Pour ne vouloir consentir au divorce,
Qui puis apres sera cogneu indigne,
Le Roy des Isles sera chassé par force,
Mis a son lien qui de Roy n’aura signe.
English.
For not consenting to the divorce,
Which afterwards shall be acknowledged unworthy,
The King of the Island shall be expelled by force,
And another subrogated, who shall have no mark of a King.
ANNOT.
This is plain concerning _England_ and the late calamities thereof,
when our gracious King for not consenting to the wicked factions of the
Parliament then, and that have been acknowledged so since, was expelled
by force, and an Usurpator that had not the least sign of a King sat in
his place.
XXIII.
French.
Au peuple ingrat faites les remonstrances,
Par lors l’Armée se saisira d’_Antibe_,
Dans larc _Monech_ feront les doleances,
Et a _Freius_ l’un l’autre prendra ribe.
English.
The remonstrances being made to the ungrateful people,
At that time the Army shall seize upon _Antibe_,
In the River of _Monaco_ they shall make their complaints,
And at _Freius_ both of them shall take their share.
ANNOT.
This signifieth that at the same time that the remonstrances shall be
made to an ungrateful people; the Army shall seize upon the Town of
_Antibe_, which is a Sea Town between _France_ and _Italy_, and that
there shall be great complaints at _Monaco_, which is another Sea Town
near it, and at the place called _Freius_, both parties shall either
agree, or divide their shares.
XXIV.
French.
Le captif Prince aux _Itales_ vaincu,
Passera _Gennes_ par Mer jusque a _Marseille_,
Par grand effort des forens survaincu,
Sauf coup de feu, barril liqueur d’Abeille.
English.
The captive Prince vanquished in _Italy_,
Shall pass by Sea through _Genoa_ to _Marseilles_,
By great endeavours of forrain forces overcome,
But that a Barrel of Honey shall save him from the fire.
ANNOT.
A Prince vanquished in _Italy_, and taken Prisoner shall come through
_Genoa_ to _Marseilles_, where he shall be once more overcome by
strangers, but that a Barrel of Honey shall save him from being burnt.
This is the sense of the words as near as I can judge, the judicious
Reader may make what construction he pleaseth upon them.
XXV.
French.
Par _Nebro_ ouvrir de _Brisanne_ passage,
Bien esloignez _el tago fara muestra_,
Dans _Pelligouxe_ sera commis l’outrage,
De la grand Dame assise sur l’_Orchestra_.
English.
By _Nebro_ to open the passage of _Brisanne_,
A great way off, _el tago fara muestra_,
In _Pelligouxe_ the wrong shall be done
Of the great Lady sitting in the _Orchestra_.
ANNOT.
Here once more I lost my Spectacles, and could not see through, therefore
I had rather be silent then coin lies, I shall only tell you, that
_orchestra_ in Latine is the seat wherein noble Personages sit at the
beholding of Stage-plays.
XXVI.
French.
Le successeur vengera son Beau frere,
Occuper Regne soubs ombre de vengeance,
Occis obstacle son sang mort vitupere,
Long temps _Bretagne_ tiendra avec la _France_.
English.
The Successour shall avenge his Brother in Law,
Shall hold by force the Kingdom, upon pretence of revenge,
That hinderance shall be killed, his dead blood ashamed,
A long time shall _Brittany_ hold with _France_.
ANNOT.
This is plain enough of it self, without any interpretation.
XXVII.
French.
_Charle_ cinquiesme & un grand _Hercules_,
Viendront le Temple ouvrir de main bellique,
Une Colonne, _Jules_ & _Ascan_ reculez,
L’_E’pagne_, clef, Aigle neurent onc si grand pique.
English.
_Charles_ the Fifth, and one great _Hercules_,
Shall open the Temple with a Warlike hand,
One Colonne, _Julius_ and _Ascan_ put back,
_Spain_, the Key, Eagle were never at such variance.
ANNOT.
_Charles_ the V. was the Emperour, and that great _Hercules_ was _Henry_
the II. King of _France_, whom he calleth _Hercules_, because he was
King of _France_, and the Author nameth often in his Stanzas the Kings
of _France Hercules_ or _Ogmions_, because that great Captain of the
Antiquity left his name glorious in the _Gaules_, whence the ancient
Historians have given him the name of _Hercules Gallicus_. _Henry_ the
II. also was not only an _Hercules_ by being King of _France_, but also a
great _Hercules_, because of his Warlike humour, and for his great feats
in Arms.
_To open the Temple_, signifieth to make War, because the _Romans_ in
ancient time were wont to shut the Temple of _Janus_ in time of Peace,
and kept it open during the War. _Cæsar Augustus_ did shut that Temple
once in his time, which was never done before but twice, the first under
_Numa Pompilius_, the second after the overcoming of _Charthage_.
XXVIII.
French.
Second & tiers qui font prime Musique,
Sera par Roy en honneur sublimée,
Par grasse & maigre presque a deny etique;
Rapport de _Venus_ faux rendra deprimée.
English.
Second and third that make prime Musick,
Shall by the King be exalted to honour,
By a fat one, and a lean one, one in consumption,
A false report of _Venus_ shall pull her down.
ANNOT.
Notwithstanding the obscurity of this sense, and the bad connexion of the
words, we may perceive that by this Stanza is meant, that a King having
two Mistresses shall exalt them in great honour, till by a report made
by a fat woman and a lean one, that is in a consumption, that the said
Ladies prove unfaithful to the King, he will depress them as low as they
were before.
XXIX.
French.
De _Pol Mansol_ dans Caverne caprine,
Caché & pris extrait hors par la barbe,
Captif mené comme beste mastine,
Par _Begourdans_ amenée pres de _Tarbe_.
English.
From _Pol Mansol_ in a Goats Den,
Hidden and taken, drawn out by the beard
Prisoner, led as a Mastiff,
By _Begourdans_ shall be brought near to _Tarbe_.
ANNOT.
Here and in some other places of this work is to be observed, that
the Author doth sometimes put two Towns instead of one, that he may
distinguish it from others of the same name, as here he calleth _Pol
Mansol_ to distinguish the Town of St. _Paul_, which is three Leagues
from the _Rhosne_, over against the Town of _Pont St. Esprit_, from that
which is in the lower parts of _Provence_.
The sense therefore of this Stanza is, that this _Begourdans_ (a proper
name of a man) shall pull out another by the beard, that was hidden in a
Goats Den, and shall lead him captive as far as _Tarbe_, which is another
Town of _Provence_.
XXX.
French.
Nepveu & sang du St. nouveau venu,
Par le surnom soustient arcs & couvert,
Seront chassez mis a mort chassez nu,
En rouge & noir convertiront leur vert.
English.
Nephew and blood of the Saint newly come,
By the surname upholdeth Vaults and Covering,
They shall be driven, put to death, and driven out naked.
They shall change their red and black into green.
ANNOT.
Here I confess to be at a loss, as may be a wiser man then I.
XXXI.
French.
Le Sainct Empire viendra en _Germanie_,
_Ismaelites_ trouveront lieux ouverts,
Asnes viendront aussy de la _Caramanie_,
Les soustenans de Terre tous couverts.
English.
The Holy Empire shall come into _Germany_,
The _Ismaelites_ shall find open places,
Asses shall also come out of _Caramania_,
Taking their part, and covering the Earth.
ANNOT.
By the _Ismaelites_ he meaneth the _Turks_, who brag to be descended from
_Ismael_.
_Caramania_ is a Province of _Turky_, so that the sense of this Stanza
is, that there shall be a great Invasion of the _Turks_ into _Germany_,
and that those of _Caramania_ with their Asses shall come to their help,
and shall be in such numbers, as that the Earth shall be covered with
them.
XXXII.
French.
Le grand Empire chascun en devoit estre,
Un sur les autres le viendra obtenir,
Mais peu de temps sera son Regne & estre,
Deux ans aux Naves se pourra soustenir.
English.
The great Empire, every one would be of it,
One above the rest shall obtain it,
But his time and his Reign shall last little,
He may maintain himself two years in his Shipping.
ANNOT.
This is plain enough without interpretation.
XXXIII.
French.
La faction cruelle a Robe longue,
Viendra cacher soubs les pointus Poignards,
Saisir _Florence_, le Duc & le _Diphlongue_,
Sa discouverte par Immeurs & Flagnards.
English.
The cruel faction of long Robe,
Shall come and hide under the sharp Daggers,
Seize upon _Florence_, the Duke and the _Diphlongue_,
The discovery of it shall be by Countrey fellows.
ANNOT.
This is the Prognostication of a conspiracy against the Duke and City
of _Florence_, by those of the long Gown, which shall be discovered by
Countrey fellows, that live in places without Walls.
XXXIV.
French.
_Gaulois_ qu’Empire par Guerre occupera,
Par son Beau-frere mineur sera trahi,
Par Cheval rude voltigeant trainera,
Du fait le frere long temps sera hay.
English.
A _Frenchman_ who shall occupy an Empire by War,
Shall be betrayed by his Brother in Law a Pupil,
He shall be drawn by a rude prancing Horse,
For which fact his brother shall be long hated.
ANNOT.
This foretelleth of a _Frenchman_, who shall by War obtain an Empire
or Kingdom, and shall be betrayed by his Brother in Law a Pupil, whom
afterwards he shall treacherously cause to mount a fierce prancing Horse,
who shall throw him down and drag him, for which the said King shall be
hated long after.
XXXV.
French.
Puisné Roial flagrant d’ardant libide,
Pour se jouir de cousine _Germaine_,
Habit de femme au Temple d’_Artemide_,
Allant murdry par incogneu _du Marne_.
English.
The Kingly youngest son heated with burning lust,
For to enjoy his Cosen German,
Shall in womans apparrel go to the Temple of _Artemis_;
Going, shall be murdered by unknown _du Marne_.
ANNOT.
This is concerning the younger son of a King, who being extreamly in
love with his Cosen German, shall disguise himself in a womans apparel,
and shall go so disguised to the Temple of _Artemide_ (that is of some
Church Dedicated to the Virgin _Mary_) to meet her, but in going, shall
be murdered by an unknown man named _du Marne_.
XXXVI.
French.
Apres le Roy du Sud guerres parlant,
L’Isle _Harmotique_ le tiendra a mespris,
Quelques ans bons rongeant un & pillant,
Par tyrannie a l’Isle changeant pris.
English.
After that the King of the South shall have talked of Wars,
The _Harmotick_ Island shall despise him,
Some good years gnawing one and plundering,
And by tyranny shall change the price of the Island.
ANNOT.
The two first Verses are concerning _Philip_ the II. King of _Spain_,
who is called here the King of the _South_, whom after his vain and
frustrated Invasion of 88. the _Harmotique_ Island (that is _England_)
shall deride, and he after that shall have some good years, that is
of Peace, still pillaging and plundering his Subjects, and shall
change the price of _England_, that is, make it of a higher value, and
more flourishing then ever it was before, as it did prove in Queen
_Elizabeth_’s time.
XXXVII.
French.
Grande assemblée pres du Lac du _Borget_,
Se rallieront pres de _Montmelian_,
Passants plus outre pensifs feront projet,
_Chambray_, _Morienne_, combat Saint _Julian_.
English.
A great assembly of people near the Lake of _Borget_,
Will go and gather themselves about _Montmelian_,
Going beyond, they shall make an enterprize,
Upon _Chambery_, _Moriene_, and shall fight at St. _Julian_.
ANNOT.
This Lake of _Borget_ is in _Savoy_, as also _Montmelian_, _Chambery_,
_Moriene_, and St. _Julian_; the meaning of it then is, that a great Army
shall be gathered about that Lake, which shall go through _Chambery_,
_Moriene_, and _Montmelian_, and shall fight at St. _Julian_.
XXXVIII.
French.
Amour alegre non loin pose le Siege,
Au Saint _Barbar_ seront les Garnisons,
_Ursins_, _Hadrie_ pour _Gaulois_ feront plaige.
Pour peur rendus de l’Armée, aux _Grisons_.
English.
Cheerful love doth lay Siege not far,
The Garrisons shall be at Saint _Barbar_,
_Ursini_, _Hadria_ shall be sureties for the _French_,
And many for fear shall go from the Army to the _Grisons_.
ANNOT.
The first two Verses are inexplicable; the two last signifie that there
shall be an Army of _Frens_, with whom _Hadria_ (that is _Venice_) and
the _Ursini_ the noblest Family in _Italy_ shall take part, insomuch,
that many of the contrary party shall run for fear to the _Grisons_,
which is a Nation dwelling in the _Valteline_ and other Countreis there
about, between the _Venetians_ and the _Switzers_.
XXXIX.
French.
Premier fils veusve malheureux mariage,
Sans nuls enfans deux Isles en discord,
Avant dixhuit incompetant Aage,
De l’autre pres plus bas sera l’accord.
English.
Of the first son a widow, an unhappy match,
Without any Children, two Islands at variance,
Before eighteen an incompetant Age,
Of the other lower shall be the agreement.
ANNOT.
Although the words be intricate, nevertheless the sense is plain,
concerning _Francis_ the II. King of _France_, who being married
young, and before he was 18. years of Age, to _Mary Stuart_ Queen
of _Scotland_, died presently after, and left her a widow, and also
_England_ and _Scotland_ (which he calleth here two Islands) at variance
among themselves; of the last Verse the sense is very obscure, and hath
relation to what did happen afterwards to the said _Mary_ Queen of
_Scots_ and Dowager of _France_.
XL.
French.
Le jeune nay au Regne _Britannique_,
Qu’aura le Pere mourant recommandé,
Iceluy mort _Londre_ donra topique,
Et a son fils le Regne demandé.
English.
The young man born to the Kingdom of _Britanny_,
Whom his Father dying shall have recommended,
After his death _London_ shall give him a topick,
And shall ask the Kingdom from his son.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy is plain, concerning his Majesty King _Charles_ II.
now Reigning, who having been recommended by his dying Father to his
Subjects, presently after his death they turned tail, and took the
Kingdom from him for a good while.
XLI.
French.
En la frontiere de _Caussade_ & _Charlus_,
Non gueres loing du fond de la valée,
De _Ville Franche_ Musique a son de Luths,
Environnez Combouls & grand myrtée.
English.
Upon the Frontiere of _Caussade_ and _Charlus_,
Not far from the bottom of the Valley,
Of _Ville Franche_ there shall be Musick of Lutes,
Great dancing and great company of people met together.
ANNOT.
_Caussade_, _Charlus_, and _Villefranche_ are little Towns in _Provence_,
not far one from another; the rest is easie.
XLII.
French.
Le Regne humain d’Angelique geniture,
Fera son Regne, paix, union tenir,
Captive guerre demy de sa closture,
Long temps la paix leur fera maintenir.
English.
The humane Reign of an Angelical brood,
Shall cause his Reign to be in peace and union,
Shall make War, captive shutting it half up,
He shall cause them to keep peace a great while.
ANNOT.
This is only a foretelling of some Gallant Prince, who shall maintain his
Subjects in great peace and tranquility.
XLIII.
French.
Le trop bon temps, trop de bonté Roiale,
Faits & desfaits prompt, subit, negligence,
Leger croira faux, despouse loiale,
Luy mis a mort par sa benevolence.
English.
The time too good, too much of Royal bounty,
Made and unmade, nimble, quick, negligence,
Fickle shall believe false o’ his loyal Spouse,
He shall be put to death for his good will.
ANNOT.
This is concerning another King, who through his too much goodness,
simplicity and negligence, shall make and unmake those about him, and
being fickle, shall believe false reports, made concerning his own wife;
and at last by his to much goodness, shall be put to death.
XLIV.
French.
Par lors qu’un Roy sera contre les siens;
Natif de _Blois_ subjuguera _Ligueres_,
_Mammel_, _Cordube_, & les _Dalmatiens_,
Des sept puis l’ombre a Roy estrennes & _Lemures_.
English.
At that time that a King shall be against his own,
One born at Blois shall subdue the _Ligures_,
_Mammel_, _Cordua_ and the _Dalmatians_,
After that the shadow of the seven shall be to the King a new-years
gift and Hoggoblins.
ANNOT.
_Blois_ is a City in _France_; _Ligures_ are the _Genoeses_, in Latine
called _Ligures_; as for _Mammel_ I cannot tell what to make of it;
_Cordua_ is a City of _Spain_, and the _Dalmatians_ is a Nation near the
_Adriatick_ Sea, and under the _Venetians_; I leave the interpretation of
the last Verse to the ingenious Reader.
XLV.
French.
Lombre du Regne de _Navarre_ non vray,
Fera la vie de sort illegitime,
La vers promis incertain de _Cambray_,
Roy d’_Orleans_ donra mur legitime
English.
The shadow of the Reign of _Navarre_ not true,
Shall make the life of illegitimate chance,
The uncertain allowance from _Cambray_,
King of _Orleans_ shall give a lawfull Wall.
ANNOT.
The _Reign_ or Kingdom of _Navarre_ is called _not true_, because the
King of _Spain_ doth possess it, and not the King of _France_, who is
the lawful King thereof, as also in regard of the Kings of _France_, and
before of _Jane_ of _Albret_, and _Antony_ of _Bourbon_.
This Kingdom being _not true_ in regard of the said ones, the title and
quality is called here _shadow_. The Author saith that the quality of the
King of _Navarre_ _shall make the life of illigitimate chance_, because
after the death of _Francis_ the II _Catherine_ of _Medicis_ being not
opposed in the Regence by _Antony_ of _Bourbon_ King of _Navarre_, she
was willing to gratifie him in what she could.
And because his Brother _Lewis_ Prince of _Condé_ had been condemned to
death, and not executed, it was a fair occasion for her to shew the King
of _Navarre_ how much she did defer to him. Therefore twelve days after
the death of King _Francis_, he was freed out of Prison, and was admitted
to justifie himself under the King of _Navarre_’s Bail.
Thus the _shadow of the Kingdom of ~Navarre~ not true_, did cause the
life of a Prince to be saved, but that life was illegitimate, _and that
Kingdom not true by chance_, that is, by accident, because of the death
of King _Francis_.
Leaving off the third Verse to be explained after the fourth; _King_
(saith the Author) _shall give_ Orleans _for legitimate_, because
_Charles_ the IX. who during the life of _Francis_ the II. did bear the
title of Duke of _Orleans_, did succeed his Brother; thus the Verse saith
that _Orleans shall give a King for legitimate_.
Now for the third Verse, you must suppose that by the Treaty at _Madrid_
1526. and after this by that of _Cambray_, the King _Francis_ the I. did
part with the Sovereignty of _Flanders_, and of all the _Low Countreis_
in favour of _Charles_ the V. Emperour, it is of that _uncertain
allowance_ of Cambray, of which the Author talketh here, and saith, that
in that time _viz._ of the death of _Francis_ the II. that _allowance
shall be uncertain_, because _Francis_ the I. having no power of himself
to renounce the rights and dependance of the Crown of _France_, the
Parliament that was assembled then, would have made void that _allowance_
without breaking the Peace, declaring that the Kings of _France_ ought
to preserve the right they had upon the _Low-Countreis_, and to require
them again upon any occasion, and upon that _France_ did not refuse the
Election which the _Low-Countreis_ made of the Duke of _Alencon_ for
their Sovereign Prince and Duke of _Brabant_.
XLVI.
French.
Vif sort mort de l’or vilain indigne,
Sera de _Saxe_ non nouveau Electeur,
De _Brunswick_ mandra d’amour signe,
Faux le rendant au peuple seducteur.
English.
The living receives his death from Gold, infamous slut!
Shall be of _Saxony_ not the new Elector,
From _Brunswick_ shall come a sign of love,
Falsly persuading the people that he is a seductor.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy is concerning an old Elector of _Saxony_, who being in
health before, shall die suddenly, being poisoned in a golden Cup by a
woman, whom he calleth here _infamous slut_.
And that from _Brunswick_ (a Countrey adjacent to _Saxony_) shall come a
Messenger, upon pretence of Love, who shall persuade the people that the
said Elector was a Seducer.
XLVII.
French.
De _Bourze_ Ville a la Dame _Guyrlande_,
L’on mettra sus par la trahison faite,
Le grand Prelat de _Leon_ par _Formande_,
Faux Pellerins & Rauisseurs deffaite.
English.
From _Bourze_ City belonging to the Lady _Garlant_,
They shall impose by a set treason,
The great Prelate of _Leon_ by _Formande_,
False Pilgrims and Ravishers destroyed.
ANNOT.
I believe that there is a fault here in the impression, and that instead
of _Bourze_ it must be _Bourges_, which is a famous City in _France_,
and Capitol of the Province of _Berry_, for I do not know any Town in
_Europe_ called _Bourze_. What he meaneth by the Lady _Garlant_ is
unknown. I believe also that instead of _Leon_ it should be _Lyon_, which
is another famous City, and the first Archbishoprick of the said Kingdom.
_Formande_ is a barbarous word, and I believe put in only to make up
the Rime, as he hath done in several other places, as much then as can
be gathered out of the sense is this, that from that City _Bourges_,
which usually is a Dowry for a Queen of _France_, which is called here
_Garlant_, shall a treason be hatched against the Archbishop of _Lion_,
which I suppose came to pass in the time of _Henry_ the III. when _Peter_
of _Pinac_ Archbishop of the said _Lion_, being accused by the Deputies
of _Bourges_ for siding with the League, escaped narrowly to be killed,
when the Duke of _Guise_ and the Cardinal his brother were. Queen
_Catherine_ of _Medicis_ the Kings Mother having then the said Province
and Town of _Bourges_ for her jointure.
The last Verse hath no relation to the three foremost, and hath its
interpretation by it self, which is plain enough.
XLVIII.
French.
Du plus profond de l’_Espagne_ ancienne,
Sortants du bout & des fins de l’_Europe_,
Trouble passant aupres du Pont de _Laigne_,
Sera deffaits par bande sa grand troppe.
English.
From the utmost part of old _Spain_,
Going out of the extremities of _Europe_,
He that troubled the travellers by the Bridge of _Laigne_,
Shall have his great Troop defeated by another.
ANNOT.
Every Traveller knoweth that _Castille_ (which is taken here for _Spain_)
is divided into two parts _viz._ _Castilia la Vecchia_, and _Castilia la
Nuova_, our Author then saith that out of _Castilia la Vecchia_, which
is situated at the further end of _Europe_ on that side, shall come a
band of men, who shall destroy the Thieves that robbed and vexed the
Travellers by the Bridge of _Laigne_, which it seemeth was an infamous
place for robbing.
XLIX.
French.
Jardin du Monde aupres de Cité neufve,
Dans le chemin des Montagnes cavées,
Sera saisi & plongé dans la Cuve,
Beuvant par force eaux Soulphre envenimées.
English.
Garden of the World, near the new City,
In the way of the digged Mountains,
Shall be seized on, and thrown into the Tub,
Being forced to drink Sulphurous poisoned waters.
ANNOT.
This word _Garden of the World_, doth signifie a particular person,
seeing that this _Garden of the World_ was seized on and poisoned in a
Tub of Sulphurous water, in which he was thrown.
The History may be this, that _Nostradamus_ passing for a Prophet and a
great Astrologer in his time, abundance of people came to him to know
their Fortunes, and chiefly the Fathers to know that of their Children,
as did Mr. _Lafnier_, and Mr. _Cotton_, Father of that renowned Jesuit of
the same name, very like then that Mr. _du Jardin_ having a son did ask
_Nostradamus_ what should become of him, and because his son was named
_Cosmus_, which in Greek signifieth the World, he answered him with these
four Verses.
_Garden of the World_, for _Cosmus of the Garden_, In his travels shall
be taken hard by the New City, in a way that hath been digged between the
Mountains, and there shall be thrown in to a Tub of poisoned Sulphurous
water to cause him to die, being forced to drink that water which those
rogues had prepared for him.
Those that have learned the truth of this History, may observe it here.
This ought to have come to pass in the last Age, seeing that the party
mentioned was then born when this Stanza was written, and this unhappy
man being dead of a violent death, there is great likelyhood, that he was
not above forty years old.