as he relateth in his Commentaries, did surprise the Town and Fort of
_Piance_, called in Latine _Corsinianum_, he had with him the Captain _la
Charry_, the Captain _Bartholomew_ of _Pezero_, and the son of Captain
_Luzzan_. At first the _French_ were beaten back, but the valliant
_Monluc_ did encourage them again by his example, going the first in, and
saying only, _follow your Captain_.
Which having said, he thrust himself under the Gate, where three or four
men might stand sheltered by the planks of the Fort, and having his Sword
in the left hand, and his dagger in the right, he began to break and cut
the Brick and made a hole, which opening by degrees, he thrust his arm
through, and pulled the gap so strongly, that he caused all the Wall to
fall down upon himself, without being hurt by it. This is the meaning
of the Author in the fourth Verse; when he saith, _the quick Gascon was
behind the Wall_; In prosecution of this, the Switzers did beat down the
rest of the Wall, and all came into the Town crying, _France, France_.
_Monluc_ ran presently to the Fort, and with the help of his men took it,
that is the meaning of the Author, when he saith, _old and new Pallace
to graple_. The old Pallace was adjoining to the Market-place of the
Town, in which the _French_ were prisoners with the Captain _Gourgues_,
to the number of fifty or sixty tied two and two, and so kept by twenty
Souldiers, whom they did kill as we have said. The new Pallace was
the Fort. The Author used that ancient word _grapper_, which in the
_Provencal_ languague signifieth, to pull down with ones hands, and in
the contrary sense, to shut and plaister so well some thing, that there
will be a necessity of the help of the hands to open what was shut up.
XL.
French.
Pres de _Quentin_ dans la Forest _Bourlis_,
Dans l’Abbaye seront _Flamands_ tranchez,
Les deux puisnez de coups my estourdis,
Suitte appressée & gardes tous hachez.
English.
Near _Quentin_ in the Forrest _Bourlis_,
In the Abby the _Flemmings_ shall be slashed,
The two younger sons half a stonished with blows,
The followers oppressed, and the Guards all cut in pieces.
ANNOT.
This is a peculiar accident that happened before the taking of the
Town of Saint _Quentin_ by the _Spaniard_ in the year 1557. and fell
out thus. News being come to the King of _France_, that the powerful
Army of the _Spaniard_ was gone to Besiege St. _Quentin_, he made all
imaginable diligence to succour it; the _Spaniards_ to hinder the relief
had seized upon an ancient Abby of the _Vermandois_, which is in the
next Forrest, that was anciently called the Forrest _Bourlis_, and is at
present called the Forrest of the _Abbay Vermandois_, called in Latine
_Augusta Veromanduorum_, builded by an ancient _Hungarian_ Captain called
_Vermandig_. In process of time it was all ruinated, and only one Abby
left, wherein was the Episcopal See, which afterwards was transferred
into the City of _Noyon_. After the ruine of this Town, that of St.
_Quentin_ next to it became the chief City of _Vermandois_; It was named
St. _Quentin_, because the Emperor _Dioclesian_ having sent St. _Quentin_
a _Roman_ Senator to be Governour of it, he did convert the Inhabitants
to the Christian Faith, and after he himself did suffer there Martyrdom.
In that Abby a great many _Flemmings_ had intranched themselves, but
the _French_ going to relieve the Town, did force their Trenches and
Fortifications, and in the heat of the fight the two younger Sons of the
Captain being armed _Cap a pée_, though they were not killed, yet were
astonished with blows they did receive upon their heads, their followers
and Guards being all cut in pieces.
XLI.
French.
Le grand _Chyren_ soy saisir d’_Avignon_,
De _Rome_ Lettres en miel plein d’amertume,
Lettre, Ambassade partir de _Chanignon_,
_Carpentras_ pris par Duke noir, rouge plume.
English.
The great _Cheyren_ shall seize upon _Avignon_,
Letters from _Rome_ shall come full of bitterness,
Letters and Embassies shall go from _Chanignon_,
_Carpentras_ taken by a black Duke with a red Feather.
ANNOT.
This did happen lately, _viz._ some five or six years ago, when the Duke
of _Crequy_ Embassadour at _Rome_ was affronted by the _Corses_, which
are the Popes Guard: for which the King of _France_ demanded reparation,
and seized upon _Avignon_, till the Pope granted him that all the said
_Corses_ should be banished, and a Pyramis erected in _Rome_ to the
perpetual infamy of that Nation.
XLII.
French.
De _Barcelonne_, de _Gennes_ & _Venise_,
De la _Sicile_ pres _Monaco_ unis,
Contre Barbare classe prendront la vise,
Barbar poulsé bien loing jusqu’a _Thunis_.
English.
From _Barcelona_, from _Genoa_ and _Venice_,
From _Sicily_ near _Manaco_ united,
Against the Barbarian the fleet shall take her aim,
The Barbarian shall be driven back as far as _Thunis_.
ANNOT.
The sense of these words is very plain and signifieth onely, that there
will be an union and League between these Towns, _viz._ _Barcelona_,
_Genoa_, _Vinice_, and the Kingdom of _Sicily_ against the Turks, whom
they shall encounter near _Monaco_, and put them to flight, and follow
them as far as _Tunis_.
XLIII.
French.
Proche a descendre l’Armée _Crucigere_,
Sera guettée par les _Ismaelites_,
De tous costez battus par nef _Raviere_,
Prompt assailies de dix Galeres d’eslite.
English.
The _Crucigere_ Army being about to Land,
Shall be watched by the _Ismaelites_,
Being beaten on all sides by the Ship _Raviere_,
Presently assaulted by ten chosen Galleys.
ANNOT.
By the _Crucigere_ Army is understood the Christian Army, because the
word _Crucigere_ signifieth one that beareth a Cross, from the two
Latine words _Crux_ and _gero_; the _Ismaelites_ are the _Turks_, who
boast themselves to be descended from _Ismael_, the son of _Abraham_
and _Agar_, the meaning of this is, that the Christians going about to
attempt some landing place, the Turks shall watch them, and set upon
them by Land and Sea, in which Sea fight he mentioneth only ten choice
Galleys, and a notable Ship called _Raviere_, (if it be not false
printed) I am much of an opinion that this came to pass when _Philip_
the II. King of _Spain_ made an attempt upon _Algiers_, by his Admiral
_André d’Oria_, who had to do with the _Moores_ upon the Land, ready to
receive him, and some part of their fleet that watched him, but cross and
contrary winds caused him to return _re infecta_.
XLIV.
French.
Migrez, migrez de _Geneve_ tretous,
_Saturne_ d’Or en Fer se changera,
Le contre _Raypoz_ exterminera tous,
Avant l’advent le Ciel signes sera.
English.
Go forth, go forth out of _Geneva_ all,
_Saturn_ of gold, shall be changed into Iron,
They against _Raypos_ shall extermine them all,
Before it happeneth, the Heavens will shew signs.
ANNOT.
[Sidenote: _Called here against Raypos._]
This is a Prophecy concerning _Geneva_, out of which he warneth every
one to come; his reason is, that the golden Age of that Town shall be
changed into an Iron one; and that there shall be one against _Raypos_,
that shall extermine them all, before which there shall appear some signs
in Heaven. Now the Author being a rank Papist, it is to be supposed that
he warneth out of _Geneva_ all those of his Faith, because of the coming
of _Calvin_, whom he foresaw was to come into that Town, and to change
the Government thereof, and to _extermine them all_, which is to be
understood, in point of Religion, as for what prodigies did precede that
change; I had no time to consult Authors upon it, the judicious Reader
may chance to find them in those that have written of this matter.
XLV.
French.
Ne sera soul jamais de demander,
Grand _Mendosus_ obtiendra son Empire,
Loing de la Cour fera contremander,
_Piemont_, _Picard_, _Paris_, _Tyrhen_ le pire.
English.
He shall never be weary of asking,
Great _Mendosus_ shall obtain his dominion,
Far from the Court he shall cause him to be countermanded,
_Piemont_, _Picardy_, _Paris_, _Tyrhen_ the worse.
ANNOT.
By _Mendosus_, is Anagrammatically to be understood _Vendosme_; but who
is that shall never be weary of asking, or whose Dominion _Vendosme_
shall have, or what is meant by the last two Verses, passeth my
understanding.
XLVI.
French.
Vuidez fuyez de _Thoulouse_ les rouges,
Du Sacrifice faire expiation,
Le Chef du mal dessoubs l’ombre des courges,
Mort estrangler carne omination.
English.
Get you gone, run away from _Thoulouse_ ye red ones,
There shall expiation be made of the Sacrifice,
The chief cause of the evil under the shade of gourdes,
Shall be strangled, a presage of the destruction of much flesh.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy doth onely and properly belong to the City of _Thoulouse_;
and by it are warned all the red ones, that is, all those that usually
wear Red or Scarlet Gowns, as those of the Parliament and the Capitols
to come out of it, because saith he, _There shall an expiation be made
of the Sacrifice_, meaning that there shall be a great slaughter among
the Citizens, as it did happen at several times, the first _Anno_ 1563.
another time when the first President _Durauti_, and several other of the
red Gowns were put to death, _&c._ The two last Verses signifie, that
the chief contriver of this uproar shall be strangled, and many others
besides him.
XLVII.
French.
Les soubsignez d’indigne deliverance,
Et de la multe auront contre advis,
Change Monarque mis en perrille pence,
Serrez en cage se verront vis a vis.
English.
The underwritten to an unworthy deliverance,
Shall have from the multitude a contrary advice,
They shall change their Monarch and put him in peril,
They shall see themselves shut up in a Cage over against.
ANNOT.
This is plainly to be understood of those Traytors, the delivered and
signed the death of King _Charles_ the I. of blessed Memory, against the
sense and advise of at least three parts of four of the Nation, and who
afterward saw themselves for the most part shut in Prison for this fact
and brought to a shameful end.
XLVIII.
French.
La grand Cité d’Occean Maritime,
Environnée de Marests en Crystal,
Dans le _Solstice_ hyemal & la prime,
Sera tentée de vent espouvental.
English.
The great Maritime City of the Ocean,
Encompassed with Chrystaline Fens,
In the Winter _Solstice_ and in the spring,
Shall be tempted with fearful wind.
ANNOT.
By _the great Maritime City of the Ocean, Encompassed with Crystaline
Fens_, is to be understood the City of _London_, for as for that of
_Venice_, it is situated upon the _Mediterranean_ or rather _Adriatick_
Sea: _London_ then is threatned here of a fearful wind, which whether
the Author meaneth for the time that is past now, and that shall come
hereafter I know not, sure I am, that I have within this fifteen years
seen two such winds in _London_, as I never saw the like any where else;
the first was that day that _Olivier_ the Usurpator died, the other
was about six or seven years ago, caused by the lightning that fell in
_Hereford-shire_, and did mix with a Western wind and came as far as
_London_, carrying the tops of houses, and doing then for above 10000.
pounds dammage.
XLIX.
French.
_Gand_ & _Bruxelles_ marcheront contre _Anvers_,
Senat de _Londres_ mettront a mort leur Roy,
Le Sel & Vin luy seront a l’envers,
Pour eux avoir le Regne or desarroy.
English.
_Gand_ and _Bruxelles_ shall go against _Antwerp_,
The Senat of _London_ shall put their King to death,
The Salt and Wine shall not be able to do him good,
That they may have the Kingdom into ruine.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy taken with all its circumstances, and the subject it
treateth of, is the most remarkable of all those that ever _Nostradamus_
was Author of, for here we see a concatenation of circumstances linked
together, to make it true to any bodies eyes, for first the number of
this Stanza being 49, signifieth the year wherein the King died, for
although by the _English_ account, who begin their year at the 25. of
_March_, it may be said it was in 48, because it did happen upon the
30_th._ of _January_, yet according to the general account of the most
part of the World, the year begin upon the first day of _January_, so
that the King dying on the 30_th._ of _January_, it may be said it was in
the year 1649.
The first Verse signifieth, that at that time there was no good
intelligence between the Cities of _Flanders_ and _Brabant_, as I
remember very well that there was not, but upon what score, I have
forgotten.
The second Verse is plain to any body that can either read or hear it.
The third Verse by _the Salt and Wine_, understandeth _France_, who was
then in War with the _Spaniard_, and in some divisions among themselves,
so that they could not take the Kings part as to relieve and free him by
force, but sent Embassadours to mediate a composure of the difference.
The fourth Verse intimateth that by reason of the said Wars that were
in _France_, the said murdering Parliament had liberty to do what they
listed for the bringing the Kingdom into ruine.
L.
French.
_Mensodus_ tost viendra a son haut Regne,
Mettant arriere un peu le _Norlaris_,
Le rouge blesme, le masle a l’interregne,
Le jeune crainte & frayeur Barbaris.
English.
_Mensodus_ shall soon come to his high Government,
Putting a little aside the _Norlaris_,
The red, pale, the Male at the interreigne,
The young fear, and dread barbarisme.
ANNOT.
_Mensodus_ is the Anagramme of _Vendosme_, by which is meant _Antony_ of
_Bourbon_ Duke of _Vendosme_, brother to the then Prince of _Condé_, and
father to _Henry_ IV. _Norlaris_ is the Anagram of _Lorrain_; now any
body that understandeth any thing in History, knoweth what dissention
and feud there was between the House of _Bourbon_, and that of _Lorrain_
in the time of _Francis_ the II. for the House of _Bourbon_, though next
to the Royal blood, was the least in favour, and those of the House of
_Lorrain_ did Govern all, and had so far prevailed as to have got the
Prince of _Condé_ into their hands, and had him condemned to have his
head cut of, which would have been executed, had not the King that very
day fallen sick of the disease he died of. Now this being understood our
Author will have that _Mensodus_, which is _Vendosme_ shall lay aside the
_Norlaris_, that is _Lorrein_. By _the red pale_ is meant the Cardinal of
_Lorrain_, brother to the Duke of _Guise_, who grew pale at this. By _the
male at the interreigne_ is so obscure, that we leave it to the judgement
of the Reader.
LI.
French.
Contre les rouges Sectes se banderont,
Feu, eau, fer, corde, par paix se minera,
Au point mourir ceux qui machineront,
Fors un que monde sur tout ruinera.
English.
Against the red, Sects shall gather themselves,
Fire, water, iron, rope, by peace it shall de destroyed,
Those that shall conspire shall not be put to death,
Except one, who above all shall undo the World.
ANNOT.
The name of _red Sects_, may very well be applied to the Protestants of
_France_, against whom in those days it seemed that fire, Water, Iron and
Rope had conspired, for they were put to death by each one of those fatal
instruments for their Religion sake. This is a lively expression of the
unhappy Massacre of the Protestants in _France_ upon St. _Bartholomews_
day 1572.
The two last Verses signifie, that all the Contrivers of that Councel,
were of opinion at first to proceed some other way, but only the Duke of
_Guise_, who was the principal actor in it, and whom our Author saith,
did undo the world; for he was the cause of mischief, not only then but
ofterwards.
LII.
French.
La paix sapproche d’un cosié & la guerre,
Oncques ne fut la poursuite fi grande,
Plaindre homme & femmene sang Innocent par Terre,
Et ce sera de _France_ a toute bande.
English.
Peace is coming on one side and War on the other,
There was never so great a pursuing,
Man, Woman shall bemoan, Innocent blood shall be spilt,
It shall be in _France_ on all sides.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy was fulfilled in the Reign of _Charles_ the IX. in the
year 1558. when the peace was treated of, and concluded the year after
1559. the War on the other side begun to appear by the raising of the
Protestants, who begun publickly their opinion in the time of _Francis_
the II. and _Charles_ the IX.
There was never seen such a prosecution of War and of Peace together; for
there was never an estate more embroiled in Wars than that of _Charles_
the IX. was, nor where Peace was more sought after; for there was nothing
but Wars and treaties of Peace, Men and Women did complain on all
sides, for the wrong and dammages they received from both parties, the
Protestants believing to do God a good service in destroying Images, and
killing Priests and Monks. And the Papists on the other side thinking to
make a sweet Sacrifice unto God, in practising the same cruelties upon
the Protestants, and so in all corners of _France_ every one did set
himself to do evil.
LIII.
French.
Le _Neron_ jeune dans les trois Cheminées,
Sera de Pages vifs pour ardoir ietter,
Heureux qui loin sera de tels menées,
Trois de son sang le feront mort guetter.
English.
The young _Nero_ in the three Chimneys.
Shall cause Pages to be thrown to be burnt alive,
Happy shall he be who shall be far from this doing,
Three of his own blood shall cause him to be put to death.
ANNOT.
A young Tyrant called here _Nero_, shall cause some Pages to be burnt
alive in three Chimneys, and afterwards himself shall be put to death by
three of his own blood, this fact savoureth so much of bestial cruelty,
that I cannot belive any Christian Prince can ever be guilty of it.
LIV.
French.
Arrivera au port de _Corsibonne_,
Pres de _Ravenne_, qui pillera la Dame,
En Mer profonde legat de _Ulisbone_,
Soubs Roc cachez raviront septante ames.
English.
There shall come into the Port of _Corsibonne_,
Near _Ravenna_, those that shall plunder the Lady,
In the deep Sea shall be the Embassador of _Lisbonne_,
The hidden under the Rock, shall carry away seventy Souls.
ANNOT.
The Port of _Corsibonne_, must of necessity be that of _Ancona_; first
because there is no Port of the former name near the City of _Ravenna_.
Secondly, because _Ancona_ is near _Ravenna_.
By the Lady is meant the Chappel or Church of our Lady of _Loretto_,
which is threatned here to be plundred by some _Turks_ or Pyrates,
inticed thereunto by the manifold riches that are said to be therein.
The third Verse speaketh of a _Portugues_ Embassador, who it seemeth
shall be drowned or buried in the main Sea.
The fourth Verse giveth warning of some Robbers and Pyrates, very like to
be _Turks_, who being in Ambuscado, and shrouded among the Rocks by the
Sea side, shall carry away seventy Souls.
LV.
French.
L’Horrible guerre qu’en Occident s’appreste,
L’An ensuivant viendra la Pestilence,
Si fort terrible, que jeune, viel, ne beste,
Sang, feu, _Mercu._ _Mars_, _Jupiter_ en _France_.
English.
An horrid War is a preparing in the West,
The next year shall come the Plague,
So strangly terrible, that neither young nor old, nor beast shall
escape
Blood, fire, _Mercu._ _Mars_, _Jupiter_ in _France_.
ANNOT.
That word _a preparing_ in the first Verse, signifieth that he speaketh
of a time, wherein War was a making ready, when he was a writing.
The _West_, of which our Author speaketh, is not formerly the West which
is _Spain_, but is the West respectively to his Countrey of _Provence_,
which is _Picardy_, _Lorrain_, and the Countrey of _Mets_, in all these
Places that are Westerly from _Provence_, there was great Wars in the
year 1557 in _Picardy_ in the year 1558. at _Calais_ and _Thionville_,
and at last from the middle of that year to the end of it, were seen two
great Armies of both Kings, which threatned a horrid slaughter, had not
God Almighty provided against it by the treaty of Peace of the _3d._ of
_April_ 1559 the year following, which was 1559. there did happen what he
foretelleth, _viz._, the Plague so strangely terrible to Young, Old, and
Beasts _&c._
And in those quarters there was nothing but Fire and Blood; that is,
Massacres and ruines of all sorts, then did Rule in _France_, the three
Planets of _Jupiter_, _Mars_ and _Mercury_, _Jupiter_ and _Mercury_, for
the peace that was then concluded, and _Mars_ for the War that was then
on foot.
The History of _Provence_ mentioneth, that that Pestilence was called by
the Physitians, _Febris erratica_, by which within the space of five or
six Months, died almost an infinite number of people.
LVI.
French.
Camp prés de _Noudam_ pasiera _Goussanville_,
Et a _Maiotes_ laissera son enseigne,
Convertira en instant plus de mille,
Cherchant le deux remettre en chaine & legne.
English.
A Camp shall by _Noudam_ go beyond _Goussanville_,
And shall leave its Ensign at _Maiotes_,
And shall in an instant convert above a thousand,
Seeking to put the two parties in good understanding together.
ANNOT.
These three words of _Noudam_, _Goussanville_, and _Maiotes_ are three
little inconsiderable Countrey Towns, situated near one another; the
meaning then of it is, that an Army near _Noudam_, shall go through
_Goussanville_, and shall in an instant convert, that is, draw to his
party above a thousand of the contrary party, the business being about
the procuring of a good understanding and amity between two great ones.
LVII.
French.
Au lieu de _Drux_ un Roy reposera,
Et cherchera Loy changeant d’Anatheme,
Pendant le Ciel si tresfort Tonnera,
Portée neufve Roy tuera soy mesme.
English.
In the place of _Drux_ a King shall rest himself,
And shall seek Law changing Anatheme,
In the mean while the Heaven shall Thunder so strongly,
That a new gate shall kill the King him self.
ANNOT.
_Drux_ is a City in _Normandy_, near which _Henry_ the IV. got a
memorable victory.
It is said that in that place a King shall rest himself, and shall
endeavour to change Religion, but at that time it shall Thunder and
Lighten so much, that by the fall of a new gate, the King himself shall
be killed.
LVIII.
French.
Au costé gauche a lendroit de _Vitry_,
Seront guettez les trois rouges de _France_,
Tous assommez rouge, noir non meurdry,
Par les _Bretons_ remis en asseurance.
English.
On the left hand over against _Vitry_,
The three red ones of _France_ shall be watched for,
All the red shall be knockt dead, the black not murdered,
By the _Britains_ set up again in security.
ANNOT.
What is meant here by the three red ones of _France_ is hard to decide,
whether they be Cardinals or Judges; because both wear commonly Scarlet
Gowns, or some Noblemen cloathed in Scarlet, but it seemeth by this
that there shall be a lying in wait for four men, three of which shall
be cloathed in Red, and one in Black, those in Red shall be knockt down
dead, but he in Black shall not, and this is to be done on the left hand,
over against _Vitry_, which is a City in _Champagne_.
LIX.
French.
A la _Ferté_ prendra la _Vidame_,
_Nicol_ tenu rouge quavoit produit la vie,
La grand _Loyse_ naistra qui fera clame,
Donnant _Bourgongne_ a _Bretons_ par envie.
English.
In the _Ferté_ the _Vidame_ shall take
_Nicol_, reputed red, whom life hath produced,
The great _Lewis_ shall be born, who shall lay claim,
Giving _Burgundy_ to the _Britains_, through envy.
ANNOT.
This Stanza wanting both quantity in the Cadence of the Verse, and
Connexion in the sense, sheweth that it is either falsly printed, or else
the Author had no mind it should be understood; we shall only say, the
_Ferté_ is a Town in _Champagne_. _Vidame_ is a Lords Title in _France_,
of which there are but four of that sort, and are called in Civil Law
_Vicedominus_, who by his first Institution, was temporal Judge of the
Bishop; the first of those _Vidames_ or _Vicedomini_ in _France_, is that
of _Amiens_, the second of _Chartres_, the third of _Rhemes_, and the
fourth of _Gerberon_.
LX.
French.
Conflict _Barbare_ en la Cornere noire,
Sang espandu trembler la _Dalmatie_,
Grand _Ismael_ mettra son promontoire,
Ranes trembler, secours _Lusitanie_.
English.
A _Barbarian_ fight in the black Corner,
Blood shall be spilt, _Dalmatia_ shall tremble for fear,
Great _Ismael_ shall set up his promontory,
Frogs shall tremble, _Portugal_ shall bring succour.
ANNOT.