which is that of _March_, at the rising of the _Sun_, the _Boar_ and the
_Leopard_, that is, two persons of quality hidden under these names,
shall go into the fields to fight a Duel. The _Leopard_ one of them being
weary, shall lift up his eyes to Heaven, calling upon God, and thereupon
shall see an _Eagle_ playing about the _Sun_, that is, shall get the
Victory, of which the _Eagle_ is the Emblem.
XXIV.
French.
A Cité nevue pensif pour condamner,
Loisel de proie au ciel se vient offrir,
Apres Victoire a Captifs pardonner
_Cremone_ & _Mantoue_ grands maux auront souffert.
English.
In the new City for to condemn a Prisoner,
The Bird of pray shall offer himself to Heaven,
After the Victory, the Prisoners shall be forgiven,
After _Cremona_ and _Mantua_ have suffered many troubles.
ANNOT.
This name of new City is appropriated to several ones in every Countrey.
The _French_ have many _Villeneufuas_, the Germans many _Newstads_, the
_Italians_ and _Spaniards_ many _Villanovas_, so that it is hard to guess
which of them the Author meaneth. The missing of this dore makes the rest
of the Prophecie so obscure, that I had rather leave it to the liberty of
the Reader, than to pretend a true explication of it. I shall only say,
that _Cremona_ and _Mantua_ are two famous Towns in _Italy_, which are
here threatned.
XXV.
French.
Perdu, trouvé, caché de si long siecle
Sera Pasteur demy-Dieu honoré,
Ains que la Lune acheve son grand Siecle,
Par autre vents sera deshonoré.
English.
Lost, found again, hidden so great a while,
A Pastor as Deme-God shall be honoured;
But before the Moon endeth her great Age,
By other winds he shall be dishonoured.
ANNOT.
The Prophecie is concerning the body of a famous Churchman, which was
lost, and shall be found again, and worshiped as a _Demy-God_, but before
the _Moon_ hath run her great age, which is of 13 Months, it shall be
vilified and dishonoured.
XXVI.
French.
Le grand du Foudre tombe d’heure diurne,
Mal & predit par Porteur populaire,
Suivant presage tombe d’heure nocturne,
Conflit _Rheims_, _Londres_, _Etrusque_ Pestifere.
English.
The great Man falleth by the Lightning in the day time,
An evil foretold by a common Porter;
According to this foretelling another falleth in the night,
A fight at _Rhemes_, and the Plague at _London_ and _Tuscany_.
ANNOT.
This is concerning some great man, who being premonished by a common
Carrier not to travel upon a certain day, did slight the advice, and was
strucken by Lightning in the day time, and another in the night; at the
same time there was a fight at _Rhemes_, and the Plague at _London_ and
in _Tuscany_, which in Latin is called _Etruria_.
XXVII.
French.
Des soubs le Chesne _Guyen_ du Ciel frappé,
Non loin de la est caché le Thresor,
Qui par long Siecles avoit esté grappé,
Trouvé mourra, l’œil crevé de ressor.
English.
Under the Oak _Guyen_ strucken from Heaven,
Not far from it is the Treasure hidden,
Which hath been many Ages a gathering;
Being found he shall die, the eye put out by a spring.
ANNOT.
The sense of it is, that some body (who is named here _Guyen_) being
under an Oak shall be strucken with the lightning, and that near that
place there is a great Treasure, that hath been many years a gathering,
and that he who shall find it shall die, being shot in the eye with a
Fire-lock.
XXVIII.
French.
La Tour de _Bouk_ craindra fuste Barbare,
Un temps, long temps apres Barque _Hesperique_,
Bestial, gens meubles tous deux feront grand tare,
_Taurus_ & _Libra_, quelle mortelle pique?
English.
The Tower of _Bouk_ shall be in fear of a Barbarian Fleet,
For a while, and long after afraid of _Spanish_ shipping,
Flocks, peoples, goods both shall receive great damage,
_Taurus_ and _Libra_, O what a deadly feud.
ANNOT.
The Tower of _Bouk_ is a strong place seated by the _Rhosne_, where it
entereth into the Mediterranean Sea; it is said here that it shall be in
fear of a Barbarian Fleet, and after that of a _Spanish_ one, and that
both the _Spaniard_ and the _French_ shall have great losses in Cattle,
People and Goods, and this shall happen when the Sun shall be in the
Signs of _Taurus_ and _Libra_.
XXIX.
French.
Quand le Poisson, Terrestre & _Aquatique_,
Par forte vague an gravier sera mis,
Sa forme estrange suave & horrifique,
Par Mer aux murs bien tost les Enemies.
English.
When the Fish that is both Terrestrial and Aquatick,
By a strong Wave shall be cast upon the Sand,
With his strange fearful sweet horrid form,
Soon after the enemies will come near to the Walls by Sea.
ANNOT.
This signifieth no more but that after, a Fish, Terrestrial and Aquatick,
that is which, liveth in Land and Water, called by the Greeks αμφίβιον,
shall be cast upon the Sand by a storm, then a little while after, that
Town which lieth near to that place where the Fish was cast, shall be
Besieged by her Enemies, who shall come by Sea.
XXX.
French.
La Nef estrange par le tourment Marin,
Abordera pres le Port incognu,
Nonobstant signs du rameau palmerin,
Apres mort, pille, bon advis tard venu.
English.
The Outlandish Ship by a Sea storm,
Shall come near the unknown Haven,
Notwitstanding the signs given to it with Bows,
It shall die, be plundered, a good advice come too late.
ANNOT.
It is a Forrein Ship which by a storm shall be driven to an unknown
Harbour, and notwithstanding the signs that shall be made to it with
Branches, by those that are upon the Land to beware of the entrance of
the Harbour, it shall be cast away, and plundered; thus a good advice
shall come too late.
XXXI.
French.
Tant d’ans les guerres, en _Gaule_ dureront,
Outre la course du _Castulon_ Monarque,
Victoire incerte trois grands couroneront,
Aigle, Coq, Lune, Lion Soleil en marque.
English.
So many years the Wars shall last in _France_,
Beyond the course of the _Castulon_ Monarque,
An uncertain Victory three great ones shall Crown,
The Eagle, the Cock, the Moon, the Lion having the Sun in its mark.
ANNOT.
That is, the Wars shall last so long in _France_ after the death of one
King of _Spain_, till three great ones shall challenge an uncertain
Victory, these three great ones are the Emperour designed by the Aigle,
the King of _France_ by the Cock, and the _Turk_ by the Moon, and this
shall happen when the Sun is in the sign of the Lion. I suppose that came
to pass in the time of _Charles_ the V. _Henry_ the II. and _Soliman_.
For the _Turk_ had no great odds upon the Emperour, nor he upon the King
of _France_.
XXXII.
French.
La grand Empire sera tost translaté,
En lieu petit qui bien tost viendra croistre,
Lieu bien infime d’exigue Comté,
Ou au milieu viendra poser son Scepter.
English.
The great Empire shall soon be translated,
Into a little place which shall soon grow afterwards.
An inferiour place of a small County,
In the middle of which he shall come to lay down his Scepter.
ANNOT.
This is concerning the same _Charles_ the V. Emperour, who about three
years before his death, being weary of the World, resigned his Dominions
of _Spain_ and of the _Low-Countries_, to his Son _Philip_ the II.
and his Empire to his Brother _Ferdinand_, and retired himself into a
Monastery of _Castile_, called l’_Escurial_, which after his death, was
much enlarged and beautified by his Son _Philip_: and that is the meaning
of our Author when he saith:
_Into a little place which shall soon grow afterwards,_
_An inferiour place of a small County,_
For this _Escurial_ being seated in a Desert place of a County of
_Spain_, called _Castilia_, which the _Spanish_ vanity calleth a Kingdom,
(whose Use, Fruit, or Revenues, the said _Charles_ only reserved for his
maintenance) is now by the _Spaniards_ accounted to be the eighth wonder
of the World.
XXXIII.
French.
Pres d’un grand Pont de plaine spacieuse,
Le grand Lion par force, Cesarées,
Fera abatre hors Cité rigoureuse,
Par effroy portes luy seront reserrées.
English.
A great Bridge near a spacious Plain,
The great Lion by _Cæsarean_ Forces,
Shall cause to be pulled down, without the rigorous City,
For fear of which, the Gates shall be shut to him.
ANNOT.
The meaning of this is, that a great Captain, Commander of the Imperial
Forces, shall cause a Bridge that was built near a spacious Plain to be
thrown down. The City near the Bridge being terrified at it, shall shut
up their Gates against him.
XXXIV.
French.
L’Oiseau de proye volant a la Fenestre,
Avant conflict, fait au _Francois_ parure,
L’un bon prendra, l’autre ambigue sinistre,
La partie foible tiendra pour bonne augure.
English.
The Bird of Prey flying to the Window,
Before Battle, shall appear to the _French_;
One shall take a good omen of it, the other a bad one,
The weaker part shall hold it for a good sign.
ANNOT.
It is a Hawk which in presence of two Armies ready to give Battle,
shall fly to a window and perch upon it, in the presence of them all,
one of the Armies shall take it for a good sign; and the other, for an
ambiguous and sinister one. In Conclusion, the weaker party shall get the
Victory.
XXXV.
French.
Le Lion jeune le vieux surmontera,
En champ bellique par singulier Duelle,
Dans Cage dor Lœil il lui crevera,
Deux playes une puis mourir mort cruelle.
English.
The young Lion shall overcome the old one,
In Martial field by a single Duel,
In a Golden Cage he shall put out his Eye,
Two wounds from one, then he shall die a cruel death.
ANNOT.
This is one of the Prophecies that hath put our Author in credit, as well
for the clearness as for the true event of it.
_Cæsar Nostradamus_ our Authors son, in his History of _Provence_,
writeth that by this _Stanza_ his father intended to foretell the manner
of _Henry_ the second’s death.
The _French_ Histories relate that this great Prince desiring to honour
the Nuptial of his Daughter _Elizabeth_, married to _Philip_ II. King of
_Spain_, did appoint a Tournament to be kept in St. _Anthony_’s street in
_Paris_, where himself would be one of the Defendants against all comers,
and for that purpose chose for his companions and associates _Don Alfonso
d’Este_ Duke of _Ferrara_, and _Francis_ of _Lorrain_, Duke of _Guise_.
The Tornament being almost ended, in which the King had shewed much
Valour being mounted upon a Horse of the Duke of _Savoy_, _Philibert_’s,
_Emanuel_ his Brother in Law, this Duke intreated the King to leave off,
because he had got the Victory; and the weather was hot, and the night
drawing on: But this Martial King would need break one Launce more, and
commanded the Captain _Gabriel de Lorges_ to be called, a young and
valiant Lord and Captain of the _Scottish_ Guard. Being come, the King
commanded him to run against him, which he refused a great while; but the
King waxing angry, he obeyed, and set Spurs to his Horse, he did hit the
King in the lower part of his Beaver, the Launce was broken into shivers,
and the mean stump lifting up the Beaver, a splinter got in, and wounded
the King a little above the right _Eye_, where finding the Bone too hard,
it went very deep under the said _Eye_, and broke some Veins belonging to
the Membrane, called _Pia Mater_.
The blow was so violent that the King bended his head towards the lists,
and fell, into a Swound, being presently disarmed, they perceived the
splinter of the Launce in his _Eye_, and his face all bloody. He lived
ten days after, and died with great Convulsions, because the Sinews were
offended, whereupon he suffered grievous Torment.
His death was also foretold by _Luke Gaurick_ a great Astrologer, who
being constrained by the Queen _Catharine_ of _Medicis_, to tell her by
what kind of death her Husband should end his days, told her it should
be in a _Duel_, which made him to be hissed at, Kings being exempted of
those accidents.
According to this Narrative the Author calleth the King an old _Lion_,
and the Captain _Lorges_, since Earl of _Montgomery_, the _young Lion_;
because both fought like _Lions_. The _young Lion_ overcame the old one
in _Martial field_, and in a fight of one against one, and consequently a
_Duel_.
He overcame him by putting his _Eye_ out in a _Golden Cage_, that is, in
his Gilded Helmet.
Of which _Wound_ there came another, because the blood of some broken
Veins, creeping into the Brains by the vehement agitation of the head,
caused an Impostume there, which could not be remedied: therefore the
Author saith _two Wounds_ from one, that is, one wound made two: and the
King died of a cruel death, as we have said before.
XXXVI.
French.
Tard le Monarque se viendra repentir,
De navoir mis a Mort son Adversaire,
Mais viendra bien a plus haut consentir,
Que tout son sang par Mort sera deffaire.
English.
The Monarque shall too late repent,
That he hath not put to death his Adversary;
But he shall give his consent to a greater thing than that,
Which is to put to death all his Adversaries Kindred.
ANNOT.
The words of this are plain, though it be questionable whether the thing
is come to pass already, or not.
XXXVII.
French.
Un peu devant que le Soleil sabsconse,
Conflict donné, grand peuple dubieux,
Profligez, Port-Marin ne fait responce,
Pont & Sepulchre en deux estranges lieux.
English.
A little before the Sun setteth,
A Battle shall be given, a great people shall be doubtful,
Of being foiled, the Sea-Port maketh no answer,
A Bridge and Sepulchre shall be in two strange places.
ANNOT.
The two first verses I believe are concerning the Battle of Saint
_Denis_, which was fought in the Evening hard by _Paris_, and where the
Constable of _Montmorency_ was kill’d, which made that great people of
_Paris_ to be doubtful.
The other two Verses I leave to the interpretation of the Reader.
XXXVIII.
French.
Le Sol & l’Aigle Victeur paroistront,
Response vain au vaincu lon asseure,
Par Cor ne cris, harnois narresteront,
Vindicte paix, par Mort lacheve a l’heure.
English.
The Sun and the Eagle shall appear to the Victorious,
A vain Answer shall be made good to the vanquished,
By no means Arms shall not be stopped,
Vengeance maketh Peace, by death he then accomplisheth it.
ANNOT.
This Stanza being full of Figures and Equivoques, I will not interpose my
Judgement in it, lest I undertake too much, and perform too little.
XXXIX.
French.
De nuit dans le lit le supresme estranglé,
Pour avoir trop suborné blond esleu,
Par trois l’Empire subroge Exancle,
A mort mettra, Carte ne Pacquet leu.
English.
By night in the bed the chief one shall be strangled.
For having too much suborned fair Elect,
By three the Empire subrogate Exancle,
He shall put him to death, reading neither Card nor Packet.
ANNOT.
The Author hath purposely obscured this Prophecie in the third Verse,
to take away the Knowledge of it from the Reader; because the parties
concerned were then alive, _viz._ _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_, who
caused his only son _Don Carlo_ to be strangled in his bed, for suspicion
of being too familiar with his wife _Elizabeth_ of _France_, and Daughter
to _Henry_ II. The last Verse saith, that he was so implacable, that he
would read neither _Card_ nor _Packet_, that is, no requests.
XL.
French.
La tourbe fausse dissimilant folie,
Fera _Bizance_ un changement de loix,
Istra d’_Ægypt_ qui veus que l’on deslie,
Edict, changant Monnoys & alloys.
English.
The false Troup dissembling their folly,
Shall make in _Bizance_ an alteration of _Laws_.
One shall come out of _Ægypt_ who will have untied
The Edict, changing the Coin and allay.
ANNOT.
There is two things in this Prognostication, the first that in _Bizance_,
which is _Constantinople_, a _Troop_ of tumultuous persons gathered
together, and dissembling their folly, shall cause an alteration in the
_Laws_.
The other, that some _Bassa_ come out of _Ægypt_, shall perswade them at
_Constantinople_ to alter their _Coin_, and the allay of it.
XLI.
French.
Siege a Cité & de nuit assaille,
Peu eschapez non loing de Mer conflict,
Femme de joye, retour fils, de faillie,
Poison & Lettres caché dedans le plie.
English.
A Siege laid to a City, and assaulted by night,
Few escaped, a fight not far from the Sea,
A woman swoundeth for joy to see her son returned;
A poison hidden in the fold of Letters.
ANNOT.
After the taking of _Vulpian_, the _French_ came to _Montcalvo_, and in
the night surprized it by _Scalado_, and _Paradin_ saith, that not a drop
of Blood was shed on either side.
The Town being taken, the Citadel did hold out a good while, and at
last did surrender, _Don Arbre_, who was in the place of the Marques of
_Pescaire_, and of the Duke of d’_Alva_, knowing that the besieged had
not made a sufficient resistance, caused the Captain, and eleven more of
the chief ones to be hanged; because the place was of consequence, and
those within had not made a sufficient resistance.
The Author saith in the first Verse, Siege was laid to a City, that is,
it was resolved to besiege _Montcalvo_, as the Martial of _Brissac_ had
advised. In the execution it was assaulted by night, in the taking few
escaped; for they were all taken, and yielded to the Victorious. There
were none killed or wounded, all were taken, except few who ran away, and
carried the news to the _Spaniards_.
At the same time _a fight not far from the Sea_, that is, at the same
time there was another Battle by the Sea, between the _Spaniards_ and the
_Pope_, as we shall shew hereafter.
The third and fourth Verses are concerning a particular accident, which
happened presently after the taking of _Montcalvo_, which is, that a
woman seeing her Son come back safe, fell in a swound, or died for joy,
because knowing the danger wherein he was, she had lost all hopes of ever
seeing him. This fellow had brought Poison in a Letter to give to one
that had not rewarded him according to his desire. His wickedness being
discovered, his Master put him in Prison, whence he escaped, and came
back again to _Montcalvo_; the Author speaketh of the same in another
place, which we shall set down in its order.
XLII.
French.
Les dix Calendes d’_Avril_ de fait _Gothique_,
Resuscité encor par gens malins,
Le feu estaint, assemblée Diabolique,
Cherchant les Os de _Damant_ & _Psellin_.
English.
The tenth of the Calends of _April_, _Gothik_ account,
Raised up again by malitious persons,
The fire put out, a Diabolical assembly,
Shall seek for the Bones of _Damant_ and _Psellin_.
ANNOT.
The tenth of the Calends of _April_ is the 23. of _March_, _Gothik_
account signifieth the old account of the Calendar, before the
reformation of it by Pope _Gregory_ the XIII. which old account is called
here _Gothik_, because it is kept still by the Northern Nations, which do
not acknowledge the Pope, as _Sweden_, _Denmark_, _Holland_, _England_,
&c. at that time saith our Author, a Magician shall be raised up by
malitious persons; which fire or tumult being put out, that Diabolical
assembly will go about to seek the bones of two famous Magicians, _viz._
_Damant_ and _Psellin_ that were dead before.
XLIII.
French.
Avant qu’aviene le changement d’Empire,
Il adviendra un cas bien merveilleux,
Le Champ mué, le Pilier de _Porphyre_,
Mis, translaté sur le Rocher Noileux.
English.
Before the change of the Empire cometh,
There shall happen a strange accident,
A field shall be changed, and a Pillar of _Prophyry_,
Shall be transported upon the Chalky Rock.
ANNOT.
This will not seem incredible to those that have read the _English_
Chronicles, who relates that in a County of _England_ (I think it is
_Herefordshire_) there was an Earthquake, which transposed a large piece
of ground in another place, with the Trees that were in it, and if I
remember well, half a Chappel, those that have the Books may examine the
truth of the History, and satisfie themselves better.
XLIV.
French.
En bref seront de retour Sacrifices,
Contrevenans seront mis a Martyre,
Plus ne seront Moins, Abbez ne Novices,
Le Miel sera beaucoup plus cher que Cire.
English.
Within a little while Sacrifices shall come again,
Opposers shall be put to Martyrdom;
There shall be no more Monks, Abbots, nor Novices,
Honey shall be much dearer then Wax.
ANNOT.
This is a true Prophecy of the miserable condition of the Church and
Clergy in our Fore-fathers times, and chiefly of _Henry_ the II. in
_France_, and _Henry_ the VIII. in _England_, when in the beginning
of the Reformation there was such a confusion of opinions, and such
unsettledness in Ecclesiastical Government, that sometimes the Popish
party prevailed, and put to death the Opposers; at another time the
Protestants, who drove away the Monks, Abbots and Novices, as is
expressed here, and proved true in _Henry_ the VIII. time. As for what he
saith, that _Honey shall be much dearer than Wax_. It is to be understood
of the downfal of the Romish Religion, who maketh use of Wax Candles and
Tapers in their superstitious ceremonies, as if he would say, that the
Romish Religion being down, Wax shall be cheap, and Honey dear.
XLV.
French.
Secteur de Sectes, grand paine au Delateur,
Beste en Theatre, dresse le jeu Scenique,
Du fait antique ennobly l’Inventeur,
Par Sectes, Monde confus & Schismatique.
English.
Follower of Sects, great troubles to the Messenger,
A Beast upon the Theatre prepareth the Scenical play,
The Inventor of that wicked fact shall be famous,
By Sects the World shall be confounded and Schismatik.
ANNOT.
The Author being a Papist, is probable that in this Prophecy he aimed
at _Luther_, after whose coming the world hath been full of Sects and
Schisms.
XLVI.
French.
Tout aupres d’_Auch_, de _Lectoure_ & _Mirande_,
Grand feu du Ciel en trois nuits tombera,
Chose adviendra bien stupende & mirande,
Bien peu apres la Terre tremblera.
English.
Near _Auch_, _Lectoure_ and _Mirande_,
A great fire from Heaven shall fall three nights together,
A thing shall happen stupendious and wonderful,
A little while after, the Earth shall quake.
ANNOT.
_Auch_, _Lectoure_ and _Miranda_ are three Towns in _Guyenna_, a Province
of _France_, the chief City whereof is _Bourdeaux_. The rest is easie.
XLVII.
French.
Du Lac _Leman_ les Sermons fascheront,
Des jours seront reduits par des Sepmaines,
Puis mois, puis an, puis tous defalliront,
Les Magistrats damneront leurs Loix vaines.
English.
The Sermons of the _Leman_ Lake shall be troublesome,
Some days shall be reduced into weeks,
Then into months, then into year, then they shall fail,
The Magistrates shall condemn their vain Laws.
ANNOT.
The _Leman Lake_, in Latin _Lacus Lemanus_, is the Lake of _Geneva_,
therefore it is palpable, that by this Prophecy, the Author aimeth at
_Calvin_, and his Successors, who began the Reformation in that Town. I
leave the rest to the Readers Judgement, it is enough I have opened the
door.
XLVIII.
French.
Vingt ans du Regne de la Lune passez,
Sept mil ans autre tiendra sa Monarchie,
Quand le Soleil prendra ses jours laissez,
Lors accomplit & fine ma Prophecie.
English.
Twenty years of the Reign of the Moon being past,
Seven thousands years another shall hold his Monarchy,
When the Sun shall reassume his days past,
Then is fulfilled, and endeth my Prophecy.
ANNOT.
All this signifieth no more, but that the Authors Prophecies extend to
the end of the world.
XLIX.
French.
Beaucoup, beaucoup avant relics menées,
Ceux d’Orient par la vertu Lunaire,
L’An mil sept cens feront grands emmenées,
Subjugant presque le coin Aquilonaire.
English.
A great while before these doings,
Those of the East by the virtue of the Moon,
In the year _1700._ shall carry away great droves,
And shall subdue almost the whole Northern corner.
ANNOT.
I desire Posterity to take special notice of this _Stanza_, that in case
it should come to pass, our Author may be admired for the specification
of the time, which is so punctually set down, here that it admitteth no
ambiguity. The plain meaning is, that the _Turks_, which he calleth those
of the East. By the virtue of the Moon, which is their Ensign and Badge,
shall in the year 1700. carry away abundance of people, and shall subdue
almost the whole Northern Countrey, which to them is _Russia_, _Poland_,
_Hungary_, _Sweden_, _Denemark_, &c.
L.
French.
De l’Aquatique triplicity naistra,
Un qui fera le _Jeudy_ pour sa feste,
Son Bruit, Loz, Regne & puissance croistra,
Par Terre & Mer, aux Orients tempeste.
English.
From the Aquatick triplicity shall be born,
One that shall make _Thursday_ his Holiday,
His Fame, Praise, Reign, and Power shall grow,
By Land and Sea, and a Tempest to the East.
ANNOT.