[Illustration: Gallica quem genuit retinetque Britannica tellus
Calluit Hermetis quicquid in arte fuit]
THE TRUE
PROPHECIES
OR
PROGNOSTICATIONS
OF
Michael Nostradamus,
PHYSICIAN
TO
Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX.
KINGS of FRANCE,
And one of the best
_ASTRONOMERS_ that ever were.
A
WORK full of CURIOSITY and LEARNING.
Translated and Commented by _THEOPHILUS de
GARENCIERES_, Doctor in Physick _Colleg. Lond._
_LONDON_,
Printed by _Thomas Ratcliffe_, and _Nathaniel Thompson_,
and are to be sold by _John Martin_, at the _Bell_ in St.
_Pauls Church-yard_, _Henry Mortlack_ at the _White Hart_ in
_Westminster-Hall_, _Thomas Collins_, at the _Middle-Temple
Gate_, _Edward Thomas_, at the _Adam_ and _Eve_ in _Little
Britain_, _Samuel Lowndes_ over against _Exeter-house_
in the _Strand_, _Rob. Bolter_, against the South door
of the _Exchange_, _Jon. Edwin_, at the _Three Roses_ in
_Ludgate-street_, _Moses Pits_ at the _White Hart_ in _Little
Britain_, 1672.
To his most Honoured Friend
NATHANIEL PARKER
OF
Grayes-Inne, Esq;
_THEOPHILUS de GARENCIERES_,
D. Med. Colleg. _Lond._
Humbly Dedicateth this Book.
_Namque erit ille mihi_, &c. Virg. Eccl. I.
TO THE
Courteous Reader.
_Reader,_
Before thou goest on further to the perusing of this Work, thou art
humbly intreated by the Authour, to forgive him his Anglicisme; for being
born a Forreigner, and having had no body to help him to the polishing
of it, for several reasons, it cannot be expected he should please thine
Ears, so much as he may perhaps do thy Fancy. Every Exotick Plant can
hardly become Domestical under one or two Generations: Besides that,
the Crabbedness of the Original in his own Idiome, can scarce admit a
Polite Eloquency in another. The very Antient _English_ Language in this
refined Age, is become both obsolete and unintelligible, as we may see in
_Chaucer_, _Gower_, and others. If you adde to this, that the Authours
Nation hath been alwayes famous for its Civility to those that were
Strangers to their Language, as not onely to abstain from laughing at
them when they spoke amiss, but also in redressing them charitably to the
best of their power. I may probably expect you will measure me with the
same measure, as you would be if you were in my case.
As for the Errataes of the Press, I could not help them, being out of
Town most part of the time that the Book was a Printing; when you meet
with any, I hope your Charitable Pen will either mend or obliterate
them, and not lay another mans fault upon me, who neither for pride nor
ostentation undertook this laborious Work, but that I might give some
Satisfaction and Recreation to the Learned and Curious, who have had a
longing for it ever since its Birth.
_Farewell._
IN
Explicatum à doctissimo sagacissimoq; Viro Domino
De
GARENCIERES
FAMOSI
Nostradami Vaticinium.
_Abdita qui medici legit præsagia Vatis,_
_Non valet hoc quisquam pandere carmen, ait._
_Falleris, en Medicus merito quoque nomine Vates,_
_Invia luminibus permeat antra novis._
_Sed minus ingenio tantum mirere laborem_
_Id succisivo tempore fecit opus._
Petrus Cottereau.
Aliud.
_Præteritos in vate tuo cognoscere casus_
_Vix licet; ast etiam nota futura tibi._
_Si potes è mediis lucem proferre tenebris;_
_Ipsa metallorum semina te-ne latent?_
_Nulla tuum fugiunt naturæ arcana cerebrum,_
_Per quem ~Nostradami~ Pythica verba patent._
Idem.
Perenni Famæ Doctissimi Viri _Theophili de Garencieres_ Doctoris Medici
Colleg. _Lond._ de Interpretatione _NOSTRADAMI_ Fatidici Tetrastichon hoc
dicavit.
Dudleyus, _dimidia pars ipsius animæ_.
_Qvæ primus fecit, facit illa secundus ~Apollo~,_
_Conjungens medicis oracula sacra triumphis._
_Quis major, rogitas? facile est discernere noris_
_Si Latonigenæ cessare oracula ~Phœbi~._
_By the same, To the Author of this, and a more Excellent Work._
Mystically.
The God of Arts that gives thee Light, as clear
As his, that thou might’st be his Agent here
In all his Secrets; courts thee to go on,
Till thou hast made thy self another Sun.
_Æternum vivant si vera Oracula Phœbi_
_~Nostradami~ vivent; & Patris illa mei;_
Petrus.
THE
PREFACE
TO THE
READER.
_READER_,
Before I speak any thing of the Author, or of his Works, I think it
convenient to speak somthing of my self, and of my intention in setting
out this Translation, with my Annotations.
The Reputation that this Book hath amongst all the _Europeans_, since its
first coming out, which was in the year 1555. and the curiosity that from
time to time the learned have had to see the Mysteries contained in it,
unfolded: is a sufficient warrant for my undertaking.
Many better Pens (I confess) could have performed this work with better
success, but not with greater facility than I, having from my youth been
conversant with those that pretended or endeavered to know somthing in
it. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for a man of my profession
to wade through it. This Book was the first after my Primmer, wherein
I did learn to read, it being then the Custom in _France_, about the
year 1618. to initiate Children by that Book; First, because of the
crabbidness of the words; Secondly, that they might be acquainted with
the old and absolete _French_, such as is now used in the _English_ Law;
and Thirdly, for the delightfulness and variety of the matter, so that
this Book in those days was printed every year like an Almanack, or a
Primer for Children. From that time, without any other Study than reading
of History, and observing the events of the world, and conversing with
those that made it their Study, (some of which were like to run mad about
it) I have attained to so much Knowledge, as to bring it into a Volume.
The Book is written in the Nature of Prophecies, digested into old
_French_ Verses, most of which are very hard to be understood, and others
impossible at all, whether the Author did affect obscurity, or else
wanted the faculty to express himself, which is the cause that it could
not be rendred into _English_ Verses, it being troublesome enough to be
understood in Prose, as the Reader will find. That’s the reason that I
have translated it almost word for word, to make it as plain as I could;
as also because the Reader (if curious of it) may benefit himself in the
knowledge of the _French_ Tongue, by comparing the _English_ and _French_
together. The rest that can be said upon this subject, you shall find
either in the Authors Life, or in the Appology made for him.
And because I have told you before, that many have been like to run mad
by over-studying these, and other Prophecies, give me leave to give you
this advice, that in vain, or at least without any great profit, thou
shalt bestow thy time, care, and study upon it: for which I will give
thee the chief reasons, that have disswaded me from it.
The first is, that the thing it self, which you may think to understand,
is not certain in it self; because the Author disguiseth it in several
manners, sometimes speaking a double sense, as that of the ancient Oracle.
_Aio te Æacida Romanos vincere posse._
Which is to be understood two ways, and cannot be determinated, till the
event of it be past.
It is true, that the Author doth mark so many particular Circumstances,
that when the thing is come to pass, every one may clearly see that
he pretended to Prophecie that particular thing. And besides he doth
sometimes deliver the thing in so obscure terms, that without a peculiar
_Genius_, it is almost impossible to understand it.
The second is, that though the Prophecie be true in it self, yet no body
knoweth, neither the time, nor how: For example, he plainly foretelleth,
that the Parliament of _England_ should put their King to death;
nevertheless no body could tell, nor when, nor how, till the thing was
come to pass, nor what King it should be, till we had seen it.
The third is, that he marketh the times with Astrological terms, _viz._
when such and such Planets, shall be in such and such Signs; but as
those Planets are often here, and go out of it, and come there again, no
certain judgement can be made of it.
The fourth is, that many times he giveth some peculiar Circumstances to
those he speaketh of, which may be found in others. Thus _the Royal first
born_ might have been applied to _Lewis_ the XIII. to _Lewis_ the XIV. to
the first born of _Philip_ the II. and _Philip_ the III. King of _Spain_,
and to Kings of _England_, Father and Son. Nevertheless we find that this
word _Royal first born_, was intended for _Henry_ IV. Grandfather on his
Mothers side, as we shall shew hereafter. This being so, it cannot be
expounded, but after the event.
The fifth is, that the knowledge of future things, belongeth to
God alone, and no body can pretend by any study, to have a certain
acquisition of it in all its Circumstances.
The sixth is, that the orders of Gods providence, which cause the several
events in all States, will not permit that men should have a publick
notion of his designs, sometimes he revealeth them to his Servants, or to
some particular man as he pleaseth, but he will not have them to be known
among the common sort of men.
The seventh, is the experience we have had of many, who pretending
to understand the Author, have made a quantity of false Prophecies,
expounding the Stanza’s according to their fancy, as if God had given
them the same understanding that he gave the Author, and what ought
to confirm us more in this point, is, that they have expounded some
Prophecies, as if they were to come to pass, which were past already, by
which we see the darkness of humane wit, who without authority pretendeth
to bite into the forbidden fruit of knowledge.
The eighth is, that this knowledge is no way profitable for the Vulgar;
because those things being decreed by God, they shall come to pass
without forceing our liberty, nor hindering the contingency of sublunary
things, where we must observe that the Prophecies which were revealed to
men, are many times conditional, as we see in that of _Jonas_ against
_Ninive_, but those that they have left in writing for the times that
should come after them, are absolutely true, and shall infallibly come
to pass, as they have foretold them. This no ways hindereth, but God may
reveal some secrets of his to private men, for their benefit, and that
of their friends, without imparting it to the Vulgar, who may be, should
laugh at them.
The ninth is, that God hath peculiarly reserved to himself the knowledge
of times. _Daniel_, by a special favour, knew the end of the _Babylonian_
Captivity, and the time of the _Messiah_’s birth, and yet the
interpreters can scarce yet expound clearly the meaning of the seventy
weeks of _Daniel_, and we see, that since 1600 years ago, holy men, from
age to age, have foretold the proximity of Dooms-day, and the coming of
Antichrist.
The tenth is, that the foretelling of future things in this Author, is
for the most part included in business of State, and one might be guilty
of a criminal temerity, if he would discover things that concern us not,
and the concealing of which, is commended by all prudent persons, seeing
that we owe respect, love, and submission to those that bear rule over us.
For these reasons (dear Reader) I would not have thee intangle thy self
in the pretentions of knowing future things. If you have light concerning
them, keep thine own secret, and make use of it for thy self: Preserve
peace, and let the Almighty govern the World: for he can turn all things
to his Glory, and may when he pleaseth, raise up some Wits that will make
known unto us, what we desire, without any further trouble to our selves.
Before I make an end, I cannot but acquaint thee for gratitude sake, of
my Obligation to several persons, which have lent me Books, to help me
towards the finishing of this work, as namely that worthy Gentleman, and
the Honour of his profession Mr. _Francis Bernard_, Apothecary to St.
_Bartholemews_ Hospital, and Mr. _Philip Auberton_ Gentleman, belonging
to the Right Honourable the Earl of _Bridgwater_. Farewell.
THE
LIFE
OF
Michael Nostradamus,
Physitian in Ordinary to HENRY the II. and CHARLES the IX. Kings of
_France_.
_Michael Nostradamus_, the most renowned and famous Astrologer, that hath
been these many Ages, was born in St. _Remy_, a Town of _Provence_, in
the year 1503. upon a _Thursday_, the 14th of _December_, about noon.
His father was _James Nostradamus_, a Notary of the said Town, his
Mother was _Renata_ of St. _Remy_, whose Grandfathers by the Fathers and
Mothers side, were men very skilfull, in Mathematick and Physick, one
having been Physitian to _Renatus_, King of _Jerusalem_, and _Sicily_,
and Earl of _Provence_, and the other Physition to _John_, Duke of
_Calabria_, Son to the said _Renatus_, whence cometh that our Author
saith in his Commentaries, that he hath received from hand to hand the
Knowledge of Mathematicks, from his ancient Progenitors. After the death
of his great Grandfather by the Mothers side, who first gave him a
slight tincture, and made him in love with the Mathematicks, he was sent
to School to _Avignon_. After that he went to Mount _Pelier_, to study
Philosophy and Physick, till a great Plague coming, he was compelled to
go to _Narbonne_, _Thoulouse_, and _Bourdeaux_, where he first began
to practise, being then about 22 years of age. Having lived four years
in those parts, he went back again to _Monpelier_, to get his degrees,
which he did with a great deal of applause. Going to _Thoulouse_, he
past through _Agen_, where _Julius Cæsar Scaliger_ stayed him, with
whom he was very familiar and intimately acquainted, though they fell
out afterward; there he took to wife a very honourable Gentlewoman, by
whom he had two Children, a Son and a Daughter, all which being dead,
and seeing himself alone, he resolved to retire himself into _Provence_
his Native Countrey. After he had gone to _Marseille_, he went to _Aix_,
where the Parliament of _Provence_ sitteth, and was there kept three
years at the City Charges; because of the violent Plague that raged then
in the year 1546. as you may read in the Lord of _Launay_’s Book, called
the Theater of the World, who describeth that Plague according to the
informations our Author gave him. Thence he went to _Salon de Craux_, a
City distant from _Aix_ one dayes Journey, and in the middle way between
_Avignon_ and _Marseille_; there he Married his second Wife _Anna Ponce
Genelle_, by whom he had three Sons and one Daughter, the eldest was
_Michael Nostradamus_, who hath written some pieces of Astrology, Printed
at _Paris_ in the year 1563.
The second was _Cæsar Nostradamus_, who hath deserved to be numbred among
the _French_ Historians, by reason of the great Volume he hath written of
_Provence_.
The third was a Capuchine Frier. _Cæsar_ did insert in his History the
propagation of that Order in _Provence_. The fourth was a Daughter.
_Nostradamus_ having found by experience that the perfect knowledge of
Physick dependeth from that of Astrology, he addicted himself to it, and
as this Science wanteth no allurement, and that besides his Genius he had
a peculiar disposition and inclination to it; he made such a progress
in it, that he hath deserved the Title of the most illustrious one in
_France_, insomuch that making some Almanacks for recreation sake, he did
so admirably hit the conjuncture of events, that he was sought for far
and near.
This success was the cause of an extraordinary diminution of his fame;
for the Printers and Booksellers seeing his fame, did print and vent
abundance of false Almanacks under his name for lucre sake, whence it
came that his reputation suffered by it, and was the cause that the Lord
_Pavillon_ wrote against him, and that the Poet _Jodele_ made this bitter
Distichon.
_~Nostra damus~ cum falsa damus, nam fallere nostrum est,_
_Et cum falsa damus, nil nisi ~Nostra damus~._
To which may be answered.
_~Nostra damus~ cum verba damus quæ ~Nostradamus~ dat,_
_Nam quæcunque dedit nil nisi vera dedit._
Or thus
_Vera damus cum verba damus quæ ~Nostradamus~ dat,_
_Sed cum ~Nostra damus~, nil nisi falsa damus._
Nevertheless the Beams of Truth did shine through the Clouds of Calumny;
for he was singularly esteemed of by the Grandees, Queen _Katharine_ of
_Medicis_, who had a natural inclination to know future things.
And _Henry_ the II. King of _France_, who sent for him to come to the
Court in the year 1556. and having had private conference with him about
things of great concernment, sent him honourably back again with many
gifts. He went from _Salon_ to the Court upon the 14 of _July_ in the
year 1555. and came to _Paris_ upon the 15 of _August_. As soon as he
was come to Town, the Lord Constable of _Montmorency_ went to see him
at his Inn, and presented him to the King, who received him with much
satisfaction, and commanded that his lodging should be at the Palace of
the Cardinal of _Bourbon_ Archbishop of _Sens_.
There he was taken with the Gout for ten or twelve days, after which
his Majesty sent him one hundred Crowns in Gold in a Velvet Purse, and
the Queen as much. Their Majesties desired him to go to _Blois_ to see
the Princes their Children, and to tell them his opinion of them. It
is certain that he did not tell them what he thought, considering the
Tragical end of those three Princes, _viz._ _Francis_ the II. _Charles_
the IX. and _Henry_ the III.
Having been so much honoured at Court, he went back again to _Salon_,
where he made an end of his last Centuries, two years after he dedicated
them to the King _Henry_ the II. in the year 1557. and in his Luminary
Epistle discovereth unto him the future events that shall happen from the
Birth of _Lewis_ the XIV. now Reigning, till the coming of Antichrist.
While he was at _Salon_ he received there the Duke of _Savoy_, and
the Lady _Margaret_ of _France_, Sister to _Henry_ the II. who was to
Marry the said Duke according to the treaty of the general Peace made
at _Cambresis_, both entertained him very familiarly, and honoured him
often with their presence. The Duke came in _October_ and the Lady in
_December_.
When _Charles_ the IX. went a progress through his Kingdom, he came into
_Provence_, and did fail not to go to _Salon_ to visit our Author, who in
the name of the Town went to salute him, and make a Speech, this was in
the year 1564. the 17 of _November_.
The extraordinary satisfaction that the King and the Queen Mother
received from him was such, that being both at _Lion_, they sent for him
again, and the King gave him 200 Crowns in Gold, and the Queen almost as
much, with the quality of Physician in Ordinary to the King, with the
Salaries and profits thereunto appertaining. Being come back to _Salon_
he lived about 16 Months longer, and died upon the 2 of _July_ 1566.
in his Climacterical year of 63. having all his senses about him: His
Disease was a Gout at first, which turned into a Dropsie; the time of
his death it seemeth was known to him; for a friend of his witnesseth,
that at the end of _June_ in the said year he had writen with his own
hand upon the Ephemerides of _John Stavius_ these Latine words, _Hic
prope mors est_; that is, near here is my death, and the day before his
death that friend of his having waited on him till very late took his
leave, saying, I shall see you again to morrow morning, you shall not
see me alive when the Sun riseth, which proved true. He died a _Roman_
Catholick, having received all his Sacraments, and was solemnly buried in
the Church of the _Franciscan_ Friers at _Salon_, on the left hand of the
Church door, where his Widow erected him a Marble Table fastened in the
Wall with this Epitaph, with his Figure to the Life, and his Arms above
it.
The Inscription of his EPITAPH is in imitation of that of
_Titus Livius_, and is thus.
_D. M._
_Ossa clarissimi ~Michaelis Nostradami~, unius omnium pene
mortalium digni, cujus Divino calamo totius Orbis ex astrorum
influxu futuri eventus conscriberentur. Vixit annos ~LXII.~
menses ~VI.~ dies ~X.~ Obiit. Salonæ ~CIↃ IↃLXVI~. ~Anna Pontia
Gemella~, conjugi optimo. ~V. E.~_
Which may be rendred thus:
Here lies the Bones of the most famous _Nostradamus_, one who
among Men hath deserved by the opinion of all, to set down in
writting with a Quill almost Divine, the future Events of all
the Universe, caused by the Cœlestial influences; he lived 62.
years 6. Months and 10. days, he died at _Salon_, in the year
1566.
O Posterity do not grudge at his rest.
_Anna Pontia Gemella_ wisheth to her most loving Husband the
true Happiness.
He had a Brother named _John Nostradamus_, famous for several Works that
he hath written, the Catalogue of which is in the Book of Mr. _du Maine
de la Croix_, Intitled, the _Library_.
As for our Author, he hath left several Works, among which is a Book of
Receits, for the preservation of health, Printed at _Poitiers_, in the
year 1556.
Another concerning the means of beautifying the Face and the Body,
that was Printed at _Antwerp_ by _Plantin_ in the year 1557. which
he Dedicated to his Brother _John Nostradamus_, an Attorney at the
Parliament of _Aix_.
Besides this, he Translated from Latine into French the _Paraphases of
Galen_, upon the Exhortation of _Menedotus_, which was Printed at _Lyon_
by _Antony du Rhosne_, in the year 1557.
But before we conclude, it will not be amiss to give some recreation to
the Reader, by relating a merry passage that happened to _Nostradamus_
being in _Lorrain_, for being in the Castle of _Faim_, belonging to the
Lord of _Florinville_, and having in cure the Mother of the said Lord; it
chanced one day that they both walking in the Yard, there was two little
Piggs, one white, and the other black, whereupon the Lord enquired of
_Nostradamus_ in jest, what should become of these two Piggs? he answered
presently, we shall eat the black, and the Wolf shall eat the white.
The Lord _Florinville_ intending to make him a Lyar, did secretly command
the Cook to dress the white for Supper; the Cook then killed the white,
drest it, and spitted it ready to be rosted when it should be time; In
the mean time having some business out of the Kitchin, a young tame Wolf
came in, and eat up the Buttocks of the white Pig, that was ready to be
rosted; the Cook coming in the mean time, and fearing least his Master
should be angry, took the black one, killed it, and drest it, and offered
it at Supper. Then the Lord thinking he had got the Victory, not knowing
what was befallen, said to _Nostradamus_, well Sir, we are eating now the
white Pigg, and the Wolf shall not touch it. I do not believe it (said
_Nostradamus_) it is the black one that is upon the Table. Presently the
Cook was sent for, who confessed the accident, the relation of which was
as pleasing to them as any meat.
In the same Castle of _Faim_, he told many that in a little Hill that
was near the Castle, there was a Treasure hidden, which should never be
found, if it were sought with design, but that it should be discovered
when the Hill should be digged for some other intent. There is a great
probability in this prediction, for there was an ancient Temple built
upon it, and when they dig there, many times several Antiquities are
found. All _France_ telleth several Histories foretold by the Author, but
I am unwilling to write any thing without good warrant. His Stanza’s are
sufficient to prove the extraordinary Talent he had in foretelling future
things.
APOLOGY
FOR
Michael Nostradamus.
CHAP. I.
It is not unusual for Calumny to follow the best Wits, and those whom God
hath endowed with so extraordinary Talent, upon weak and slight grounds.
It is not also unusual for Men to side easier with calumny against
innocent persons, then with those truths that justifie them; therefore
no body ought to wonder, if _Michael Nostradamus_ hath been so much
cried down and defamed by several Authors, being in the number of those
extraordinary persons, whom God had priviledged with that grace so much
desired by curious Men, _viz._ the knowledge of future events.
Besides that, there was four things in him, which might have been the
grounds of this diffamation.
The first was the vulgar life which he led in the Roman Catholik
Religion, which seemed to bear no proportion with such an extraordinary
favour of God.
The second was his application to judicial Astrology, which is condemned
by many learned Men, and detested by those that pretend to ignorant
devotion.
The third was a suspition brought by his enemies, and many devout persons
in his time, that he was a Negromancer, and had familiarity with the
Angel of darkness.
The fourth was the obscurity of his Stanza’s, which was made worse by the
enormous faults of those that first Copied them, and by the carelesness
of the Printers.
CHAP. II.
_How the first Objection hath caused the Author to be reputed a false
Prophet._
In consequence of the first Objection, calumny hath endeavoured to place
him among the false Prophets, because scarce any body can persuade
himself, that there being among the Faithful so many Illustrious persons
in Holiness and Learning, the Holy Ghost would have made choice of a
common person, and to reveal him so many rare secrets, concerning the
future Estate of his Church, and of those Kingdoms that acknowledge
her for their Mother, seeing that the Holy Scriptures shew us, that
the knowledge of future things (chiefly if it be extraordinary in its
extent) is a special Priviledge wherewith God honoureth his most faithful
Servants.
And to say truth, when the Holy Fathers and the Interpreters of the
Scripture speak of the Prerogatives of the Apostle St. _John_, they make
the chiefest to be that by which being full of Prophetical Spirit, he
foretold the future Estate of the Church; and in the Old Testament, so
many Prophets were so many Miracles and Prodigies of Holiness, and the
only name of Prophet in the Scripture is the most glorious Title that is
given to those that were Gods most faithful Servants.
If we find in the Scripture that _Balaam_ hath Prophesied notwithstanding
his perfidiousness, and that the High Priest _Caiaphas_, notwithstanding
his wicked design of murdering Christ, hath also Prophesied; it was only
for a few things, and in such cases where God would singularly shew forth
his Glory, by those that would have smothered it.
How can we then believe the same of _Nostradamus_, who had not so much as
an extraordinary atom of Christian piety, by which he might have been so
much priviledg’d of God, as to know by his Divine Light the future Estate
of the Church, her Persecutions and her Victories from the year 1555. to
the end of the World.
Can it be possible that a Physician, an Astrologer, and one of the common
sort of people should have been chosen of God among so many thousands his
betters, to impart unto him those Graces, which have been the reward of
the purity and holiness of his Apostles, and of the faithfulness of St.
_John_ the Evangelist.
This seemeth altogether improbable to Christian piety.
CHAP. III.
_The second Objection hath ranked the Author among Dreamers and false
Visionaries._
Some are more moderate in the censuring of this Author, and being
unwilling to call him maliciously a false Prophet, would have him to be a
foolish Dreamer, who believed his own imaginations, and took pleasure in
his own fancies, whence came that Latine Distick of the Poet _Jodelle_,
_~Nostra damus~ cum falsa damus, nam fallere nostrum est,_
_Et cum falsa damus, nil nisi ~Nostra damus~._
This Distick was so pleasing to the Wits of the times, that without
further inquiry, since that time _Nostradamus_ went for a Dreamer and a
doting fool.
This opinion increased more and more by his making of many Almanacks,
wherein every body may see how much he was taken with judicial Astrology;
and we see often in his Stanza’s the decision of the times, by the
conjunction of the Planets with the Signs, and by the Eclipses, whence
sometimes he doth infer some events that were to happen.
But what did undo him most, was the covetousness of the Printers and
Booksellers of his time, who seeing his Almanacks so well received, did
set forth a thousand others under his name, that were full of lies and
fopperies.
From that time the Author went for one of those poor Astrologers, who
get their living by foretelling absurdities; and pretend to read in the
Heavens, that which is only in their foolish imagination.
CHAP. IV.
_The third Objection accuseth the Author of medling with the black Art,
of being a Negromancer, and a Disciple of the Devil._
If the precedents have been moderate in their censure; others have been
more severe in delivering their opinion, accusing him to have kept
acquaintance with the Devil, as the Negromancers and other Prestigiators
of the ancient times did.
The reason that made them think so is, that seeing so many things come
to pass, just as the Author had foretold; they could not attribute it
to the knowledge of judicial Astrology, nor to Divine Revelation, and
consequently concluded, that it must of necessity come from Satan.
They could not attribute it to judicial Astrology, either because they
had no opinion of it, or that the greatest defensors of that Astrology
do agree among themselves, that it cannot reach so far as to foretell a
thousand peculiar circumstances, which depend purely from the freedom
of Men, such as proper names are, and the like, which nevertheless our
Author did foretell.
They could neither attribute it to Divine Revelation, for the reasons
alledged in the first objection; moreover, because he was accused of a
thousand falsities and fopperies, Printed in those Almanacks that went
falsly under his name, whence they concluded that it could not come by
Divine Revelation, seeing that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Truth.
It followeth then (say they) that it must come from the Devil, by
the help of the Black Art; the Lord _Florimond de Raimond_ a very
considerable Author, was of that opinion in his Book of the _Birth of
Heresies_, Chap. 3.
CHAP. V.
_The fourth Objection maketh him the Head of those Seductors and
Impostors, which are dangerous in a Common-wealth._
As Fame doth increase by continuation of time, so doth calumny increase
by the multiplicity of opinions, she was not contented to deflour
slightly the Authors reputation, by making him pass for some sottish
Dreamer, and to rank him amongst the false Prophets, by accusing him
to meddle with the black Art, but must needs also sacrifice him to the
infernal Furies, by making him the Prince of Seductors and Impostors,
that ought to be banished out of every Common-wealth. The fondamental
reason of this was the obscurity of his Stanza’s, where there was neither
rime nor reason; the obscurity did proceed of abundance of gross faults,
which the Copisters and Printers have inserted in them, from the omission
of several words, from the changing and altering of others, and from the
addition of some others, which did destroy the sense.
From this great obscurity, calumny draweth this argument, to ruine
utterly the Author, charging him to be all at once a false Prophet, a
dotish Dreamer, a Magician, and an infamous Seductor of people.
If God had inspired him what he hath written, he would have done it for
the good of his Church and true Believers, seeing he never granteth this
Prophetical Grace to any, but to that end as it appeareth in the Holy
Scriptures.
This being so, what profit can any body draw from him, if the sense of
his Stanza’s be so obscure, as not to be understood? and although it
should be granted, that some accidents that have happened in Christendom,
may sometimes be found in his Prophecies, what fruit hath the Church
reaped of it, seeing that those accidents that were foretold, were never
known, till they had come to pass, and that there was no avoiding of them?
It cannot therefore be believed, that God should have been the Author of
his Predictions, but rather the Subtle Spirit of Satan, with whom he was
acquainted by such like black Arts.
According to those four Objections, the Lord _Sponde_ in the third Volume
of his _Annals_, made him this Epitaph in the year 1566. _Mortuus est hoc
anno nugax ille toto orbe famosus ~Michael Nostradamus~, qui se præscium
& præsagum eventuum futurorum per astrorum influxum venditavit, sub cujus
deinceps nomine quivis homines ingeniosi suas hujusmodi cogitationes
protendere consueveruent, in quem valde apposite lusit qui dixit.
~Nostra damus~ cum falsa damus_, &c. In _English_. In the year 1566. died
that Trifler so famous through all the World, _Michael Nostradamus_
who boasted while he lived, to know and foretell future things, by the
knowledge he had of the influences of the Planets, under whose name
afterwards many ingenious Men have vented their Imaginations, insomuch,
that he that made that Distick, Nostra damus _cum falsa damus_, &c.
seemeth to have very well said.
CHAP. VI.
_Proofs setting forth evidently that ~Nostradamus~ was enlightned by the
Holy Ghost._
In consequence of these objections forged by calumny, _Nostradamus_ name
hath been so cried down, that I have thought me self oblidged to make
his Apology, to give the greater credit to his Prophecy, the exposition
of which I do here undertake, and to proove, that effectually he was
enlightned by the Holy Ghost: first, by writting the History of his Life,
as I have done in the beginning of this Book; Secondly, by answering to
all the said Objections; Thirdly, by alledging the Elogies given him by
several Grave and Authentical Authors.
First, I maintain that he was enlightned by the Holy Ghost, by an
unanswerable reason, drawn out the Theology, but before we discourse of
it, let us suppose that _Nostradamus_ hath foretold many things, which
absolutely depends from the free will of men, and cannot be known,
neither by judicial Astrology, nor by Satan himself, such are for exemple
the proper names of Persons, which nevertheless he doth in his Prophecies.
He nameth the Lord of _Monluc_, the Sprightful _Gascon_, the Captain
_Charry_, his Camerade, the Lord _de la Mole_, Admiral of _Henry_ the
II. Galleys, _Entragues_, who was beheaded by order of _Lewis_ the XIII.
the Headsman of the Duke of _Montmorency_, named _Clerepegne_; the Bassa
_Sinan_, destroyer of _Hungary_; the Murderer of _Henry_ the III. named
_Clement_; the Attorney _David_, the Captain _Ampus_; the Mayor of the
City of _Puy_ in _Gelay_, named _Rousseau_, under Henry the IV. _Lewis_
Prince of _Condé_, under _Francis_ II. _Sixtus_ V. calling him the Son
of _Hamont_; _Gabrielle d’Estrée_; the Lord _Mutonis_ sent to _Paris_ by
those of _Aix_, under _Charles_ the IX. the Lord Chancellor of _France_,
named _Antony de Sourdis_; the Queen _Leuise_: _Antony_ of _Portugal_:
the Governour of _Cazal_ under _Henry_ II.
Secondly, The number of things is of the same nature: _Nostradamus_ doth
often calculate it; he reckoneth fourteen Confederates for the service of
_Henry_ IV. in the City of _Puy_: ten great Ships prosecuting extreamly
the Admiral in the Battle of _Lepanto_: five Ships taken from the
_Spaniard_ by those of _Diepe_, under _Henry_ II. nine hundred thousands
_Mores_ that went out of _Spain_ under _Henry_ IV. three hundred and
fifty thousands killed under _Charles_ IX. and _Henry_ III. three saved
at the taking of a Town in _Hungary_ by the _Turks_: nine separated from
the company of Seditious, that were to be put to death, three Princes
of _Turky_ Massacred, and the fourth being the youngest saved; thirty
Conspirators upon _London_ Bridge, against the Majesty of King _Charles_
I. and such like.
Thirdly, We find in these Prophecies, the Prodigies that have no other
causes in nature, then the meer will of God; such as Comets are, the
casting of monstrous Fishes by the Sea upon the Land, the Armies in the
Air, the speaking of Dogs, the birth of Monsters, and such like.
Fourthly, We find in those Prophecies those actions that are purely
indifferent; for example, that the King of _England_ did appear upon a
Scaffold without his Doublet; that in the place where he was beheaded,
another man had been killed three days before; that _Libertat_ went a
Hunting with a Greyhond, and a Blood-hond; that the two little Royals
were conducted to St. _Germain_, rather then to any other place, and such
like.
Fifthly, We find the Birth of several particular persons that were born
after his death.
Sixthly, The Governments of Places given by the free will of Kings to
such and such.
All these things cannot be known by judicial Astrology, seeing that in
Heaven there is neither Names, nor Numbers, nor extraordinary Prodigies:
seeing also that judicial Astrology presupposeth the Birth of persons,
that one may foretel their future actions; the same things are also
unknown to Satan, for the Angelical species know nothing of individual
things, but under the notion of possible, and not of future.
Whence I conclude with this irrefragable Argument, that the Author hath
known many several things that are not written in the Heavenly Book, nor
represented to him by Angelical Species, therefore he hath known them
from God himself.
The Author himself in his Epistle to his Son _Cæsar Nostradamus_
confesseth, that he hath foretold many things by Divine Virtue and
Inspiration.
And a little after he saith, that the knowledge of those things, which
meerly depends from free will, cannot be had either by humane auguries,
nor by any other humane knowledge, nor by any secret virtue that
belongeth to sublunary things, but only by a Light, belonging to the
Order of Eternity.
This is not a small Argument, to confirm what we have said, and to
prove that the Author hath evidently been conscious, that his knowledge
came from Heaven, and that Gods goodness did him that grace; for having
rejected and abhorred other means, that Impostors make use of for
foretelling something.
He writteth all these things of himself: First, in his Liminary Epistle
to his Son _Cæsar_, he conjureth him, that when he should go about to
study the foretelling of future things by Astrology, to avoid all kind of
Magick, prohibited by the Holy Scripture, and the Canons of the Church;
and to encourage him the more to it, he relateth what happened to him,
_viz._ that having been Divinely enlightned, and fully persuaded that God
only can give the knowledge of future things, which absolutely depends
of the free will of men, he did burn abundance of Writings, wherein was
taught the Art of Prophecying, and as they were a burning, there came
out a great flame, which was like (he thought) to burn his House all to
ashes, by which accident he understood the falsity of such Writings,
and that the Devil was vexed to see his plots discovered; besides that,
he confesseth that being the greatest Sinner of the World, nevertheless
he got that favour from Heaven by a Divine Inspiration; and because no
body should doubt of it, he learnedly expoundeth wherein consisteth that
inspired Revelation, he saith that it is, _A participation of the Eternal
Divinity_, by which we come to judge of what the Holy Ghost imparteth to
us; by that participation of Eternity, the Author doth not understand a
communication of the continuance of the Divine being, but a participation
of the Divine knowledge, measured by its Eternity, as the Schools terms
it.
Effectively, the Author compareth this participation to a glistering
flame, which createth a new day in our understanding, which flame
proceeding from Gods infinite knowledge, who seeth and comprehendeth
what is Eternity, doth impart unto us what is inclosed in the volubility
of the Heavens.
After this testimony, which wholly destroyeth the Sinister opinions that
men had of his Prophecies, he sheweth how Judicial Astrology may agree
with the knowledge of that which proceedeth from a Prophetical Spirit.
It is true, saith he, that sometimes God imparteth this Light not only
to the unlearned, and to his Holy Prophets, but also to those that
are versed in Judicial Astrology, making that instrumental for the
confirmation of his inspired truths: As we see that natural Sciences,
help the light of the Faith, and make a certain disposition in the mind
fitter then ordinary, to receive those Divine impressions.
Thus (saith he) in the beginning of the Epistle, God did supernaturaly
inspire me, not by any Bacchick fury, nor by Lymphatical motions, as he
did the _Sybilles_; but by Astronomical assertions; that is to say, that
God gave him that grace, not by any Extasy, but by studying those rules,
which Astrology teacheth.
The same things he saith again a little after in this manner: the
Astrologer being in his Study, and consulting the Astronomical Rules upon
the motions of the Heavens, the Conjunction and several Aspects of the
Planets, he guesseth at some future events, of which being not certain,
this Divine Light riseth in his mind, and imparteth clearly to him what
he knew before, only _Ænigmatically_ and obscurely, and in the shade of
that natural light.
Sometimes also (saith he) this Light cometh the first into the
Astrologers mind, and he afterwards comparing the thing revealed unto him
with the Astronomical rules, he seeth that they do wholly agree together;
and this is the method that he hath made use of, to know whether the
inspired truths were agreeing with the Astronomical Calculations; a
method that he hath made use of some times, but not always, for he hath
foretold many things, which he could not read in the Heavens.
By these testimonies of the Author himself, every one may see how he
made use of Judicial Astrology, and wherefore he studied it so much; how
far his knowledge did extend; the glory he giveth to God alone, for his
Prophetical knowledge; what horrour he hath always had against unlawful
means to attain unto it; how much he did value that Grace, considering
his unworthiness; and the manner how the Lord was pleased to gratifie him.
CHAP. VII.
_Answer to the first Objection against ~Nostradamus~, which pretendeth to
rank him among the false Prophets._
Let us see now what calumny pretendeth for the obscuring this Prophet
of our days; the knowledge of future things (saith she) is a priviledge
belonging to the Saints, and to those whom God hath endowed with an
eminent vertue. I acknowledge, it is so commonly, and in the ordinary
way of Grace, but if God be pleased to impart that priviledge to those
that have not attained to that Degree of Holiness, and that it really
appeareth by the reasons of Theologie, that they have been gratified
with it, we are bound to admire his Royal bounty, which giveth when, and
to whom he pleaseth: for example, no body deserveth to be a Marshal of
_France_, but he that hath been in several Battles, and at the taking
of many Towns; but if the King be pleased to honour with that Dignity a
Gentleman that never Warred but against the Deer, the Kings goodness is
to be praised, which extendeth even to those that have not deserved it;
it is the same reason here, it is visibly apparent that _Nostradamus_
hath been enlightned by the Holy Ghost, and yet he hath not imitated
the lifes of those great Saints of the Church: what can be inferred from
thence, but that it was Gods pleasure to extend his bounty upon his
poor Creatures, which is easie to be granted in this point, because the
gift of Prophecy is not a sanctifying Grace, but a supernatural gift,
of which a sinner is capable of, as we see in _Balaam_, _Caiaphas_,
and the _Sybilles_, and much more in a Christian, who observeth Gods
Commandments, and endeavoureth to keep himself in his Grace.
But (saith calumny) Christian piety seemeth to be repugnant to this
Divine disposition, seeing that in _Nostradamus_ time, there were
thousands in the Church of God that were capable of this favour, and to
prefer to them a Physitian, an Astrologer, and an Almanack-maker, is a
thing that the Wits cannot apprehend so well, as to frame a good opinion
for this Author.
Hold there Reader, do not enter into the Sanctuary of Gods secret
Judgements, you should loose you self, and never find the way out: how
many such questions might I ask you? why did God in former times chuse
the Family and person of David, and preferred it to so many others of the
Children of _Israel_? why did Christ raise _Judas_ to the dignity of an
Apostle, preferring him before _Nathaniel_, and so many others that lived
Holily.
Bring therefore no more such questions, but say with the Scripture, _As
it pleased the Lord, so it was done_: I will nevertheless give you some
satisfaction in that point. There was two things in the Author which
might have procured that blessing from God.
The first is, that having in his possession those writtings which
promised the knowledge of future things, to which he was much inclined,
he slighted and burnt them, being persuaded that God alone was the Author
of this Grace; I do esteem that action very Heroical in its circumstance,
because being inticed by a vehement curiosity to know future things, and
having in his hand the means that opened the way to it, he did Sacrifice
them to God, for which perhaps God was willing to gratifie him with this
favour.
The second thing that was in _Nostradamus_ is, that he had naturally a
_Genius_ for the knowing of future things, as himself confesseth in two
Epistles to King _Henry_ the II. and to _Cæsar_ his own Son, and besides
that _Genius_, the knowledge of Astrology, did smooth him the way to
discover many future events. Having those two things, he had a greater
disposition then others to receive those Supernatural Lights; and as God
is pleased to work sweetly in his Creatures, and to give some forerunning
dispositions to those Graces he intendeth to bestow, it seemeth that to
that purpose he did chuse our Author to reveal him so many wonderful
secrets.
We see every day that God in the distributing of his Graces carrieth
himself towards us, according to our humours and natural inclinations,
he employeth those that have a generous and Martial heart for the
defence of his Church, and the destruction of Tyrants; he leadeth those
of a melancholick humour into Colledges and Cloisters, and cherisheth
tenderly, those that are of meek and mild disposition; even so, seeing
_Nostradamus_ inclined to this kind of knowledge, he gave him in a great
measure the grace of it.
CHAP. VIII.
_Answer to the second Objection, which would have him pass for a Doctor._
We shall not have much to say to these more moderate persons, seeing
that we have already given the reason of it, _viz._ the covetousness of
the Booksellers and Printers, who made use of the Authors name, for the
better sale of their false Almanacks, therefore if _Jodelle_ the Poet
grounded upon this opinion, made that Satyrical Distick.
_~Nostra damus~ cum falsa damus, nam fallere nostrum est,_
_Et cum falsa damus, nil nisi ~Nostra damus~._
We answer him,
_~Nostra damus~ cum verba damus quæ ~Nostradamus~ dat,_
_Nam quæcunque dedit nil nisi vera dedit._
Or thus
_~Vera damus~ cum verba damus quæ ~Nostradamus~ dat,_
_Sed cum ~Nostra damus~, nil nisi falsa damus._
CHAP. IX.
_Answer to the third Objection, which accuseth him of the Black Art, and
of Negromancy._
The more doth Calumny lift up her self against this great man, the weaker
are her arguments, like the smoke which is so much the easier dissipated,
as it ascendeth higher.
Her reason is impertinent in this distributive argument, he hath known
those things (saith she) which he could not know by the Planets, and he
had them not from God, therefore he had them from Satan.
And we answer this argument in the same way, he hath known those things
which he could not know by the Planets, nor by Satan, therefore he had
them from God; this Argument is concluding, but that of calumny halteth,
for it ought to have proved that he had not his knowledge from God, and
that all those things he hath known may be known to Satan, which two
things we have manifestly proved to be false, therefore if the Lord
_Florimond de Raimond_ was alive, I believe he would correct what he hath
written against him.
CHAP. X.
_Answer to the fourth Objection, of Calumny, which brandeth our Author
with the title of Chief of the Seductors and Impostors._
The Weapons of this _Medusa_ are sharper in this point then in others,
therefore our Buckler accordingly must be of the best mettle and temper.