, that in the first Verse it puts Aquileya, which is a Town that is not in Italy, truth it is, that there is Aquilee a little above Venice, but this hath no correspondency with Fossen, Thurin, nor the Chief of Ferrara.

In the fourth Verse the impression setteth down shall follow, which maketh non∣sense, and therefore I put shall run away, which is a word in French near the other, and maketh a compleat sense, to which agreeth the birth of that Monster in February, and the taking of Cazal in the Month of March. In that year, John Statius setteth Shrove-Twesday upon the 16 of February, and consequently we must say, that the Town was not taken that year 1554. for the Citadel was taken 12 days after, which should have been the 19 of February, and notwithstanding the History marks that it was taken upon the 14 of March.

Therefore we must conclude, that it was taken the year following 1555. and to say truth, in that year Ash-wednesday was the 27. of February; in that day the Town was taken, and two days after the Tower of Cazal; after which the Citadel was be∣sieged the second of March, and the first Saturday of Lent, and was taken twelve days after, which was the 14. of March, which convinceth me that Cazal was taken in the year 1555. upon the 27. of February, and therefore that this Stanza is wholly Prophetical.

LIX. French.

Les exilez deportez dans les Isles, Au changement d'un plus cruel Monarque, Seront meurtris & mis dans les Scintilles, Qui de parler ne seront este parques.

English.

They banished that were carried into the Islands, At the change of a more cruel Monarque, Shall be murdered, and put in the sparks of fire, Because they had not been sparing of their tongues.

ANNOT.

This is very plain, and signifieth no more, but that some persons that were banish∣ed into Islands, and could not hold their tongues; upon the coming of a Monarque, more cruel than his Predecessor, shall be murdered, and burnt.

LX. French.

Un Empereur naistra pres d'Italie, Qui a l'Empire sera vendu bien cher, Diront avec quels gens il se ralie, Qu'on trouvera moins Prince que Boucher.

English.

An Emperour shall be born near Italy, Who shall cost dear to the Empire, They shall say, with what people he keepeth company! He shall be found less a Prince, than a Butcher.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy is for the future; for since Nostradamus's time till now, such an Emperour was not heard of, that was born near Italy, that cost the Empire so dear, and proved more a Butcher, than a Prince.

LXI. French.

La Republique miserable infelice, Sera vastée du nouveau Magistrat, Leur grand amas de l'exil malefice, Fera Suede ravir leur grand contract.

English.

The miserable and unhappy Common-wealth Shall be wasted by the new Magistrate; Their great gathering from exiled persons, Shall cause Swedeland to break her Contract.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses foretell what hath happened to England under the Govern∣ment of a Common-wealth, and how their new Magistrate Cromwel made a havock of them. The third and fourth Verses, mention what great sums they exacted from those of the Kings party, and how for that cause Swedeland foresook their friendship.

LXII. French.

La grande perte las que feront les Lettres, Avant le Circle de Latona parfait, Feu, grand Deluge, plus par ignares Sceptres, Que de long siecle ne se verra refait.

English.

Alas what a great loss shall learning suffer, Before the Circle of the Moon be accomplished, Fire, great flood, and more by ignorant Scepters, Then can be made good again in a long age.

ANNOT.

Here the Author bemoaneth the loss of one eminent person in Learning, be like of Julius Scaliger, who lived in his time, and was once his intimate friend, the two last Verses that great miseries, as Fire and Flood shall happen by the ignorance of Princes.

LXIII. French.

Les Fleaux passez, diminué le Monde, Long temps la Paix, Terres inhabitées, Seur marchera par le Ciel, Terre, Mer & Onde, Puis de nouveau les Guerres suscitées.

English.

The Scourges being past, the World shall be diminished, Peace for a great while, Lands inhabited, Every one safe shall go by Heaven, Land and Sea, And then the Wars shall begin a fresh.

ANNOT.

This foretelleth a great tranquillity every where, and after that, Wars again:

LXIV. French.

De nuit Soleil penseront avoir veu, Quand le Pourceau demy homme on verra, Bruit, Chant, Bataille au Ciel battre apperceu, Et bestes brutes a parler on orra.

English.

They shall think to have seen the Sun in the night, When the Hog half a man shall be seen, Noise, Singing, Battles in Heaven shall be seen to fight, And brute beasts shall be heard to speak.

ANNOT.

This Stanza is full of prodigies that are to happen, and for that in the last Verse, it is no great wonder, for many brute beasts have spoken, speak now a days, and shall speak hereafter.

LXV. French.

Enfant sans mains, jamais veu si grand Foudre, L'Enfant Royal au jeu d'esteuf blessé, Au puy brisez, fulgures allant moudre, Trois sur les champs par le milieu troussez.

English.

A child without hands, so great Lightning never seen, The Royal Child wounded at Tennis, Bruised at the Well, Lightnings, going to grind, Three shall be strucken by the middle.

ANNOT.

The meaning of all this is, that when a child shall be born without hands, there shall be fearful Lightning; a Royal child shall be hurt at Tennes, and by that Light∣ning some shall be bruised by a Well, and in a Mill, and three in the Field shall be killed.

LXVI. French.

Celuy qui lors portera les nouvelles, Apres un peu il viendra respirer, Viviers, Tournon, Montferrand & Pradelles, Gresle & tempeste les fera souspirer.

English.

He that then shall carry the news, A little while after shall draw his breath, Viviers, Tournon, Montferrant, and Pradelles, Hail and storm shall make them sigh.

ANNOT.

This Stanza hath a connexion with the foregoing, for the two first Verses signifie, that he who shall carry the news of that fearful Lightning, and of the mischief done by it, shall have much ado to recover his breath.

In the last two Verses, the Towns are named which shall suffer most by that storm, and chiefly by the Hail and the Wind.

French. LXVII.

La grand famine que je vois approcher, Souvent tourner puis estre universelle, Sigrande & longue qu'on viendra arracher, Du Bois racine, & I'Enfant de mamelle.

English.

What a great famine do I see drawing near, To turn one way, then another, and then become universal, So great and long, that they shall come to pluck The root from the Wood, and the child from the breast.

ANNOT.

The words and sense of this are plain, and foretell a great famine, which being first in one Countrey and then in another, shall at last become general, and last so long, that people shall pluck the Roots from the Trees, and the children from the breast to feed upon.

LXVIII. French.

O quel horrible & malheureux tourment, Trois innocens qu'on viendra a livrer, Poison suspect, mal garde tradiment. Mis en horreur par Bourreaux enyvrez.

English.

O to what a horrid and unhappy torment, Shall be put three Innocents! Poison shall be suspected, evil Keepers shall betray them, They shall be put to horrour by drunken Executioners.

ANNOT.

This is very plain concerning three innocent persons, who shall be delivered up by their unfaithful keepers, and shall be put to great torments by drunken Executioners, which torments shall be suspected to come by poison.

LXIX. French.

La grand Montagne ronde de sept Stades, Apres Paix, Guerre, Faim, Inondation, Roulera loing, abisuant grand contrades, Mesmes antiques, & grand Fondation.

English.

The great Mount in compass seven Stades, After Peace, War, Famine, and Innundation, Shall tumble a great way, sinking great Countries, Yea ancient Buildings, and great Foundation.

ANNOT.

A Stade cometh from the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because Hercules did overrun so much ground at one breath; but what space of ground the Author mean∣eth by seven Stades, is unknown to me. The rest of the Prophecy may very well be appropriated to the last fearful eruption of Mount Aetna, which sunk so many Towns and Buildings, and the relation of which is so handsomly and truly made by the most honourable the Earl of Winchelsey, who was an eye witness to it, in his return from his Embassy at Constantinople.

LXX. French.

Pluye, Faim, Guerre en Perse non cessée, La foy trop grande trahira le Monarque; Par la finie en Gaule commencée, Secret augure pour a un estre parque.

English.

The Rain, Famine, War, in Persia being not ceased, Too great credulity shall betray the Monarque; Being ended there, it shall begin in France, A secret Omen to one that he shall die.

ANNOT.

The meaning of the two first Verses, is, that while the Rain, Famine, and War shall be in Persia, a Monarque shall be betrayed by his credulity. The third Verse signifieth that this Rain, Famine and War being ended in Persia, it shall begin in France. And the fourth Verse, that this shall be an Omen to a great Person of his approaching death.

LXXI. French.

La Tour Marine troisfois prise & reprise, Par Espagnols, Barbares, Ligurins, Marseille & Aix, Arles par ceux de Pise, Vast, feu, fer, pille, Avignon des Thurins.

English.

The Sea-tower three times taken and retaken, By Spaniards, Barbarians, and Ligurians, Marseilles and Aix, Arles by those of Pisa, Wast, fire, Iron, plunder, Avignon of Thurins.

ANNOT.

It is hard to guess what this Sea Tower is, which was taken and retaken three times; first by the Spaniards, next by the Barbarians, and then by the Ligurians, that is, either the Genoeses, or those of Ligorne, unless he meaneth the Pignon de Velez in Africa, first taken by Charles the V. upon the Barbarians, then retaken again by them, taken again by the Spaniards, by the help of the Genoeses. In the third Verse Marseille, Aix, and Arles, are threatned by those of Pisa, that is the, Florentines, of being ruinated by Fire and Sword, and to be plundered, as also Avignon by those of Pitmont.

LXXII. French.

Du tout Marseille des habitans changee, Course & poursuite jusques pres de Lion, Narbon, Tholoze par Bourdeaux outragée, Tuez, Captifs presque d'un Milion.

English.

Marseille shall wholly change her Inhabitants These shall run and be pursued as far as Lion, Narbon, Tholoze shall wrong Bourdeaux, There shall be killed and taken prisoner almost a Milion.

ANNOT.

Marseilles is a Sea-Town in Provence, Narbon, and Tholoze are Cities of Langue∣doc, and Bourdeaux is the chief Town in Gascony; the rest is easie to be understood.

LXXIII. French.

France a cinq parts par neglect assaillie, Tunis, Argier, esmeus par Persiens, Leon, Seville Barcelonne faillie, N'aura la chasse par les Venetiens.

English.

France by a neglect shall be assaulted on five sides, Tunis, Argier shall be moved by the Persians, Leon, Sevil, Barcelone shall be missed, And not be pursued by the Venetians

ANNOT.

This Stanza is concerning as many Countreys, as there are Verses: the first is France, which by neglect and carelesness of her in Inhabitants, shall be assaulted on five several sides. The second is concerning Tunis and Argier, Cities of Barbary, which shall be stirred and moved (I suppose) to rebel. The third regardeth Leon, Sevil, Barselona, Cities in Spain, and the fourth the Venetians.

LXXIV. French.

Apres sejourné vogueront en Empire, Le grand secours viendra vers Antioche, Le noir pil crespe tendra fort a l'Empire, Barbe d'Airain se rostira en broche.

English.

After a stay, they shall Sail towards an Empire, The great succours shall come towards Antioch, The Black Hair Curled, shall aim much to the Empire, The Brazen Bread shall be roasted on a Spit.

ANNOT.

There is no difficulty in this, but in the last Verse, which I had rather leave to the judgment of the judicious Reader, than to offer any thing that might make me ri∣diculous.

LXXV. French.

Le Tyran Sienne occupera Savone, Le fort gaigné tiendra classe Marine, Les deux Armees par la marque d'Ancone, Par effrayeur le chef sen examine.

English.

The Tyrant Sienna shall occupy Savona; The Fort being won, shall hold a Fleet, The two Armies shall go in the mark of Ancona, By fear the chief shall be examined.

ANNOT.

For the explication of this Stanza, you must understand that Sienna is a City in Italy, now under the Dominion of the Duke of Tuscany, who shall occupy Savona, a City now under the Dominion of the Common-wealth of Genoa; the rest is plain enough.

LXXVI. French.

D'un nom farouche tel proferé sera. Que les trois Soeurs auront Fato le nom, Puis grand peuple par langue & fait dira, Plus que nul autre aura bruit & renom.

English.

By a wild name one shall be called, So that the three Sisters shall have the name of Fato, Afterwards a great people by Tongue and Deeds, shall say, He shall have fame and renown more than any other.

ANNOT.

By the three Sisters, he meaneth the three Destinies, viz. Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, which the Poets have fained to Spin every mans destiny, which he calleth here Fato, from the Latin word Fatum. The rest may be interpreted as well by the Reader, as by my self.

LXXVII. French.

Entre deux Mers dressera promontoire, Qui puis mourra par le mors du Cheval, Le fier Neptune pliera Voile noire, Par Calpre, & Classe aupres de Rocheval.

English.

Between two Seas shall a Promontory be raised, By him, who shall die by the biting of a Horse, The proud Neptune shall fold the black Sail. Through Calpre, and a fleet shall be near Rocheval.

ANNOT.

I could not find what he meaneth by Calpre, nor by Rocheval, which I suppose to be the proper names of places, when he saith, that proud Neptune shall fold the black Sail; he maketh an allusion to the History of Theseus, Son of Aegeus King of Athens, who being sent with other Children into Candia, to become a prey to the Minotaure, his Father sent the Ship with black Sails, as in a case of Mourning, charging Theseus, that if he came back again safe he should put on white Sails, but coming in sight of Athens, Theseus for joy forgot to put on the white Sails, so that his Father Aegeus thinking he had miscarried, cast himself from a Rock into the Sea, so that he saying that Neptune shall fold the black Sail, he meaneth, that there shall be joyful news.

LXXVIII. French.

D'un chef vieillard naistre sens habeté, Degenerant par scavoir & par Armes, Le chef de France par sa Soeur redouté, Champs divisez concedez aux Gensdarmes.

English.

An old head shall beget an Idiot, Who shall degenerate in Learning and in Arms, The head of France shall be feared by his sister, The fields shall be divided, and granted to the Troopers.

ANNOT.

The sense of this is so plain, that any body may make his interpretation of it.

LXXIX. French.

Bazas, L'Estoure, Condom, Auch Agine, Esmeus par Loix, querelle & Monopole, Car Bourd, Tholose, Bay, mettra en ruine, Renouveler voulant leur Tauropole.

English.

Bazas, l'Estoure, Condom, Auch, Agen, Being moved by Laws, quarrels and Monopoly, For they shall put to ruine Bordeaux, Tholose, Bayonne, Going about to renew their Tauropole,

ANNOT.

This Key of the sense of this Stanza lieth in the last word Tauropole, which is compounded of the Latin word Taurus a Bull, and of the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, to sell; so that the meaning of it is, that those Cities mentioned shall rise in Rebel∣lion against the Monopolites, and those that shall lay a Tax upon Cattle.

LXXX. French.

De la sixiesme claire splendeur Celeste, Viendra Tonnerre si fort en la Bourgongne, Puis naistra monstre de treshideuse beste, Mars, Avril, May, Juin, grand charpin & rogne.

English.

From the sixth bright Coelestial splendour, Shall come very great Lightning in Burgundy, After that shall be born a Monster of a most hideous beast, In March, April, May, June shall be great quarelling and muttering.

ANNOT.

The first Verse is of a most dark and abstruse sense, in which I confess my igno∣rance, unless he meant from the sixth of the seven Planets, the rest is plain enough.

LXXXI. French.

D'humain troupeau neus seront mis a part, De Jugement & Conseil separez, Leur sort sera divisé en depart, Kappa, Theta, Lambda, mors, bannis egarez.

English.

Nine shall be set aside from the human flock, Being divided in Judgement and Counsel, Their fortune shall be to be divided, Kappa, Theta, Lambda, dead, banished, scattered.

ANNOT.

There is nothing difficult here, but what he meaneth by Kappa, Theta, Lambda, which are three Letters of the Greek Alphabet.

LXXXII. French.

Quand les Colomnes de Bois grande tremblée, D'Aufter conduite, couverte de rubriche, Tant videra dehors grande assemblée, Tremble Vienne, & le Païs d'Austriche.

English.

When the wooden Columns shall be much shaken, By Auster, and covered with rubbish, Then shall go out a great assembly And Vienne, and the Land of Austria shall tremble.

ANNOT.

Auster, in Latin is the Southwind. Vienna is the chief City of Austria, belonging to the Emperour of Germany.

LXXXIII. French.

L'Agent estrange divisera butins, Saturnc & Mars son regard furieux, Horrible, estrange, aux Thoscans & Latins, Grees qui seront a frapper curiux.

English.

The stranger Agent shall divide booties, Saturn in Mars shall have his aspect furious, Horrid, and strange to the Tuscans and Latines The Grecians shall be curious to strike.

ANNOT.

By the Tuscans are meant the people under the Dominion of the Duke of Flo∣rence; and by the Latines, those under the Pope.

LXXXIV. French.

Lune obscurie aux profondes tenebres, Son frere passe de couleur ferrugine, Le grand caché long temps soubs les tenebres, Tiedera Fer dans la Pluie sanguine.

English.

The Moon shall be darkned in the deepest darkness, Her brother shall pass being of a ferrugineous colour, The great one long hidden under darkness, Shall make his Iron lukewarm in the bloody Rain.

ANNOT.

This signifieth, that when the Moon shall be totally Eclipsed in the night, and that all the next day her Brother the Sun shall be seen of a ferrugineous, (that is an Iron like colour) then shall a great one that was hidden arise, and do great feats of Arms with the death of many men.

LXXXV. French.

Par la responce de Dame Roy troublé, Ambassadeurs mespriseront leur vie, Le grand ses Freres contrefera doublé, Par deux mourront, hain, ire, & envie.

English.

A King shall be troubled by the answer of a Lady, Embassadors shall despise their lives, The great one being double in mind shall counterfeit his Brothers, They shall die by two, anger, hatred, and envy.

ANNOT.

There is nothing difficult here, but the last Verse, which yet will be plain enough, if you make these three words anger, hatred, and envy not co-herent with the fore∣most, but subsisting by themselves; as if one should say, there shall be anger, hatred, and envy.

LXXXVI. French.

La grande Roine quand se verra vaincue, Fera exces de Masculin courage, Sur le Cheval, Fleuve passera nue, Suite par Fer, a Foy fera outrage,

English.

When the great Queen shall see her self vaniquished, She shall do a deed of a Masculine courage, Upon a Horse, she shall pass over the River naked, Followed by Iron, she shall do wrong to her Faith.

ANNOT.

It is some great Queen, who seeing her self vanquished, shall swim naked on Horse∣back over a River, being followed by those that would have either killed or taken her, and after that shall forfeit her faith, but whether it be to her Husband, Friends, or Relations, is not expressed.

LXXXVII. French.

Ennosigee feu du Centre de Terre Fera trembler autour de Cité Neuve, Deux grands Rochers long temps feront la guerre, Puis Arethuse rougira nouveau fleuve.

English.

Ennosigee, fire of the Center of the Earth, Shall make quake about the New City, Two great Rocks shall a great while War one against the other, After that, Arethusa shall colour red a new River.

ANNOT.

Ennosigee is a Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Latin Terrae quassator, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 moveo, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Terra, and is an Epithete of Neptune. The meaning then of this Stanza is, that the Sea shall make the Earth quake, and fire come out of the Earth about Na∣ples, which in Greek is called Neapolis, that is, a New City.

Arethusa is a Fountain in Sicily, which a little way from its Spring, groweth into a River. The rest is left to the interpretationof of the Reader.

LXXXVIII. French.

Le Divin mal surprendra un grand Prince, Un peu devant aura femme espousée, Son appuy & credit a un coup viendra mince, Conseil mourra pour la teste rasée.

English.

The Divine sickness shall surprise a great Prince, A little while after he hath married a woman, His support and credit shall at once become slender, Council shall die for the shaven head.

ANNOT.

By the Divine sickness, he meaneth the falling sickness, called by the Greeks Epilepsia, and by the Latines Morbus Sacer. By the shaven head, he meaneth some Ecclesiastical person of the Romish Religion; the construction of the whole is easie.

LXXXIX. French.

Tous ceux d'illerde seront dans la Moselle, Mettant a mort tous ceux de Loire & Seine, Le course Marin viendra pres d'Hautevelle, Quand Espagnols ouvrira toute veine.

English.

All those of Illerde shall be in the Mosel, Putting to death all those of Loire and Seine, The Sea course shall come near Hautevelle, When the Spaniard shall open all veins.

ANNOT.

By Illerde he meaneth the City of l'sle in Flanders, the Mosel is a River that run∣neth through Lorrain, the Loire and Seine are two other Rivers of France, the first of which passeth at Orleans, and the second at Paris; the two last Verses are too hard for me to interpret.

XC. French.

Bourdeaux, Poitiers, au son de la Campane, A grande classe ira jusqu'a Langon, Contre Gaulois sera leur Tramontane, Quand Monstre hideux naistra pres de Orgon.

English.

Bourdeaux, Poitiers, at the sound of the Bell, With a great Navy shall go as far as Langon, Against the French shall their Tramontane be, When an hideous Monster shall be born near Orgon.

ANNOT.

Tramontana, in Italian, is the North-wind. Orgon, is the name of a Town in Gas∣cony, the rest of the construction is not difficult.

XCI. French.

Les dieux seront aux humains apparence, Ce quils seront auteurs de grand conflict, Avant ciel veu serain, Espée & Lance, Que vers main gauche sera plus grande affliction.

English.

The Gods shall make it appear to Man-kind, That they are the Authors of a great War; For the Heaven that was Serene, shall shew Sword and Lance, Signifying, that on the left hand the afflication shall be greater.

ANNOT.

He foretelleth here some Prodigies that shall be in the Air, as Swords and Lances after fair weather, which shall be forerunners of great Wars, and chiefly in those Countries that shall be situated on the left hand of these Prodigies.

XCII. French.

Soubs un la paix, par tout sera clemence, Mais non long temps, pille & rebellion, Par refus Ville, Terre & Mer entamée, Morts & Captifs le liers d'un Million.

English.

Under one shall be peace, and every where clemency, But not a long while, then shall be plundering and Rebellion, By a denyal shall Town, Land and Sea be assaulated, There shall be Dead and taken Prisoners the third part of a Million.

ANNOT.

The words and sense are plain.

XCIII. French.

Terre Italique des Mons tremblera, Lion & Coq non trop confederez, en lieu & peur l'un l'autre saidera, Seul Catulon & Celtes moderez.

English.

The Italian Land of the Mountains shall tremble, The Lion and the Cock shall not agree very well together, Shall for fear help one another, The only Catulon and Celtes shall be moderate.

ANNOT.

By the Lion he understandeth the English, because of their Arms, and by the Cock the French, called in Latin Gallus, which signifieth a Cock; Catulen is the Spaniards, as if he should say Castilian; the Celtes are the Dutch of the Low-Coun∣tries.

XCIV. French.

Au Port Selyn le Tyrant mis a Mort, La liberté non pourtant recouvrée, Le nouveau Mars par vindict & remort, Dame par force de frayeur honorée.

English.

In the Port Selyn the Tyrant shall be put to death, And yet the liberty shall not be recovered, The new Mars by vengeance and remorse, Lady by excess of fear honoured.

ANNOT.

By the Port Selyn, is meant Constantinople, because of several Emperours of the Turks that have been of that name, therefore the intention of this Prophecy, is, that one of the Turkish Emperours shall be put to death at Constantinople, which for all that, shall not recover her liberty. The new Mars, be like he is so called, that shall put him to death by vengeance without remorse. The Lady by excess of fear honoured, may be applied to the present great Sultaness, Mother to this present Emperour of the Turks, who hath hitherto made her self very considerable by a great party, which she hath raised against her Son, to prevent him from putting his Brothers to death, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is usually practised in that Court.

XCV. French.

Devant Moustier trouvé enfant besson, D'Heroik sang de Moi••e & vetustique, Son bruit per Secte, Langue, & puissance Son, Qu'on dira fort eslevé le Vopisque.

English.

Before the Minister shall one twin be found, From Heroik blood, of a Monk and Ancient, His fame by Sect, Tongue, and Power shall be sounded, So that they shall say the Vopisk is much raised.

ANNOT.

The meaning of the whole is, that a Twin shall be found before a Church, be∣got by a Monk, of Illustrious and Ancient Family, and shall become very famous. So that they shall say the Vopisk is much raised. Vopiscus in Latin, is, that one of the Twins, which cometh to perfect Birth.

XCVI. French.

Celuy qu'aura la charge de destruire, Temples & Sectes changez par fantaisie, Plus aux Rochers, qu'aux vivans viendra nuire, Par langue ornée d'oreille rassasie.

English.

He that shall have charge to destroy, Churches and Sects, changed by fancy; Shall do more harm to the Rocks, than to the living, By a smooth tongue filling up the Ears.

ANNOT.

As the words of this Stanza are plain, so is the sense most obscure, and so to be left to the Readers private Judgement.

XCVII. French.

Ce que fer, flamme, na sceu parachever, La douce langue au conseil viendra faire, Par respos, songe le Roy fera resuer, Plus l'Ennemy en feu sang militaire.

English.

What neither Iron nor Fire could compass, Shall be done by a smooth tongue in the Councel, In sleep a dream shall make the King to think, The more the Enemy in fire and Military blood.

ANNOT.

The sense of this is plain, though the words be somthing untowardly expressed.

XCVIII. French.

Le Chef qu'aura conduit peuple infiny, Lion de son Ciel: de moeurs & langue estrange, Cinq mille en Crete & Thessalie finy, Le Chef fuiant sauvé en la Marine Grange.

English.

The Captain that shall lead an infinite deal of people Far from their Countrey, to one of strange manners and Language, Five thousand in Candia and Thessalia finished, The Head running away, shall be safe in a Barn by the Sea.

ANNOT.

It is some great Commander that shall lead a multitude of people into a strange Countrey, far from their own; suppose Candia and Thessalia, where the said Com∣mander shall be compelled to runaway, and to save himself in a Barn by the Sea side.

XCIX. French.

Le grand Monarque qui fera compagnie, Avec deux Rois unis par amitié, O quel souspir fera la grand mesgnie, Enfans, Narbonne alentour, quel pitié!

English.

The great Monarch shall keep company, With two Kings united in friendship; O what sights shall be made by their followers! Children, O what pity shall be about Narbon.

ANNOT.

This Stanza requireth no interpretation more, than what every one will be pleased to give himself.

C. French.

Long temps au Ciel sera veu gris Oiseau, Aupres de Dole & de Tuscane Terre, Tenant au Bec un verdoiant remeau, Mourra tost Grand, & finira la Guerre.

English.

A great while shall be seen in the Air a gray Bird, Near Dola and the Tuscan Land, Holding in his Bill a green bough; Then shall a great one die, and the War have and end.

ANNOT.

Dola is a Town in Burgundy: The Tuscan Land, is that which belongeth to the Duke of Florence.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Hist•••••• of a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 o•• p••trified child.