_Prophecies of Nostradamus_ (Vol. iv., p. 86.).--In accordance with the
wish of your correspondent SPERIEND, I have examined the series of early
editors of this celebrated astrologer in the Bibliotheque Nationale, and
the following is the result of my inquiries.
The _earliest_ edition of the _Prophecies of Nostradamus_ is not to be
found in any library in Paris, but was published in 1555 (so says the
latest account of the prophet, by M. Eugene Bareste) but contains little
more than three centuries (or cantos, as they might be called) of
prophecies; each century containing a hundred quatrains. The next
edition, which before the French Revolution belonged to the Benedictines
of St. Maur, is entitled:
"Les Propheties de M. Michel Nostradamus, dont il y en a trois
cens qui n'ont encore jamais este imprimees. Adjoustees de nouveau
par ledict Autheur. A Lyon, chez Pierre Rigaud, rue Merciere, au
coing de rue Ferrandiere. Avec permission."
It has, in MS., on the title-page, "1555 et 1558." M. Bareste says of
this edition:
"On pretend qu'elle est de 1558; mais nous ne le pensons pas, car
elle a ete probablement faite l'annee meme de la mort de l'auteur,
c'est a dire, en 1566."
However, as there is no known edition between 1555, the date of the
first, and 1566, this doubtless is the earliest containing the ninth
century; and at No. 49. of this century is to be seen the following
quatrain:
"Gand et Bruceles marcheront contre Anvers,
Senat de Londres mettront a mort leur Roy;
Le sel et vin luy seront a l'envers,
Pour eux avoir le regne en desarroy."
I can find no edition of Nostradamus dated 1572; but in the editions of
1605, 1629, 1649, and 1650, the prophecy is given as above, almost
letter for letter, so that there can be no doubt it was not first known
in that form in 1672. As to the number of this quatrain agreeing with
the year of King Charles's death, it is most probably an accident; for
out of the nine hundred and odd quatrains composing the twelve centuries
(the 7th, 11th, and 12th being imperfect), and which are nearly all
regularly numbered, it is, I believe, the only one in which this
singularity occurs. On the fly-leaf of a copy of Nostradamus in the
_Bibliotheque de Ste Genevieve_ (dated 1568, but really printed in
1649), I found, in an old handwriting, a couplet that may be new to the
English admirer of the astrologer:
"Falsa damus cum Nostra damus, nam fallere nostrum est
Et cum nostra damus, non nisi Falsa damus."
If SPERIEND wishes for more information on the subject of the life and
works of Nostradamus, I should recommend him to look at the work I have
quoted above, which treats very fully on all matters connected with this
"vaticinating worthy." It is entitled _Nostradamus, par Eugene Bareste_:
Paris, 1840, and will doubtless be found in the British Museum.