Conjuction of Sol and Jupiter the year shall be peacefull without Eclipse and in the beginning of that year shall be a greater persecution against the Christian Church than ever was in Affrica and it shall last till the year 1792. at which time every body will think it a renovation of Age. After that the Roman people shall begin to stand upright again and to put away some obscure darknesses receiving some of its former light but not without great divisions and continual changes Venice after that with great strength and power shall lift up her Wings so high that she will not be much inferiour to the strength of the old Rome and in that time great Bizantine Sails joyned with the Ligustiques by the Northern help and power shall give some hinderance whereby those of Crete shall not keep their faith the Arches built by the antient Martial men will keep company together with Neptun's Waves In the Adriatick shall be a great discord what was united shall be parted asunder and what was before and is a great City will go near to becom a house including the Pempotan and the Mesopot amia of Europe to 45 and others to 41 42 and 37. And in that time and Countrey the Infernal power shall rise against the Church of I. C. with the power of the Enemies to his Law which shall be the second Antechrist who shall persecute the said Church and its Vicar by the means of the power of Temporal Kings who through their Ignorance shall be seduced by Tongues more sharp than any Sword in the hands of 2 mad man The said Reign of Antichrist shall not last but till the ending of him born by Age and of the other in the City of Plancus accompanied by the Elect of Modone Fulcy by Ferrara maintained by Adriatick Liguriens and the proximity of the great Trinacria and after that shall pass over the Mount Jovis The Gallique Ogmyon followed with such a number that even from afar off the Empire of the great Law shall be presented to him and then and after shall be profusedly spilled the blood of the Innocent by the Nocent raised on high then by great Floods the memory of those things contained by such Instruments shall receive an innumerable loss as also shall learning towards the North by the Divine Will Satan bound once more and an universal Peace shall be among men and the Church of I. C. shall be free from all tribulation although the Azosrains would fain mix among it the Honey of their pestilent seduction and this shall happen about the seventh Millinary so that the Sanctuary of I. C shall be no more trodden down by the unbelievers that shall come from the North the world being near to some conflagration although by my supputations in my Prophecies the course of the time goeth much further In the Epistle that within the late years I have dedicated to my Son Caesar Nostradamus I have openly enough declared some things without prognosticating But here Sir are comprehended many great and wonderful events which those that come after us shall see And during the said Astrological supputation conferred with the sacred Scripture the persecution of the Clergy shall have its beginning from the power of Northern Kings joyned with the Eastern ones that persecution shall last Eleven years and a little less at which time the chief Northern King shall fail which years being ended shall come in his united Southern one who shall yet more violently persecute the Clergy by the Apostatical seduction of one that shall have the absolute power over the Militant Church of God And the Holy people of God and keeper of his Law and all order of Religion shall be grievously persecuted and afflicted insomuch that the blood of the true Ecclesiastical men shall float all over and unto one of those horrid Kings this praise shall be given by his followers to have spilt more humane blood of the Innocent Clergy-men than any body can do Wine and the said King shall commit incredible crimes against the Church humane blood shall run through publick streets and Churches as water coming from an impetuous Rain and the next Rivers shall be red with blood and by another Sea fight the Sea shall be red insomuch that one King shall say to another Bellis rubuit navalibus aequor After that in the same year those that follow shall happen the most horrid Plague caused by the precedent famine and so great tribulations as ever did happen since the first foundation of the Christian Church through all the Latine Regions some marks of it remaining in some Countreys of Spain At that time the Northern King hearing the complaint of the people of his principal title shall raise up so great an Army and shall go through the straights of his last Ancestors and Progenitors that he will set up all again in their first state and the great Vicar of the Cope shall be restored in his former estate but desolate and altogether forsaken and then shall the Sancta sanctorum be destroyed by Paganism and the old and New Testament be thrust out and burnt after that shall Antechrist be the infernal Prince and once more for the last all the Kingdoms of Christendom and also of the unbelievers shall quake for the space of 25 years and there shall be more grievous Wars and Battles and Towns Cities Castles and other buildings shall be burnt desolate and destroyed with a great effusion of Vestal blood Married Women and Widows ravished sucking Children dashed against the Walls of the Towns and so many evils shall be committed by the means of the Infernal prince Satan that almost the universal world shall be undone and desolate and before these events many unusual Birds shall cry through the Air Huy Huy and a little while after shall vanish away And after that time shall have lasted a good while there shall be renewed a Kingdom of Saturn and Golden Age. God the Creator shall say hearing the affliction of his people Satan shall be put and tied in the bottom of the deep and there shall begin an universal peace between God and men and the Ecclesiastical power shall be in its greater force and Satan shall be left bound for the space of a thousand years and then shall be loosed again All these Figures are justly fitted by the sacred Scripture to the visible Coelestial things viz. Saturn Jupiter and Mars and others joyned with them as more at large may be seen in some of my Stanza's I would have calculated it more deeply and compared one with the other but seeing most excellent King that some stand ready to censure me I shall withdraw my Pen to its Nocturnal repose Multa etiam O Rex potentissime prâ—clara sane in brevi ventura sed omnia in hac tua Epistola inneâ—tere non possumus nec volumus sed ad intelligenda quedam facta horrida fata pauca libanda sunt quamvis tanta sit
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 Africa 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 dominions 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 Souldiers 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 degree 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 favour 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 Treasurer 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 compelled to surrender to the Queen all the Jewels she had extorted from the King besides 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 nevertheless 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 Prison 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 presented 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 Exaltation 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 Enemies 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 Reigning 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
Countrey to work I cannot omit here that a conceited Chymist in Paris whose name was Haumont in English Highmount could not be disswaded but our Author spake of him in this Stanza and that he could not die till he had got the Philosophers stone but to other matters XXXII French Es lieux temps chair au poisson donra lieu La loy commune sera faite au contraire Vieux tiendra fort puis osté du milieu Le Panta Choina Philon mis fort arriere English In places and times flesh shall give place to fish The common Law shall be made against it The old man shall stand fast then being taken away The Panta Choina Philon shall be set aside ANNOT. Panta Choina Philon are three Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifie in Latine omnia inter amicos communia and in English all things are common among friends The rest is easie XXXIII French Jupiter joint plus Venus qu'a la Lune Apparoissant de plenitude blanche Venus cachée soubs la blancheur Neptune De Mars frappée par la gravée branche English Jupiter being more joyned to Venus then to the Moon Appearing in a full whiteness Venus being hid under the whiteness of Neptune Stricken by Mars through the ingraved branch ANNOT. These terms being Astronomical and Astrological it is hard to guess at the Authors mind XXXIV French Le grand mené captif d'estrange Terre Dor enchainé au Roy Cheyren offert Qui dans Ausonne Milan perdra la Guerre Et tout son Ost mis a Feu a Fer English The great one brought Prisoner from a far Countrey And chained with Gold shall be presented to the King Chyren Being then at Ausone Milan shall loose the War And all its Host shall be put to fire and sword ANNOT. The meaning of this is that when a great one from a far Countrey shall be brought Prisoner chained with gold and presented to a King called Henry for Cheyren by transposition of letters is Henry who then shall beat Bordeaux Milan shall loose a great Army XXXV French Le feu esteint les vierges trahiront La plus grand part de la bande nouvelle Ponldre a feu les seuls Rois garderont Hetrusque Corse de nuit gorge alumelle English The fire being put out the Virgins shall betray The greatest part of the new troup Gunpowder Lance shall keep only the Kings In Hetruria and Corfica by night throats shall be cut ANNOT. Hetruria is the Countrey of Tuscany now under the Duke of Florence and Corsica is an Island in the Mediterranean sea belonging to the Genoese The rest is plain XXXVI French Les jeux nouveaux en Gaule redressez Apres Victoire de l' Insubre Campagne Monts d' Hesperie les grands liez troussez De peur trembler la Romagne l' Espagne English The new plays shall be set up again in France After the Victory obtained in Piemont Mountains of Spain the great ones tied carried away Romania and Spain shall quake for fear ANNOT. This is a Prognostication of the rejoycing that should be in France after the winning of that famous battle of Serizoles in Piemont against the Armies of the Emperour and the King of Spain XXXVII French Gaulois par saults Monts viendra penetrer Occupera le grand Mont de l' Insubre Au plus profond son Ost fera entrer Genes Monech pousseront classe rubre English The French by leaping shall go over the Mountains And shall seize upon the great Mount of the Savoyard He shall cause his Army to go to the furthermost Genoa and Monaco shall set out their red Fleet. ANNOT. This Prophecy is concerning Henry the IV. King of France who went over the Alpes and conquered the Duke of Savoy's Countrey because he would not restore the Markdom of Saluces Genoa and Monaco are Cities near Savoy XXXVIII French Pendant que Duc Roy Roine occupera Chef Bizantin captif en Samothrace Avant lassault l'un l'autre mangera Rebours ferré suivra du sang la trace English While the Duke shall busie the King and the Queen A great man of Constantinople shall be prisoner in Samothracia Before the assault one shall eat up the other Rebours shod shall trace one by the blood ANNOT. The three first Verses are plain as for the fourth either it is falsly Printed or I must confess I understand it not XXXIX French Les Rhodiens demanderont secours Par le neglect de ses hoirs delaissee L'Empire Arabe ravalera son cours Par Hesperie la cause redressée English The Rhodiens shall ask for succours Being for saken by the neglect of her Heirs The Arrabian Empire shall slack his course By the means of Spain the case shall be mended ANNOT. By the Rhodians are understood the Knights of Maltha because they dwelt first at Rhodes By the second Verse it is said it was the neglect of her Heirs that is of the Heirs of Rhodes the Knights of Maltha who being careless of themselves were besieged by Solyman which constrained them to ask succours of all the Christian Princes which came very slowly at last Dom Garcia Viceroy of Sicily relieved them and drove away the Turks that had suffered great loss therefore the Author saith in the third Verse The Arabian Empire shall slack his course XL. French Les Forteresses des Assiegez serrez Par poudre a feu profondez en abysme Les proditeurs seront tous vifs serrez Onc aux Sacristes navint si piteux schisme English The strong places of the Besieged shall be straightned By Gunpowder they shall be plonged into a pit The Traytors shall be shut up alive Never did happen so pitiful a schisme to the Sacristes ANNOT. By the Sacristes he understandeth the Clergy of the Roman Religion XLI French Gynique Sexe captive par Hostage Viendra de nuit custodes decevoir Le Chef du Camp deceu par son language Lairra la gente sera piteux a voir English Gynical sexe being captive by Hostage Shall come by night to deceive her keepers The Chief of the Camp being deceived by her Language Shall leave her folks a thing pitiful to behold ANNOT. Gynical Sex is a woman from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a woman The meaning then of this Stanza is that a woman being given in Hostage and made prisoner shall deceive her keepers and among the rest the chief Captain who shall forsake his Troops and run away with her XLII French Geneve Langres par ceux de Chartre Dole Et par Grenoble captif au Montlimar Seysset Lausane par fraudulente dole Les trahiront pour Or soixante mark English Geneve and Langres by those of Chartres and Dole And by one of Grenoble captive at Montlimar Seisset Lozanne by a fraudulent deceit Shall betrary them for thirty pounds weight of Gold ANNOT. All those Towns are in France the sense is plain XLIII French
Villageois Vie derniere chef de sa chevance English The guilty in a Citizens habit Shall come to tempt the King concerning his offence Fifteen Soldiers the most part Countrey men The last shall be his life and the best part of his Estate ANNOT. This signifieth that a great man having committed an offence against the King shall come to him in a mean habit to sue for his Pardon and shall be carried away by fifteen Souldiers the most part Countrey fellows and in conclusion he shall have his life saved and the best part of his Estate LXV French Au deserteur de la grand Forteresse Apres qu'aura son lieu abondonné Son adversaire sera si grand provesse L'Empereur tost mort sera condamné English After that the desertor of the great Fort Shall have forsaken his place His adversary shall do so great feats That the Emperor shall soon be condemned to death ANNOT. This is plain LXVI French Soubs couleur feinte de sept testes rasées Seront formez divers explorateurs Puits Fontains de poison arrousées Au Fort de Genes humains devorateurs English Under the fained colour of seven shaven heads Shall divers spies be framed Wells and Fountains shall be sprinkled with poison In the Fort of Genoa shall be humane devourers ANNOT. The three first Verses belong to the same sense viz. that seven men shall be spies under pretence to be Priests or Monks which is the meaning of the shaven heads and shall poison the Wells and springs The last Verse signifieth that in the Fort of Genoa their shall be devourers of men that is Usurers and Extortioners which is no new thing in that Nation LXVII French L'An que Saturne Mars esgaux combust L'Air fort seiché longne trajection Par feux secrets d'ardeur grands lieux adust Peu pluye Vent chauds Guerres Incursions English In the year that Saturn and Mars shall be fiery The Air shall be very dry in many Countreys By secret fires many places shall be burnt with heat There shall be scarcity of Rain hot Winds Wars in-roads ANNOT. This is the Prognostication of a mighty dry season and other accidents that shall happen when Saturn and Mars shall be in a fiery disposition which whether it be by Opposition Conjunction Aspect c. Let the Astrologers judge LXVIII French En l'an bien proche non esloigné de Venus Les deux plus grands de l' Asie d' Affrique Du Rhinc Ister qu'on dira sont venus Cris pleurs a Malthe coste Ligustique English In a year that is to come shortly and not far from Venus The two greatest ones of Asia and Affrica Shall be said to come from the Rhine and Ister Crying and tears shall be at Maltha and in the Ligurian shore ANNOT. The Rhine is a River in Germany Ister is another in the Countrey of Istria belonging to the Venetians By the first Verse I conclude that this Prophecy came to pass a little while after the Author wrote this Book when the grand Segnor Solyman besieged Maltha and put in fear all the Ligurian Coast which is that of Genoa LXIX French La Cité grande les exilez tiendront Les Citadins morts meutris chassez Ceux d' Aquilee a Parme promettront Monstrer l'entrée par les lieux non tracez English The banished shall keep the great City The Citizens being dead murdered and expelled Those of Aquileia shall promise to Parma To shew the entrance by unknown paths ANNOT. Aqueleia and Parma are two Cities in Italy The rest is easie LXX French Bien contigu des grands Monts Pyrenées Un contre l'Aigle grand copie adresser Ouvertes veines forces exterminées Que jusqu'au Pau le chief viendra chasser English Near the great Pyrenean Mountains One shall raise a great Army against the Eagle Veins shall be opened forces driven out So that the chief shall be driven as far as the Pau. ANNOT. By the Eagle here is understood the Empire because his Ensign is an Eagle LXXI French En lieu d'Espouse les Filles trucidées Meurtre a grand faute ne sera superstile Dedans le puis vestues inondées L'Espouse esteinte par haut d'Aconite English Instead of the Bride the Maid shall be killed The murder shall be a great fault none shall be surviving In the Well they shall be drowned with their Cloaths The Bride shall be extinguished by an high Aconite ANNOT. This is a Prophecie of a Tragical Nuptial where all the Maids shall be drowned with their Cloaths in a Well insomuch that none shall survive and the Bride shall be poisoned and die by Aconite which is one of the most poisonous herbs that is witness Juvinal Luridaterribilesâ—miscent asonita novercae LXXII French Les Artomiques par Agen Lectoure A saint Felix feront leur Parliament Ceux de Bazas viendront a la malhoure Saisir Condon Marsan promptement English The Artomiques through Agen and Lectoure Shall keep their Parliament at Saint Foelix These of Bazas shall come in an unhappy hour To seize upon Condon and Marsan speedily ANNOT. By the Artomiques he meaneth the Protestants because they take the Communion with leavened Bread which in Greek is called Artos Agen Lectoure saint Foelix Bazas Condon and Marsan are Cities of Gascony The rest is plain LXXIII French Le neveu grand par force prouvera Le peche fait de Coeur pusillanime Ferrare Ast le Duc esprouvera Par lors qu'au soir sera le Pantomime English The great nephew by force shall provoke The sin committed by the pusillanimons heart Ferrara and Ast shall make tryal of the Duke When the Pantomime shall be in the evening ANNOT. To understand the whole sense of this we must first know what is meant by the particular terms The great Nephew is the Brother or Sisters son of some great person who by force shall discover the Treason or Cowardise committed by some pusillanimous or fearful man Ferrara and Ast are two towns in Italy shall make a tryal of a Duke by being either taken or assaulted When the Pantomine shall be in the evening that is when the Comedy shall be acted for Pantomime in Greek signifieth a Comedian LXXIV French Du lac Leman ceux des Brannonices To us assemblez contre ceux d' Aquitaine Germans beaucoup encores plus Sovisses Seronts des faits avec ceux du Maine English From lake Leman and from the Brannonues They shall be gathered against those of Aquitania Great many Germans and many more Switzers Shall be routed together with those of Maine ANNOT. Lake Leman is the Lake of Geneva The Brannonices are those of Sens so called because they took Rome under the Conduct of their Captain Brennus and afterwards built Brenona a Town belonging since to the Venetians who calls it Verona Aquitania is that Province of France called now Gascony Maine is a Province in France The rest needeth no explication LXXV French
Contre leur Chef seront denuit fer livre Ennemy d' Albe doibt par main furieuse Lors vexer Rome principaux seduire English When the seditious fury of the Souldiers Against their Chief shall make the Iron shine by night The enemy d'Albe shall by a furious hand Then vex Rome and seduce the principal one ANNOT. The Lord de Thou doth judiciously observe that the Pope being unacquainted with things belonging to War as to Money Victuals and Ammunition was easily persuaded by Cardinal caraffa to make war against Spain for without being provided oâ— all these things he put his Armies into the Field nec satis perpendens quám a pecuniâ milite ac caeteris rebus ad bellum necessariis imparatus intempestive arma sumeret In the 15. Book of his History the Duke of Urbin had commission to raise 6000 Foot and 300. Horses in the Dukedom of Spoleto and in Mark of Ancona John Caraffe the Popes Nephew was made General of the Army and being but Earl of Mortor was Created Duke of Palliano by the confiscation of the goods of Mark Anâ—ony Colonna Camillo Ursini was made General of the Forces in Rome and in the Territory thereof Blasius of Monluc the Mars of his time and by birth a Gascon was sent by the King to help with his advice and courage the Romans who are always fitter for the Breviary then for the Sword Besides these Forces raised within the Church Dominions Charles Caraffa gathered all the Bandittes of Naples and Florence and raised some Regiments of Switzers that came to succour the Pope With these Troops the Pope seized upon the most important places and persons belonging to the Spanish party as the Coloneses and the Vitelly These asked succours of the Emperour Charles the V. who presently commanded Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alba to succour them He was then tasked in the Piemont and Milanes to resist the French that were then under the conduct of the Marshal of Brissac To conclude his design the better he wrote many Letters to the Pope and the Colledge of Cardinals full of respect and submission desiring them to moderate their passion against the Spanish party but the Pope being angry by several reports answered him complaining of many things which made the Duke resolve to the war and to be there in person He took his occasion as a prudent Captain when the news was brought to him that the Popes Forces were in mutiny against their General for want of pay and made a great tumult in the night hearing that he was approaching with a great train of Artillery Bzovius saith that the Earl of Montor regarded more his profit then the Popes Interest and kept back a great part of the money that was to pay the Souldiers whence proceeded this tumult which helped much the Duke of Alva's business This is the explanation of the two first Verses of this Stanza concerning the mutiny of the Souldiers that were in the Popes service during which mutiny the enemy d' Alba did not fail to vex Rome this word the enemy d' Alba doth not signifie the enemy of the Duke of Alba as if one should say in Latine Hostis Albanus He did then vex Rome for in a short time he took Ponte Corvino Frusino Anagnia Marino Lavaci Prâ—â—neste Tivoli Ostia Neptuno Alba Vico-Varro Monte Fortino and almost all the places of the Roman Territory This did streighten Rome so much that the General Camillo ursini made several Trenches within the VValls of Rome instead of preserving the outworks as Montluâ— would have persuaded him to do the alarums were so great at Rome that Montluâ— was fain to encourage the Romans and to make a VVarlike Speech to them which is inserted in his VVorks Moreover the same Duke began to seduce the Principals of Rome by his friends that he had in it but particularly by the cheat that he put upon the Pope for his design being to prevent the French Forces and to surprize the Pope he resolved to go streight to Rome and to bring his design the better to pass he sent Pyrrbus Coffrede to the Pope to see if there was any way of agreement to the end that upon this porposition the Pope should mistrust nothing In the mean time the Duke of Alba was coming near Rome at which the Pope was so angry that he put this Embassadour in Prison where he was kept till the conclusion of the Peace in this sort were the principal men of Rome seduced having no thought of the Spaniards approaches this is the relation of the Lord de Thou Lib. 16. LXIX French La grand pitie sera sans long tarder Ceux qui donnoient seront contraints de prendre Nuds affamez de froid soif soy bander Passer les Monts en saisant grand esclandre English What a great pitty will it be t' re-long Those that did give shall be constrained to receive Naked famished with cold thirst to mutiny To go over the Mountains making great disorders ANNOT. The words of the first Verse before it be long is the Key of the Stanza because we infer from thence it was shortly to happen as in truth it did at the latter end of the year 1556. when the Duke of Guise came into Piemont to joyn with the Marshal of Brissac Then the troops of the Marshal seeing those of the Duke better paid then they were forsook the Marshal the History saith there was above 1500. of them and that the Marshal paid the Souldiers of his own money to stay them The great pitty was when he had no more to give he was compelled by the Kings order it self and against his own inclination to raise some moneys upon the Countreys Secondly to take some Towns and give the plunder to the Souldiers Thirdly to permit the Souldiers to pillage the Countrey The Author was willing to foretell this because there was never a man more strict in keeping the Martial discipline then this General was The Marshal of Brissac being thus abused some of his troops forsook him to follow the Duke of Guise being for the most part naked and starved with cold hunger and thirst which makes the Author to specifie hunger cold and thirst want having compelled them to disband they went over the Mountains not of Piemont but the Apennines of Montferrdt and whatsoever thing they found was a Fish for their Net LXX French Un Chef du Monde le grand Cheiâ—en sera Plus outre apres aime craint redoute Son bruit los les Cieux surpassera Et du seul titre Victeur fort contente English A Chief of the World the great Cheiren shall be Moreover beloved afterwards feared dreaded His same and praise shall go beyond the Heavens And shall be contented with the only title of Victor ANNOT. VVe have said already before that the Author by the word Cheyren meaneth Henry the II. his Master by transposition of Letters who as he saith was contented with
is to come I dare not assert LXXXIV French Paterne aura de la Sicile crie Tous les aprests du Gouphre de Trieste Qui s'entendra jusques a la Trinacrie De tant de voiles fuy fuy l'horrible peste English Paterne shall have out of Sicily a cry All the preparations of the Gulph of Trieste That shall be heard as far as Trinacry Of so many Sails fly fly the horrid plague ANNOT. It hath been impossible for me to make any sense of this and therefore I believe that it is falsely printed and that instead of Paterne it should be Palerme which is the chief Town in Sicily Trinacry is Sicily it self so called quod tria habeat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu promontoria LXXXV French Entre Bayonne a Sainct Jean de Lux Sera posé de Mars la promottoire Aux Hanix d'Aquilon Nanar hostera Lux Puis suffoque au lit sans adjoutoire English Between Bayonne and Saint John de Lux Shall be put down the promoting of Mars From the Hunix of the North Nanar shall take away Lux Then shall be suffocated in his bed without help ANNOT. Bayonne is a Town in France upon the stontiers of Spain and Saint John de Lux is the utmost frontiere of France that way that being supposed he saith that about Saint John de Lux the promoting of the war shall be set down that is that peace shall be made as it was about seven or eight years ago between France and Spain and the Marriage concluded between the King and the Infanta The two last Verses are nonsensical and only set down to make up the rhime LXXXVI French Par Arnani Tholose Villefranque Bande infinie par le Mont Adrian Passe Riviere hutin par pont la planque Bayonne entrer tous Bichoro criant English By Arnani Tholose and Villefranche An infinite deal of people by the Aprian Cross Rivers noise upon the Bridge and plank Come all into Bayonne crying Bichoro ANNOT. Arnani Tholose and Villefranche are Towns of a Province in France called Languedoc Mont Adrian is a Mountain thereabout and Hutin is an old French word signifying noise and strife the sense then of this Prophecy is that by those Towns and Mountains shall pass an infinite multitude of people with a great noise and strite and shall come and enter into Bayonne every one crying in that Countrey Language Bichoro which is as much as to say Victory LXXXVII French Mort conspirée viendra en plein effet Charge donnée voyage de mort Esseu crée receus par siens desfait Sang d'innocence devant soy par remort English A conspired death shall come to an effect Charge given and a journey of death Elected created received by his own defeated Blood of Innocency before him by remorse ANNOT. There is no mistical sense in this and the words are plain although of crabbid construction LXXXVIII French Dans la Sardaigne un noble Roy viendra Qui ne tiendra que trois ans le Royaume Plusieurs couleurs avec soy conjoindra Luy mesme apres soin sommeil Matrirscome English A noble King shall come into Sardinia Who shall hold the Kingdom only three years He shall joyn many Colours to his own Himself afterwards care sleep matrirscome ANNOT. Sardinia is an Island in the Mediterranean Sea now in the possession of the Spapaniard since he took the Kingdom of Naples the three first Verses are something intelligible the last is altogether impossible and barbarous LXXXIX French Pour ne tomber entre mains de son oncle Qui ses enfans par regner trucidez Orant au peuple mettant pied sur Peloncle Mort traisné entre Chevaux bardez English That he might not fall into the hands of his Uncle That had murdered his Children for to rule Taking away from the people and putting his foot upon Peloncle Dead and drawn among armed Horses ANNOT. This signifieth that an Uncle shall murder his Nephews Children that he may Reign and that the said Nephew shall withdraw and save himself from the said Uncle The rest is altogether obscure if not absurd XC French Quand des croisez un trouvé de sens trouble En lieu du sacre verra un Boeuf cornu Par vierge porc son lieu lors sera double Par Roy plus ordre ne sera soustenu English When of the crossed one of a troubled mind In a sacred place shall see a horny Oxe By Virgin Pork then shall his place be double By King no henceforth order shall be maintained ANNOT. By the crossed is understood some order of Knight-hood who for the most part wear that Badge one of which being mad and seeing in a Church a Horny Oxe come by a Virgin Hog shall be kept from harm or rescued by a Hog or Sow that was a Virgin and it seems crossed the said Oxe that he should not gore the Knight that then such order of Knighthood shall be no more maintained nor upheld by the King of that Countrey wherein such thing shall happen XCI French Parmy les Champs des Rhodanes entrées Ou les croisez seront presques unis Les deux Brassiers en Pisces rencontrées Et un grand nombre par Deluge punis English Through the Fields of the Rhodanes comings in Where the crossed shall be almost united The two Brassiers met in Pisces And a great number punished by a Flood ANNOT. Rhodanus in Latine is the River ef Rhosne which cometh from Switzerland and passing through the Lake of Geneva runneth to Lyon it seemeth then that in those Fields that are about that River there will be a fearful inundation when the Brassiers or rather Croziers which is a constellation so called shall meet in Pisces which is one of the twelve Signs of the Zodiack XCII French Loin hors du Regne mis en hazard voiage Grand Ost duyra pour soy l'occupera Le Roy tiendra les siens captif ostage A son retour tout Pais pillera English Far from the Kingdom a hazardous journey undertaken He shall lead a great Army which he shall make his own The King shall keep his prisoners and pledges At his return he shall plunder all the Countrey ANNOT. These obscure words signifie no more but that a King shall send a great Army far from his Kingdom the Commander of which Army shall make the Army his own which the King hearing shall seize upon the Commanders Relations and keep them Prisoners and Hostages for which the said General being angry shall at his return spoil the Countrey XCIII French Sept mois sans plus obtiendra prelature Par son decez grand schisme fera naistre Sept mois tiendra un autre la Preture Pres de Venise paix union renaistre English Seaven months and no more he shall obtain the Prelacy By his decease he shall cause a great Schisme Another shall be seven months chief Justice Near Venice peace and union shall grow
so bitter a time ANNOT. This is so clear that it needeth no interpretation LXXXIX French De Bricque en Marbre seront les Murs reduits Sept cinquante années pacifiques Joye aux humains renevé l'aqueduct Santé grands fruits joye temps mellifique English The Walls shall be turned from Brick into Marble There shall be peace for seven and fifty years Joy to mankind the Aqueduct shall be built again Health abundance of fruit joy and mellifluous time ANNOT. After so many calamities Prognosticated by the Author he promiseth here seven and fifty year of a golden Age but when he maketh no mention XC French Cent fois mourra le Tyran inhumain Mis a son lieu scavant debonnaire Tout le Senat sera dessoubs sa main Fasche sera par malin tcmeraire English The inhumane tyrant shall die a hundred times In his place shall be put a Learned and mild man All the Senate shall be at his command He shall be made angry by a rash malicious person ANNOT. This Prognostication is easie to be understood only it is indeterminate and specifieth neither time nor persons XCI French Clergé Romain l'an mil six cens neuf Au chef de l'an fera Election D'un gris noir de la Campagne yssu Qui oncques ne fut si malin English The Roman Clergy in the year a thousand six hundred and nine In the beginning of the year shall make choice Of a gray and black come out of the Countrey Such a one as never a worse was ANNOT. Wanting the Chronology of the Popes I have not set down who that Pope was then whom our Author saith there never was a worse but the time being so punctually prefixed it will be an easie matter for the Reader to find out satisfaction in this point XCII French Devant le Pere l'Enfant sera tué Le Pere apres entre cordes de jonc Genevois peuple sera esvertué Gisant le Chef au milien comme un tronc English The Child shall be killed before the Fathers eyes The Father after shall enter into ropes of rushes The people of Geneva shall notably stir themselves The Chief lying in the middle like a log ANNOT. This Prophecy is twofold the two first Verses foretel of a man that shall have his son killed before his eyes and himself afterward shall be strangled by a rope made of Rushes The two last Verses are concerning the people of Geneva who as he faith shall lustily bestir themselves while their Captain Chief or Commander shall carelesly lie like a log XCIII French La Barque neuve recevra les Voiages La aupres transfereront l'Empire Beaucaire Arles retiendront les Hostages Pres deux Colomnes trouvées de Porphyre English The new Ship shall make journeys Into the place and thereby where they shall translate the Empire Beaucaire Arles shall keep the Hostages Near them shall be found two Columns of Porphyry ANNOT. This Prophecy is concerning three things the first is of a considerable new Ship that shall sail several times into a place where the Empire shall be translated The second is concerning two Towns of Languedot Beaucaire and Arles who shall not surrender the Hostages that they had The third is concerning two Columns of Porphiry that shall be found there about XCIV French De Nismes d' Arles Vienne contemnet Nobeyront a ledict Hesperique Au Labouriez pour le grand condamner Six eschapez en habit Seraphique English From Nismes d'Arles and Vienna contempt They shall not obey the Spanish Proclamation To the Labouriez for to condemn the great one Six escaped in a Seraphical habit ANNOT. It seemeth that those three aforenamed Towns will resuse to obey a Spanish Proclamation that would compel them to condemn a great man as for Labouriez it is a barbarous and non-sensical word The last Verse signifieth that six shall escape cloathed in Franciscan habits called here Seraphical because the Franciscans believe that a Seraphin did appear to St. Francis their Patron from whence their Order is called by many the Seraphical Order XCV French Dans les Espagnes viendra Roy trespuissant Par Mer Terre subjugant au Midy Ce mal fera rabaissant le croissant Baisser les aisles a ceux de Vendredy English A most potent King shall come into Spain Who by Sea and Land shall make great Conquests towards the South This evil shall beat down the horns of the new Moon And slack the Wings of those of Friday ANNOT. A great and potent King shall come out of Spain who by Sea and Land shall make great Conquest towards the South that is Barbary which shall be a great prejudice to the Turkish Empire who hath for his Arms a new Moon And slack the wings of those of Friday that is of the Turks because they keep the Friday for their Sabbath This Prophecy was fulfilled by Philip the II. King of Spain who drove away all the Moores out of the South part of it and took a great many places in the Coasts of Barbary XCVI French Religion du nom des Mers viendra Contre la Secte fils Adaluncatif Secte obstinée deplorée craindra Des deux blessez par Alph Aleph English Religion of the name of the Seas shall come Against the Sect son Adaluncatif Obstinate Sect deplorate shall be afraid Of the two wounded by Aleph and Aleph ANNOT. I confess my ignorance in the intelligence of this Stanza XCVII French Triremes pleines tout aage captifs Temps bon a mal le doux pour amertume Proye a Barbare trop tost seront hastifs Cupide de voir plaindre au vent la plume English Triremes full of Captives of all Age. Time good for evil the sweet for bitter Pray to the Barbarian they shall be too hasty Desirous to see the feather complain in the wind ANNOT. Triremes are Galleys with three benches of Oares the rest is much of the nature of the former XCVIII French La splendeur clairëa Pucelle joieuse Ne luira plus long temps sera sans Sel Avec Marchans Ruffiens Loups odieuse Tous pesle mesle monstre universel English The clear splendour of the merry Maid Shall shine no more she shall be a great while without Salt With Merchants Ruffans Wolves odious All promiscuously she shall be an universal Monster ANNOT. This is concerning a famous beauty who in her latter age shall prostitute her self to all comers XCIX French A la fin le Loup le Lion Boeuf l'Asne Timide dama seront avec Mastins Plus ne cherra a eux la douce Manne Plus vigilance custode aux Mastins English At last the Wolf the Lion Oxe and Asse Fearful Doe shall be with the Mastiffs The sweet Manna shall no more fall to them There shall be no more watching and keeping of Mastiffs ANNOT. This is a Prognostication of a general peace all Europe over The sweet Manna shall no more fall to them signifieth
had not made that enterprise to trouble the Peace of the Cantons but to prevent l'Esdiguieres to seize upon it for the King of of France who should have been so powerfull a Neighbour as would have given them great occasion of fears and jealousies The success of this undertaking made it appear that God will not have those Treaties to the assurance of which his name hath been called for a Witness to be violated whatsoever appeararance or pretext of Religion there be Thus Gentle Reader thou seest by all these Circumstances the Truth of our Authors Prognostication LXXI French Fleuves Rivieres de mal seront obstacles La vielle flame d'ire non appaisee Courir en France cecy come d'Oracles Maisons Manoirs Palais secte rasée English Brooks and Rivers shall be a stopping to cvil The old flame of anger being not yet ceased Shall run through France take this as an Oracle Houses Mannors Palaces Sect shall be raced ANNOT. This hath a perfect relation to the miseries that followed the general Massacre of the Protestants in France in the year 1572. when the Rivers were a stop to the cruelty of the Persecutors and when so many Houses Mannors and Palaces belonging to those of the reformed Religion were demolished and to signifie the certainty thereof he saith in the third Verse take this as an oracle To the Curious READER Gentle Reader THou shalt take notice that in this place the covetousness of Booksellers and Printers hath in the modern Copies vented new Prophecies which they call Prognostications drawn out of those of Michael Nostradamus which are so absurd and nonsensical that they have been rejected both by his Son and the best Wits of this age therefore I would not soil the Paper with them for fear to put such a course List upon so fine a Cloth but shall proceed on to give you the rest of those Prophecies which truly and undoubtedly belong to our Author Wonderful Prognostications for the Age 1600. Gathered out of the Notes of Mr. Michael Nostradamus Physitian to King CHARLES the IX and one of the most excellent Astronomers that ever were PRESENTED To the Most Victorious and Merciful PRINCE HENRY the IV. King of FRANCE and NAVARRE at Chantilly the Constable of Montmorency's House the 15th of March 1605. By Vincent Seve of the Town of Beaucaire in Languedoc To the King Sir HAving some years ago recovered certain Prophecies or Prognostications made by the lately Deceased Michael Nostradamus from the hands of Henry Nostradamus his Nephew which he gave me before his death and which I have kept secret till now that I saw they treated of the affairs of your Estate and particularly of your Person and Successors as your self may see if you please tó take the pains to look upon and wherein you shall find things worâ—â—y of admiration I have taken the boldness though unworthy to present them to you transcribed in this little Book no less wonderful then the other two which he made for in it he hath treated of what shall happen in this Age 1600 not so obscurely as he hath done formerly but by aenigmes specifying so clearly the things he speaketh of that one may certainly judge of them as of things that are already come to pass Being therefore desirous that your Majesty should have the first notice thereof I thought to discharge my duty in this as one of your most obedient and faithful Subjects which I intreat your Majesty would be pleased to agree obliging so not onely the body of one of your faithful Subjects already yours but also the Soul who shall continue to pray for the health and prosperity of your Majesty and of all those that have relation to it as one that is and shall ever be SIR Your most humble most obedient and faithful Servant and Subject SEVE From your Town of Beaucairâ— in Languedoc OTHER PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus For the Years of this Age 1600. 1. French SIecle nouveau alliance nouvelle Un Marquisat mis dedans la Nacelle A qui plus fort des deux l'emportera D'un Duc d'un Roy Gallere de Florence Port de Marscille Pucelle dans la France De Catherine Fort Chef on rasera English New Age new Alliance A Markdom put into a Boat Who shall be the strongest of the two to carry it Of a Duke or of a King Galley of Florence In the Port of Marseilles a Maid in France Of the Fort Catherine the Head shall be demolished ANNOT. By New Age is meant the Age 1600. to the end of the Century each age containing a hundred years The new Alliance was the match between Henry the IV. and Catherine of Medicis made and celebrated that year A Markdom put into a Boat was the Markdom of Saluces in Italy which the Duke of Savoy had surrepticiously taken from the Crown of France in the time of the Civil Wars and would not restore it for which there was great Wars between the King of France and the Duke of Savoy till at last they agreed that the Duke of Savoy should give in exchange of it the Countrey of Brescia and this is the sense of the second third and half the fourth Verse Galley of Florence in the Port of Marseilles a Maid in France signifieth the arrival of Mary of Medicis in the Galleys of France and her Landing in the Port of Marseilles Of the Fort Catherine the head shall be demolished the Duke of Savoy to plague and bridle those of Geneva upon whom he hath had always pretentions had built a strong Fort two leagues from Geneva called the Fort St. Catherine which did so annoy the Town that they made their addresses to Henry the IV. who was then in War with the Duke of Savoy representing to him that they were not able to relieve his Army with Victuals because of the said Fort whereupon Henry the IV. took it and demolished it to the ground II. French Que d'or d'argent fera de pendre Quand Comte voudra Ville prendre Tant de mille mille Soldats Tuez noiez sans y rien faire Dans plus forte mettra pied terre Pigme'e aidé des Censuarts English How much Gold and Silver shall be spent When Earl shall go about to take a Town So many thousands and thousands of Soldiers Killed drowned without doing any thing In a stronger he shall put his foot on ground A Pygmie helped by the Censuarts ANNOT. This Stanza and the next are concerning the Town of Ostend which was Besieged by the Arch-duke and defended by the States of Holland under the conduct of Earl Maurice of Nassaw In a stronger he shall put his foot on ground signifieth that Earl Maurice during the said Siege took the Sluys another Town of the Spaniards thought stronger then Ostend A Pygmie helpeld by the Censuarts signifieth that Prince Maurice whom he calleth here a Pygmie in comparison of the Arch-duke was helped by the French and English whom he calleth
of the late Duke of Alencon that he had Negotiated with the Ministers or the King of Spain and of the Duke of Savoy during the Siege of Amicns that he was full of discontents thought that such a one was seeking for a Master They spoke together and mixed their grievances propounding to seek out of the Kingdom what they could not find within and to contract an intelligence with the Duke of Savoy thus after so many examples of unavoidable dangers the Duke of Biron did venture upon a Journey full of Rocks and Shelves under the conduct of one who was yet wet with the Shipwrack he had lately made The Duke went into Flanders for the execution of the Treaty of Vervins where one Picoté of Orleans spoke to him and inspired into him strange desires of raising his Fortune with those that knew and admired his deserts The Duke of Biron did hearken to him and told him he would be glad to hear him some other time upon that subject From that time forwards the Spaniards thought themselves sure of him and grew confident either to have him or to destroy him a French Gentleman who because of the Civil Wars was retired into Flanders and had some imployment in the Arch-Dukes Court gave the first intelligence of it to the King who took it kindly but sent him word that the Duke of Biron had too much courage and honesty to harbour such a wickedness being come back again from Flanders the King wished him to Marry but he shewed that his inclinations tended to some other party then that which was offered unto him and though he made shew to court the Daughter of my Lady Lucé he nevertheless intended to have the natural Sister of the Duke of Savoy of which the Knight Breton had spoken to him La Fin had in charge from the Duke of Biron to do all what he could for his satisfaction Picoté had made a Journey into Spain only to know and receive the propositions Farges a Monk of the Order of Fifteaux went into Savoy and from thence to Milan to receive Orders how to pluck of this Plant out of France Things went very slowly for the Spaniards do not easily believe the words of the French unless they be with great effects of rebellion and change but the Duke of Savoy being at Paris did wholly put out the Flower de Luces he had in his Heart and did dispose him to disturb the King so much at home that he should have but little time to dispute him the Markdom of Suluces upon that hope the Duke of Savoy neglected the Execution of the treaty of Peace made at Paris the War was proclaimed and the Duke of Biron took the chief places in Bresse Being at Pierre Chastel in the beginning of September La Fin came to him and by his order made two Journeys to St. Claude where Roncas was The King had notice of it but thought it better to dissemble it than to surprise a man he loved in his infidelity he thought enough to bid him come into Savoy and to rid himself of La Fin. He did believe that what the King said to him out of his affection proceeded from fear and kept company still with La Fin and never went to see the King but with great many attendants refusing to take his lodging near his that he might have more liberty he perswaded the King being at Annessy that he did desire to discover some passages and therefore desired to have some guides of the Countrey but it was to send safely Renaze La Fin's Secretary to the Duke of Savoy to give him intelligence in what state the Kings Army was and to bid d'Albigny retreat who otherwise had been defeated This was about the time that the Duke of Biron did intreat the King to bestow the Government of the Citadel of Bourg on him whom he should name It is the Nature of the great ones that serve Princes to believe they deserve all and to become more dangerous than Enemies if they are refused what they ask for The King did declare that he would bestow the place upon de Boisses This denial did so trouble the mind of the Duke of Biron and put him upon such a strange and diabolical resolutions that he resolved one Morning being yet in his Bed at Chamoâ—t to kill the King as it is expressed in the depositions of La Fin and Renazé but this took no effect himself afterwards did abhor the thought of it La Fin also went from the Army to conclude the Bargain with the Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes he treated first with the Duke of the Spanish Embassador at Yurée afterwards at Thurin with Roncas where also came Picoté bringing the answers of the Councel of Spain upon the propositions of the Duke of Biron with order to confer with La Fin and to perswade him to make a Journey into Spain He said plainly that the King of Spain was resolved to have the Duke of Biron at any rate The Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes appointed a day to be at Some with La Fin and Picoté there the minds of every one were clearly expressed and understood La Fin who was acquainted with all his secret Councels told the King that the Marriage of the third Daughter of the Duke of Savoy was the sodder and cement of all the treaty with a promise of five hundred thousand Crowns and all the rights of Soveraignty in Burgundy While La Fin treated in Italy the capitulation of the Duke of Biron the treaty of Peace was concluded at Lyons The Duke of Biron had been always against this Peace when he saw that it was concluded and that the King had heard something of his dealings with La Fin he fained to be very penitent of it and asked the King forgiveness in the Cloister of the Franciscan Friers at Lyons and intreated him most humbly to forgive the evil intentions that the denial of the Citadel of Bourg had put into his mind The King did forgive him and told him that he was glad he had trusted to his clemency and in the affection he bore to him of which he would always give him such tokens that he should never have occasion to doubt of it Leaving the King he met with the Duke of Espernon and told him that he would impart unto him as unto his best friend the best fortune that ever he had in his life which was that he had discharged his Conscience to the King and that he had forgiven him all what was past The Duke of Espernon told him that he was glad of it but that it was necessary he should have his pardon in writing for such faults could not be so easily blotted out What said he upon what can I rely better than upon the Kings word if the Duke of Biron wanteth an abolition what shall others do So they parted one thinking that his Lyons Courage ought not to be
subject to all humane afflictions but being supprised sometimes in the week by a Prophetical humour and by a long Calculation pleasing my self in my Study I have made Books of Prophecies each one containing a hundred Astronomical Stanza's which I have joyned obscurely and are perpetual Vaticinations from this year to the year 3797. at which some perhaps will frown seeing so large an extention of time and that I treat of every thing under the Moon if thou livest the natural Age of a Man thou shalt see in thy Climat and under the Heaven of thy Nativity the future things that have been foretold although God only is he who knoweth the Eternity of his Light proceeding from himself and I say freely to those to whom his incomprehensible greatness hath by a long melancholick inspiration revealed that by the means of this occult cause Divinely manifested chiefly by two principal causes which are comprehended in the understanding of him that is Inspired and Prophecyeth one is that he cleareth the supernatural Light in the person that foretelleth by the Doctrine of the Planets and Prophecyeth by inspired Revelation which is a kind of participation of the Divine Eternity by the means of which the Prophet judgeth of what the Divine Spirit hath given him by the means of God the Creatour and by a natural instigation viz. that what is predicted is true and hath taken its original from above and such light and small flame is of all efficacy and sublimity no less then the natural light makes the Philosophers so secure that by the means of the principles of the first cause they have attained the greatest depth of the profoundest science but that I may not wander too far my Son from the capacity of thy sense as also because I find that Learning would be at a great loss and that before the universal Conflagration shall happen so many great Inundations that there shall scarce be any Land that shall not be covered with water and this shall last so long that except Aenographies and Topographies all shall perish also before and after these Inundations in many Countreys there shall be such scarcety of rain and such a deal of fire and burning stones shall fall from Heaven that nothing unconsumed shall be left and this shall happen a little while before the great conflagration for although the Planet Mars makes an end of his course and is come to the end of his last Period nevertheless he shall begin it again but some shall be gathered in Aquarius for many years others in Cancer also for many years and now we are governed by the Moon under the power of Almighty God which Moon before she hath finished her Circuit the Sun shall come and then Saturn for according to the Coelestial Signs the Reign of Saturn shall come again so that all being Calculated the World draws near to an Anaragonick revolutoin and at this present that I write this before 177. years three Months eleven Days through Pestilence Famine War and for the most part Inundations the World between this and that prefixed time before and after for several times shall be so diminished and the people shall be so few that they shall not find enough to Till the Ground so that they shall remain fallow as long as they have been Tilled although we be in the seventh Millenary which ends all and brings us near the eight where the Firmament of the eighth Sphere is which in a Latitudinary dimention is the place where the great God shall make an end of the revolution where the Coelestial Bodies shall begin to move again By that Superiour motion that maketh the Earth firm and stable non inclinabitur in seculum seculi unless his will be accomplished and no otherwise although by ambiguous opinions exceeding all natural reasons by Mahometical Dreams also sometimes God the Creator by the Ministers of his Messengers of fire and flame shows to our external senses and chiefly to our eyes the causes of future Predictions signifying the future Event that he will manifest to him that Prophecyeth for the Prophecy that is made by the Internal Light comes to judge of the thing partly with and by the means of External Light for although the party which seemeth to have by the eye of understanding what it hath not by the Loesion of its imaginative sense there is no reason why what he foretelleth should come by Divine Inspiration or by the means of an Angelical Spirit inspired into the Phophetick person annointing him with vaticination moving the fore part of his fancy by divers nocturnal apparitions so that by Astronomical administration he Prophecyeth with a Divine certitude joyned to the Holy prediction of the future having no other regard then to the freedom of his mind Come now my Son and understand what I find by my revolutions which are agreeing with the Divine Inspiration viz. that the Swords draws near to us now and the Plague and the War more horrid then hath been seen in the Life of three Men before as also by Famine which shall return often for the Stars agree with the revolution as also he said visitabo in virgâ ferreà iniquitates eorum in verberibus percutiam eos for the Mercies of God shall not be spread a while my Son before most of my Prophecies shall come to pass then oftentimes shall happen sinister storms Conteram ergo said the Lord confringam non miserebor and a thousand other accidents that shall happen by Waters and continual Rains as I have more fully at large declared in my other Prophecies written in solutâ oratione limiting the places times and prefixed terms that men coming after may see and know that those accidents are certainly come to pass as we have marked in other places speaking more clearly although the explication be involved in obscurity sed quando submovenda erit ignorantia the case shall be made more clear making an end here my Son accept of this Gift of thy Father Michael Nostradamus hoping to expound to thee every Prophecy of these Stanza's praying to the Immortal God that he would grant thee a long Life in Felicity From Salon this 1. of March 1555. THE TRUE PROPHECIES OR PROGNOSTICATIONS OF Michael Nostradamus Physician to HENRY II. FRANCIS II. And CHARLES IX Kings of FRANCE and one of the most excellent Astronomers that ever were 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
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 signifying 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 employed 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. Emperour 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 often 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 intending to take or vex the Cities of Carcassone and Narbonne in Languedoc shall be easily 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 Letters 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
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 Anger 's Renes Nantes Cités vexée par soudain changement Par Langues estranges seront tendues Tentes Fleuves Darts Rennes Terre Mer tremblement English Tours Orleans Blois Anger 's 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 marriage 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 having The Histâ—â—â— of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oâ— pâ—trified child gone her compleat time she begun to feel the pains of a woman in Labour with great gripings in the Guts The Urine was suppressed 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 excrements 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 Physitians and Chyrurgeons to feel having lost all appetite but that little which she recovered 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 finding 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 flocking 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 Nostriâ—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 only 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 external 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
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 Government 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 Lightning 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because Hercules did overrun so much ground at one breath but what space of ground the Author meaneth 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
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-Countries 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 Moiâ—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 begot 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 Commander 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 THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus CENTURY II. I. French VErs Aquitaine par insults Britanniques De par eux mesmes grandes incursions Pluyes Celees feront terroirs iniques Port Selyn fortes fera invasions English Towards Gascony by English assaults By the same shall be made great incursions Rains Frosts shall marre the ground Port Selyn shall make strong Invasions ANNOT. THree Prophecies are contained in this Stanza the first that the English shall make an incursion in Gascony the second that there shall be a great dearth by Rains and Forsts the third that the Turks shall make great Incursion II. French La teste glue fera la teste blanche Autant de mal que France a fait leur bien Mort a l' Anthene grand pendu
enemy be driven beyond the River He shall be seased upon without by the trick of the Bird. ANNOT. The meaning of this is that many Courtiers called here Palace Birds shall be justled out of favour by another principal Bird that is a great Courtier as soon as the Prince shall come to his own The two last Verses seem to foretell that the said principal Courtier shall seize upon the Prince notwithstanding that some succour shall come to his help which shall be beaten back beyond the River XXIV French Bestes farouches de faim Fleuves traner Plus part du Champ encontre Ister sera En Cage de Fer le grand fera traisner Quand rien enfant de Germain n'observera English Wild Beasts for hunger shall swim over Rivers Most part of the field shall be near Ister Into an Iron Cage he shall cause the great one to be draw◠When the Child of German shall observe nothing ANNOT. Ister is a River German is a proper name of some considerable person whose Son shall not observe or take notice when that eminent person mentioned here shall be drawn into an Iron Cage XXV French La Garde estrange trahira Forteresse Espoir umbre de plus haut mariage Garde deceüe Fort prins dedans la presse Loire Saone Rhosne Gar a Mort outrage English The Garrison of strangers shall betray the Fort Under the hope and shadow of a higher Match The Garrison shall be deceived and the Fort taken in the crowd Loire Saone Rhosne Gar shall do harm to Death ANNOT. There is no difficulty but in the last Verse where you must observe that Loire Saone Rhosne and Gardon which for the Verses sake is contracted into Gar are Rivers of France which are threatned here of overflowing and causing the death of many people XXVI French Pour la faveur que la Cité fera Au grand qui to st perdra Camp de Bataille Le sang d'ans Pau le Thesin versera De fang feux mors noyez de coup de taille English Because of the favour the City shall shew To the great one who soon after shall loose the Battle The Thesin shall pour blood into the Pau Of blood fire dead drowned by Edgeling ANNOT. This is plain if you observe that the Thesin is a River of Italy and the Pau another into the which the Thesin runneth XXVII French Le Divin Verbe sera du ciel frappé Qui ne pourra proceder plus avant Du refferrant le secret estoupé Quon marchera par dessus devant English The Divine Word shall be struck by Heaven So that he shall proceed no further The secret of the close Keeper shall be so closed up That people shall tread upon and before it ANNOT. By the Divine Word you must not understand the second person of the Trinity or else all this Stanza would be absurd but you must understand a Divine or Theologian called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a Divine Word The meaning therefore of it is that a Theologian shall be struck by Heaven that is shall die so that he shall proceed no further in his work which I suppose by the two last Verses was the Philosophers stone for in the two last Verses he saith that the secret of the close keeper that is of him that wrought secretly shall by his death be so closed up that people shall tread on and before it XXVIII French Le penultiesine de Surnom de Prophete Prendra Diane pour son jour repos Loing vaguera par Frenetique teste Et delivrant un grand peuple d'Impos English The last but one of the Sirname of the Prophe◠Shall take Diana for his day and his rest He shall wander far by reason of his Frenetick head Delivering a great people from impositions ANNOT. This is concerning a false Prophet which is called here the last but one of that Surname who shall make Diana that is Monday which is dedicated to Diona his Sunday or Sabbath day and so wandring to and fro in a Frenctick manner shall perswade many people to pay no Taxes XXIX French L'Oriental sortira de son Siege Passer les Monts Apennins voir la Gaule Transpassera le Ciel les Eaux Neige Et un chacun frappera de sa Gaule English The Oriental shall come out of his Seat Shall pass over the Apennine Mountains and see France Shall go over the Air the Waters and Snow And shall strike every one with his Rod. ANNOT. It is an Eastern Prince who leaving his Countrey shall come over the Apennine Mountains which divide Italy and come as far as France destroying all before him XXX French Un qui les Dieux d' Annibal infernaux Fera renaistre effrayeur des Humains Onc plus d'horreur ne plus dire journaux Qu'avint viendra par Babel aux Romains English One that shall cause the infernal Gods of Hannibal To live again the terror of Mankind There was never more horror not to say ill dayes Did happen or shall to the Romans by Babel ANNOT. This Prophecy was concerning Charles V. Emperour who sacked Rome took the Pope Prisoner and filled it with more horror and slaughter than Hannibal did though a Heathen XXXI French En Campanie le Cassilin fera tant Quon ne verra que d'Aux les Champs couvers Devant apres la pluye de long temps Hormis les arbres rien lon verra de verts English In Campania the Cassilin shall so behave himself That nothing shall be seen but Fields covered with Garlick Before and after it shall not Rain for a good while Except the Trees no Green shall be seen ANNOT. This hath a dependance upon the foregoing Stanza for Campania is the Province wherein Rome is seated and Cassilin called Campania di Roma is the same as Castillan because Charles V. was not only Emperour but also King of Spain the chief Province of which is Castilia therefore the Author describeth here the misery and devastation of Campania di Roma by the Castilian who left nothing in the ground but Garlick which is their most delicate food and nothing Green but the Trees XXXII French Lait Sang Grenovilles escouldre en Dalmatie Conflit donné peste pres de Balene Cry sera grand par toute Esclavonie Lors naistra Monstre pres dedans Ravenne English Milk Blood Frogs shall reign in Dalmatia A Battle fought the Plague near Balene A great cry shall be through all Sclavonia Then shall be born a Monster near and within Ravenna ANNOT. Dalmatia and Selavonia are Countreys joyning to the Adriatick Sea belonging to the Venetians Ravenna is a City in Italy the rest needeth no interpretation XXXIII French Dans le torrent qui descend de Verone Par lors qu'au Pau guidera son entrée Vn grand Naufrage non moins en Garonne Quand ceux de Genes Marcheront leur contrée English In the torrent which cometh
down from Verona About the place where it falleth into the Pau A great Shipwrack and no less in Garonna When those of Genoa shall go into their Countrey ANNOT. Verona is a City in Italy belonging to the Venetians through the middle of which runneth a River called Adde which falleth into the River Pau about which place there shall be a great Shipwrak as also another in the River of Garonna which passeth at Bordeaux the time that the Author marketh is when those of Genoa shall go into their Countrey that is to say when some Ships of Genoa shall come to Bordeaux XXXIV French L'Ire insensée du Combat furieux Fera a Table par Freres le Fer luire Les departir blesse curieux Le fier duel viendra en France nuire English The mad anger of the furious fight Shall cause by Brothers the Iron to glister at the Table To part them one wounded curious The fierce Duel shall do harm after in France ANNOT. It is the short History of two Brothers who fought at the Table whereby one that was curious to part them was wounded they afterwards fought a Duel in whose imitation many since have been fought to the great harm of the French Gentry XXXV French Dans deux Logis de nuit le feu prendra Plusieurs dedans estoufez rostis Pres de deux Fleuves pour seur il adviendra Sol l'Arc Caper tous seront amortis English The fire shall take by night in two Houses Many shall be stifled and burnt in it Near two Rivers it shall for certain happen Sun Arc Caper they shall all be mortified ANNOT. By Sun Arc Caper he meaneth the Sun being in the Signs of Sagitarius and Capricornus This Prophecy was fulfilled about 90. years ago in the City of Lion seated upon two Rivers viz. the Rhosne and the Saone for about that time several Merchants coming to the Fair some went to lodge at the Silver Head in the street de la Grenete where being in an upper room as they were talking of their businesses and passing the time merrily the fire took in the Kitchen where was abundance of Oil which did burn so suddenly and so violently that the lower part of the House was presently consumed Those Merchants that were in the upper room towards the street begun to look for their Clock-bags that were lockt up in a Trunk but while they were busie about opening the Trunk the Stair-case fell and the fire got into their Room then begun they to cry for help through the Windows They would willingly have thrown themselves down the Windows but they were barred with Iron so that they could not save themselves the House being a fire on all sides Moreover the neighbours taking more care of their own Houses then of those Strangers did run every one to his own concerns so that they all miserably perished Parradin in his 3. Book of the History of Lyon Chap. 22. XXXVI French Du grand Prophete les Lettres seront prinses Entre les Mains du Tyran deviendront Frauder son Roy seront ses entreprinses Mais ses rapines bien tost le troubleront English The Letters of the great Prophet shall be intercepted They shall fall into the hands of the Tyrant His undertakings shall be to deceive his King But his extortions shall trouble him soon ANNOT. It is some eminent Churchman whose Letters shall be intercepted by which he intended to betray his King therefore his actions shall be called in question and being found guilty of extortion he shall suffer for it XXXVII French De ce grand nombre que l'on envoiera Pour secourir dans le fort assiegez Peste Famine tous les devorera Horsmis septante qui seront profligez English Of that great number which shall be sent To succour the besieged in the Fort Plague and Famine shall devour them all Except seventy that shall be beaten ANNOT. This is so plain that it needeth no explication XXXVIII French Des Condamnez sera fait un grand nombre Quand les Monarques seront conciliez Mais l'un deux viendra si mal encombre Que guere ensemble ne seront raliez English There shall be a great number of condemned men When the Monarchs shall be reconciled But one of them shall come to such misfortune That their reconciliation shall not last long ANNOT. The words and sense of this are easie to be understood XXXIX French Un an devant le conflict Italique Germains Gaulois Espagnols pour le Fort Cherra l'Escole maison de republique Ou horsmis peu seront suffoquez morts English One year before the Italian fight Germans French Spaniards for the Fort The School-house of the Common-wealth shall fall Where except few they shall be suffocated and dead ANNOT. It seemeth there should be a Battle between the Italians Germans French Spaniards for a Fort which I suspect to have been that of Serizoles wherein all those Nations were engaged and that one year before that Battle the publick house of a Common-wealth should fall and kill abundance of people But of this I could find nothing in History XL. French Un peu apres non point long intervalle Par Mer Terre sera fait grand tumulte Beaucoup plus grande sera pugne Navalle Feu Animaux qui plus feront d'Insulte English A little while after without any great distance of time By Sea and Land shall a great tumult be made The Sea fight shall be much greater Fire and Beasts which shall make greater insult ANNOT. This hath a Relation to a foregoing Stanza and likewise is not hard to be understood XLI French La grand Estoile par sept jours bruslera Nuce fera deux Soleils apparoir Le gros mastin toute nuit hurlera Quand grand Pontife changera de terroir English The great Star shall burn for the space of seven days A Cloud shall make two Suns appear The big Mastif shall houl all night When the great Pope shall change his Countrey ANNOT. The meaning of this is that those three Prodigies contained in the first three Verses shall appear when a Pope changeth his Countrey XLII French Coq Chiens Chats de sang seront repeus Et de la playe du Tyran trouvé Mort Au lict d'un autre Jambes Bras rompus Qui n'avoit peu mourir de cruel Mort. English A Cock Dogs and Cats shall be fed with Blood And with the wound of the Tyrant found dead In the bed of another with Legs and Arms broken Who could not die before by a cruel Death ANNOT. These words signifie that a great man or Tyrant shall be found dead in another mans Bed having his Legs and Arms broken the body of which shall be devoured by these three kinds of Creatures a Cock a Dog and a Cat. The last Verse signifieth that this Tyrant had escaped a cruel Death XLIII French Durant l'estoile cheuelue apparente Les trois grand
Luitte English During many nights the Earth shall quake About the Spring two great Earth-quakes shall follow one another Corinth Ephesus shall swim in the two Seas War shall be moved by two great Wrestlers ANNOT. Corinth is a City of Grecia and Ephesus one of Asia the rest is plain LIII French Le grande Peste de cité maritime Ne cessera que Mort ne soit vengée Du juste sang par prix damné fans crime De la grande Dame par feinte noutragée English The great Plague of the Maritime City Shall not cease till the death be revenged Of the just blood by price condemned without crime Of the great Dame not fainedly abused ANNOT. This is a confirmation of the LI. Stanza and foretelleth the great Plague we have had here in the year 1665. which he saith shall not cease till the death of the Just blood meaning King Charles the I. be avenged who was as is here expressed condemned without crime and sold for a Price By the great Dame unfainedly abused he meaneth the sumptuous Cathedralof St. Paul which was polluted and made a Stable by those prophane wretches LIV. French Par gent estrange Nation lomtaine Leur grand Cité apres eau fort troublée Fille sans trop different de domaine Prins chef serreure navoir esté riblée English By a strange people and remote Nation The great City near the water shall be much troubled The Girl without great difference for a portion Shall take the Captain the Lock having not been pick. ANNOT. In the explication of this mystical Stanza I believe every body may be as wise as I. LV. French Dans le conflit le grand qui peu valoit A son dernier fera cas merveilleux Pendant qu' Adrie verra ce qu'il failloit Dans le Banquet poignarde l'orgueilleux English In the fight the great one who was but little worth At his last endeavour shall do a wonderful thing While Adria shall see what was wanting In the Banquet he shall stabb the proud one ANNOT. This is concerning some eminent person who having shewed no great valour in a Battle shall nevertheless in a Banquet be so bold as to stab a person of quality that was proud This accident must happen somewhere about Venice because he saith that Adria which is taken for Venice shall look on LVI French Que Peste Glaive n'a sceu definer Mort dans les pluies sommet du Ciel frappé L'Abbé mourra quand verra ruiner Ceux du Naufrage l'Escueil voulant graper English He whom neither Plague nor Sword could destroy Shall die in the Rain being stricken with Thunder The Abbot shall die when he shall see ruined Those in the Shipwrack striving to catch hold of the Rock ANNOT. There is two accidents contained in this Stanza the first is in the two first Verses where he saith that some considerable person who had escaped the Sword and the Plague shall be strucken by the Thunder and die in a great showr of Rain The second is in the two last Verses where he saith an Abbot shall perish by Shipwrack thinking to save himself by holding the Rock LVII French Avant conflit le grand tombera Le grand a mort trop subite plainte Nay miparfait la plus part nagera Aupres du Fleuve de sang la Terre teinte English Before the Battle the great one shall fall The great one to death too sudden and bewailed One shall be born half perfect the most part shall swim Near the River the Earth shall be dyed with blood ANNOT. The words are plain enough but of the sease every one may think what he pleaseth LVIII French Sans pied ne main dent aigue forte Par Globe au fort de Port laisne nay Pres du portail desloial le transporte Seline luit petit grand emmené English Without foot or hand sharp and strong tooth By a Globe in the middle of the Port and the first born Near the Gate shall be transported by a Traitor Seline shineth the little great one carried away ANNOT. The sense of the whole is this that an Infant begot by some person of quality shall be exposed in the night time the Moon shining which he calleth Seline from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth the Moon LIX French Classe Gauloise par appuy de grand Garde Du grand Neptune ses tridens Soldats Ronger Provence pour soustenir grand bande Plus Mars Narbon par Javelots Dards English The French Fleet by the help of the great Guard Of great Neptune and his Tridemary Soldiers Shall gnaw Provence by keeping great company Besides Mars shall plague Narbon by Javelins and Darts ANNOT. Here be two things designed in this Stanza one is concerning Provence which shall be eaten up by Soldiers and the other concerning the City of Narbon which shall be Besieged or the Citizens fall out among themselves LX. French La foy Punique en Orient rompue Grand Jud. Rhosne Loire Tag changeront Quand du Mulet la faim sera repeue Classe espargie Sang Corps nageront English The punick faith broken in the East Great Jud. and Rhosne Loire and Tag shall be changed When the Mules hunger shall be satisfied The Fleet scattered Blood and Bodies shall swim ANNOT. The Punick Faith in Latine Punica fides a false Faith was so called from the Carthaginians called in Latine Paeni which was an unfaithful Nation I do not know what he meaneth by great Jud. as for Rhosne Loire and Tag they are three Rivers the two fiâ—st in France the last is the River of Lisbone called in Latine Tagus The rest is easie LXI French Agen Tonneins Gironde la Rochelle O sang Troien mort au Port de la fleche Derrier le Fleuve au Fort mise leschelle Pointes feu grand meurtre sur la bresche English Agen Tonneins Gironde and Rochelle O Trojan blood death is at the barbour of the Arrow Beyond the River the Ladder shall be raised against the Fort Points fire great murder upon the breach ANNOT. Agen and Tonneins are two Towns in Gascony Gironde is a River that passeth in that Countrey the sense therefore of the whole is that there shall be great Wars and fightings in those Towns as also upon that River which happened in the time of the civil Wars in France as every body may read in the Annals and also in the Commentaries of the Lord of Monluck LXII French Mabus puis tost alors mourra viendra Des gens bestes un horrible desfaite Puis tout a coup la vengeance on verra Sang Main Soif Faim quand courra la Comete English Mabus shall come and soon after shall die Of people and beasts shall be an horrible destruction Then on a sudden the vengeance shall be seen Blood Hand Thirst Famine when the Comet shall run ANNOT. Here is nothing hard but who should be
preserve Paris nor Aix ANNOT. The Circumference of that ruinous building was the French league against Henry III. and Henry IV. which numbers being joyned together make seven mentioned in the second Verse By the strange Warlike man in the third Verse is understood Henry IV. because he was not born in France but in Navarre and therefore called a stranger who subdued both Paris and Aux seated under the constellation of Aries If you had not rather by the name of the Ram or Aries understand the Duke of Mayenne who who was head of the league LXXXIX French Un jour seront amis les deux grands Maistres Leur grand pouvoir se verra augmenté La Terre neufue sera en ses hauts estres Au sanguinaire le nombre raconté English One day the two great Masters shall be friends Their great power shall be increased The new Land shall be in a flourishing condition The number shall be told to the bloody person ANNOT. We must suppose here three Kings of Europe two of which shall become friends and by their agreement the new Land that is either the Plantations or the Trade either in the East or West Indies shall flourish their prosperities shall be related and told to the third King who shall be a bloody and cruel man XC French Par vie mort changé Regne d' Hungrie La loy sera plus aspre que service Leur grand Cité d'Urlemens plaine crie Castor Pollux ennemis dans la Lice English By Life and Death the Kingdom of Hungary shall be changed The Law shall be more severe than the service Their great City shall be full of howling and crying Castor and Pollux shall be enemies in the List ANNOT. There shall happen a great change in the Kingdom of Hungary caused by the birth of one and the death of another The meaning of the second Verse is that it will be more tolerable to go to War than to Law The last verse signifieth that this dissention shall happen between two Brothers because Castor and Pollux were such XCI French Soleil levant ungrand feu lon verra Bruit clarté vers Aquilon tendans Dedans le rond mort cris Jon orra Par Glaive Feu Faim mort les attendans English At the rising of the Sun a great fire shall be seen Noise and light tending towards the North Within the round death and cries shall be heard Death by Sword Fire Hunger watching for them ANNOT. These are Prodigies that shall be seen a little before that a great Calamity shall happen XCII French Feu couleur d'or du Ciel en terre veu Frappé du haut nay fait cas merveilleux Grand meurtre humain prinse du grand Neveu Morts de spectacles eschapé lorgueilleux English A fire from Heaven of a Golden colour shall be seen Stricken by the high born a wonderful case Great murder of Mankind the taking of the great Neven Some dead looking the proud one shall escape ANNOT. This is a continuation of the former relating more Prodigies that are to happen XCIII French Aupres du Tybre bien pres la Lybitine Un peu devant grand Inondation Le chef du nef prins mis a la sentine Chasteau Palais en conslagration English Near the Tyber going towards Lybia A little before a great Innundation The Master of the Ship being taken shall be put into the Sink And a Castle and Palace shall be burnt ANNOT. This is plain XCIV French Grand Pau grand mal par Gaulois recevra Vaine terreur au Maritin Lion Peuple infiny par la Mer passera Sans eschaper un quart d'un Million English Great Pau shall receive great harm by the French A vain terrour shall seize upon the Maritine Lion Infinite people shall go beyond Sea Of which shall not escape a quarter of a Million ANNOT. The first Verse signifieth that the Countrey about the Pau which is the greatest River in Italy shall receive great damage by the French The second that the Maritine Lion viz. the Hollanders shall fear in vain The third and fourth are plain XCV French Les lieux peuplez seront inhabitables Pour Champs avoir grande division Regnes livrez a prudents incapables Lors les grands Freres mort dissension English The populous places shall be deserted A great division to obtain Fields Kingdoms given to prudents incapable When the great Brothers shall die by dissention ANNOT. This needeth no interpretation XCVI French Flambeau ardant au Ciel soir sera veu Pres de la fin principe du Rhosne Famine Glaive tard le secours pourveu La Perse tourne envahir Macedoine English A burning shall be seen by night in Heaven Near the end and beginning of the Rhosne Famine Sword too late succours shall be provided Persia shall come against Macedonia ANNOT. This is easie XCVII French Romain Pontife garde de taprocher De la Cité que deux fleuves arrouse Ton sang viendras aupres de la cracher Toy les tiens quand fleurira la Rose English Roman Pontife take heed to come near To the City watered with two Rivers Thou shall spit there thy blood Thou and thine when the Rose shall blossom ANNOT. Although there may be many Cities watered with two Rivers yet I know none more famous than Lions in France where two famous Rivers the Rhosne and the Saone meet together and I believe this is the place that our Author forewarneth the Pope to come to for fear of his death and that of his attendants XCVIII French Celuy du sang resperse le visage De la Victime proche du Sacrifice Venant en Leo augure par presage Mis estre a mort alors pour la fiance English He that shall have his face bloody With the blood of the Victim near to be sacrificed The Sun coming into Leo shall be an Augury by presage That then he shall be put to death for his confidence ANNOT. I suppose this to be spoken of a Jewish Priest who going about to practice the Ceremonial Law in a Countrey where it is forbidden shall be put to death for his bold confidence XCIX French Terroir Romain qu'interpretoit Augure Par gent Gauloise par trop sera vexée Mais Nation Celtique craindra l'heure Boreas classe trop loing l'avoit poussée English The Roman Countrey in which the Augur did interpret Shall be too much vexed by the French Nation But the Celtique Nation shall fear the hour The Northwind had driven the Navy in too far ANNOT. Since the Reign of Henry the II. King of France the Historians do not mention that the Countrey about Rome hath been troubled by the French Armies It was only in the time of Paul the IV. who was assisted by the French Troops under the conduct of the Lord Strozy and Captain Monluc therefore this Stanza belongeth to the time of that Kings Reign And indeed what he foretelleth here came to
pass in the year 1556. for the Countrey about Rome was vexed by the French Nation who went about then to take the places which the Duke of Alba had taken from the Pope and thereby caused those disorders which commonly are incident to War The second Verse saith the Countrey shall be too much vexed and not a little because Monluc whom the Author calleth the quick Gascon did continually torment the Enemies which could not be done without a great prejudice to the Countrey Moreover his Troops being for the most part Gascons and consequently active men the Soldiers did more harm than ordinary In the first Verse he saith that this Countrey about Rome was marked by an Augury to be the place upon which the sad effect of the Augury should fall which proved true for the first of March 1556. appeared a Blazing Star which did presage to that Countrey of Rome its disaster Roman Countrey in which the Augur did interpret that is to say which the Augur did signifie and presage should be vexed by the French Nation Afterwards the Author saith that the same French Nation or Celtique shall fear the hour when Boreas should drive to far the Fleet that is to say shall fear much when the Baron de la Garde was so troubled with the storm as we have said and in truth it was Boreas or the Northwind that drove him into St. Florents road C. French Dedans les Isles si horrible tumulte Rien on n'orra qu'une bellique brigue Tant grand sera des predareurs l'Insult Qu'on se viendra ranger a la grand ligue English In the Islands shall be so horrid tumults That nothing shall be heard but a Warlike surprise So great shall be the insult of the Robbers That every one shall shelter himself under the great League ANNOT. This is plain if by the the great League you understand the soundest and most powerful party THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus CENTURY III. I. French APres Combat Bataille Navale Le grand Neptune a son plus haut beffroy Rouge adversaire de peur de viendra pasle Mettant le grand Occean en effroy English After the fight and Sea Battle The great Neptune in his highest Steeple The red adversary shall wax pale for fear Putting the great Occean in a fright ANNOT. I find no my stical sence in this unless by the red adversary he should understand the Pope because clothed in Scarlet Therefore I leave the explication to the judgement of every particular Reader II. French Le Divin Verbe donra a la substance Compris Ciel Terre or occult au lait mystique Corps Ame Esprit ayant toute puissance Tant sous ses pieds comme au Siege Celique English The Divine Word shall give to the substance Heaven and Earth and Gold hid in the mystical milk Body Soul Spirit having all power As well under his feet as in the Heavenly Seat ANNOT. I desire the judicious Reader and chiefly if he be given to the Hermetick Philosophy to take a special notice of this Stanza for in it is contained the secret of the Elixir or Philosophers Stone more clearly and plainly then in the Tabula Smaragdina of Hermes which to make appearent we shall expound it Verse by Verse The Divine Word shall give to the substance by the Divine word you must not understand the second person of the Trinity but a Doctor in Divinity or a Theologian called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Divine word who shall be an Adeptus a Disciple of Hermes and one that shall attain to the secret of the Philosophers stone That man shall give to the substance that is to Gold Heaven and Earth and gold hid in the mystical Milk Heaven and Earth that is all the Celestial and Terrestrial qualities lurking in the Gold which is hid in the mystical milk that is in the Azoth or Mercury of the Philosophers Body Soul Spirit having all Power that is the three principles of which the Philosophers say their stone is compounded viz. Body Soul and Spirit Having all Power that is having the power to transmute all Mettals into its kind as also having all the powers from above and below as Hermes saith Pater ejus est Sol Mater vero Luna Terra nutrix ejus Which is confirmed by the last Verse As well under his feet as in the Heavenly Seat III. French Mars Mercure Largent joint ensemble Vers le Midy extreme siccité Au fond d' Asie on dira Terre tremble Corinthe Ephese lors en perplexite English Mars and Mercury and Silver joyned together Towards the South a great drought In the bottome of Asia shall be an Earth-quake Corinth and Ephesus shall then be in perplexity ANNOT. After the Author hath in the foregoing Stanza expressed the mistery of the Philosophers stone he seemeth to give here a receit though Sophistical for the relief of the Inquisitors and as it were a Viaticum for them to subsist till they can attain to the perfection as Basilius Valentinus hath done since to his disciples He saith then that with Mars that is Iron Mercury and Silver joyned together some thing may be done if you beware of a drought in the South that is in the middle of the operation and this is concerning the two first Verses Those that shall desire to be better and further informed may come to me and they shall have all the satisfaction I can afford them The two last Verses have no relation to the first two and foretel onely a great Earth-quake in Asia by which those two Towns Corinth and Ephesus shall be in great perplexity IV. French Quand seront proches le defaut des Lunaires De l'un a lautre ne distant grandement Froid siccité dangers vers les frontieres Mesme ou l'Oracle a pris commencement English When the want of the Luminaries shall be near Not being far distant one from another Cold drought danger towards the Frontiers Even where the Oracle had his beginning ANNOT. The word near sheweth that the two Eclipses one of the Sun and the other of the Moon shall be near one another The Ephemerides of John Stadius teach us that in the year 1556 in the Month of November these two Eclipses did meet That of the Sun upon the first of November at 17 hours as the Astrologers reckon and 53 Minutes That of the Moon at 12 hours and 43 Scruples and thus the two last Verses are plain Concerning the other two Belleforest teacheth us two things the first that the same year was extraordinary dry in so much that from April to October it did not rain but only upon the Eve of St. John the Baptist and that the Vintage was made in August the Wine proving excellent The second is that in the Month of December began a horrid Frost which lasted a great while Thus there was Cold and drought Concerning the dangers towards the Frontiers Belleforest saith
be applied to France when the Infan of Spain Don Balthazar died c. XVI French Un Prince Anglois Mars a son coeur du Ciel Voudra poursuivre sa fortune prospere Des deux duelles l'un percera le fiel Hay de luy bien aymé de sa Mere. English An English Prince Mars hath his heart from Heaven Will follow his prosperous fortune Of two Duels one shall pierce the gall Being hated of him and beloved of his Mother ANNOT. By this Stanza is promised to England a Martial Prince who shall have his heart from Heaven and with all endeavours follow his prosperous fortune which is a remarkable and commendable part in a man By the last two Verses it seemeth that this Prince shall have a Son who shall fight two duels for one of which his Father shall be angry and hate him but his Mother shall love him for it XVII French Mont Aventine brusler nuit sera veu Le Ciel obscur tout a un coup en Flandres Quand le Monarque chassera son Neveu Lors gens d'Eglise commettront les esclandres English Mount Aventine shall be seen to burn in the night The Heaven shall be darkned upon a sudden in Flanders When the Monarch shall expel his Neven Then Churchmen shall commit scandals ANNOT. Mount Aventine is one of the seven Mountains in Rome The rest is plain XVIII French Apres la pluye de lait assez longuette En plusieurs lieux de Rheims le Ciel touché O quel conflit de sang pres deux sapreste Pere Fils Rois noseront approché English After a pretty long rain of Milk In many places of Rhemes the lightning shall fall O what a bloody fight is making ready near them Father and Son both Kings shall not dare to come near ANNOT. Rhemes is a City in France The rest is easie XIX French En Lucques sang lait viendra pleuvoir Un peu devant changement de Preteur Grand Peste Guerre Faim soif fera voir Loin ou mourra leur Prince Recteur English In Luca it shall rain Blood and Milk A little before the change of the Magistrate A great Plague War Hunger and Thirst shall be seen A great way off where their Prince Ruler shall die ANNOT. Luca at present is a strong Town and a little Common-wealth by it it self in Italy governed by their own Magistrate That Town is threatned here to see those prodigies mentioned a little before the change of their Government besides a great Plague and dearth as also the death of their chief Magistrate who shall die far off that Countrey As for the raining Milk and Blood they are Prodigies that have appeared often before and therefore not incredible as those that are Versed in History may justifie and although the reasons may be drawn from natural causes yet wonld they be too tedious if I should insert them here XX. French Par les Contrées du grand flevue Betique Loin d' Ibere au Royaume de Grenade Croix repoussees par gens Mahometiques Un de Cordube trahira a la fin Contrade English Through the Countreys of the great River Betis Far from Iberia in the Kingdom of Granada Crosses beaten back by Mahometan people One of Corduba shall at last betray the Countrey ANNOT. The great River called in Latine Betis and in Spanish Guadalquivir is the River of Sevilia the most famous Town in Spain for Trade This River runneth through most of the Spanish Dominions and dischargeth it self into the Ocean about the mouth of the Straights over against Barbary upon which Coast of Spain lyeth the Kingdom of Granada the chief City of which is Corduba in Spanish Cordua This Kingdom was of time almost immemorial occupied and inhabited by the Moores till they were expelled and driven back into Barbary by Ferdinand and Isabella King and Queen of Castilia The rest is easie XXI French Au Crustamin pres Mer Adriatique Apparoistra un horrible poisson De face humaine de corps aquatique Qui se prendra dehors de l'Hamecon English In the Crustamin near the Adriatick Sea An horrid Fish shall appear Having a mans face and a fishes body Which shall be taken without a hook ANNOT. I suppose this Crustamin to be some place so called near the Adriatick Sea As for Fishes with an humane face we have several examples of them Ambrosius Paraeus relateth divers and in his works hath inserted the Pictures of them 1. When Mena was Governour of Aegypt and walked by the Nilus side he saw a Sea-man rising out of the River having an humane shape as far as the Navel and with a grave look and fair hairs intermixed with white ones bony Breast and distinct Arms the rest of the body was like a Fish Three days after in the Morning appeared another Sea monster like a woman those two Monsters appeared so long that every body had time to consider them 2. Rondeletius saith that in our age was taken a Fish in the Sea of Norway which every body presently called a Monk because of the resemblance 3. In the year 1531. was seen a Sea-monster covered with Scales which for the resemblance was called a Bishop Rondeletius and Gesuerus have the Picture of it 4. In the year 1523. was seen in Rome a Fish about the bigness of a Child of five years old that had humane shape to the Navel except the ears So that all those things related of Tritons Nereides and Sirens seem not altogether fabulous and we may conclude with Pliny Vera est valgi opinio quicquid nascatur in parte naturae ulla in Mari esse praeterque multa quae nusquam alibi lib. 9. cap. 2. XXII French Six jours lassaut devant Cité donné Livrée sera forte aspre Bataille Trois la rendront a eux pardonné Le reste a feu sang trauche taille English Six days shall the assault be given to the City A great and fierce Battle shall be fought Three shall surrender it and be pardoned The rest shall be put to fire and Sword cut and slasht ANNOT. Some famous City must be here understood which the Author hath not named The same shall be assaulted for six days continually and in conclusion shall be surrendred or betrayed by three men who shall be pardoned and all the rest put to Fire and Sword Most men that have knowledge in History interpret this of the City of Magdebourg in Germany that was destroyed with Fire and Sword by the Earl of Tilly General for the Emperour against Gustavus Adolphus King of Swedeland For the like devastation and cruelty was never heard of in Europe XXIII French Si France passe outre Mer Liquistique Tu te verras en Isles Mers enclos Mahomet contraire plus Mer l' Adriatique Chevaux Asnes tu rongeras les os English If France goeth beyond the Ligustick Sea Thou shalt see thy self inclosed with Islands and Seas
the King of France's permission out of Corsica several Troops of Gascons and brought some with them to the number of about 2000 which were quartered about Rome Many of them were among the Troops of the Duke of Guise being allured thither by the reputation of their Countreyman Captain Monluc The Author foretelleth that they shall find their Graves near Tuscany because the Territory of Rome joyneth to that Province Then in the 3 and 4 Verse he specifieth the time by two marks one is when Mars shall be near the German corner the other when he shall be in the Territory of the Mantuan people and the War was then in that Territory for the Duke of Ferrara to shew he would not stand still sent his son Alphonso d'Este to make incursions there and to take some places Moreover the War was then near the German corner which is Lorrain when Henry II. besieged Thionville in the year 1558. Paradin sheweth that Mars was in the German corner two years before sith about the end of the year 1555 the Duke of Nevers by an extraordinary endeavour in the middle of the Winter did relieve Mariembourg and the following years the French Garrisons kept the fields to avoid surprises And in the year 1557. when the Duke of Guise fought in Italy the Duke of Savoy brought his Army against Mariembourg so it proved true that Mars viz. the War was in the German corner for that Town is in the borders of Germany and was in that corner till the taking of Thionville XXXIII French En la Cité ou le loup entrera Bien pres de la les ennemis seront Copie estrange grand pais gastera Aux Monts des Alpes les amis passeront English In the City wherein the Wolf shall go near that place the enemies shall be An Army of strangers shall spoil a great Countrey The friends shall go over the Mountains of the Alpes ANNOT. The two last Verses make me think that this Prophesie was fulfilled in the time of Henry II. King of France because the French being then friends to the Pope went over the Alpes to serve him This Stanza might also be applyed to Lewis 13 who caused his Army to go beyond the Alpes but that word Friends is more convenient to the time of Henry II. because the French went then over the Alpes in quality of friends to serve the Pope According to this conjecture the Wolf which signifieth the Spaniard came anno 1556. into many Towns which the Duke of Alba took as we have said in another place and because among those Towns Neptune was one of the most considerable being seated by the Sea side near Rome I believe that by this word City he meaneth that Town which belonged to the Colonese And to say truth the French were then very near it to endeavour the relief of it Afterwards came the Duke of Guise's Army whis is named by the Anthor an Army of strangers because the French and Germans are strangers to Italy This Army shall spoil a great Countrey for in that year it went through all Italy and where an Army passeth nothing but ruine can be expected XXXIV French Quand le defaut du Soleil lors sera Sur le plein jour le Monstre sera veu Tout autrement on l'Interpretera Cherté na garde nul ny aura pourveu English When the Ecclipse of the Sun shall be At noon day the Monster shall be seen It shall be interperted otherways Then for a dearth because no body hath provided against it ANNOT. The sense of this is that when the Sun shall be Eclipsed at noon a Monster shall be born which shall presagè a dearth though no body will believe it because they were unprovided against it XXXV French Du plus profond de l'Occident d' Europe De pauvre gens un jeune enfant maistra Qui par sa langue seduira grande troupe Son bruit au Regne d'Orient plus croistra English Out of the deepest part of the West of Europe From poor people a young child shall be born Who with his tongue shall seduce many people His fame shall increase in the Eastern Kingdom ANNOT. This needeth no explication XXXVI French Ensevely non mort Apoplectique Sera trouvé avoir les mains mangees Quand la Cité damnera l'Heretique Qu'avoit leur Loix ce leur sembloit changees English One buried not dead but Apoplectical Shall be found to have eaten up his hands When the City shall blame the heretical man Who as they thought had changed their Laws ANNOT. Many persons according to Histories being only in a fit of Apoplexy have been buried for dead and being afterwards taken out of the ground have been found to have eaten up their hands as I my self have seen one digged out of Saint Bartholomews Church-yard about the time that the City of London began to be weary of Cromwels devices and Tyranny yet I would not here definitively assert he was the man here pointed at by the Title and Epithete of Heretical man unless it were in the point of government XXXVII French Avant l'assault l'Oraison pronouncée Milan prins l'Aigle par embusche deceus Muraille antique par Canons enfonsée Par seu sang a mercy peu receus English Before the assault the Prayer shall be said An Eagle shall take a Kite they shall be deceived by an Embuscado The ancient wall shall be beaten down with Canons By fire and blood few shall have quarter ANNOT. The sense of this is easie XXXVIII French La gent Gauloise Nation estrange Outre les Monts morts pris profligez Au mois contraire proche de vendange Par les Seigneurs en accord redigez English The French Nation and another Nation Being over the Mountains shall die and be taken In a month contrary to them and near the vintage By the Lords agreed together ANNOT. Two kind of Nations were led into Italy by the Duke of Cuise to succour the Pope viz. French and Germans meaning by the Germans all those that use the German Tongue as Switzers c. The Author saith these two Nations were led beyond the Mountains because they went beyond the Apennine Alpes to come down into the Champion Countrey of Italy where some of them died by the Sword others by famine and sickness others lost their liberty being made prisoners of War others were exposed to the inconveniences that attend a ruined Army He addeth that these accidents shall befall them in a Month near the Vintage that Month is September He calleth it Contrary because the Grapes being ripe the starved Souldiers did eat abundance of them and so fell into a bloody flux The Pope's Tenants made use of this Stratagem to ruine that Army The Spaniard had his revenge the year following for the Duke of Guise having missed his design and being stept before Civitella and incensed that the Pope did not keep his word with him he resolved to go back
again into France and so the Pope did by the means of the Common-wealth of Venice and of the Duke of Florence it was concluded and signed with the 23 of September This is the Authors meaning in the 4 Verse that all the misfortune which befell the French was by reason of that peace for the Pope disbanded his Troops consisting most of French and Switzers the greatest part of whom fell into the hands of their enemies and of the Countrey people others died of sickness It is true that the Duke of Guise brought his own Army back without much loss but the Author speaketh here of the Guise and Switzers that were in the Pope's service under the command of Marshall Strozzy Monluc Cardinal Caraffa and others The time of this peace agreeth with the Prophesie for it was concluded on the 23 of September which is a Month near the Vintage XXXIX French Les sept en trois Mois en concorde Pour subjuger les Alpes Apeninnes Mais la tempeste Ligure coüarde Les profligent en subites ruines English The seven shall agree together within three Months To conquer the Apennine Alpes But the tempest and coward Genoese Shall sink them into sudden ruines ANNOT. There shall be seven persons who shall be three Months in making an agreement to go beyond the Apennines but they shall be hindred by a tempest and by the cowardliness of the Genoeses XL. French Le grand Theatre se viendra redresser Les dez jettez les rets ia tendus Trop le premier en glaz viendra lasser Par arc prostrais de long temps ia fendus English The great Theatre shall be raised up again The Dice being cast and the nest spread The first shall too much in Glass Beaten down by Bows who long before were split ANNOT. This must be put among Insolubilia de Alliaco XLI French Bossu sera esleu par le Conseil Plus hideux Monstre en Terre napperceu Le coup volant luy crevera un oeil Le traistre au Roy pour fidele receu English Crook-back shall be chosen by the Councel A more hideous Monster I never saw upon Earth The flying blow shall put out one of his eyes The Traitor to the King shall be admited as faithful ANNOT. This needs no explication XLII French L'Enfant naistra a deux dents en la gorge Purres en Tuscie par pluie tomberont Peu d'ans apres ne sera Bled ny Orge Pour saouler ceux qui de faim failleront English A Child shall be born with two Teeth in his mouth It shall rain stones in Tuscany A few years after there shall be neither Wheat nor Barley To feed those that shall faint for hunger ANNOT. Those two Prodigies mentioned in the two first Verses do presage a great Famine that shall ensue a few years after XLIII French Gens d'alentour du Tar Lot Garonne Gardez les Monts Apennins de passer Vostre tombeou pres de Rome d' Ancone Le noir poil crespe fera Trophée dresser English People that live about the Tar Lot and Garonne Take heed to go over the Apennine Mountains Your Grave is near Rome and Ancona The black frisled hair shall dress a Trophy of you ANNOT. The Tar the Lot and the Garone are three Rivers of Gascony the Inhabitants of which are forewarned not to go over the Apennine Mountains or else they shall meet with their Graves near Rome and Ancona This hath relation to the 38 Stanza and to the interpretation thereof therefore vide XLIV French Quand l'Animal a l'Homme domestique Apres grands peines sauts viendra parler Le foudre a vierge sera si malefique De Terre prinse suspendue en l'Air English When the Beast familiar to Mankind After great labour and leaping shall come to speak The Lightning shall be so hurtful to a Virgin That she shall be taken from the Earth and suspended in the Air. ANNOT. It is a Dog that shall come howling and leaping to his Mistresses friends because she was killed and suspended in the Air by the Lightning XLV French Les cinq estranges entrez dedans le Temple Leur sang viendra la Terre prophaner Aux Thoulousain sera bien dur exemple D'un qui viendra ses loix exterminer English The five strangers having come into the Church The blood shall prophane the ground It shall be a hard example to those of Thoulouse Concerning one that came to break their Laws ANNOT. I suppose these five strangers to be five Commissioners for the altering something in the Government of Thoulouse who shall be all killed in a Church and the ground prophaned by their blood according to the Romish opinion XLVI French Le Ciel de Plancus la Cité nous presage Par clercs insignes par estoiles fixes Que de son change subit saproche lage Ne pour son bien ne pour ses malefices English The Heaven foretelleth concerning the City of Plancus By famous Clerks and fixed Stars That the time of her sudden change is near hand Neither because of her goodness or wickedness ANNOT. The City of Plancus is Lion because he was the Founder of it That City is threatned here of a sudden change caused neither by her goodness or wickedness but by a certain position and aspect of the fixed Stars which makes it fatal XLVII French Le vieux Monarque dechassé de son Regne Aux Orients son secours ira querre Pour peur des Croix ploiera son Enseigne En Mitylene ira par Mer par Terre English The old Monarch being expelled out of his Kingdom Shall go into the East to get succours For fear of the Crosses be shall fold up his Colours He shall go into Mitylene by Sea and Land ANNOT. Mitylene is an Island of the Archipelago belonging to the Turk XLVIII French Sept cens Captifs attachez rudement Pour la moitie meurtrir donné le sort Le proche espoir viendra si promptement Mais non si tost qu'une quinziesme mort English Seven hundred prisoners shall be tied together To murder half of them the lot being cast The next hope shall come quickly And not so quickly but fifteen shall be dead before ANNOT. By the next hope he meaneth the reprieve The rest is clear XLIX French Regne Gaulois tu seras bien changé En lieu estrange est translaté l'Empire En autre moeurs Lois seras rangé Rouan Chartres te feront bien du pire English French Kingdom thou shalt be much changed The Empire is translated in another place Thou shalt be put into other manners and Laws Rouan and Chartres shall do the worse they can to thee ANNOT. Rouan is the chief City of the Province of Normandie and Chartres the chief City of that of Beausse L. French La Republique de la grande Cité A grand rigueur ne voudra consentir Roy sortir hors par Trompette
ends or extremities of them and in the constellations of the Zodiack we call the first Pole that which is next to the Equator and the second Pole that which stretcheth towards the North or towards the South in the Eccliptical Line In this sense the first Pole of the Sign of Aries is that which hath its first degree in the Equator the second is that which stretcheth towards the North in the Eccliptick and this last Pole is called Bastarnan because it is Vertical to Bastarnia as the Astrologers set down their Climates Kingdoms Provinces and Towns under the twelve Signs Fourthly We must suppose that this word to double may signifie three things 1. In Sea-mens tearms it signifieth to go beyond some place as to double the Cape of bona Speranza which is called in Italian Tramontare that is to go beyond 2. It signifieth to do twice the same thing as Jacob did double his service for Rachel c. 3. In matter of traveling it signifieth to go twice as far as is requisite To double in this place cannot be understood in the first sense because the constellations never stretcht out of their compasses though the Stars of which they are compounded have their peculiar motions To understand this we must know that the Stars of the Firmament have their peculiar motions from West to East upon the Pole of the Eccliptick and that they go that way a matter of one Degree in the space of about 100 years and consequently the Stars do retrograde every year in the Eccliptick from West to East 52 Seconds Ptolomeus holdeth this opinion but other renowned Astrologers give them more For my part I am of Tychobrahe's opinion who allowed them one Degree of retrogradation in 70 years and 7 Months and consequently 51 Seconds every year According to this Doctrine the Star that is in the Horn of Aries was observed by Tymocharis in 2d Degree 150 years after Hipparchus observed it in the first 265 years after Ptolomeus saw it in the 6 Degree 740 years after Albathognius observed it in the 18 Degree 304 years after Alphonsus King of Spain found it in the 6 Degree 265 years after Copernicus did observe it to be in the 27 Degree and two Minutes 61 years after Tychobrahe saw it in the 27 Degree and above 37 Minutes so that in the space of 61 years it had gone 35 Minutes By this Doctrine we see that the whole constellations do not go beyond their Poles though the Stars that Compound them change their Poles every year of 51 seconds To double then here cannot be taken in the first sense nor in the third sense for the first reason it must then be in the second sense and thus Aries doubleth his Bastarnan Pole that is Aries maketh twice his Pole which answereth to Bastarnia If you ask how it cometh to pass that Aries doubleth this Pole and in what place of Heaven we set this Bastarnan Pole I answer to the first that Aries doubleth his Pole when one of those 13 Stars cometh to that point which is a Northern or Western Pole to that sign in the Eccliptick As to the second I answer that the place ought to be its last Degree viz. the end of the 30 Degree Why will you say did the Author mark that difference of the sign of Aries rather than that of Taurus or of another I answer that it was in favour of France because Aries doth govern in France and if it hath been favourable to it when it came first to the Bastarnan Pole it will be so too when it doubleth the same Pole seeing that it will have the same position and Aspect Now we see that in the space of these 100 years France was not overcome much less shall it be hereafter seeing that the Stars do promise its exaltation for a long continuance If I were a great Astrologer I should observe exactly by this that within the space of 290 years Aries shall double his Cape Bastarnan and consequently Aries should come to that Pole just in the year 1845. which is according to that we have said LVIII French Aupres du Rhin des Montagnes Noriques Naistra un grand de gens trop tard venu Qui defendra Sarmates Pannoniques Qu'on ne scaura quil sera devenu English Near the Rhine out of the Norick Mountains Shall be born a great one though too late come Who shall defend the Polonians and Hungarians So that it shall not be known what is become of him ANNOT. This is plain LIX French Barbare Empire par le tiers usurpé La plus grand part de son sang mettre amort Par mort senicle par luy quart frappé Pour peur que sang par le sang ne soit mort English A Barbarian Empire shall be usurped by a third person Who shall put to death the greatest part of his Kindred By death of old age the fourth shall be stricken by him For fear that blood should not die by blood ANNOT. The two first Verses are plain I acknowledge my Ignorance in the last two LX. French Par toute Asia grande proscription Mesme en Mysie Lydie Pamphilie Sang versera par dissolution D'un jeune noir remply de felonie English Through all Asia shall be a great proscription Yea in Mysia Lydia and Pamphilia Blood shall be spilled by the debauchness Of a young black man full of felony ANNOT. Mysia Lydia and Pamphilia are Countreys of Asia LXI French La grande bande secte Crucigere Se dressera en Mesopotanie Du proche Fleuve compagnie legere Qui telle Loy tiendra pour ennemie English The great troop and sect wearing a Cross Shall rise up in Mesopotamia Near the next River shall be a light company Which shall hold that law for enemy ANNOT. It is an Army of Christians be like Armenians that shall rise in Mesopotamia against whom shall an Army of Turkish Horseman come who did live by the next River LXII French Proche del Duero par Mer Cyrene close Viendra percer les grands Monts Pyrenees La main plus courte sa percée gloses A Carcasonne conduira ses menées English Near the Duero closed by the Cyrenian Sea Shall come to pierce the great Pyrenean Mountains The shorter hand and his pierced glose Shall in Carcassone lead his plot ANNOT. The Cyrenian Sea is that Sea which is by the Province of Cyrene The Pyrenean Mountains part Spain from France Carcassonne is a Town in France near unto Spain The rest passeth my understanding LXIII French Romain pouvoir sera du tout a bas Son grand Voisin imiter les vestiges Occultes haines civiles debats Retarderont aux boufons leur folies English The Roman power shall be quite put down His great Neighbour shall follow his steps Secret and civil hatreds and quarrels Shall stop the Buffons folly ANNOT. The first Verse signifieth that the Pope's Authority shall be put down The second that his
great neighbour that is the Empire shall follow his steps that is be put down too The two last Verses are plain LXIV French Le Chef de Perse remplira grand Olchade Classe trireme contre gent Mahometique De Parthe Mede piller les Cyclades Repos long temps au grand Port Jonique English The Head of Persia shall fill a great Olchade A Fleet of Galleys against the Mahometan Nation From Parthia and Media they shall come to plunder the Cyclades A long rest shall be on the Jonique Port. ANNOT. I could not find what he meaneth by Olchade The second Verse is plain Parthia and Media are two Kingdoms depending from that of Persia The Islands of Cyclades are in the Aegean Sea and are so called because they are like a Garment about the City of Delos for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek signifieth a round garment of a woman The Jonique Sea is that Sea in Grecia which is about Athens and Corinth c. LXV French Quand le Sepulchre du grand Romain trouvé Le jour apres sera esleu Pontife Du Senat gueres il ne sera prouvé Empoisonné son sang au Sacre Scyphe English When the Sepulcher of the great Roman shall be found The next day after a Pope shall be elected Who shall not be much approved by the Senate Poisoned his blood in the Sacred Scyphe ANNOT. This seemeth to foretel the finding out of the Sepulcher of some famous Roman and that the next day after a Pope shall be Elected who being not well approved of by the Conclave shall be poisoned in the Chalice which is the Communion Cup that the Roman Catholicks use at Mass signified here by the Latine word Soyphus LXVI French Le grand Baillif d' Orleans mis a mort Sera par un de sang vindicatif De mort merite ne mourra ne par sort De pieds mains mal le faisoit captif English The great Bailif of Orleans shall be put to death By one of a revengeful blood He shall not die of a deserved death nor by chance But the disease of being tied hand and foot hath made him prisoner ANNOT. The Bailif of Orleans is a great Officer for he is there Lord Chief Justice and of all the precincts It seemeth that this man shall be put to death by one of a revengeful blood not that he had deserved it or come to it by chance but because he shall be tied hand and foot and die in prison LXVII French Une nouvelle Secte de Philosophes Mesprisant mort or honneurs richesses Des Monts Germains seront fort limitrophes A les ensuivre auront appuy presses English A new Sect of Philosophers shall rise Despising Death Gold Honours and Riches They shall be near the Mountains of Germany They shall have abundance of others to support and follow them ANNOT. This is properly said of the Anabaptists in Germany in the time of John de Leyden and now of the Quakers in England and elsewhere LXVIII French Peuple sans Chef d' Espagne d'Italie Morts profligez dedans le Cheronese Leur dict trahy par legere folie Le sang nager per tout a la traverse English A people of Spain and Italy without a Head Shall die being overcome in the Cheronese Their saying shall be betrayed by a light folly The blood shall swim all over at random ANNOT. Cheronese is a Land or ground unmanured the rest is plain LXIX French Grand exercite conduit par jouvenceau Se viendra rendre aux mains des ennemis Mais le vieillard nay au demy pourceau Fera Chalon Mascon estre amis English A great Army led by a young man Shall yield it self in the hands of the enemies But the old man born at the sign of the halfe-Hog Shall cause Chalon and Mascon to be friends ANNOT. The two first Verses are plain as for the third Verse I could not find who that Old man should be that shall be born at the sign of the half-Hog Chalon and Mascon are two Cities in France the first in Champagne the last in Burgundy LXX French La grand Bretagne comprise d' Angleterre Viendra par eaux si haut a inondre La Ligue nevue d' Ausone fera gerre Que contre eux ils se viendront bander English Great Britany comprehended in England Shall suffer so great an Inundation by Waters The new League of Ausone shall make Wars So that they shall stand against them ANNOT. This Prophecie is divided in two parts The first two Verses foretel a great Innundation that was to happen in England The last two speak of a league and insurrection that shall be at Bordeaux which is here called Ausone from a famous Latine Poet named Ausonius who was born in that City As to the first part after much seeking and enquiry I found the truth of it in a Latine book called Rerum in Gallia Belgia Hispania Anglia c. gestarum anno 1607. Tomi septimi Liber secundus conscriptus a Nicolao Gotardo Artus Dantiscano where the History is related thus About the end of January 1607. the Sea-broke out so violently in England that after the breaking of Fences and Dikes it caused very great damages to the Inhabitants The greatest mischief was done in Somersetshire where the water did overflow ten Leagues in length and two in breadth twelve foot high in the most eminent places This sudden Innundation brought a fearful alarm to the Countrey people some of them going to their Plough were fained to run back to their houses where they found their enemies at their doors viz. Death and Water who without distinction swept them away In a little time the Towns appeared like Islands encompassed on all sides and presently after were swallowed up so that the tops of the Trees were scarce seen This new Flood covered so the Towns of Hansfield in the same County those of Grantham Kenbus Kingston and Briandon with several Farms built in the Champion Countrey that none of the Buildings could be seen If you add to this the devastation of the places the quantity of Corn Fruit and Grass that was lost the misery shall be so great as not to be expressed During this fearful quarrel between the Water and the Land an exceeding great number of people died of all Ages and Sexes it would avail them nothing to get into the upper Stories and Roofs of houses nor upon the highest Trees for the imperious Waters did so swell and rage that the Foundations of the houses and roots of the Trees were loosened so that both fell to the Ground or rather into the Water The people seeing no way to escape resolved to die patiently No body could without great grief see the Oxen and Sheep drowning for there was such a numerous quantity of them that a far off one would have thought them to be Rocks in the Sea but seeing them swiming and hearing them bleating
and bellowing one would have thought them to be a storm and hissing of winds A rich Farmer and father of seven Children being involved in the Flood and much astonished at this accident nevertheless thinking the danger less then it was went about to save some of his best Goods but seeing the Waters to increase he forsook all and went to save one of his Children whom he loved best but the Waters followed him so close that all he could do was to get upon the Roof of his house Among the Children there was a little one sleeping in a Cradle which being made of close boards did swim upon the VVaters about three Miles and was taken up alive and sound The Hay cocks did swim like Ships upon the VVaves the Pigeons and Pigs were upon the Sheaves that the VVater carried away The Coneys being driven out of their holes had leapt upon the backs of the swiming Sheep A certain Shepheard being about to gather his Sheep into their Fold was followed by the Flood ran for his life and climbed upon a high Tree where seeing his Sheep bleating in the water he began to tear his hair to smite his breast to lift up his hands and his eyes to Heaven and when his Sheep had all perished and himself endured an extream cold and hunger he was at last taken up in a Boat that was sent to save the distressed But here we must talk of Bristol which is one of the chiefest Cities in England by reason of the Haven which bringeth thither abundance of Merchants from several Nations The same day of that Inundation the Sea breaking into a great Channel did presently overflow the Countrey with such quickneâ—s and violence that it covered the Valleys and the smaller Hills in so much that nothing but an utter ruine was expected many whole houses were turned upside down and carried away with the Flood The Barns full of Corn Hay and Straw were overthrown and the Cattle carried away besides abundance of people of all sorts The Merchants of London and Bristol and the rest of the Inhabitants besides the loss of Provisions suffered an inestimable one in their Commodities which they had provided for the Fair that was then near hand the most part of them being carryed away by the Flood and the rest so spoiled that the owners could not tell what to do with them A Gentleman dwelling between Barnstable and Bristol and two Leagues off from the Sea being gone abroad in the Morning to oversee his grounds did look towards the Sea ran back again to his house to bring this sad news to his Wife and Servants while they were endeavouring to pack up the most precious of their Goods the Water came about the house of fast that they altered their resolution and bethought themselves only to save their lives the servants busied themselves about tying the Goods together thinking the Water could not have carryed them away As for the Gentleman he went with his VVife and Children to the top of the house and got upon the rafters of the Roof Although nothing appeared to them but the Image of death nevertheless some hope and desire of escaping made the Gentleman come down to save a little Trunk wherein his papers of greatest concernment were Being come down from the Rafter he laid hold of the Trunk and fastened it to a Manger while he was busie about it the Waves of the Sea did so beat against that house that it fell down to the Ground The Wife Children and Servants were swallowed up in the ruine The Gentleman laid hold on a Rafter and was carryed away with it above half a League further to a Mountain where he set his foot upon dry Ground being half dead with fear and grief and bewailing the loss of his VVife Children and Servants he spyed the little Trunk and the Manger which he drew to Land and that was all he saved besides his Life Another Gentleman living thereabouts and newly married was resolved that day to go to the next Town and make merry with some friends whereupon he bid his man make his Horse ready and himself went to put on his Boots after he had put on one and whilst he held the other in his hand the VVaters came so fiercely into that house that they compelled the half Booted Gentleman to run away for his life in an upper Chamber but he was followed so close by that merciless Element that he was fained to get upon the top of the Roof to save his life and to ride upon the upper Rafter but the house and Roof melting by the violence of the VVaves this new Knight was carryed by the violence of them towards the Town where he intended to make merry and there was saved with much adoe It happened at the same time near Markand in the Dutchy of Norfolk that two Thieves going about to steal some Cattle while they were driving of them perceived in the Morning the Justice of God following them it was the VVater which having overtopped the Dikes threatned the takers of being taken and compelled them to save themselves with all speed From their wickedness did arise a great good for to the next Town they went and bid the Sexton to Ring the Bell and to cry VVater VVater The Inhabitants being for the most part asleep did not know what to do in such an Alarm Some climbed into the Church's Steeple others thinking there were Thieves went about to fence and defend their houses others hearing of a Flood laughed at it and said that those who brought this News deserved to be punished but presently they altered their Languages and their laughing was turned into a fearful mourning every one flying to save himself his VVife and Children and whatsoever they could pack up of their most precious Goods Some thinking to have more wit than others went about to divert the Current of the VVater from their houses but seeing there was no remedy they went with their VVives and Children to the tops of their houses in a lamentable fright But when the VVater came to seize upon the houses wherein there were some Playing some Drinking others already Drunken a great part of them were drowned others ran to a Hill near the Town where they spent the rest of that night and the day following with great lamentations The next day they saw their houses half under VVater and many people who from the windows and Steeples cryed for help others endeavoured to save themselves upon Boards and Rafters the Horses tyed to the Manger were all suffocated The Cattle in the fields were by this time driven to the Mount called Truhill and for all that were not out of danger for the Mountain was encompassed with VVater to such a heighth and depth that without Boats there was no access to it chiefly because of the Thickets and Bushes Thus so much Cattle was about to perish had not some Shepherds brought Boats loaded with provisions for Men and Beasts
a thousand ANNOT. Here you must observe that the Author being a Papist speaketh this concerning the City of Geneva which he saith from a free City became a slave when it shook off the Duke of Savoy's domination and became a retreat to the Protestants whom he called the banished and dreamers In the third Verse by the King changed in his mind that shall not be so froward to them he meaneth Henry IV. who having changed the Protestant Religion to be a Roman Catholick did undertake their protection against the Duke of Savoy their Prince Hence followeth the explication of the fourth Verse when he saith that of one hundred they shall become more than a thousand for in few years the Protestants became so numerous that they drove the Roman Catholicks wholly out of the Town and so have remained to this day Masters of it XVII French Changer a Beaune Nuis Chalons Dijon Le Duc voulant amender la barrée Marchant pres Fleuve Poisson bec de plongeon Verra la queüe Porte sera serrée English There shall be a change at Beaume Nuis Chalons Dijon The Duke going about to raise Taxes The Merchant near the River shall see the tail Of a Fish having the Bill of a Cormorant the door shall be shut ANNOT. Beaune Chalons and Dijon are Cities in France Nuis is a Town in Germany near the Rhyne three or four Leagues below Colen For the rest every one may make his own interpretation for it is hard to guess who this Duke should be or that Fish either that shall have a Cormorants Bill after whom the door shall be shut XVIII French Les plus Lettrez dessus les faits Coelestes Seront par Princes ignorans reprouvez Punis d'Edict chassez comme scelestes Et mis a mort la ou seront trouvez English The most Learned in the Celestial sciences Shall be found fault with by ignorant Princes Punished by proclamation chased away as wicked And put to death where they shall be found ANNOT. This is plain and signifieth no more then a persecution against the Professors of Heavenly sciences such as are Astrologers Astronomers c. XIX French Devant Rouan d' Insubres mis le Siege Par Terre Mer enfermez les passages D' Hainaut de Flandres de Gand ceux de Liege Par leurs levées raviront les Rivages English Before Rouan a Siege shall be laid by the Insubrians By Sea and Land the passages shall be shut up Those of Hainaut Flanders Ghent and Liege With their Troops shall plunder the Sea-shore ANNOT. This is still concerning the Duke of Parma's Army when he came into France against Henry the IV. in favour of the League for his Army wherewith he Besieged Rouen was compounded of all those Nations the greatest part of which were Italians called here Insubrians from the Latin word Insubria which signifieth the Countreys of Savoy and Piemont XX. French Paix uberté long temps on ne loüera Part tout son Regne desert la fleur de Lis Corps mort d'Eau Terre on apportera Sperants vain heur d'estre la ensevelis English Peace and plenty shall not be long praised All the time of his Reign the Flower de Luce shall be deserted Bodies shall die by water Earth shall be brought Hoping vainly to be there Buried ANNOT. This only foretelleth a great Famine and Inundation in France signified here by the Flower de Luce. XXI French Le changement sera fort difficile Cité Province au change gain fera Coeur haut prudent mis chassé Inhabile Mer Terre Peuple son estat changera English The change shall be very hard The City and Countrey shall gain by the change A high prudent heart shall be put in the unworthy expelled Sea Land People shall change its condition ANNOT. This needeth no Interpretation XXII French La grand Copie qui sera dechassée Dans un moment fera besoing au Roy La Foy promise de loing sera faucée Nud se verra en piteux desarroy English The great Army that shall be rejected In a moment shall be wanted by the King The faith promised a far off shall be broken So that he shall be left naked in a pitiful case ANNOT. This is plain XXIII French La Legion dans la Marine classe Calcine Magnes Souphre Poix bruslera Le long repos de l'asseurée place Port Selin chercher feu les consumera English The Legion in the Maritine Fleet Calcineth Magnes shall burn Brimstone and Pitch The long rest of the secure place They shall seek Port Selyn but fire shall consume them ANNOT. Here we must observe four things the first is that Calais is called by the Author The long rest of the secure place Because then viz. in the year 1555. it was yet in the power of the King of England and had been quietly before for the space of 287. years that is from the year 1347. till the year 1555. and was so still till the year 1557. when the Duke of Guise took it whence we gather that it was a secure place that had enjoyed so long a rest The second is that those of Diepe did watch for the Spaniards in the passage between Dover and Calais therefore the Author saith They shall seek Port Selyn Selyn Port or Harbour is always taken by the Author for an Harbour in the Ocean The third is that the great fight between the French and the Spaniards was by fire so that most part of the Ships on each side were burnt and the Spanish and French Souldiers die cast themselves into the Sea to save their lives in their enemies Ships where they were slain The fourth is that those of Diepe being extraordinary skilsul in Sea-fights had made great quantity of artificial fires to cast into the Spanish Ships but the Ships grapling one with another they were burnt on both sides Upon those four circumstances the two first Verses say that the Legion in the Fleet Galcineth magnes that is Loadstone burnt and shall burn Pitch and Brimstone to make Artificial fires The third and fourth Verse say that this Sea Legion shall seek an Harbour in the Ocean which shall be a secure place by a long rest that is Calais She will seek that Selyn Harbour to shelter her self because Calais did then belong to the English but by reason of the narrowness of the Sea the French watched for the Spaniards there and to shew that they sought onely for Calais to meet the Spaniards they carried the Spanish Ships which they took into Diepe and not into Calais The French Impression hath a fault here putting Port Hercle instead of Port Selyn which is a manifest error for the taking of Port Hercle by the Florentines the 14. of June 1â—â—5 was by a Land Army besides that Port Selyn is always taken by the Author for a Port in the Ocean XXIV French Ouy soubs Terre Sainte Dame voix feinte Humaine flamme pour Divine voir
Prest a combattre fera defection Chef adversaire obtiendra la victoire Larriere garde fera defension Les defaillans morts au blanc terretoire English One being ready to fight shall faint The chief of the adverse party shall obtain the victory The rearegard shall withstand it out Those that fall away shall die in the white Terretory ANNOT. There is nothing difficult here but what he meaneth by the white Terretory whether it be positive or Allegorical I leave the judgement of it to the Reader LXXVI French Les Nictobriges par ceux de Perigort Seront vexez tenants jusques au Rhosne L'Associé de Gascons Bigorre Trahir le Temple le prestre estant au Prosne English The Nictobriges by those of Perigort Shall be vexed as far as the Rhosne The associate of the Gascons and Bigorre Shall betray the Church while the Priest is in his Pulpit ANNOT. Nictobriges in Greek signifieth a people living in a dark and moist Countrey Perigort and Bigorre are two Towns in France The rest is plain LXXVII French Selyn Monarque l' Italie pacifique Regnes unis Roy Chrestien du monde Mourant voudra coucher en Terre Blesique Apres Pyrates avoir chassé de L'onde English Selyn being Monarch Italy shall be in peace Kingdoms shall be united a Christian King of the world Dying shall desire to be buried in the Countrey of Blois After he shall have driven the Pyrates from the Sea ANNOT. Selyn is the name of a Turkish Emperour the meaning therefore of this is that under the Reign of one Selyn a Turkish Emperour Italy shall be in peace and all the Christian Princes united LXXVIII French La grand Armée de la pugne civile Pour de nuit Parme a l'Estranger trouvée Septante neuf meurtris dedans la Ville Les estrangers passez tous a l'Espée English The great Army belonging to the Civil War Having-found by night Parma possessed by Strangers Shall kill seventy nine in the Town And put all the Strangers to the Sword ANNOT. Parma is a City in Italy The rest is plain LXXIX French Sang Royal fuis Monheurt Mars Aiguillon Remplis seront de Bourdelois les Landes Navarre Bigorre pointes Aiguillons Profonds de faim vorer de Liege Glandes English Royal blood run away from Monheurt Marsan Aiguillon The Landes shall be full of Bourdeloir Navarre Bigorre shall have points and Pricks Being deep in hunger they shall devour the Cork and Akorns ANNOT. Monheurt Marsan Aiguillon are Towns in Gascony Landes is a desert Countrey wherein nothing groweth but Pine-trees Bourdelois are those of Bourdeaux Navarre is a Kingdom and Begorre a Province joyning to those Landes or Pine-trees Countrey LXXX French Pres du grand Fleuve grand fosse terre egeste En quinze parts l'eau sera divisée La Cité prinse feu sang cris conflict mettre Et la plus part concerne au collisée English Near the great River a great pit Earth digged out In fifteen parts the Water shall be divided The City taken fire blood cries fighting And the greatest part concerneth the Collisée ANNOT. This Prophecy was fulfilled when Rome was taken and sacked by Charles Duke of Bourbon and Philibert of Chalon Prince of Orenge Generals of the Emperour Charles the V. with such cruelties as never was committed by the bloody Goths and Vandales and to shew that the Author intended Rome is apparant by two instances The first is by the great River which is the Tyber which though not very great in its Channel and depth yet is very great yea the greatest in Europe by its fame The other is the word Colisée which is that famous Arch of Tratan in Rome remaining yet to this day LXXXI French Pont on fera promptement de nacelles Passer l'Armée du grand Prince Belgique Dans profondres non loing de Bruxelles Outrepassez detrenchez sept a picque English A Bridge of Boats shall suddenly be made To pass over the Army of the great Belgick Prince In deep places and not far from Bruxelles Being gone over there shall be seven cut with a Pike ANNOT. This is concerning the Siege of Antwerp by the Prince of Parma Governour of the Low-Countreys for the King of Spain who having besieged caused a Bridge of Boats to be made upon the River Scheld to hinder the succours of the Hollanders who by that means were constrained to surrender it LXXXII French Amas sapproche venant d' Esclavonie L'Olestant vieux Cité ruinera Fort desolée verra sa Romanie Puis la grand flamme estaindre ne scaura English A great troop gathered shall come from Sclavonia The old Olestant shall ruine a City He shall see his Romania very desolate And after that shall not be able to quench that great flame ANNOT. That great troop from Sclavonia shall be the Venetians because they possess most part of that Countrey The old Olestant is their Duke because he is not chosen unless he be very old by Romania is understood what the Venetians possess in that Countrey LXXXIII French Combat nocturne le vaillant Capitaine Vaincu fuira peu de gens profligé Son peuple esmeu sedition non vain Son propre fils le tiendra assiegé English In a fight by night the valliant Captain Being vanquished shall run away overcome by few His people being moved shall make no small mutiny His own son shall besiege him ANNOT. This needeth no interpretation LXXXIV French Vn grand d' Auxerre mourra bien miserable Chassé de ceux qui soubs luy ont esté Serré de chaines apres d'un rude cable En l'an que Mars Venus Sol mis en Esté English A great man of Auxerre shall die very miserably Being expelled by those that have been under him bound with Chains and after that with a strong Cable In the year that Mars Venus and Sol shall be in a conjunction in the Summer ANNOT. Auxerre is a City of France distant from Paris 40. leagues to the Southward LXXXV French Le Charbon blanc du noir sera chasse Prisonier fait mené au Tombereau More Chameau sus pieds entrelassez Lors le puisné fillera l'Aubereau English The white Coal shall be expelled by the black one He shall be made Prisoner carried in a Dung-cari His feet twisted upon a black Camel Then the youngest shall suffer the Hobby to have more thread ANNOT. The first Verse is altogether Allegorical and Metaphorical therefore I leave it to the judgement of every Reader I shall only deliver my opinion upon the whole I take it to be some white Prince that shall be overcome by a black one put in a Dungcart after thâ—t tied upon a black Camel and then the younger son of that black Prince shall give the prisonner a little more liberty LXXXVI French L'An que Saturne en eau sera conjoint Avecques Sol le Roy fort puissant A Rheims Aix sera receu oingt Apres
which is the head of wisdom And now is the Rose of the World A Bridge shall be ruinated with its great preeminence It shall be subdued and made a wrack by the Waves ANNOT. He foretelleth the destruction of a famous Bridge in the Countrey of Attica of which Athens is the chief City and because it was always famous for learning he calleth it here the head of VVisdom and that VVisdom the Rose of the VVorld XXXII French Ou tout bon est tout bien Soleil Lune Est aboundant sa ruine s'approche Le Ciel s'advance a changer ta fortune En mesme estat que la septiesme Roche English Where all well is all good O Sun and Moon Is existent his ruine draweth near The Heaven is making hast to change thy fortune Into the same case as the seventh Rockis ANNOT. By this dark Stanza the Author seemeth to foretell the woful condition of a Countrey that was happy before but shall fall to ruine I suspect he intended France because being a Frenchman he did not name it for I think there was never such a change in the world as was in that Kingdom in the time of the Civil VVars between the Roman Catholicks and the Protestants XXXIII French Des principaux de Cité rebellée Qui tiendront fort pour liberté r'avoir Detrencher masles infoelice meslée Cris hurlemens a Nantes pitieux voir English Of the chief men in a rebelled City Who shall stand out to recover their liberty The Males shall be cut in pieces O unhappy quarrel Cries and houlings it shall be pity to see at Nantes ANNOT. The Author applyeth this Prophecie to the City of Nantes in Britany but want of Books that treat of the History of that Countrey I could neither satisfie my self nor the Reader if this hath come to pass already or not XXXIV French Du plus profond de l'occident Anglois Ou est le chef de l'Isle Britanique Entrera classe en Garonne par Blois Par Vin Sel saux cachez aux barriques English From the deepest Westerly part of England Where the chief of the Britain Island is A Fleet shall come into the Garonne by Blaye By Wine and Salt fire shall be hidden in Barrels ANNOT. There is a notable and sensible error in the French Copy and without reforming it the sense is not only obscure but also impossible for instead of Blois which the Author hath put here I suppose to make the rime good it must be written Blaye which is a sea Town of the mouth of the River Garonne and Blois is a mid-Land Town upon the River Loire about a hundred Leagues distant from the other The rest signifieth no more but that there shall be some VVarlike stratagem made use of by the French understood here by the names of Wine and Salt in puting fire into Barrels XXXV French Par Cité franche de la grand Mer Seline Qui porte encor l'estomach la pierre Angloise classe viendra soubs la bruine Prendre un rameau de grand ouverte guerre English By a free City of the Selyne Sea Which carrieth yet the stone in the Stomach An English Fleet shall come under a fog To take a branch of great open War ANNOT. What should the Author mean by the free City of the great Seline Sea that carryeth yet the stone in the stomach is hard to guess for my part I believe it to be Venice First because by the Seline Sea he always understands the Mediterranean because the great Turks name in our Authors time was Selyn who was Master of the greatest part of it Secondly there is no other free City so considerable as this Thirdly by the stone in the Stomach may be understood the Pillars that are in the Piazza of St. Maâ—k and as it were in the Centre of Venice as the stomach is in the Body The sense therefore is this as I take it that a considerable Fleet shall come to Venice or rather to Molamocco which is the Harbour and there take a branch of great open VVar that is to be either against the Venetians or against the Turk in their behalf XXXVI French De Soeur le frere par fimulte feintise Viendra mesler rosee en Mineral Sur la placente donne a vieille tardive Meurt le goustant sera simple rura English The Brother of the Sister with a fained dissimulation Shall mix Dew with Mineral In a Cake given to a slow old woman She dieth tasting of the deed shall be simple and Countrey I ke ANNOT. This foretelleth a notable poisoning that shall be done by a Brother upon his sister which because she died not fast enough according to his mind and therefore called her slow he would set her forward with a poisoned Cake the Poison was Mineral and therefore Arsenick or sublimate mixed with Manna called here Dew because Manna is nothing but a Dew condensed upon the Bark of a certain Tree the Conclusion is that the woman shall die eating of it though the meat seemed to be simple and rural XXXVII French Trois sens seront d'un vouloir accord Qui pour venir au bout de leur attainte Vingt mois apres tous eux leurs records Leur Roy trahy simulant haine feinte English Three hundred shall be of one mind and agreement That they may compass their ends Twenty months after by all them and their partners Their King shall be betrayed by dissembling a fained hatred ANNOT. The difficulty of meeting in any Countrey three hundred men of one mind hath perswaded me that our Author writ this for England but by reason there hath been since a general pardon I will keep my mind to my self XXXVIII French Ce grand Monarque qu'au mort succedera Donnera vie illicite lubrique Par nonchalance a tous concedera Qua la parfin faudra la loy Salique English The great Monarch that shall succeed to the great one Shall lead a Life unlawfull and lecherous By carelesness he shall give to all So that in Conclusion the Salique Law shall fail ANNOT. This hath a Relation to the precedetn Stanza therefore c. XXXIX French Du vray rameau de fleur de Lis issu Mis loge heritier d' Hetrurie Son sang antique de longue main tissu Fera Florence florir en l'Armoirie English Issued out of the true branch of the City He shall be set for Heir of Hetruria His ancient blood waved by a long while Shall cause Florence to flourish in the Scutcheon ANNOT. This is only in commendation of the Family of the Medicis and of their Alliance with the Crown of France for Catharine of Medicis wife to Henry II. was Queen of France when our Author lived XL. French Le sang Roial sera si tresmeslé Contraints seront Gaulois de l' Hesperie On attendra que terme soit coule Et que memoire de la voix soit perie English
The Royal blood shall be so much mixed The French shall be constrained by the Spaniards They shall stay till the term be past And the remembrance of the voice be over ANNOT. This only signifieth a strict Union between the French and the Spaniards by several Alliances LXI French Nay soubs les ombres journée nocturne Séra en Regne bonté Souveraine Fera renaistre son sang de l'antique Urne Renouvelant siecle d'Or pour l'airain English Being born in the shadows and nocturnal time He shall be a Soveraign in Kingdom and bounty He shall cause his blood to come again from the ancient Urn Renewing a golden Age instead of a brazen one ANNOT. This foretelleth the greatness and goodness of a Prince that shall be born in the beginning of the night XLII French Mars eslevé en son plus haut befroy Fera retraire les Allobrox de France La gent Lombarde fera si grand effroy A ccux de l'Aigle comprins soubs la Balance English Mars being elevated in its higher Steeple Shall cause the Allobrox to retreat from France The people of Lombardy shall be in so great fear Of those of the Eagle comprehended under Libra ANNOT. The Allobrox are the people of Savoy Those of the Eagle comprehended under Libra are the subjects of the Empire that use the French tongue XLIII French Le grand ruine des sacrez ne sesloigne Provence Naples Sicile Seez Ponce En Germanie au Rhin la Coloigne Vexez a mort par tous ceux de Mogunce English The great ruine of the sacred things is not far off Provence Naples Sicily Sez and Ponce In Germany towards the Rhyne and Colen They shall be vexed to death by those of Moguntia ANNOT. He foret 〈…〉 th the troubles that were to be shortly in those Countreys for Religion XLIV French Par Mer le rouge sera prins the Pyrates La paix sera par son moyen troublée L'une l'auare commettra par faincte acte Au grand Pontife fera l'Armée d'oublée English By Sea the red one shall be taken by Pyrates The peace by that means shall be troubled He shall commit anger and coveteousnefs by a feigned action The High Priest shall have a double Army ANNOT. By the red one is understood some Cardinal that shall be taken by Pyrates for which the peace shall be in danger to be broken the same Cardinal shall by a feigned action be guilty of choler and covetousness and for his recovery and the defending the Rites of the Church the Pope shall have a double Army granted to him XLV French Le grand Empire fera tost desolé Et translate pres d' Arduenne silve Les deux batards par l'aisné decollé Et Regnera Aenodarbnez de milve English The great Empire shall soon be made desolate And shall be translated near the Forrest of Arden The two Bastards shall have their heads cut off by the eldest son And he that shall reign shall be Aenodarbnez nosed ANNOT. By the great Empire is meant that of Germany which he says shall be translated near the Forrest of Ardens which is near the borders of France Two Bastards shall be beheaded by command of the elder Brother of the House and he that shall Reign shall have a reddish beard and a Hawks nose XLVI French Par Chapeaux rouges querelles nouveaux schismes Quand on aura esleu le Sabinois On produira contre luy grands sophismes Et sera Rome leslée par Aibanois English By red Hats quarrels and new schismes When the Sabin shall be Elected Great sophismes shall be produced against him And Rome shall be endamaged by the Albanois ANNOT. By red Hats are understood Cardinals of Rome who shall raise great quarrels and schismes when a Pope of the Countrey of the Sabins which is near Rome shall be Elected against whom many things shall be objected and that Rome shall be endamaged by the Albanians which are a VVarlike people and for the most part subject to the Common-wealth of Venice XLVII French Le grand Arabe marchera bien avant Trahy sora par le Bisantinois L'Antique Rhodes luy viendra au devant Et plus grand mal par Austre Pannonois English The great Arabian shall proceed a great way He shall be betrayed by the Bisantines The ancient Rhodes shall come to meet him And a greater evil by a South wind from Hungary ANNOT. By Bisantine is understood the great Turk Master of Constantinople formerly called Bysantium XLVIII French Apres la grande affliction du Sceptre Deux ennemis par eux seront defaicts Classes d' Affrique aux Pannons viendra naistre Par Mer Terre seront horribles Faicts English After the great afflictions of the Scepter Two enemies shall be overcome by themselves A Fleet of Affrica shall be born to the Hungarians By Sea and Land shall be horrid facts ANNOT. The words of this Stanza are plain though the sense be something obscure XLIX French Nul de l' Espagne mais de l'antique France Sera esleu pour le tremblant nacelle A l'ennemy sera faicte fiance Qui dans son Regne sera peste cruelle English None out of Spain but of the ancient France Shall be Elected to govern the tottering Ship The enemy shall be trusted Who to his Kingdom shall be a cruel plague ANNOT. The two first Verses foretell a schisme in the Church of Rome understood by a tottering Ship and that a French man shall be Elected Pope to remedy it The two last Verses are easie to be understood L. French L'An que les Freres du Lys seront an Aage L'Un d'euz tâ—endra la grand Romanie Trembler les Monts ouvert Latin passage Bache marcher contre Fort d' Armenie English In the year that the Brethren of the Lillies shall be at Age One of them shall hold the great Romanie The Mountains shall tremble the Latine passage shall be opened A Bassha shall march against the Fort of Armenia ANNOT. By the Brethren of the Lillies are meant the Heirs of the Crown of France the rest is plain LI. French La gent de Dace d' Angleterre Polone Et de Boësme feront nouvelle ligue Pour passer outre d' Hercules la Colonne Barcins Thyrrans dresser cruelle brigue English The people of Dacia England and Poland And of Bohemia shall make a new League To go beyond Hercules Pillars Barcins and Thyrrens shall make a cruel plot ANNOT. By Barcins he means those of Carthage which is now Tunis and by the Thyrrens those that live near that Sea LII French Un Roy sera qui donra l'opposite Les exilez eslevez sur le Regne De sang nager la gent caste hyppolite Et florira long-temps sous telle enseigne English A King shall be who shall be opponent To the banished persons raised upon the Kingdom The chast Hippolite Nation shall swim in blood And shall flourish a great
guerre pour cause des nuées Gammares locustes cousins Du Leman fautes seront bien desnuées English Through Swedeland and the Neighbouring places By reason of the Clouds shall fall to War The Lobstars Grass-hopper and Gnats The faults of Leman shall appear very naked ANNOT. By Leman is meant the City of Geneva the rest needeth no further interpretation LXXXVI French Par les deux restes trois bras separez La grand Cité sera par eaux vexée Des Grands d'entre eux par esgarez Par teste Perse Byzance fort pressée English Divided in two heads and parted into three arms The great City shall be troubled with Waters Some great ones among them scattered by banishment By a Persian head Byzance shall be sore oppressed ANNOT. This Prophecy containeth three things the first is an Inundation by which Paris is threatned for without doubt he meaneth here that City at the head of which the River Seine is divided in two heads and makes an Island where the Cathedral Church and the Palace are situated and then parted into three branches one of which runneth by the Church of the Augustines the other by the Quay of la Megisserie and the third passeth under the great Hospital this City then is threatned here of an Inundation to which it is very subject by reason of the lowness of her situation and the confluence of several Rivers that meet at the head of it The second part of the Prophecy hinteth that at that time some great ones of that City shall be banished and the third that Constantinople which was anciently called Byzantium or rather the great Turk by a figure of Rhetorick called Synecdoche shall be much oppressed by the Persians LXXXVII French L'An que Saturne hors de servage Au franc terroir sera d'eau inonde De sang Troien sera son mariage Et sera seur d' Espagnols circondé English In the year that Saturn out of stavery In the free Countrey shall be drowned by water With Troian blood his marriage shall be And for certain he shall be hedged about with Spaniards ANNOT. By Troian blood is understood the French Nation the meaning therefore is that in the year that a great Inundation shall be in France then shall a notable marraige be made by which the French shall be hedged about or fenced by Spaniards LXXXVIII French Sur le Sablon par un hideux Deluge Des autres Mers trouvé Monstre Marin Proche de lieu sera fait un refuge Tenant Savone esclave de Turin English Upon the sand through an hideous Deluge Of other Seas shall be found a Sea Monster Near to that place shall be made a Sanctuary Which shall make Savone a slave to Turin ANNOT. VVhen by the overflowing of the Neighbouring Seas a Sea Monster shall be cast upon the Sand near to that place shall be built a Fort that shall make Savona a slave to Turin Savona is a Town by the Sea side belonging to the Genose Turin is the chief City of Piemont belonging to the Duke of Savoy LXXXIX French Dedans Hongrie par Boheme Navarre Et par Banieres feintes seditious Par fleurs de Lis paix portant la barre Contre Orleans fera esmotions English In Hungaria through Bohemia and Navarre And by banners fained seditious Through flower de Luce the Countrey that wears the Bar Against Orleans shall make commotions ANNOT. This Stanza is divided into two parts the two first Verses foretell the troubles that were to happen in Hungaria Bohemia and Navarre for Religion sake The two last ones were fulfilled when the Prince of Condé who in his Arms wears the flower de Luce with the Bar did seize upon Orleans for the Protestant party XC French Dans les Cyclades en Corinthe Larisse Dedans Sparte tout le Peloponese Si grand famine peste far faux conisse Neuf mois tiendra tout le Cherronesse English In the Cyclades in Corinthe and Larisse In Sparta and all Peloponesus There shall be so great a famine and plague by false arts That shall last nine months in Chersonesus ANNOT. Cyclades are the Islands in the Aegean Sea Corinth Larissa Sparta Peloponesus and Chersonesus are Countreys of Grecia XCI French Au grand marche qu'on dit des mensongers De tout Torrent Champ Athenien Seront surpris par les Chevaux legers Des Albanois Mars Leo Sat. au Versien English In the great Market called of the Liars Which is all Torrent and Athenian Field They shall be surprised by the light Horse Of the Albanese Mars in Leo Saturn in Aquarius ANNOT. VVhen Mars shall be in the sign of Leo and Saturn in that of Aquarius then the Countrey of Athens shall be over-run by light Horseman of Albania XCII French Apres le siege tenu dixsept ans Cinq changeront en tel revolu terme Puis sera l'un esleu de mesme temps Qui des Romains ne sera trop conforme English After the seat possessed seventeen years Five shall change in such a space of time After that one shall be elected at the same time Who shall not be very conformable to the Romans ANNOT. The meaning is that when a Pope shall have sat in the Chair for the space of 17 years within the same space of 17 years five others shall be elected and after them another that shall not be well approved of by the Roman Clergy and Nobility If my memory doth not fail me this is come to pass already but wanting the Popes Chronology I could not make it good XCIII French Soubs le terroir du rond Globe Lunaire Lors que sera dominateur Mercure L'Isle d' Escosse fera un Lumenaire Que les Anglois mettra a desconfiture English Under the Territory of the round Lunary Globe When Mercury shall be Lord of the ascendant The Island of Scotland shall make a Luminary That shall put the English to an overthrow ANNOT. This Prophecie must of necessity be past for since the union of both Kingdoms under one King such a thing hath not happened nor is it likely it should be hereafter XCIV French Translatera en la grand Germanie Brabant Flanders Gand Bruges Bologne La trefue fainte le grand Duc d' Armenic Assaillera Vienne la Coloigne English He shall translate into the great Germany Brabant Flanders Gand Bruges and Bullen The truce fained the great Duke of Armenia Shall assault Vienna and Colen ANNOT. It is concerning an Emperour that shall add all those Countreys to the Empire of Germany XCV French Nautique rame invitera les umbres Du grand Empire lors viendra conciter La mer Aegee des lignes des Encombres Empeschant londe Tirrhene de fletter English The Sea Oare shall invite the shades Of the great Empire then shall it come to stir The Aegean Sea with lines of Encumbers Hindering the Tirrhene Sea to roll ANNOT. This is either Mistical or Metaphorical or I understand it
de son Terroir Coltique Sera trahy deceu par interprete Rouen Rochelle par ceux de l' Armorique Au Port de Blavet deceux par Moin Prestre English That Prince being out of his Celtick Countrey Shall be betrayed and deceived by an Interpreter Rouen Rochel by those of Gascony At the Port of Blavet shall be deceived by Monk and Priest ANNOT. We have said many times before what is meant by the word Celtique The Port of Blavet is that of the River of Bordeaux LXI French Le grand Tapis plié ne monstrera Fo rs qu'a demy la pluspart de l'Histoire Chasse du Regne aspre loin paroistra Au fait Bellique chacun le viendra croire English The great Carpet folded shall not shew But by half the greatest part of the History The driven out of the Kingdom shall appear sharp afar off In Warlike matters every one shall believe him ANNOT. This needeth no interpretation LXIL French Trop tard tous deux les fleurs seront perdües Contre lay loy Serpent ne voudra faire Des ligueurs forces par gallops confondü s Savone Albingue par Monech grand martyre English Both the flowers shall be lost too late Against the Law the Serpent will do nothing The forces of the Leaguers by gallops shall be confounded Savone Albingue by Monech shall suffer great pain ANNOT. The two first verses are too mistical for me the third signifieth that by gallops that is by Troops of Horses the Leaguers viz. those that held the party of the League shall be routed by the Kings Cavalry The fourth that Savone and Albingue two Towns of the Genoeses shall be put to much trouble by those of Monech and Monaco another Town near them belonging to the Prince of Monaco a Genoese of the house of Grimald LXIII French La Dame seule au Regne demurée L'unique esteint premier au lict d'honneur Sept ans sera de douleur eplevrée Puis longue vie au regne par bonheur English The Lady shall be left to reign alone The only one being extinguished first in the Bed of Honour Seven years she shall weep for grief After that she shall live long in the Reign by good luck ANNOT. The second and fourth Verses perswade me that this Stanza came to pass in the time of Catharine of Medicis wife to Henry II. because she lived long and the King died in the bed of Honour and thus he saith that she was left to Reign alone because her four Sons were all little ones so that she alone was Regent in France The second Verse saith The holy one being extinguished first in the Bed of Honour By this word the only one the Author meaneth not the only Son but the only one living such as Henry II was to her who was extinstuished in the Bed of Honour and died of the wound he received at Tilting The third Verse saith that after his death her mourning lasted seven years that is from the first of August 1559. to the first of August 1566. because that all those 16 Months that Francis II. she had nothing but continual sorrow by the conspiracy of Amboise the secret practises of the King of Nauarre and Prince of Cond◠his Brother by the insurrection of the Protestants when Charles IX visited his Kingdom Anno 1556. after which she put off her mourning The fonrth Verse signifieth that she should be long lived for she lived above 60 years He saith also that she was Regent by great luck that is great luck for her self but not for the Kingdom for it was most unhappy in her time LXIV French On ne tiendra pache aucun arresté Tous recevants iront par tromperie De trefue paix Terre Mer protesté Par Barcelone classe prins d'industrie English No agreement shall be kept All those that shall admit of it deal falsly There shall be protestations made by Land and Sea Barcelone shall take a Fleet by craft ANNOT. This is a description of the sad and calamitous estate of France in the time of the Civil wars when no agreement could be kept on the Roman Catholicks side witness the several Peaces that were made and broken the Massacre of Vassa and that infamous perfidy committed by them on St. Bartholomews day being the 24 of August Anno 1572. LXV French Gris bureau demy ouverte guerre De nuit seront assaillis pillez Le bureau prins passera par la serre Son Temple ouvert deux au plastre grillez English Between the Gray and sad Gray shall be half open War By night they shall be assaulted and plundered The sad Gray being taken shall be put in Custody His Temple shall be open two shall be put in the Grate ANNOT. This Stanza affordeth us a commical History which is that about the year 1601. when there sprang up in France a Kind of Friers who bosted themselves to be the true observers of the Rule of St. Francis and that the Cordeliers and Capushines did not keep it so exactly but they had need of a great reformation the King Henry IV. granted them a Convent at Beaufort and upon his example many other places desired them they went to possess themselves of the house of la Blamet near Angiers but the Cordeliers being loath to be dispossessed by these new comers called Recollets did besiege them by main force broke open the Gates scaled the VValls the besieged did not defend themselves by words or exorcismes but with good Stones and Flints so that if the people had not come the fray would not have ended without murder some of them were put in Prison others kept in Custody this is the meaning of the Author when he saith There will be half an open War between the Gray and the sad Gray for the Cordeliers have a Gray habit and the Recollets a sad Gray LXVI French Au fondement de nouvelle secte Seront les os du grand Romain trouvez Sepulchre en Marbre apparoistra converte Terre trembler en Auril mal enfeüvez English At the foundation of a new sect The Bones of the great Roman shall be found The Sepulchre shall appear covered with Marble The Earth shall quake in April they shall be ill buried ANNOT. The meaning is that when they shall go about to make a foundation of a house for a new Sect of Friers they shall find the bones of a famous Roman in a Marble Sepulchre and that in April the Earth shall quake whereby many shall be swallowed up LXVII French Au grand Empire par viendra tout un autres Bonté distant plees de felicité Rege par un issu non loing du peautre Corruer Regnes grande infelicité English To the great Empire quite another shall come Being farther from goodness and happiness Governed by one of base parentage The Kingdom shall fall a great unhappiness ANNOT. This needeth no Interpretation LXVIII French Lors que Soldats fureur seditieuse
The least part shall be left doubtfull to the Eldest and soon after they shall be both equal in the Kingdom ANNOT. This lacketh no interpotation XCVI French Grand Cite a Soldats abandonnée Onc ny eut mortel tumult si proche O quelle hideuse calamités approche Fo rs une offence n'y sera pardonnée English A great City shall be given up to the Souldiers There was never a mortal tumult so near Oh! what a hideous calamity draws near Except one offence nothing shall be spared ANNOT. This is concerning the taking of the Town of St. Quentin in 1557. because the Author saith no tumult was like this so near the year 1555 when our Author writ He calleth it great City because it is one of the most considerable in France therefore it was besieged by the King of Spain with 37000. men and 12000. Horses and 8000. English The plunder was given to the Souldiers for it was taken by assault There was never a mortal tumult so near for the Souldiers taking revenge upon the Inhabitants and Garrison put all to the Sword the Admiral having much ado to save himself In consequence of this our Prophet cryeth O what a fearfull calamity because the taking of this Town joyned with the loss of St. Laurence did almost ruine France He addeth except one offence nothing shall be forgiven that is the Town should be afflicted in all respects except that it should not be burnt The taking of this Town was upon the 27 of August 17 days after the Battle of St. Laurence The loss was so great to France that the King was fained to call the Duke of Guise back from Italy and Charles V. hearing this news asked presently if his Son Philip was not in Paris as much as to say it was a thing he ought to have done But God permitted that the King of Spain went another way and in the mean time the King of France strengthned himself and the Duke of Guise took from the English Calais Guines and the County of d'Oye The Spanish History saith that Philip had forbidden to touch any old people Children and Ecclesiastical persons but above all St. Quentins reliques XCVII French Ginq quarante degrez ciel bruslera Feu approcher de la grand Cité neuve Instant grand flamme esparse sautera Quand on voudra des Normans faire preuve English The Heaven shall burn at five and forty degrees The fire shall come near the great new City In an instant a great flame dispersed shall burst out When they shall make a trial of the Normans ANNOT. This signifies some extraordinary lightning under five and forty degrees which is about the Southern part of France It is not easie to guess what he meaneth by the great new City unless it be one in the Authors Countrey called Villa Nova The last Verse seemeth to intimate that this shall happen when an Army of Normandie shall be raised XCVIII French Ruyne aux Volsques de peur si fort terribles Leur grand Cité taincte faict pestilent Piller Sol Lune violer leur Temples Et les deux Fleuves rougir de sang coulant English A ruine shall happen to the Volsques that are so terrible Their great City shall be dyed a pestilent deed They shall plunder Sun and Moon and violate their Temples And the two Rivers shall be red with running blood ANNOT. The Volsi were a warlike people of Italy joyning to Rome which makes me believe that by the great City he meaneth Rome which was plundered and sackt by the Duke of Burgondy and the Prince of Orange Generals of the Emperour Charles V. XCIX French L'Ennemy docte se tournera confus Grand Camp malade de faict par embusches Monts Pyrenees luy seront faicts refus Roche du Fleuve descouvrant antique ruches English The learned enemy shall go back confounded A great Camp shall be sick and in effect through ambush The Pyrenean Mountains shall refuse him Near the River discovering the ancient Hives ANNOT. The words are plain though the sense be too obscure and I shall not endeavour to give an interpretation when every one may make one himself C French Fill de Laure asyle du mal sain Ou jusqu'au Ciel se void l' Amphitheatre Prodige veu ton mal est fort prochain Seras captive des fois plus de quatre English Daughter of Laura Sanctuary of the sick Where to the Heavens is seen the Amphitheatre A prodigy being seen the danger is near Thou shalt be taken captive above four times ANNOT. This is an ingenious Stanza concerning the City of Nismes in Languedoc famous for its Amphitheatre built by the Romans and remaining to this day which Town he calleth Daughter of Laura because the Lady Laura Mistress to the famous Poet Petrache was born thereabout he also calleth it Sanctuary of the sick for the salubrity of the air The meaning of the two last Verses is that when a prodigy shall be seen viz. Civil War in France it shall be taken above four times as it hath happened by one party or other Legis cautio contra ineptos Criticos Qui legent hos versus maturè censunto Prophanum vulgus inscium ne attrectato Omnesque Astrologi Blenni Barhari procul sunto Qui aliter faxit is rite sacer esto THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus CENTURY VII I. French L'Ar◠du Thresor par Achilles deceu Aux procrées sceu le Quadrangulaire Au fait Roial le comment sera sceu Corps veu pendu au Sceu du populaire English The bow of the Treasure by Achilles deceived Shall shew to posterity the Quadrangulary In the Royal deed the Comment shall be known The body shall be seen hanged in the knowledge of the people ANNOT. By the bow of the Treasure is understood the Marshal d' Ancre Favorite to the Queen Regent of France Mary of Medicis who was first complained of for his maleversations by Achilles de Harlay President of Paris whence followed his death being Pistolled in the Quadrangle of the Louvre by the command of Lewis XIII and his body afterwards dragged through the streets and hanged publickly by the people upon the new Bridge II. French Par Mars ouvert Arles ne donra guerre De nuit seront les Soldats estonnez Noir blanc a l'Inde dissimulez en terre Soubs la feinte ombre traistre verrez sonnez English Arles shall not proceed by open War By night the Souldiers shall be astonished Black white and blew dissembled upon the ground Under the fained shadow you shall see them proclaimed Traitors ANNOT. Arles is a considerable City in France the rest is plain III. French Apres de France la victoire Navale Les Barchinons Salinons les Phocens Lierre d'or l'Enclume serré dans balle Ceux de Toulon au fraud seront consents English After the Naval victory of the French Upon those of Tunis Sally and the Phocens A golden Juy the Anvil
shut up in a pack Those of Toulon to the fraud shall consent ANNOT. This foretelleth a Naval victory to the French against the Turks by the means of a Granado called Anvil that shall be shut up in a Barrel by a plot to which those of Toulou shall be privy IV. French Le Duc de Langres assiegé dedans Dole Accompagné d' Authun Lionnois Geneve Auspourg ceux de la Mirandole Passer les Monts contre les Anconois English The Duke of Langres shall be besieged in Dole Being in company with those of Autun and Lion Geneva Auspourg those of Mirandola Shall go over the Mountains against those of Ancona ANNOT. Langres is a City in France whose Bishop is a Duke and a Peer of the Kingdom Dole is a City in Burgundy so is Autun and Lion Geneva is a City by Savoy Auspourg another in Germany Mirandola is a Countrey in Italy so is Ancona V. French Vin sur la Table en sera respandu Le tiers naura celle quil pretendoit Deux sois du noir de Parme descendu Perouse Pise fera ce quil cuidoit English Wine shall be spilt upon the Table By reason that a third man shall not have her whom he intended Twice the black one descended from Parma Shall do to Perusa and Pisa what be intended ANNOT. Perusa Pisa and Parma are three Cities in Italy VI. French Naples Palerme toute la Sicile Par main Barbare sera inhabitée Corsique Salerne de Sardaigne l'Isle Faim peste guerre fin de maux intemptée English Naples Palermo and all Sicily By barbarous hands shall be depopulated Corsica Salerno and the Island of Sardania In them shall be famine plague war and endless evils ANNOT. Naples is a City in Italy Palermo is a City in the Island of Sicily Corsica an Island in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to the Genoese Salerno is a Town in Italy Sardinia an Island in the Mediterranean The Reader may easily make an interpretation of the rest VII French Sur le combat des grands chevaux legers On criera le grand croissant confond De nuit tuer Moutons Brebis Bergers Abysmes rouges dans le fossé profond English At the fight of the great light Horsmen They shall cry out confound the great half Moon By night they shall kill Sheep Ewes and Shepherds Red pits shall be in the deep ditch ANNOT. By the great half Moon is understood the Turk VIII French Flora fuis fuis le plus proche Romain Au Fesulan sera conflict donné Sang espandu les plus grands pris en main Temple ne Sexe ne sera pardonné English Flora fly fly from the next Roman In the Fesulan shall be the fight Blood shall be spilt the greatest shall be taken Temple nor Sex shall be spared ANNOT. Fesulan is a Countrey in Italy Flora is the Goddess of Flowers the rest is easie IX French Dame en l'absence de son grand Capitaine Sera priée d'amour du Viceroy Feinte promesse malheureuse estreine Entre les mains du grand Prince Barroy English A Lady in the absence of her great Captain Shall be intreated of love by the Viceroy Aâ—fained promise and unhappy new years gift In the hand of the great Prince of Bar. ANNOT. Bar is a principality joyning to Lorrain which Henry IV. King of France gave for a Portion to his Sister Catharine when she married the Duke of Lorrains Son The rest is plain X. French Par le grand Prince limitrophe du Mans Preux vaillant chef de grand exercite Par Mer Terre de Galois Normans Cap passer Barcelonne pillé l'Isle English The great Prince dwelling near the Mans Stout and valiant General of a great Army Of Welchmen and Normans by Sea and Land Shall pass the Cape Barcelone and plunder the Island ANNOT. Mans is a City in France chief of the Province called le Main The rest is plain XI French L'Enfant Roial contemnera la Mere Oeil pieds blessez rude inobeissant Nouvelle a Dame estrange bien amere Seront tuez des siens plus de cinq cens English The Royal Child shall despise his Mother Eye feet wounded rude disobedient News to a Lady very strange and bitter There shall be killed of hers above five hundred ANNOT. This was fulfilled about the year 1615. when Lewis XIII King of France being then about 15 years of age by the perswasion of some Grandees about him made VVar against his own Mother Mary of Medicis then Regent of the Kingdom whereupon was fought between them the Battle du pont de say where above five hundred on the Queens side were slain whereupon it was a good Jest of the Prince of Guimena who being required by the Queen Anna of Austria to lay his hand upon her side and to feel her Child now Lewis XIV stirring after he had felt now I know said he he is a true Son of Bourbon for he beginneth to kick his Mother XII French Le grand puisnay fera fin de la guerre En deux lieux assemble les excusez Cahors Moissac iront loing de la serre Rufec Lectoure les Agenois rasez English The great younger Brother shall make an end of the War It two places he shall gather the excused Cahors Moissac shall go out of his clutches Ruffec Lectoure and those of Agen shall be cut off ANNOT. Cahors Moissac Ruffec Lectonre Agen are all Cities of the Province of Guyenne in France XIII French De la Cité Marine tributaire La testâ— rase prendra la Satrapie Chasser sordide qui puis sera contraire Par quatorze and tiendra la Tyrannie English Of the City Maritine and tributary The shaven head shall take the Government He shall turn out a base man who shall be against him During fourteen years he will keep the tyranny ANNOT. This is positive concerning the Cardinal of Richelieu who made himself Governor of Havre de Grace called here the Maritine City and there kept his Treasure and tyrannised for the space of about fourteen years XIV French Faux exposer viendra Topographie Seront les Urnes des Monuments ouvertes Pulluler Sectes sainte Philosophie Pour blanches noires pour antiques vertes English They shall expound Topography falsly The Urnes of the Monuments shall be open Sects shall multiply and holy Philosophy Shall give black for white and green for old ANNOT. This is a perfect description of our late miserable estate in England when there was such multiplicity of Sects and such a Prophanation of sacred things XV. French Devant Cité de l' Insubre Countrée Sept ans sera le Siege devant mis Le tres-grand Roy fera son entrée Cité puis libre hors de ses ennemis English Before a City of Piemont Seven years the Siege shall be laid The most great King shall make his entry into it Then the City shall be free being out of the enemies hand ANNOT. This needeth no
Ships grapled one with another and being so close together represented a Land fight The French at last did their utmost endeavour against the Admiral which was succoured by six other Ships of which two were taken with the Admiral and carryed to Diepe this is the Authors meaning when he saith Fly-boats and Galleys about seven Ships He nameth the Admiral Chief of Madrid that is chief Spaniard which received blows of Oars whose Ship was taken and four more of his Company which were brought to Diepe In this agree the Historians on both sides XXVII French Au coin de Vast la grand Cavalerie Proche a Ferrare empeschée au Bagage Pompe a Turin front telle volerie Que dans le fort raviront leur hostage English In the corner of Vast the great Troop of Horse Near Ferrara shall be busied about the baggage Pompe at Turin they shall make such a robbery That in the Fort they shall ravish their hostage ANNOT. I could not find what he meaneth by this place Vast which being the Key of all the rest I could proceed no further but am constrained to go to bed and leave this for to night among Insolubilia de Alliaco XXVIII French Le Capitaine conduira grande proye Sur la Montagne des ennemis plus proche Environné par feu fera telle voye Tous eschapez or trente mis en broche English The Captain shall lead a great Prey Upon the Mountain that shall be nearest to the Enemies Being encompassed with fire he shall make such a way That all shall escape but thirty that shall be spitted ANNOT. The two first Verses are plain The meaning of the last two is that the said Captain being encompassed with Fire shall make himself such a way that all his men shall escape but thirty that shall be spitted by the enemies XXIX French Le grand Duc d' Albe se viendra rebeller A ses grands peres fera le tradiment Le grand de Guise le viendra debeller Captif mené dresse monument English The great Duke of Alba shall rebel To his Grandfathers he shall make the Plot The great Guise shall vanquish him Led Prisoner and a Monument erected ANNOT. Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Albo in Spain a faithfull servant of Charles V. and Philip II. his Son after he had made several proofs of his Valour and prudence in the affairs of Piemont and Milaness was commanded to go to Naples and Rome to succour the Colonesse and others of the Spanish party to obey this command the Author saith He went about to rebel not against his Prince but his Grandfathers viz. the Pope and the Cardinals upon which the Senate of Venice wrote to him desiring that he would not trouble the Pope seeing that all his Predececessors had fought for him as the Lord of Thou saith in his sixteenth Book but he answered that it was the Pope himself that was the cause of it and that he was bound to oppose him During that rebellion to his great fathers as the Author calleth it the great de Guise came with his Troops and compelled him to a diversion and to let alone Marshal Strozzy the Cardinal Caraffa Captain Montluc Camillo Ursini Captain Charry and others so that all the Countrey about Rome was freed and thus the Author saith the great de Guise shall come to quell him The fourth Verse addeth two things that a Prisoner was carryed away and that a Monument was erected History makes no mention of the Prisoner unless it were that Captain Montluc having taken by assault the Town of Pianea or Corsmian by a sink which he broke the Captain Gougues a Gascon being a Prisoner of VVar in the Town with many others and hearing the cries of France France perswaded his Comrades to fall upon their Keepers and to kill them with their own weapons and this Prisoner that was taken at Montisel was brought back again into France as well for his known Valour as for his VVarlike deliverance and since that made himself famous in Florida As for the Monument erected makes me think he meaneth the Constable of France who was taken Prisoner at the Battle of St. Quentin and by the Monument he meaneth the Escurial which Philip the II. caused to be built in memory of that Victory which obliged Henry the II. to call back again in all hast the Duke of Guise with all his Forces or else France had been in danger to be lost XXX French Le sac sapproche feu grand sang espandu Pau grand Fleuve aux Bouviers l'entreprise De Genes Nice apres long temps attendu Fossan Thurin a Savillan la prise English The plundering draws near fire abundance of blood spilt Pau a great River an enterprise by Herdsmen Of Genes Nice after they shall have staid long Fossan Thurin the prize shall be at Savillan ANNOT. The plundering draweth near here the Author speaketh of things that should happen in his days He writ this the first of March 155â— and History mentioneth that from the first of March 1555. till the beginning of 1559. the plundering of Piemont in Italy was very great since the taking of Cazal by the French for there was nothing but continual fightings taking and retaking Towns Skirmishes and Battles and most of them by the River Pau the greatest of Italy The rest of the second Verse and the beginning of the third saith that the undertaking of Genoa shall be by the Herdsmen by whom he meaneth the Turks who being called by the French to help them in the taking of Nice made an action fit for Herdsmen and villanous Traitors doing nothing because they had been brided by the Genoeses This was done after the French had stay'd long for this infiâ—el who endeavoured to delude the French and take all for himself and this is the meaning of After Nice had stayed long In the mean time the Spaniards increased their Victories as the fourth Verse witnesseth to the taking of Fossan Thurin and Savillan Fossan is a Town of Piemont which that it might be distinguished from Marseilles which the Author often calleth Fossen or Phocen he putteth in the Epithete of Thurin to signifie he meaneth Fossan in Piemont He saith that Fossan of Piemont shall have the taking towards Savillan that is this Fossan which belongeth to the Spaniards will take some Towns near Sivillan XXXI French De Languedoc Guienna plus de dix Mille voudront les Alpes repasser Grans Allobroges marcher contre Brundis Aquin Bresse les viendront recasser English From Languedoc and Guienna more then 10000. Would be glad to come back over the Alpes Great Allobroges shall march against Brundis Aquin and Bresse shall beat them back ANNOT. Languedoc and Guienne are two Provinces in France from whence many Souldiers shall be raised to go into Italy but being distressed shall wish to come back again over the Alpes By the great Allobroges I understand those of Savoy and Pitmont who shall go
against Brundis in Latine Brundusium but shall be beaten back by Aquin and Bresses Cities belonging to the Venetians XXXII French Du Mont Royal naistra d'une Casane Qui Duc Compte viendra tyranniser Dresser Copie de la marche Millane Favence Florence d'or gens espuiser English Out of the Royal Mount shall be born in a Cottage One that shall tyranise over Duke and Earl He shall raise an Army in the Land of Millan He shall exhaust Favence and Florence of their gold ANNOT. This needeth no Interpretation XXXIII French Par fraude Regne forces expolier La classe obsesse passages a l'espie Deux faincts amis se viendront r'allier Esueiller haine de long temps assoupie English By fraud a Kingdom and an Army shall be spoilt The Fleet shall be put to a strait passages shall be made to the spies Two feigned friends shall agree together They shall raise up a hatred that had been long dormant ANNOT. The words are plain XXXIV French En grand regret sera la gent Gauloise Coeur vain leger croira temerité Pain sel ne vin eau venin ne cervoise Plus grand captif faim froid necessite English In great regreet shall the French Nation be Their vain and light heart shall believe rashly They shall have neither Bread Salt Wine nor Beer Moreover they shall be Prisoners and shall suffer hunger cold and need ANNOT. The words are plain and the onely question is whither this distress threatned here to France is past or to come XXXV French La grand poche viendra plaindre pleurer D'avoir esleu trompez seront en l'Aage Guâ—ere avec eux ne voudra demeurer Deceu sera par ceux de son langage English The great Pocket shall bewaile and bemoan For having Elected one they shall be deceived in his Age He shall not stay long with them He shall be deceived by those of his own language ANNOT. The great Pocket which is the Key of this Stanza being obscure forceth me to leave the rest unperfect XXXVI French Dieu le Ciel tout le Divin Verbe a l'Onde Porté par rouges sept razes a Bizance Contre les oingts trois cens de Trebisonde Deux Loix mettront horreur puis credence English God Heaven all the Divine Word in water Carryed by red ones seven shaved heads at Bisantium Against the anointed three hundred of Trebisond They shall put two Laws and horror and afterwards believe ANNOT. This seemeth to foretel that the Sacrament according to the Roman Church shall be carried by Cardinals and seven Priests to Constantinople against which three hundred of Trebison shall dispute who shall compare the two Laws with horror and afterwards believe XXXVII French Dix envoyez chef de nef mettre a mort D'un adverty en classe guerre ouverte Confusion chef l'un se picque mord Leryn Stecades ness cap dedans la nerte English Ten shall be sent to put the Captain of the Ship to death He shall have notice by one the Fleet shall be in open War A confusion shall be amongst the Chief one pricks and bites Leryn Stecades nefs caps dedans la nerte ANNOT. The three first Verses are plain as for the fourth I believe it to be the Language of the Antipodes for I think no man can understand it XXXVIII French L'Aisné Roial sur courfier voltigeant Picquer viendra si rudement courir Gueule lipée pied dans l'Estrein pleignant Traine tiré horriblement mourir English The eldest Royal prancing upon a Horse Shall spur and run very fiercely Open mouth the foot in the Stirrup complaining Drawn pulled die horribly ANNOT. This foretelleth of the eldest Son of a King who prancing upon his Horse shall Spur and run so fiercely that his foot being intangled in the Stirrup he shall be dragged and pulled and die a fearful death In the year 1555. upon the 25. of May this came to pass in the person of Henry of Albret the second of that name King of Navarre This Prince Henry II. the eldest Royal riding upon a horse did spur him so hard that he ran away with him so that he perceiving the danger he was in pulled the Bridle so hard that the horse's mouth was broken the pain did not stop the horse but contrariwise he grew the more untoward that Henry fell down and in falling one of his feet hung in the stirrup so that he was drawn and died a horrid death This I found in the History of Naples XXXIX French Le conducteur le l'Armée Francoise Cuidant perdre le principal Phalange Par sus pavé de l' Avaigne Ardoise Soy parfondra par Gennes gent estrange English The leader of the French Army Thinking to rout the chiefest Phalange Upon the Pavement of Avaigne and Slate Shall sink in the ground by Gennes a strange Nation ANNOT. It seemeth that a French General thinking to rout and overcome the chiefest strength of his enemy and going upon a brittle Pavement made of Slate shall sink in the ground not far from Genoa which he calleth a strange Nation to the French XL French Dedans tonneaux hors oingts d'huile graisse Seront vingt un devant le port fermez Au second guet feront par mort prouesses Gaigner les portes du quet assommez English With Pipes annointed without with Oyl and Grease Before the harbour one and twenty shall be shut At the second Watch by death they shall do great feats of Arms To win the Gates and be killed by the Watch. ANNOT. The words and sense of this Stanza are plain XLI French Les os des pieds des mains enferrez Par bruit maison long temps inhabitée Seront par songes concavant deterrez Maison salubre sans bruit habitée English The bones of the feet and of the hands in shackles By a noise a house shall be a long time deserted By a dream the buried shall be taken out of the ground The house shall be healthful and inhabited without noise ANNOT. I have found the truth of this Stanza upon the place in my going to Lion it was my fortune to lye at a Town four Leagues on this side of it called Lapacodier where this Story was told me to have happened few days before It chanced that a Company of Foot was to lie in the Town and distressed for quarter they enquired why such a house was empty and were told it was not inhabited by reason of a noise heard there every night The Captain of the Troop resolved since he feared not the living not to fear the dead and thereupon lay in the house that night where Beds were provided for him and about half a Dozen of his stoutest Souldiers so they laid down their weapons on the Table and began to be merry at Cards and Dice expecting the event The door being fast locked about twelve and one they heard as though some body knockt at the door one of the Souldiers by
the Infidels themselves some were about the Black Sea then he saith that abundance of Blood shall be split and Dalmatia shall tremble which is a Province belonging to the Venetians and bordering upon Gracia by great Ismael he understandeth the great Sophy of Persia whose name hath been often so By the Frogs it is not easie to know whether he meaneth France or Spain for both abound in that kind of Insects LXI French La pille faite a la Coste Marine Incita nova parens amenez Plusieurs de Malthe par le fait de Messine Estroit serrez seront mal guerdonnez English The plunder made upon the Sea Coast Incita nova and friends brought up Many of Maltha for the fact of Messina Being close kept shall be ill rewarded ANNOT. It seemeth that this Plunder made upon the Sea Coast shall be about Messina by the Maltheses who afterwards shall rue for it being taken Prisoners and severely punished As for the expression Incita nova it is a barbarous derivation of the Latine to signifie the stirring of new troubles LXII French Au grand de Cheramonagora Seront croisez par rangs tous attachez Le Pertinax Oppi Mandragora Raugon d' Octobre le tiers seront laschez English To the great one of Cheramonagora Shall be crossed by Ranges all tyed up The Pertinax Oppi and Mandragora Raugon the third of October shall be set loose ANNOT. The word Cheramonagora is either altogether barbarous and insignificant or must be derived from these three Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 duco and so it may signifie one that leadeth along by the hand in which sense may be understood the King of France who alone leadeth his people by the hand without any help of Councel The second Verse signifieth the Oppositions he shall meet with among his Neighbours combined together to hinder him By Oppi he meaneth here Opium the Juice of Poppies which he calleth here Pertinax because of its pertinacious quality in procuring sleep as also Mandragora By Raugon he meaneth some other soporiferous Herb so that it seemeth that those three things shall be given upon the third of October to some body it seemeth to that Cheramonagora by whom some understand the King of France others Oliver the last usurpator LXIII French Plaintes pleurs cris grands hurlemens Pres de Narbonne a Bayonne en Foix O quels horribles calamitez changemens Avant que Mars revoluquelquesois English Complaints and tears cries and great howlings Near Narbonne Bayonne and in Foix O what horrid calamities and changes Before Mars hath made sometimes his revolution ANNOT. Narbonne Bayonne and Foix are Towns of Languedoc a Province in France the rest is easie LXIV French L' Aemathien passer Monts Pyrenéâ—s En Mars Narbon ne fera resistance Par Mer Terre fera si grand menee Cap n'ayant Terre seure pour demeurance English The Aemathian shall pass by the Pyrenean Mountains In March Narbon shall make no resistance By Sea and Land he shall make so much ado Cap. shall not have safe ground to live in ANNOT. The Aemathian properly should be the Macedonian but by it is understood here the Spaniard whose Countrey is on one side fenced by the Pyrenean Mountains the rest is plain LXV French Dedans le coing de Luna viendra rendre Ou sera prins mis en Terre estrange Les fruits immeurs seront a grand esclandre Grand vitupere a l'un grande loüange English He shall come into the corner of Luna Where he shall be taken and put in a strange Land The green fruits shall be in great disorder A great shame to one shall be great praise ANNOT. This Stanza hath relation and connexion to the precedent and by it ought to eb understood that the said Aemathian or Spaniard shall come as far as the corner of Luna wherein he shall be taken and sent into a strange Countrey at which time the green Fruits and Grass shall be much damaged for which one of the parties shall receive great shame and the other great praise But what he meaneth by the Corner of Luna I must leave the judgment of it to the Reader for I do ingeniously confess that I neither know City nor Countrey of that name XLVI French Paix union sera changement Estats Offices bas hault hault bien bas Dresser voiages le fruit premier torment Guerre cesser civils proces debats English Peace union shall be and mutation States and Offices low high and high low A journey shall be prepared for the first fruit pains War shall cease as also civil suits and strifes ANNOT. This is easie to be understood many interpret it of the downfall of Rome at which time all quarrels both of Religion and States would be laid aside if the world were all of one mind LXVII French Du haut des Monts a lentour de Dizere Port a la Roche Valent. cent assemblez De Chastean-Neuf Pierrelate en Donzere Contre le Crest Romans soy assemblez English From the top of the Mountains about Dizere Gate at the Rock Valence a hundred gathered together From Chasteau-Neuf Pierrelate in Douzere Against the Crest Romans shall be gathered ANNOT. This is a peculiar Prophecy for the Provinces of Dauphiné and Languedoc in which all the Towns and Rivers here mentioned are situated LXVIII French Du Mont Aymar sera noble obscurcie Le mal viendra au joint de Saone Rhosne Dans bois cachez Soldats jour de Lucie Qui ne fut onc un si horrible Throsne English From Mount Aymar shall proceed a Noble obscurity The evil shall come to the joyning of the Saone and Rhosne Soldiers shall be hid in the Wood on St. Lucy's day So that there was never such an horrid Throne ANNOT. There is a notable fault in the impression of the first Verse of this Stanza for instead of Mount Aymar it must be Montlimar which is a Town in Provence or Languedoc situated by the River Rhosne the sense therefore of this is that from Montlimar shall proceed some notable and obscure design and that shall reach as far as Lyons which is the City where the Saone and the Rhosne meet and that for that purpose there shall be hidden a great many Souldiers in a Wood on St. Lucy's day which is the 13th of December LXIX French Sur le Mont de Bailly la Bresse Seront cachez de Grenoble les fiers Outre Lyon Vien cula si grand gresle Langoult en Terre n'en cessara un tiers English Upon the Mount of Bailly and the Countrey of Bresse Shall be hidden the fierce ones of Grenoble Beyond Lyons Vienna upon them shall fall such a hail That lauguishing upon the ground the third part shall not be left ANNOT. The Mount Bailly and the Countrey of Bressia are by Savoy in which place our Author saith
Theroanne Paix semblant simulera l'escoute Soulde d' Allobrox descendre par Roane Destornay peuple qui defera la routte English Calais Arras shall give succours to Theroanne Peace or the like shall dissemble the hearing Souldiers of Allobrox shall descend by Roane People perswaded shall spoil the March. ANNOT. This Prophecy did happen in the time of Henry the II. King of Fraâ—ce about the year 1559. The last Verse saith that those two Towns Calais and Arras gave succours to 〈…〉 roane that is to the Countrey where Theronâ—nne was seated which was destroyed by Charles the V. Emperour This Countrey was called Ponthieu of which Therouenne was the chief Town The second Verse doth determine the time where about this came to pass when he saith peace or the like shall dissemble the hearing because in the year 1556. in the beginning of February there was a Truce for five years between the two Crowns of France and Spain concerning the Low Countreys and this Truce signified not much nor was well cemented so that the Author saith Peace or the like shall dissemble the hearing that is shall fain not to hear that the Cardinal Caraffa did endeavour in France to have the Truce broken The third Verse is obscure because of a fault in the Impression wherein they have put Rouane instead of Noanne that is Hannone by transposition of letters but that being corrected the Verse is clear supposing that Philibertus Emanuel Duke of Savoy was General of the Army against France in the Low-Countreis and wandering about to do some notable exploit he came down through the Province of Hainault called in Latine Hannonia and came to Mariembourg as if he would have Besieged it but after some light skirmishes he laid Siege to Rocroy and this is the meaning of the third Verse when he saith Souldiers of Allobrox shall descend by Noanne that is Souldiers in the Army of the Duke of Savoy which in Latine is Allobrox came down to Mariembourg and turned back again to Rocroy The fourth Verse mentioneth what did happen at the Siege of Rocroy that place being not yet very well fortified the King was unwilling to put any of his best Souldiers therein but the Duke of Nevers undertook the defence of it which he did really and gloriously perform in so much that the Duke of Savoy was compelled to raise up the Siege and going back towards St. Quentin he took Vervins by storm and gave the booty of it to his Souldiers who took heart upon it having been much discouraged before by the resistance of the Duke of Nevors This is the sense of the fourth Verse People persuaded shall poil the march that is the people of Recroy persuaded to hold out by the courage and presence of the Duke of Nevers spoiled the march that the Duke of Savoy had propounded to himself insomuch that raising the Siege he went to Vervins and from thence to St. Quentin LXXXIX French Sept ans Philip fortune prospere Rabaifsera des Barbares l'effort Puis son midy perplex rebours affaire seune Ogmion abysmera son fort English Philip shall have seven years of prosperous fortune Shall beat down the attempt of the Barbarians Then in his Noon be shall be perplexed and have untoward business Young Ogmion shall pull down his strength ANNOT. This Stanza was made concerning Philip the II. King of Spain who for the first seven years that he came to his Crown had prosperous fortune did brave exploits against the Barbarians and chiefly in the person of his Brother Don Juan of Austria who got the memorable Battle of Lapantho against the Turks but in the middle of his Noon that is of his Age fell into great perplexities and cross businesses being constrained to put his onely son Don Carla to death and to poison his wife and after that never prospered when young Ogmion that is Henry IV. King of France came to the Crown XC French Un Capitaine de la grand Germanie Se viendra rendre par simulé secours Au Roy des Roys aide de Pannonie Que sa revolte fera de sand grand cours English A Captain of the great Germany Shall come to yield himself with a fained help Unto the King of Kings help of Hungary So that his revolt shall cause a great bloodshed ANNOT. Pannonia in Latine is Hungary there is nothing hard in this unless it be what he meaneth by the King of Kings whether it be the great Turk or the Emperour XCI French L'Horrible peste Perynthe Nicopole Le Chersonese tiendra Marceloine La Thessalie naistera l' Amphipole Mal incogneu le refus d' Antoine English The horrid pestilence shall seize upon Perynthe and Nicopolis The Chersonese and Marceloine It shall waste Thessalia and Amphipolis An unknown evil and the refusal of Antony ANNOT. There is several faults in the impression here for instead of Perynthe it must be Corinthe For Marceloine it must be Macedoine the substance of the whole is that there shall be a great plague in all these Countries of Asia The refusal of Antony is foisted here to make up the rime with Macedony XCII French Le Roy voudra dans Cité neufve entrer Par ennemis expugner l'on viendra Captif libere faulx dire perpetrer Roy dehors estre loin d'ennemis tiendra English The King shall desire to enter into the new City With foes they shall come to overcome it The Prisoner being free shall speak and act falsly The King being gotten out shall keep fâ—r from enemies ANNOT. The sense of all these words so ill jointed is no more but that a certain King snaâ—l desire to enter into a new City and there they shall come and Besiege him where he shall both act and speak deceitfully to get his liberty which he having obtained shall keep far from his foes XCIII French Les ennemis du Fort bien esloignez Par Chariots conduits le Bastion Par sur les Murs de Bourges esgrongnez Quand Hercules battra l' Haemathion English The enemies being a good way from the Fort Shall upon Wagons be conducted to the Bulwark From the top of Bourges Walls they shall be cut less When Hercules shall beat the Haemathion ANNOT. Bourges is the chief City of a Province in France called Berry There is nothing difficult in this but onely what he meaneth by Hercules beating the Aemathion unless by Hercules he meaneth the French and by Aemathion the Spaniard XCIV French Foibles Galeres seront unis ensemble Ennemis faux le plus fort en rempart Foible assailies Wratislavie tremble Lubeck Mysne tiendront Barbare part English Weak Galleys shall be united together False enemies the strongest shall be fortified Weak assaults and yet Breslaw quaketh for fear Lubeck and Misne shall take the part of the Barbarians ANNOT. Breslaw Lubeck and Misne are three Cities of Germany the rest is plain XCV French Le nouveau fait conduira l'exercite Proche apamé jusque
high That they 'l think that Deucalion is born again Most of them will run into the Colossus And a Sepulchre and fire extinguished shall appear ANNOT. Near Nismes there is the River called Gardon which cometh from St. Romans and dischargeth it self into the Rhosne at Beaucaire there is to be seen in that City abundance of Antiquitez which the Goths had built 1150. years before there is also many Roman Antiquities as an Amphitheater so well builded that neither the Goths nor the Saracens nor Attila nor Charles Martel with all their power could not utterly demolish it The Author nameth it Colossus because its building appeared like a Colossus for solidity There is also an ancient Temple which is called the Fountain builded as a Quadrangle and supported by two rows of great Pillars which at present is a Church of Nuns This being supposed the River of Gardon did overflow so much that its VVaters joyning with that of a Flood that happened there the ninth of September 1577. every one thought that Dencalion had been born again The Author saith this because in the fables of the ancients Deucalion is thought to be the Author of the Flood which Ovid mentioneth During this Flood which was like to overflow the Town as well as the Countrey many did retire themselves into that Amphitheater And in that ancient Temple of the Fountain the VVaters overthrowing a great many old buildings did discover abundance of Antiquities and amongst the rest one of those Lamps that burneth always in the Sepulchre of a Vestal which went out as soon as it felt the fresh Air. In confirmation of this the History of Provence saith that the storm began about five of the Clock in the Morning and lasted till Eight of the Clock at night and that these waters did uncover abundance of Antiquities that were hidden 1100. years before as Pillars Portico's Medâ—ls Jasper stones and serpentine-stones pieces of broken Vessels Epitaphs lodging Rooms and Caves and all other things that use to be found in the ruines of a Palace There was also heard in the Air Dogs barking Pillars of fire Armed men fighting and were seen two suns in the Clouds of the Colour of Blood all which were the sad presages of the Civil VVars of France presently after and chiefly that of Provence The ninth Century in the ninth stanza speaketh almost the same and sheweth that Nismes shall perish by VVater VII French Le grand conflict qu'on appreste a Nancy L' Aemathien dira tout je soubmets L'Isle Britane par Vin Selâ—en solcy Hem. mi. deux Phi. long temps ne tiendra Mets. English A great War is preparing at Nancy The Aemathien shall say I submit to all The British Island shall be put in care by Salt and Wine Hem. mi. two Phi. shall not keep Mets long ANNOT. Nancy is the chief City of Lorrain and by the Aemathien is understood the French the British Isle is England which is said here shall come into great distress by Salt and VVine because the Countrey aboundeth in those two Commodities The last Verse I do not understand save that Mets is a great City in Lorrain VIII French Index Poulse parfondera le front De Senegalia le Comte a son Fils propre La Myrnamée par plusieurs de plain front Trois dans sept jours blessez more English Index and Poulse shall break the forehead Of the Son of the Earl of Senegalia The Myrnamée by many at a full bout Three within seven days shall be wounded to death ANNOT. Senegalia is a Town in Italy all what can be gathered out of the obscurity of this Stanza is that the son of the Earl of that Town shall have his forehead broken and within seven days after three more shall be wounded to death IX French De Castilon figuieres jour de brune De semme infame naistra Souverain Prince Surnum de chausses per hume luy posthume Onâ— Roy ne fut si pire en sa Province English Out of Castilon figuieres upon a misty day From an infamous woman shall be born a Soveraign Prince His surname shall be from Breeches himself a posthume Never a King was worse in his Province ANNOT. Castilon figuieres is a petty Town in Provence in which he saith that a Severaign Prince shall be born of an infamous Woman and shall be a posthume which in Latine signifieth one that is born after his Fathers death he saith also that his name shall be derived from Breeches and that never a King was worse in his Countrey whether by worse he meaneth in manners or fortune I know not X. French Tasche de murdre enormes Adulteres Grand ennemy de tout le genre humain Que sera pire qu'ayeulx Oncles ne Pere En fer feu eau sanguin inhumain English Endeavour of Murder enormous Adulteries A great enemy of all mankind That shall be worse then Grand-father Unvle or Father In Iron fire water bloody and inhumane ANNOT. This Stanza as well as the next hath relation to the precedent making mention what a wicked person shall that Posthume be of which he spoke before XI French Dessoubs Jonchere du dangereux passage Fera passer le posthume sa bande Les Monts Pyrens passer hors son bagage De Parpignan courira Duc a Tende English Below Joncheres dangerous passage The posthume shall cause his Army to go over And his Baggage to go over the Pyrenean Mountains A Duke shall run from Perpignan to Tende ANNOT. This is still concerning the same posthume or Bastard who shall cause his Army to pass at Jonchere and his Bagage to go over the Pyrenean Mountains which parts Spain from France and that upon the fear of him a Duke shall run from Perpignan which is the chief City of Râ—ussillon to Tende which is a little Town in Provence XII French Esleu en Pape d'Esleu sera mocqué Subit soudain esmeu prompt timide Par trop bon doux a mourir provoqué Crainte estainte la nuit de sa mort guide English Elected for a Pope from Elected shall be baffled Upon a sudden moved quick and fearful By too much sweetness provooked to die His fear being out in the night shall be Leader to his death ANNOT. This Prophecy was fulfilled in the person of the Cardinal Santa Severina who in the Conclave of Cardinals after the death of Pope Innocent IX was Elected Pope and presently after was baffled by the same Cardinals and Clement the VIII chosen in his place for which the other a little while after died for grief XIII French Soubs la pasture d'animaux ruminans Par eux conduits au ventre Herbi-polique Soldats cachez les armes bruit menants Non loin tentez de Cité Antipolique English Under the pasture of Beasts chewing the cud Conducted by them to the Herbi-polique belly Souldiers hidden the Weapons making a noise Shall be attempted not far from Antipolick City ANNOT. The sense of this is
it should be Lyon which is another famous City and the first Archbishoprick of the said Kingdom Formande is a barbarous word and I believe put in only to make up the Rime as he hath done in several other places as much then as can be gathered out of the sense is this that from that City Bourges which usually is a Dowry for a Queen of France which is called here Garlant shall a treason be hatched against the Archbishop of Lion which I suppose came to pass in the time of Henry the III. when Peter of Pinac Archbishop of the said Lion being accused by the Deputies of Bourges for siding with the League escaped narrowly to be killed when the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his brother were Queen Catherine of Medicis the Kings Mother having then the said Province and Town of Bourges for her jointure The last Verse hath no relation to the three foremost and hath its interpretation by it self which is plain enough XLVIII French Du plus profond de l' Espagne ancienne Sortants du bout des fins de l' Europe Trouble passant aupres du Pont de Laigne Sera deffaits par bande sa grand troppe English From the utmost part of old Spain Going out of the extremities of Europe He that troubled the travellers by the Bridge of Laigne Shall have his great Troop defeated by another ANNOT. Every Traveller knoweth that Castille which is taken here for Spain is divided into two parts viz. Castilia la Vecchia and Castilia la Nuova our Author then saith that out of Castilia la Vecchia which is situated at the further end of Europe on that side shall come a band of men who shall destroy the Thieves that robbed and vexed the Travellers by the Bridge of Laigne which it seemeth was an infamous place for robbing XLIX French Jardin du Monde aupres de Cité neufve Dans le chemin des Montagnes cavées Sera saisi plongé dans la Cuve Beuvant par force eaux Soulphre envenimées English Garden of the World near the new City In the way of the digged Mountains Shall be seized on and thrown into the Tub Being forced to drink Sulphurous poisoned waters ANNOT. This word Garden of the World doth signifie a particular person seeing that this Garden of the World was seized on and poisoned in a Tub of Sulphurous water in which he was thrown The History may be this that Nostradamus passing for a Prophet and a great Astrologer in his time abundance of people came to him to know their Fortunes and chiefly the Fathers to know that of their Children as did Mr. Lasnier and Mr. Cotton Father of that renowned Jesuit of the same name very like then that Mr. du Jardin having a son did ask Nostradamus what should become of him and because his son was named Cosmus which in Greek signifieth the World he answered him with these four Verses Garden of the World for Cosmus of the Garden In his travels shall be taken hard by the New City in a way that hath been digged between the Mountains and there shall be thrown into a Tub of poisoned Sulphurous water to cause him to die being forced to drink that water which those rogues had prepared for him Those that have learned the truth of this History may observe it here This ought to have come to pass in the last Age seeing that the party mentioned was then born when this Stanza was written and this unhappy man being dead of a violent death there is great likelyhood that he was not above forty years old There is another difficulty to know which is that new City there being many of that name in Europe nevertheless the more probable is that there being many Knights of Maltha born in Provence the native Countrey of our Author it may be believed that by the new City he meaneth the new City of Maltha called la Valete hard by which there is paths and ways digged in the Mountains which Mountains are as if it were a Fence and a Barricado against the Sea or else this Cosmus might have been taken by Pyrats of Algiers and there in the new City of the Goulette be put to death in the manner aforesaid L. French La Meuse au jour Terre de Luxembourg Descouvrira Saturne trois en Lurne Montaigne plaine Ville Cité Bourg Lorrain Deluge trahison par grand hurne English The Maes by day in the Land of Luxembourg Shall discover Saturn and three in the Lurne Mountain and plain Town City and Countrey Town A Lorrain flood treason by a great hurne ANNOT. The Maes is a River that runneth through a part of Lorrain and Luxembourg as for the words Lurne and hurne I do not understand them neither do I think they are to be found in all the French Language both obsolete and modern all what I can gather out of this is that a great overflowing of the River Maes shall be both in Luxembourg and Lorrain insomuch that three Leaden Mines which is meant here by Saturn shall be discovered and after that a great Treason shall happen in the said Lorrain LI. French Des lieux plus bas du Pais de Lorraine Seront des basses Allemagnes unis Par ceux du Siege Picards Normans du Maine Et aux Cantons se seront reunis ANNOT. The sense of this is that the lower Lorrain and Germany being united together shall have War with the other three Nations of Picards Normans and Manceaux which having Besieged a Town shall constrain the Lorrainers and Low germans to unite themselves with the Cantons of Switzerland LII French Au lieu ou Laye Scelde se marient Seront les Nopces de long temps mamée Au lieu d' Anvers ou la grappe charient Jeune vieillesse conforte intammée English In the place where Laye and Scelde are united Shall the Nuptials be that were long a doing In the place of Antwerp where they draw the grape The young unspotted will comfort the old Age. ANNOT. There is fault in the Impression for instead of Laye it must be Lis which is a River that runneth through Flanders and dischargeth it self into the Scelde which is the River that passeth at Antwerp the sense therefore of this Prophecy is that in the place where the River of Lis joyneth with the Scelde there shall the Nuptials be consummated that were long a doing and the place of Antwerp where they unload the Wines there shall a young unspotted Lady Marry and comfort an old man LIII French Les trois Pellices de loing s'entrebattront La plus grand moindre demeurera a l'ecoute Le grand Selin n'en sera plus patron Le nommera feu pelte blanche route English The three Concubines shall fight one with another a far off The greatest less shall remain watching The great Selin shall be no more their Patron And shall call it fire pelte white route ANNOT. This Prophecy is concerning
City of Italy whereby the Fields shall be drowned and fall to decay insomuch that the chief men called here Primate shall fall to poverty LXXI French La Terre l'Air geleront si grand eau Lors qu'on viendra pour Jendy venerer Ce qui sera jamais ne fut si beau Des quattre parts le viendront honorer English The Earth and the Air shall freeze with so much water When they shall come to worship Thursday That which shall be never was so fair From the four parts they shall come to honour him ANNOT. This signifieth an exceeding great frost which shall happen on a Holy Thursday where the ground and sky shall be so clear that men may come from the four parts viz. of the Earth without trouble for to worship LXXII French L'an mil neuf cent nonante neuf sept mois Du Ciel viendra un grand Roy d'effrayeur Resusciter le grand Roy d' Angoumois Avant apres Mars Regner par bonheur English In the year a thousand nine hundred ninety nine and seven months Frem Heaven a great terrible King To raise again the great King of Angoulesme Before and after Mars shall Reign luckily ANNOT. He that is called here King of Angoulesme was Francis the I. as gallant a Prince as ever France had who before he was King went by the title of Duke of Angoulesme the rest is easie LXXIII French Le temps present avecque le passé Sera jugé par grand Jomaliste Le Monde tard de luy sera lassé Et desloial par le Clergé juriste English The time present together with the past Shall be judged by a great Jovialiste The World shall at last be weary of him And he shall be thought unfaithful by the Canon-Law Clergy ANNOT. This Prophecy concerneth meerly Francis Rabelais who was the greatest Jovialist that is Merry-man that ever was and did so lash and censure the abuses of every profession and chiefly of the Clergy that to this very day he goeth among them for an Atheist and a Prophaner of Sacred and Civil things LXXIV French An revolu du grand nombre septiesme Apparoistra au temps jeux d' Hecatombe Non esloignez du grand age milliesme Que les entrez sortiront de leur Tombe English The year of the great number seven being past Shall be seen at that time the sports of Hecatombe Not far from the great age thousand That the Buried shall come out of their Graves ANNOT. Hecatombe signifieth a Sacrifice wherein a hundred beasts were killed The sense therefore is this that when the year a thousand seven hundred is past that such sport of Hecatombe shall be seen again not far from the sixth Millenary when the day shall rise for it is a common opinion among the Learned that as God Created the VVorld in six days and rested the seventh so when the VVorld hath lasted six thousand years for a thousand years before God are as one day there shall be an Eternal Sabbath and a Resurrection both of the just and unjust LXXV French Tant attendu ne reviendra jamais Dedans l' Europe en Asia apparoistra Un de la ligne yssu du grand Hermes Et sur tous Rois de Orient croistra English So long expected shall never come Into Europe in Asia shall appear One come forth of the line of the great Hermes And shall grow above all the Kings in the East ANNOT. All is plain but only this whether he taketh Hermes as a King of Aegypt or as the Father of the Hermetick Philosophers LXXVI French Le grand Senat decernera la Pompe A un qu'apres sera vaincu chassè Des adhaerans seront a son de trompe Biens publiez ennemy dechassé English The great Senate will decree a Pomp To one who after shall be vanquished and expelled The goods of his partners shall be Publickly sold and the enemy shall be driven away ANNOT. What Senate and particular man he meaneth is the only difficulty in this LXXVII French Trente adhaerans de l'Ordre des Quirettes Bannis leurs biens donnez ses adversaires Tous leurs bienfaits seront pour demerites Classe espargie delivrez aux corsaires English Thirty associated of the Order of Quirettes Banished their goods shall be given to their adversaries All their good deeds shall be imputed to them as crimes The Fleet scattered they shall fall into the hands of Pyrates ANNOT. I could not find any man or Author that knew what is meant here by Quirettes which is only the difficulty of this Stanza LXXVIII French Subite joye en subite tristessé Sera a Rome aux graces embrassées Dueil cris pleurs larm sang excellent liesse Contraires bandes surprises troulsées English Sudden joy shall turn into a sudden sadness At Rome to the embraced graces Mourning cries weeping tears blood excellent joy Contrary Troops surprized and carryed away ANNOT. There is nothing difficult here but what he meaneth by Embraced graces for my part I believe them some new married Couples who in the middle of their jollity shall fall into these disasters LXXIX French Les vieux chemins seront tous embellis L'on passera a Memphis somentrées Le grand Mercure d' Hercule fleur de lys Faisant trembler Terre Mer Contrées English The old ways shall be made all fair There shall be a passage to Memphis Somentrées The great Mercury of Hercules Flower de luce Making the Earth the Sea and the Countreys to quake ANNOT. This word Somentress being altogether barbarous is the reason that neither sense nor construction can be made of all these words LXXX French Au Regne grand du grand Regne Regnant Par force d'armes les grands Portes d'airain Fera ouvrir le Roy Duc joignant Port demoly nef a fonds jour serain English In the great Reign of the great Reign Reigning By force of Arms the great Brass Gates He shall cause to be open the King being joyned with the Duke Haven demolish'd Ship sunk on a fair day ANNOT. The words and the sense are plain though the parties be unknown LXXXI French Mis Tresor Temple Citadins Hesperiques Dans iceluy retire en secret lieu Le Temple ouvrir les liens fameliques Repris ravis proye horrible au milieu English A Treasure put in a Temple by Hesperian Citizens In the same hid in a secret place The hungry bonds shall cause the Temple to be open And take again and ravish a fearful prey in the middle ANNOT. This is concerning a Treasure hid by Spaniards called here Hesperian Citizens in a Church which the people of a Town being poor and almost starved caused to be open and did ransack it but in the middle of it they found a strange prey but what it was God knows LXXXII French Cris pleurs larmes viendront avec couteaux Semblant faux donront dernier assaut L'entour parques planter profons plateaux Vifs repoussez meurdris
that the Europeans shall be fed no more with Manna as the Jews were in the Desert but shall pass to the Land of Promise that is of peace and quietness C. French Le grand Empire sera par l' Angleterre Le Pempotan des ans plus de trois cens Grandes Copies passer par Mer Terre Les Lusitains n'en seront pas contens English The great Empire shall be in England The Pempotan for more then three hundred years Great Armies shall pass through Sea and Land The Portugueses shall not be contented therewith ANNOT. This is a favourable one for England for by it the Empire or the greatest Dominion of Europe is promised to it for the space of above three hundred years at which the Portugueses or Spaniards shall much repine THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus CENTURY XI IX French MEysinier Manthi le tiers qui viendra Peste nouveau insult enclos troubler Aix les lieux fureur dedans mordra Puis les Phocens viendront leur mal doubler English Meysinier Manthi and the third that shall come Plague and new attempt shall trouble them enclosed The fury of it shall bite in Aix and the places there about Then they of Phocens shall come and double their misery ANNOT. These are names of particular persons that are here threatned of the Plague as also the City of Aix Capital of Province and the Countrey about it and after that the City of Marseilles named here Phocens because they are a Colony of the old Phocenses in Greece XCVII French Par Ville Franche Mascon en desarroy Dans les Fagots seront Soldats cachez Changer de temps en prime pour le Roy Par de Chalon Moulins tous hachez English By Ville Franche Mascon shall be put in disorder In the Faggots shall Souldiers be hidden The time shall change in prime for the King By Chalon and Moulins they shall be all hewed to pieces ANNOT. Ville Franche is a Town five Leagues from Lion and Mascon another about the same distance from Ville Franche and Chalon from Mascon and Moulins from Chalon The meaning of it is this that there shall be an attempt from Ville Franche upon Mascon by Souldiers hidden in Faggots that shall be cut off by the succours of those Chaâ—ons and Moulins which like did happen in the time of the Civil Wars in France between the King and the League when the Towns stood one against another but because I can find nothing of it in the History I suspend my further judgement therein THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus CENTURY XII V. French FEu flamme faim furt farouche fumée Fera faillir froissant fort foy faucher Fils de Deité toute Provence humée Chasse de Regne enragé sans crocher English Fire flame hunger theft wild smoak Shall cause to fail brusing hard to move Faith Son of God! all Provence swallowed up Driven from the Kingdom raging mad without spitting ANNOT. The curiosity of the Author in striving to begin all his words in the two first Verses hath made the sense of this Stanza so obscure that I believe no body ever did or shall truely understand it all what can be gathered out of it is great threatning of several calamities that were to happen upon Provence his native Countrey as it did a little while after his death by the Civil Wars for Religion XXIV French Le grand secours venu de la Guyenne S'arrestera tout aupres de Poitiers Lion rendu par Montluel en Vienne Et saccagez par tous gens de Mestiers English The great succours that came from Gascony Shall stop hard by Poitiers Lion surrendred by Montluel and Vienna And ransacked by all kinds of Tradesmen ANNOT. The words and sense of this are plain XXXVI French Assault farouche en Cypre se prepare La larme a l'oeil de ta ruine proche Bizance Classe Morisque si grand tare Deux differens le grand vast par la Roche English A cruel assault is preparing in Cyprus Tears in my eye thou art near thy ruine The Fleet of Constantinople and the Morick so great damage Two differents the great wast shall be by the Rock ANNOT. A cruel Assault is preparing signifies the shortness of the time in which it was to happen for our Author Prophecied 1555. and Cyprus was taken by the Turks in the Month of August 1571. Selymus the II. fifth Emperour of the Turks where the perfidiousness of the Bassa Mustapha that Besieged it is remarkable for having the Town delivered him upon Articles First that the Inhabitants of the City yet alive should enjoy their lives liberty and goods with free exercise of Christian Religion that the Governour Bragadinus with the rest of the Captains and Souldiers might in safty depart with Bag and Baggage and at their departure take with them five pieces of Ordinance and three Horses which soever it should please them to make choise of and that the Turks should safely conduct them into Crete finding them both Victual and Shipping yet all these matters agreed upon and commenced into Writting as also by solemn Oaths on both side confirmed the prefidious Basla nevertheless caused Bragadinus to have his Ears cut off then caused him to be set in a Chair and his skin to be flain off from him quick his head to be cut from his dead body and upon the point of a Spear to be set upon a high place his skin also stuffed with Chaff he caused to be hanged up at the Yards Arm and so to be carried about IV. French Deux corps un chef champs divisez en deux Et puis respondre a quattre non ouys Petits pour grands a pertius mal pour eux Tour d' Aigues foudre pire pour Eussovis English Two bodies one head fields divided into two And then answer to four unheard ones Small for great ones open evil for them The Tower of Aigues beaten by Lightning worse for Eussovis ANNOT. Out of this crabbid Stanza we shall pick what we can and leave the rest to the judgment of the judicious Reader First The two bodies one head may be understood either a Monster that was so as it did happen once in Italy as Pareus witnesseth or of the union of the two Kingdoms of France and Navarre under Henry the IV. or of England and Scotland under King James The Tower of Aiguemortes was strucken with the Lightning a while after our Author had put out his Prophecies V. French Tristes Conseils desloiaux cauteleux Aduis meschant la loy sera trahie Le peuple esmeu farouche querelleux Tant Bourg que Ville toute le paix haie English Sad Councels unfaithful malicious Ill advice the Law shall be betrayed The people shall be moved wild quarrelsome Both in Countrey and City the peace shall be hated ANNOT. This is plain VI. French Roy contre Roy le Duc contre Prince Haine
here Censuarts to rime with the word Soldats in the foregoing Verse III. French La Ville sans dessus dessoubs Renversée de mille coups De Canons forts dessous Terre Cinq ans tiendra le tout remis Et lasché a ses ennemis L'eau leur fera apres la guerre English The Town shall be upside down Overthrown by a thousands shot Of Canons and Forts under ground Shall hold five years all shall be returned And surrendred to the enemies Water after that shall make War against them ANNOT. This Stanza is as well as the former concerning the Town of Ostend which after three years Siege instead of five which is falsly printed here was surrendred to the Arch-Duke and presently after like to be drowned by the Sea IV. French Du rond d'un Lis naistra un si grand Prince Bien tost tard venu dans sa Province Saturne en Libra en exaltation Maison de Venus en descroissante force Dame en apres masculin soubs l'Escorce Pour maintenir l'heureux sang de Bourbon English From the round of a Lilly shall be born a great Prince Soon and late come into his Province Saturn in Libra being in exaltation The House of Venus in a decreasing strength A Woman afterwards and a Male under the Bark To maintain the happy blood of Bourbon ANNOT. This Prophecy was concerning Lewis the XIII King of France son of Henry the IV. who was born under the Sign of Libra and therefore called the Just the rest is easie V. French Celuy qui la Principauté Tiendra par grande cruanté A la fin verra grand Phalange Par coup de feu tresdangereux Par accord pourroit faire mieux Autrement boira suc d'Orenge English He that the Principality Shall keep by great cruelty At last shall see a great Army By a fire blow most dangerous He should do better by agreement Otherways he shall drink juyce of Orenge ANNOT. This is concerning a Governour of the Principality of Orenge under the authority of a Prince which Governour having been long in possession of that Government and the Prince being busie in the Wars of the Netherlands the said Governour plaid Rex in his absence so that the Prince was forced to have him made away privately VI. French Quand de Robin la traistreuse entreprise Mettra Seigneurs en peine un grand Prince Sceu par la Fin chef on luy tranchera La Plume au vent amye dans Espagne Poste attrapé estant en la Campagne Et l'Escrivain dans l'eau se jettera English When the treacherous plot of Robin Shall put many Lords and a great Prince in trouble Being known by la Fin his head shall be cut off The Feather in the Wind friend to Spain Post overtaken in the Countrey And the Scrivener shall cast himself into the Water ANNOT. Two notable Histories are contained in this Stanza the first is of the Marshal of Biron the second is of Nicolas High Secretary to the Lord Villeroy who himself was chief Secretary of State to Henry the IV. and because they are curious ones and not to be met every where we shall set them down The first four Verses are concerning the Duke of Biron who by transposition of letters is called here Robin this man by his Military Valour and experience had from a private Gentleman ascended to the highest degrees of honour and preferment that his condition was capable of for though he were not forty years old he had attained unto the greatest dignities of the Kingdom being fourteen years old he was made Colonel of the Switzers in Flanders a little while after he was made Marshal of Camp and after Marshal General he was admitted Admiral of France in the Parliament of Tours and then Mareshal of France in that of Paris at the Siege of Amiens he was sole Lieutenant of his Majesty though there were many Princes of the Blood in the Army and to compleat his greatness he was made Peer of France and the Barony of Biron erected into a Dukedom not contented with all that he said he would not go to the retaking of the rest of the Towns in Picardy unless his Statue were erected in Brass before the Louvre and in conclusion that he had rather die upon a Scaffold undertaking some great matters then to live idle in his own House and always among these Bravadoes he did mix some bold and dangerous words which he would have every body to approve of When he saw that after the Siege of Amiens the War was at an end that Britany was reduced and that all the Swords were sheathed for a good while he thought that having no more occasion to exercise his valour he should grow out of credit and that he should have no more that power by which he plaised the King and do without fear all what he did without Justice The fire of that great courage finding no work without began to work within that burning desire of being always the first did fill his head with flames and smoak of a great design he complained of the King and of the unequal reward of his deserts and services did publish his discontents adding threatnings to his complaints and spoke of the King with little respect that his most intimate friends did judge his words insolent and dangerous It is true it was the vice of his nature but there were also some of Fortune for finding himself filled with all the prosperities that a moderate man might wish for in his condition he found that men loose themselves by too much happiness He began then to lend his Ears unto flatterers and when they told him that he was the greatest Captain in France he answered that he would die upon a scaffold or he would go beyond the condition of a single Gentleman that the goodness of his sword should give him what Fortune had denied and the Astrologers to whom he gave great credit had foretold him in ambiguous terms that nothing could hinder him from being a Sovereign but the blow of a sword given by a Bargundian and though all his life time he had shewed but little Devotion and Zeal to Religion yet from that time that he prepared his soul to the motion of his ambition he fained himself very devout and zealous and began to wear beads that the Baron of Lux had given him in a Tennis-Court and to declare himself an irreconcilsable enemy to the Protestants seeking every where some discontented Spirits whom he did encourage with the hopes of a profitable change La Nocle Lord of la Fin was then for the troubles of Prevence and for the quarrel he had with 〈◊〉 Esdigvieres retired into his House threatned of ill usage by the King enemy to some great ones loaded with debts and Sutes in Law The discontented meet always either by design or by chance The Duke of Biron who knew that he had been deeply engaged in the business
near that he might be either killed or taken telling what cloths he himself would wear and what Horse he would ride that he might be distinguished To have sent several times la Fin to treat with the Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes against the Kings service These are the first confessions and acknowledgements that the Prisoner made before the Commissioners in the Bastille but now he thinketh he may as lightly deny them as he had unadvisedly before confessed them Upon the first Article he answered that Picoté being once his Prisoner had offered his service for the reduction of the Town of Seurre in Burgundy and that the King had approved of it that it is true he had given him the said sum but it was as a reward for his pains and charges in this negotiation which sum he hath charged upon the Kings account with some other small ones laid out by him for the King that since the reduction of the said Town he had not seen Picoté but in Flanders when he went thither Embassadour for the confirmation of the Peace where the said Picotée came to him with many others intreating him he would be pleased to mediate with the King for the liberty of returning into their Countrey and enjoying their Estates and that he did wish them to go to the Lords Belieure and Sillery who would prescribe them what orders they were to follow in this business and never had any other conversation with Picoté Upon the second That he could not have treated with the Duke of Savoy three days after his arrival at Paris seeing that himself did not come there but a formighafter and that la Fin came but after him that all his discourses with him were in publick and before witnesses and therefore could not be suspected that Roncas had sometimes mentioned to him the Marriage of the third daughter of the Duke and that he did impart it to the King that his Majesty having sent him word by la Force his Brother in Law that he did not approve of it he never thought of it since that the intelligence he is accused to have kept with the Duke of Savoy is confuted enough by what he did for when the King had commanded him to wait and keep company to the Duke in his return from France and to shew him the strongest places upon the Frontiers of Burgundy he did humbly excuse himself to the King of it saying that he foresaw well enough that the Duke would not keep the Treaty of Peace and that it would be a great grief to him to make War against a Prince with whom he should have kept company and made good cheer and that he did advise the Baron of Lux to let him see only the weaker places that he might not know the strength of the Countrey Upon the third That if he had kept correspondence with the Duke of Savoy he would not have undertaken the taking of Bourg almost against the Kings will without any other help then of those that were ordinarily with him that of fourty Convoys that were brought to relieve the Town he had routed thirty seven and the other three entered in his absence that the King knoweth very well he was offered 200000. Crowns to let the succours enter into the Citadel of Bourg that although his Majesty had commanded him in the time of a Truce made with the Duke of Savoy to let those of the Citadel of Bourg have every day 400. Loafs of Bread 50. bottles of Wine half an Oxe and six Sheep he did only let them have fifty bottles of Wine and one Sheep by which means the Town was surrendred within the time promised that if he had had any evil design against the King and Kingdom he would not so freely and willingly put the Town into the hands of him that is now Governour of it that the Governours of Places that were in the Duke's service and are now in that of the King can witness whether he shewed them any favour that for his giving advice to the Duke to defeat the Regiment of Chambauld he will prove that Chambauld did not come into the Army but one Month after the time mentioned in his Calumny besides that this advice was without appearance of reason for from Chambaula's quarters to his there was at least six days journey and as much to go to the Duke and as much to come back besides the time required for the marching of the Forces therefore all that was a meer invention of la Fin. Upon the fourth That he intreated his Majesty to call to memory that he was the onely man who dissuaded him to go and view the Fort representing unto him that there was in it â—xtraordinary good Gunners and that he could not view it without great danger and upon that he offered the King to bring him the next day the Plat-form of it and to take it with 500. Musquettiers and that himself would be in the Head of them Upon the fifth That it was true all the evil he had done was in two Months time that la Fin had been with him during which he did hearken and write more then he ought but that with the same he had written he had so long served the King that it was enough to prove the sincerity of his intentions that the refusal of the Citadel of Bourg which he thought the King had promised him had put him into such a discontent that he found himself in a capacity to hearken to any thing and to do any thing that if he had been a Protestant it may be the place should have been refused him no more then it was to de Boaisse who was such an one as he told the King himself at Lyon that la Fin had also once told him that the King speaking of him and of his Father said that God had done well for to take him out of this world when he was killed for he was a very chargeable and unprofitable servant and for the Son it was not all Gold that shined that these words had so much incensed him that he could have found in his heart to be all covered with blood Upon that the Chancellor asked him of what blood he meaned he answered of my own desiring not to live any longer after he had heard such reproches as blemished the services of his Father and his onw that nevertheless his anger and discontent went never so far as to attempt upon the King that his fault was only in words and it may be little in Writting that his Majesty seeing with how much ingenuity he did acknowledge his fault had forgiven him all what was past in the presence of the Lords Villeroy and Sillery and that if since that time he was found to have done any thing amiss he would blame his Judges of Injustice if they did not condemn him to death that if he had done nothing amiss since he thought the Kings pardon to be sufficient
Tongue an manners that no body could have distinguished him from a natural Spaniard The Embassador having sworn in the name of the most Christian King the treaty of Peace made at Veruins the King of Spain presented him with a rich Chain of Jewels and with six other of Gold valued at 150. Crowns a piece to bestow upon as many oâ— his own servants as he should think fit Tâ—e pride and preâ—umption of this young man was such as to perswade him he deserved one of them and chiefly because one of his fellows was thought worthy of it but his Master did not think so and thus he was neglected Thus enâ—y and jealousie were the Windows by which the Devil crept into his Soul the vanity lying pride and debauchery gave him a full admittance he had spent all his Money to buy the love of a Courtisane and wanted means to follow that course which he had no mind to leave off His Masters neglecting of him had extraordinarily vexed him but he comforted himself that he knew his secrets and that in revealing them to the King of Spains Ministers he shot two Birds with one shot for he should avenge himself of that contempt he had received and should have a way to continue his amorous expences With that intention he made himself known to Don Franchese one of the Secretaries of State and told him what means he had to serve the King of Spain and to shew him proofs of that service and affection he had vowed to him long before by imparting to him all the Letters that the Embassador did both send and receive from the King his Master Don Franchese heard this proposition as from a young man whose Brains were not well settled or perhaps did abhor such infidelity therefore told him coldly that the Catholick King was in so good amity with the most Christian one that he desired to know no more of his business than what his Embassador should tell him L'Oste did not despond for all this but went to Don Ydiaques another Secretary of State who knowing how important it is for a Prince to know the secrets of his Neighbours and that the slighting of such an offer would be prejudicial to the King his Masters service did hearken unto this Traitor approved of his design and exhorted him to persevere in the good affection he shewed to the King of Spains service promised to acquaint the King with it and to procure him such a reward as he should have reason to be satisfied with The Councel agreed that l'Oste should be incouraged and Don Ydiaques presented him to the Duke of Lerma to whom he shewed the Alphabet of Cyphers with which his Master writ his Letters into France had sent The Duke exhorted him to continue his good Will gave him 1200. Crowns for an earnest of the Bargain with a promise of as much for a yearly pension besides a considerable gratification he was to expect from the King Since that time the French Embassador received no Letters but they were presently imparted to the Spanish Councel But the Lord la Rochepot being called back into France l'Oste lost the conveniency of prosecuting his Treasons and consequently the hopes of his promised reward therefore sought means to come again into his first Masters that is Villeroy's service but he was a while kept back from it by reason of a difference between his Mother and Villeroy about some rest of Accounts but l Oste had rather take that loss upon him than to be deprived of that occasion The Embassador himself gave him a large Testimony of his ability and faithfulness and was Instrumental for his re-admission into that service Thus being re-established he became more diligent and sedulous than ever before and not only writ more Letters than any of his fellows but also offered them his service to help them that he might have a more perfect knowledge of all transactions and so impart them to the Spaniard and so visited and conferred with Taxis the Spanish Embassador at Paris and after that with his successor Don Baltazar de Cuniga with so much cunning and secrecy that the Councel of Spain received his Letters before des Barreaux the French Embassador at Madrid could receive those of the King Des Barreaux sent word to the King that when he propounded any thing according to his Majesties command to the Councel of Spain he found them always preadvised and could not find out by what means certainly said the King there must he some in my Councel that keep a strict intelligence with the Spaniard and I can not tell whom to suspect Providence doth often draw good effâ—cts out of the worse causes and permitteth that the wicked should disclose one anothers wickedness as a Nail driveth out another Loste had revealed himself familiarly to one Raffis formerly Secretary to the Lord Lansac a fugitive into Spain for many Treasons and exempted from pardon but the Spaniard had begun to cut him short of his former Pensions since the Treason of the Baron of Fontancâ—â—es Governour of Dornavenest in Brittanny in which the said Raffis had been a principal Actor though in vain so that since the Councel of Spain looked upon him as an unprofitable servant and withdrew their Pension Raffis finding himself near a great want and misery thought this occasion might be a means to prevent it and to procure his return into his native Countrey by doing so great a service to his Prince therefore he went to one of the French Embassadors most faithful servants and told him his grief for having had a share in so many Treasons and Rebellions in France which he acknowledged God had into his particular protection that he was resolved to blot out the memory of them by a notable service done to the King and Kingdom but that could not be unless he had first obtained pardon for all his former misdemeanors This being told to the Embassadour he heard Raffis who told him in general that the King was betrayed and his most secret Councel bewrayed but that he could not name the Traitor no not to his Majesty himself before he had his pardon that being done he would wholly withdraw himself from those whoâ—â— he knew certainly to be enemies to the Kingdom The Embassadour sent an express to the King to give him notice of it The King sent him full power to treat with Raffis with promiss to ratifie whatsoever he should promiss to Raffis Raffis could not make good his accusation but by two Letters written by Loste to a great friend of his named Blas which Letters he knew to be in a Box of Blas who lodged with him therefore upon some pretext or another they found means to send Blas â—s far as l' Escurial In his absence Raffis and Descardes Secretary to the Embassadour broke open the Box and took out the Letters by which Loste did much magnifie the liberalities of Spain as being above his desert and expectation with this
sur la Terre a caché Ce qui estoit mort sera pour lors en vie English Six hundred and five six hundred and six and seven Will shew us unto the year seventeen The anger of the boutefeu his hatred and envy Under the Olive-Tree a great while hidden The Crocodile upon the ground hath hidden What was dead shall then be alive ANNOT. This Stanza is so difficult signifieth nothing but the confusions that have happened in France from the year 1605. to the year 1917. which would be too tedious and prolix here to relate the Reader may see them in the French History XX. French Celuy qui a par plusieurs fois Tenu la Cage puis les bois Rentre a son premier estre Vie sauve peu apres sortir Ne se scachant encor cognoistre Cherchera subject pour mourir English He that hath many times Been in the Cage and in the Woods Cometh again to his first being And shall go out a little after with his life safe And not able yet to know himself Shall seek a subject to be put to death ANNOT. This is yet concerning the Earl of Auvergne half Brother to the Dutchess of Verneuil who for his misdemeanours having been put several times in the Bastille and set free again nevertheless was attempting still some new thing which might have endangered his life XXI French L'Autheur des maux commencera Regner En l'an six cens sept sans espargner Tous les subjects qui sont a la Sangsüe Et puis apres s'en viendra peu a peu Au franc Païs rallumer son feu S'en retournant d'ou elle est issue English The Author of evils shall begin to Reign In the year six hundred and seven without sparing All the subjects that belong to the Leech And afterwards shall come by little and little To the free Countrey to kindle again his fire Going back again from whence it came ANNOT. The Author being a zealous Roman Catholick calls here the Hollanders the Authors of evils who in the year 1607. and 1608. made a grievous War and had several successes against the Spaniard with the help of the French and English till the year 1609. when by the mediation of the French and English Embassadors the Truce was concluded at Antwerp between the Arch-duke and the States of the United Provinces the Articles of it to the number of 38. were solemnly proclaimed and published the ninth of April and ratified by the King of Spain in the Month of July next ensuing XXII French Cil qui dira descouvrisant l'affaire Comme du mort la mort pourra bien faire Coups de Poniards par un qu'auront induits Sa fin sera pis qu'il n'aura fait faire La fin conduit les hommes sur la Terre Gueté par tout tant le jour que la nuit English He that shall say discovering the business How of the dead can make a death well Strokes of a Dagger by one that hath been induced to it His end shall be worse then he hath caused to be done The end leadeth all men upon the Earth Espied every where as well by day as by night ANNOT. This Stanza is wholly abstruse and Enigmatical therefore I will not pretend to expound it but leave the interpretation to those that have more time and leasure then I. XXIII French Quand la grand Nef la prove Gouvernail Du franc Pais son Esprit vital Descueils flots par la Mer secovée Six cens sept dix coeur assiegé Et des reflux de son corps affiegé Sa vie estant sur ce mal renovée English When the great Ship the Prow and Rudder Of the French Countrey and her vital Spirit Being tossed by Baks and Waves Six hundred and seven and ten a heart beset And by the ebbing of his body afflicted Her life being upon this evil knotted again ANNOT. This Stanza signisieth the great troubles that were in France from the year 1610. in which Henry the IV. died to the year 1617. in which the Marshal d' Ancre was killed This man was named Concino Concini a Florentine born who in a little time was grown very great and from a base extraction had ascended to the dignity of Marshal of France by the favour of the Queen Regent Mary of Medicis and grew so rich that he offered to the King to maintain at his own charge 6000. foot and 800. Horses for four Months together he had made himself Master of many strong Places in Picardy and Normandy went about to buy the Government of several Provinces did dispose of the Kings Exchequer at his pleasure and spent vast sums of money at his Masters charge His insolencies were the cause of his ruine when he thought least of it for he threatned every one with words and deeds so far as to say that he would cause them to eat up their fingérs that should oppose his Will and so caused many Officers and Souldiers of the contrary party to be put to death The King Lewis the XIII was particularly informed of the unsufferable pride and misdemeanors of this Marshal and that his design was to keep up the War in France to continue his Authority and Power therefore the King commanded Vitry the Captain of his Guards to apprehend him This was a difficult thing because that the Marshal besides his Menial servants had always twelve Guards wearing his Livery that were desperate fellows there was also another difficulty because no body could tell when or at what time he would come to the Louvre nevertheless at last he came to it upon the 24. of April 1617. attended with a great Train and his Guards the great Gate was opened to him and presently shut again Vitry drew near to him and holding his staff to him said I arrest you in the Kings name upon these words the Marshal stept back as if it were to make resistance saying Me whereupon those that were with Vitry shot three Pistols at him one did hit him in the Heart the other in the Head and the third in the Belly so that he fell down dead immediately upon his left side a certain Lord that was on his right hand speaking with him fell down also without any hurt but his followers seeing him dead run away This death was the cause of great alterations in the publick Government The body of the said Marshal was buried at St. Germain de l'Auxerrois but the people digged it out and dragged it to the new Bridge where they hanged it by the feet upon a Gibbet having cut off his Nose his Ears and his privy parts then they took him down and dragged him through the Town and afterwards burnt it Thus did perish he that was worth about two Millions of Pounds Sterling and pretended to make his house perpetual and Sovereign The new Officers that had governed the State from the 24 of November to the 24 of
rendra sa gloire memorable English The Phoenix of the old Charon shall be seen To be the first and last of the Sons To shine in France beloved of every one To Reign a great while with all the honours That ever his Predecessors had By which he shall make his glory memorable ANNOT. No doubt but this is meant of some King of France which is to come XLIX French Venus Sol Jupiter Mercure Augmenteront le genre de nature Grande Alliance en France se fera Et du Midy la Sangsue de mesme Le feu esteint par ce remede extreme En Terre ferme Olivier plantera English Venus and So Jupiter and Mercury Shall augment humane kind A great Alliance shall be made in France And on the South the Leech shall do the same The fire extinguished by this extreme remedy Shall plant the Olive-Tree in a firm ground ANNOT. By the consent of all Astronomers those four benigne Planets augment generation That great Alliance mentioned here by which the fire was extinguished and the Olive-Tree planted in a firm ground is the Marriage of the present King of France Lewis the XIV with the Infanta of Spain by which all differences were composed and the Peace firmly settled L. French Un peu devant ou apres l' Angleterre Par mort de Loup mise aussy bas que terre Verra le feu resister contre l'eau Le rallumant avecque telle force Du sang humain dessus l'humaine escorce Faute de pain bondance de cousteau English A little while before or after England By the death of the Wolf being put as low as the ground Shall sec the fire resist against the water Kindling it again with such force Of humane blood upon the humane bark That want of bread and abundance of knives shall be ANNOT. The meaning is that a little while after or before the said match mentioned in the foregoing England was or should be brought as low as the ground and that there should be abundance of humane blood spilled and a great decay of Trade with Wars which is that he calleth Want of Bread and abundance of knives LI. French La Ville qu'avoit en ses ans Combatu l'Injure du temps Qui de son Vainqueur tient la vie Celuy qui premier la surprit Que peu apres Francois reprit Par Combats encore affoible English The City that had in her years Resisted the injury of the times And oweth her life to him that overcame her Being the first that surprised it Which a little while after Francis took again Being yet weâ—kened with fightings LII French La grand Cité qui n'a Pain a demy Encor un coup la saint Barthelemy Engravera au profond de son Ame Nismes Rochelle Geneve Montpelier Castres Lion Mars entrant au Belier S'entrebattront le tout pour une Dame English The great City that hath not bread half enough Shall once more engrave In the bottom of her soul St. Bartholomew's day Nismes Rochel Geneva and Montpelier Castres Lion Mars coming into Aries Shall fight one against another and all for a Lady ANNOT. That great City mentioned here is Paris which is threatned of another St. Bartholomew's day which was fatal to the Protestants in France for upon that day in the year 1572. there was a general Massacre made of them through all France insomuch that in Paris alone there was above ten thousand slain As for those Towns here named that are to fight about a Lady I cannot guess what Lady it should be unless he meaneth the Roman Church LIII French Plusieurs mourront avant que Phoenix meure Jusques six cens septante est sa demeure Passé quinze ans vingt un trente neus Le premier est Subjet a maladie Et le second au fer danger de vie Au seu a l'eau est subjet a trenteneus English Many shall die before that Phoenix dieth Till six hundred and seventy he shall remain Above fifteen years one and twenty thirty nine The first shall be subject to sickness And the second to Iron a danger of life Thirty nine shall be subject to fire and water ANNOT. By the Phoenix is meant a Pope because there is but one of that kind at once the meaning of the rest is unknow to me LIV. French Six cens quinze vingt grand Dame mourra Et peu apres un fort long temps pleuvra Plusieurs Pais Flandres l' Angleterre Seront par seu par fer affligez De leurs Voisins longuement affiegez Contraints seront de leur faire la Guerre English Six hundred and fifteen and twenty a great Lady shall die And a little after it shall rain for a great while Many Countreys as Flanders and England Shall by fire and Iron be afflicted And a good while Besieged by their Neighbours So that they shall be constrained to make War against them ANNOT. What that great Lady was that should die in the year 635. is not easie to guess there being many in every Countrey that died that year The rest is easie and we have seen the truth of it in our days and may see it hereafter LV. French Un peu devant ou apres tres-grand Dame Son ame au Ciel son corps soubs la lame De plusieurs gens regretée sera Tous ses parens seront en grand tristesse Pleurs souspirs d'une Dame en jeunesse Et a deux grands le dueil delaissera English A little while before or after a very great Lady Her soul in Heaven and her body in the Grave Shall be lamented by many All her kindred shall be in great mourning Tears and sighs of a Lady in her youth And shall leave the mourning to two great ones ANNOT. This may be understood of the death of Anna of Austria Queen of France who left in mourning two great ones viz. her two Sons Lewis the XIV King of France and Philip of Bourbon Duke of Orleans Or of the death of the Queen Dowager of England Henrietta Maria who also was much lamented and left in mourning two great ones viz. Charles the II. King of England and James Duke of York his Brother LVI French Tost l'Elephant de toutes parts verra Quand Pourvoyeur au Griffon se joindra Sa ruine proche Mars qui tousiour gronde Fera grands faits aupres de Terre Sainte Grands Estendars sur la Terre sur l'Onde Si la Nef a esté de deux frere enceinte English Shortly the Elephant on all sides shall see When the Purveyor shall joyn with the Griffin His ruine at hand and Mars which always grumbleth Shall do great feats near the Holy Land Great Standarts upon the Earth and the Sea If the Ship hath been with Child of two Brothers ANNOT. The Elephant is the Emperor the Purveyor the King of France the Griffin the Hollanders the meaning then is that the Emperor shall go to ruine when the French and the Hollanders shall joyn together And that there shall be great Wars and Fightings in the Holy Lands both by Sea and Land when two Brothers of great quality shall go in one Ship LVII French Peu apres l'Alliance faite Avant solemnises la Feste L'Empereur le tout troublera Et la nouvelle Mariée Au Franc Païs par sort liée Dans peu de temps apres mourra English A little after the Alliance made Before the Feast be Solemnized The Emperor shall trouble all And the new Bride Being by fate tied to the French Countrey A little while after shall die ANNOT. This is concerning a match that shall be made between the French King and some Lady of another Countrey which Match shall be disturbed by the Emperour and the Bride shall die a little while after her Marriage LVIII French Sangsue en peu de temps mourra Sa mort bon signe nous donra Pour l'accroissement de la France Alliances se trouveront Deux grands Roiaumes se joindront Francois aura sur eux puissance English The Leech within a little while shall die His death shall be a good sign to us For the augmentation of France Alliances shall be found Two great Kingdoms shall joyn together The French shall have power over them ANNOT. The Leech was Philip the IV. the last King of Spain who died a little while after he had Married his Daughter to Lewis the XIV now King of France by which Marriage the Peace was made between the two Kingdoms in the Island of the Conference upon the Borders of France and Spain By his death and that Match is foretold the encrease and happy condition of the Kingdom of France FINIS