is called _Lacus Lemanus_; the meaning then of this obscure Stanza, is,
(if I understand any thing) that a Monster shall be _born with three
Arms_, near one of those Lakes, which shall be a sign of great Wars: what
he meaneth by the _three Crowns to the great Endymion_, is unknown to me.
LXXIV.
French.
De _Sens_, d’_Autun_ viendront jusques au _Rhosne_,
Pour passer outre vers les Monts _Pyrenée_,
La gent sortir de la Marque d’_Ancone_,
Par Terre & Mer Suivra a grand trainées.
English.
They shall come from _Sens_ and _Autun_, as far as the _Rhosne_,
To go further to the _Pyrenean_ Mountains,
The Nation come from the Mark of _Ancona_,
By Land and Sea shall follow speedily after.
ANNOT.
_Sens_ and _Autun_ are two Cities in _France_, the _Pyrenean_ Mountains,
are those which divide _France_ from _Spain_.
LXXV.
French.
La voix ouie de l’Insolit oiseau,
Sur le Canon du respiral estage,
Si haut viendra du froment le boisseau,
Que l’homme d’homme sera _Antropophage_.
English.
The noise of the unwonted Bird having been heard,
Upon the Canon of the highest story,
The Bushel of Wheat shall rise so high,
That man of man shall be _Antropophage_.
ANNOT.
This is a prediction of a mighty Famine, wherein men shall eat up one
another, when an _unwonted Bird_ shall be seen and heard to cry, being
perched upon one of the biggest pieces of _Ordinance_.
_Antropophage_ is a Greek word, signifying a _Man-eater_, from ἄνθροπος,
_homo_, and φαγος, _comedens_, of which sort of men there be too many
already.
LXXVI.
French.
Foudre en _Bourgongne_ avec cas portenteux,
Que par engin oncques ne pourroit faire,
De leur Senat _Sacriste_ fait boiteux,
Fera Scavoir aux ennemis l’affaire.
English.
Lightning in _Burgundy_, with marvellous accidents,
Which could never have been done by art,
Of their Senate _Sacriste_ being lamed,
Shall make known the business to the enemies.
ANNOT.
The _Senate_ or Parliament of _Burgundy_, sits at _Dijon_, among them
there is always a Church-man, that is one of the Judges, to see that
nothing be done to the prejudice of the Church. I suspect that it is he,
that is called here _Sacriste_, and who shall reveal the business to the
_Enemies_. The two first Verses need no explication.
LXXVII.
French.
Par Arcs, Fœux, Poix, & par feux repoussez,
Cris hurlemens sur la minuit ouys,
Dedans sont mis par les rempars cassez,
Par Canicules les Traditeurs fuis.
English.
Being repulsed with Bows, Fires, and Pitch,
Cries and howlings shall be heard about midnight,
They shall get in through the broken Walls,
The betrayers shall run away through the Conduits.
ANNOT.
It is a Town Besieged, where after a repulse given to the Besiegers, they
shall get in by the Treason of some within, who shall run away through
the Conduits or Channels of the Town.
LXXVIII.
French.
Le grand _Neptune_ du profond de la Mer,
De sang punique & sang _Gaulois_ meslé,
Les Isles a sang pour le tardif ramer,
Plus luy nuira que loccult mal celé.
English.
The great _Neptune_ in the middle of the Sea,
Having joyned _African_ and _French_ blood,
The Islands shall be put to the Sword, and the slow rowing
Shall do them more prejudice, than the concealed evil.
ANNOT.
To understand this, you must know that Henry the II. King of _France_,
having renewed his Alliance with the Grand Seignior _Sultan Solyman_,
he asked him succours for to take _Nice_, which he pretended to belong
to the Earldom of _Provence_. To that purpose the Marshal of _Brissac_
went from Court with the Kings Army in the year 1557. to set upon _Nice_,
_Savona_, and _Genoa_, and so to hinder the _Spaniard_ from coming by
Sea in _Piemont_, and the _Milanese_. The _Turk_ sent him a good Fleet,
consisting of 105. Galleys, and 14. Galliots.
The _French_ Fleet consisted of 26 Galleys, of which the great Prior was
Admiral, who went with them from the Castle of _Yf_, the 9. of _June_
1558.
Being at Sea, and not knowing where the _Turkish_ Fleet was, he went to
and fro to seek it out, at last he found it pillaging and plundering
the Island of _Minorica_. The _Turks_ had already taken the chief Town,
where 800. _Turks_ were killed, which so incensed the rest, that they set
the Town on fire; then going up and down the Countrey, they took 5000.
Prisoners, and if the Lords of _Carces_ and _Vence_ had not stayed them,
they would have ruinated the whole Island.
Then forsaking the Island, they joyned with the _French_, but the
perfidious _Bassa_ being bribed by the _Genoeses_, and those of _Nice_,
went slowly to work, and at last retreated without doing any thing for
the _French_. This is the relation of _Cæsar Nostradamus_, in his History
of _Provence_ under _Henry_ the II. and according to this the Author
saith, that _the great Neptune in the middle of the Sea, shall joyn
~French~ and ~African~ blood_. _Neptune_ signifieth the _Mediterranean
Sea_.
_The Islands shall be put to the Sword_, by the taking of _Minorica_,
after which the _Turks_ being bribed, went slowly to work, and in
conclusion did nothing of consequence.
The third and fourth Verse adds, that this _Bassa_’s slow rowing, _shall
do them more prejudice then the concealed evil_; that is, shall do more
damage to the _French_ by his hidden design of the Bassa of not serving
the _French_; because this slowness of the Bassa spoiled the _French_
activity, lessened their provisions, and at last discouraged them;
whereas if the _Turks_ had not come, the _French_ Galleys alone were able
to take _Nice_.
LXXIX.
French.
La Barbe crespe & noire par engin,
Subjuguera la gent cruelle & fiere,
Le grand _Cheyren_ ostera du longin,
Tous les Captifs par _Seline_ Baniere.
English.
The frizled and black Beard by fighting,
Shall overcome the fierce and cruel Nation,
The great _Cheyren_ shall free from Bands,
All the Captives made by _Selyne_ Standard.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy was fulfilled in the year 1571. upon the seventh day of
_October_, when that famous Battle of _Lepanto_ was fought between the
Christians and the Turks, the General of the Christians being _Don Juan
of Austria_, whom he calleth here the _frizled and black Beard_.
In this Battle the Christians lost 7566. men, and the Turks about 32000.
besides 220. Ships of all sorts, and all the Christian slaves released
that were in them. By the _Selyne_ Banner is understood that of the great
Turk, whose name at that time was _Selyne_. By the great _Cheyren_ is
understood _Henry_ the II. King of _France_, who redeemed many slaves,
for _Cheyren_ by transposition of Letters is _Henry_.
LXXX.
French.
Apres conflit du læse l’Eloquence,
Par peu de temps se trame Saint repos,
Point l’on admet les grand a delivrance.
Des ennemis sont remis a propos.
English.
After the Battle, the eloquency of the wounded man,
Within a little while shall procure a holy rest,
The great ones shall not be delivered,
But shall be left to their Enemies will.
ANNOT.
After the Battle of St. _Laurence_, the Prisoners taken by the _Spaniard_
were the Constable of _France_, the Dukes of _Montpensier_, of
_Longueville_, the Marshal S. _André_, _Ludovic_ Prince of _Mantua_, the
_Rhingrave_ Colonel of the _Germans_, the Earl of _la Rochefoucaud_, and
several other persons of quality.
They were Prisoners from the _10th_ of _August_ 1557. to the third of
_April_ 1559. that is, one year and eight Months; during which time the
Pope’s _Nuncios_, _Christierne_ Dutchess Dowager of _Lorraine_, the
Constable, and Marshal St. _André_ endeavoured to make the peace.
Among them the Constable was chief, and _Philip_ the II. King of _Spain_
gave him leave to go to and fro upon his Paroll; and of him it is our
Author speaketh in the first Verse; _After the Battle the eloquency of
the wounded man_, that is after the Battle of _Saint Laurence_, where the
Constable of _Monmorency_ was wounded in the hip. His eloquency procured
the peace, which was concluded in a short time, for had it not been for
the death of Queen _Mary_ of _England_, that happened upon the 15 of
_November_ 1558. it should have been concluded three Months after the
conference that was begun in the Abbey of _Cercamp_ near _Cambray_.
The third Verse saith, that _the great ones shall not be delivered_,
because during the Treaty of Peace, _Philip_ the II. would not hearken
to take any Ransom, but they were kept Prisoners till the Peace. It is
the meaning of the fourth Verse, when it saith, _but shall be left to the
Enemies will_, _viz._ the _Spaniards_ who gave them liberty after the
Peace.
LXXXI.
French.
Par feu du Ciel la Cité presqu’aduste,
L’Urne menace encor _Deucalion_,
Vexée _Sardaigne_ par la punique fuste,
Apres le _Libra_ lairra son _Phaeton_.
English.
By fire from Heaven the City shall be almost burnt,
The Waters threatens another _Deucalion_,
_Sardaigne_ shall be vexed by an _African_ Fleet,
After that _Libra_ shall have left her _Phaeton_.
ANNOT.
All is plain but the last Verse, the sense of which is, that the things
before spoken, shall happen when the Sun is newly come out of the sign of
_Libra_.
LXXVII.
French.
Par faim la proye fera Loup prisonier,
L’Assaillant lors en extresme detresse,
Lesnay ayant au devant le dernier,
Le grand neschape au milieu de la presse.
English.
By hunger, the prey shall make the Wolf prisoner,
Assaulting him then in a great distress,
The eldest having got before the last,
The great one doth not escape in the middle of the crowd.
ANNOT.
The two first Verses signifie, that an hungry Wolf seeking for a Prey,
shall be caught in some trap, where being almost famished, the Prey shall
assault him. The last two Verses being obscure and not material to any
thing I have neglected them.
LXXXIII.
French.
Le gros Traffic d’un grand Lion changé,
La pluspart tourne en pristine ruine,
Proye aux Soldats par playe vendangé,
Par _Jura Mont_, & _Sueve_ bruine.
English.
The great Trade of a great Lion alter’d,
The most part turneth into its former ruine,
Shall become a Prey to Soldiers and reaped by wound,
In _Mont-Jura_, and _Suaube_ great Foggs.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy is concerning the City of _Lion_ in _France_, which is
a Town of an exceeding great Trade, and is threatned to suffer an
alteration, and a decay by War.
The last Verse is concerning a great Mist or Fogg, which shall be upon
_Mont-Jura_ and in _Suabeland_.
LXXXIV.
French.
Entre _Campagne_, _Sienne_, _Pise_ & _Ostié_,
Six mois neuf jours ne pleuvra une goute,
L’Estrange Langue en Terre _Dalmatie_,
Courira sus vastant la Terre toute.
English.
Between _Campania_, _Sienna_, _Pisa_ and _Ostia_,
For six Months and nine days there shall be no rain,
The strange Language in _Dalmatia_’s Land,
Shall overrun, spoiling all the Countrey.
ANNOT.
All those places mentioned, in the first Verse are seated in _Italy_; the
Author saith that in that Countrey it shall not rain for the space of six
Months and nine days, which if it be past, or to come, I know not.
The two last Verses signifie, that a strange Nation shall come into
_Dalmatia_, and overrun and spoil all that Countrey.
LXXXV.
French.
Le vieux plein barbe soubs le statut severe,
A Lion fait dessus l’Aigle Celtique,
Le petit grand trop outre persevere,
Bruit d’Arme au Ciel, Mer rouge _Ligustique_.
English.
The old plain beard under the severe Statute,
Made at _Lion_ upon the _Celtique_ Aigle,
The little great persevereth too far,
Noise of Arms in the Skie, the _Ligustrian_ Sea made red.
ANNOT.
I could scrape no sense out of the first three Verses; the last
signifieth, that a noise of Arms shall be heard in the Skies, and that
the _Ligustrian_ Sea, which is that of _Genoa_, shall be made red with
blood, when the former prodigy hath appeared.
LXXXVI.
French.
Naufrage a classe pres d’Onde _Adriatique_,
La Terre tremble emeue sur l’Air en Terre mis
_Ægypt_ tremble augment Mahometique,
L’Heraut soy rendre a crier est commis.
English.
A Fleet shall suffer Shipwrack near the _Adriatick_ Sea,
The Earth quaketh, a motion of the Air cometh upon the Land,
_Ægypt_ trembleth for fear of the Mahometan increase.
The Herald surrendring shall be appointed to cry.
ANNOT.
In the two first Verses is foretold a great storm by the _Adriatick_ Sea,
in which a Fleet shall be dispersed, and many suffer Shipwrack.
The two last Verses relate the great fear _Ægypt_ was in, when the great
Turk _Sultan Selyn_ went to conquer it.
The last Verse is concerning a Herald, which was surrendered to the
contrary party, and by them was appointed to perform that office in their
behalf.
LXXXVII.
French.
Apres viendra des extremes Contrées,
Prince _Germain_ dessus Throsne d’Oré,
La servitude & les Eaux rencontrées,
La Dame serve son temps plus n’adoré.
English.
After that shall come out of the remote Countreys,
A _German_ Prince upon a gilded Throne,
The slavery and waters shall meet,
The Lady shall serve, her time no more worshipped.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy is concerning _Gustavus Adolphus_ King of _Swedeland_, who
is called _German_ Prince, because his Ancestors came out of _Germany_,
he came out of a remote Countrey, that is _Swedeland_, he came upon a
gilded Throne, that is a Ship gilded, he shall make slavery and waters
meet, because as soon as he was Landed he began to conquer, and to subdue
that Lady (_viz. Germania_) that was no more worshipped since as she was
before.
LXXXVIII.
French.
Le Circuit du grand fait ruineux,
Le nom septiesme du cinquiesme sera,
D’un tiers plus grand l’estrange belliqueux,
De _Ram_, _Lutece_, _Aix_ ne garentira.
English.
The circumference of the ruinous building,
The seventh name shall be that of the fifth,
From a third, one greater, a Warlike man,
_Aries_ shall not 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 _Aix_, 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 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 lon 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 Neveu,
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 conflagration.
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 respersé 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 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 mystical 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 θεόλογος 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_.