CENTURY IX.

I.

ANNOT.

It is not easie to understand what he meaneth by the Translator of Boure, unless it be some mean and pittiful fellow, that lived by Translating things from one language into another, because the French use to call a man that is inconsiderable, un homme du boure, that is a man of Flocks; and so much the more I am of this opinion, because of the scurvy Epithetes, he attributeth to the same person, by which he might easily be known as blind of one eye, red, white, hoary, &c.

II.

ANNOT.

Mount Aventine is one of the seven Mountains of Rome, from the top of which our Author saith that a voice was heard crying and repeating, get you gone, and the reason is, because choler and anger shall feed upon the blood of the Cardinals, understood here by the name of red ones.

Arimini and Prato are two cities in Italy.

The Colonna is the chiefest and ancientest family of Rome.

III.

ANNOT.

This word of Magna vaqua is either falsly printed, or altogether barbarous and insignificant, and so is that of Fornase, which maketh the two first Verses incapable of translation; the other are easie.

IV.

ANNOT.

Our Author meaneth, that the year after the former Prophecy is come to pass, this shall also be fulfilled, whereby two Chief Commanders shall be chosen, the first of which shall not stand, but shall be compelled to run away, and to seek his security in the open Fields, and that house that did uphold the first shall be plundered.

V.

ANNOT.

The meaning of this is, that some body pretending to mend the Government of those two places that are in Italy, shall tyrannically make himself Master of them.

VI.

ANNOT.

Here is foretold a famous invasion, that shall be made by the English upon that part of France called Guyenne, and in Latine Aquitania, of which Bourdeaux is the chief City, insomuch, that the English afterwards shall call that Countrey Angl’ Aquitaine.

VII.

ANNOT.

The sense of this is perspicuous.

VIII.

ANNOT.

The words and sense are plain.

IX.

ANNOT.

The ancient Vestals, were a Kind of Religious Virgins in the ancient Romans time, who if they did forfeit their honour, were buried alive in a Cave, with a little Bread and Water, and a Lamp burning, our Author would have, that when a Lamp shall be found lighted with an unquenchable fire, in that place where then their Temple was, that then Nismes (which is a City of Languedoc), shall perish by Water, and the Market-hall of Tholouse shall fall, whether such a Lamp may be contrived as to burn with an unquenchable fire, is too long and tedious a discourse to be disputed here.

X.

ANNOT.

Foix and Panniers are two Towns in Languedoc, and so are Tholouse and Carcassonne, called here Carcas, for the abbreviation of the Verse, the sense then of this prophecy is, that when the two first Verses shall come to pass, that then an Army shall lie about those Towns, and Carcassonne shall be against Thoulouse.

XI.

ANNOT.

Many understand this of the late King, and last Plague.

XII.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy is concerning a Potter, who seeking and digging for new Clay, shall find in a drained Lake the Statues of Diana and Mercury all of silver, besides other great riches; seeing this Prophecy is not come to pass yet (that I know) it will not be amiss, for the divertisement of the Reader, to relate here a notable and authentical History of a Potter that hath much ressemblance with this, and will be a convincing Argument, that Mines grow in the Earth as Turfs do, and as Virgil sayeth of the golden branch:

It is written by Doctor de Rochas, Physitian to the present Chancellor or France, who was upon the place, and an eye witness of the circumstances of it, having also an interest in it, in the behalf of his Father, who was overseer of the Mines in that Province, therefore I shall relate it in his own words, as they are in his Book of Mineral Waters.

A notable History.

In Provence near Thoulon, is a Mountain called Carquairené, at the foot of which and near the brim of the Sea, there dwelled a Potter with all his tools about him; It chanced that on a day as he went to fetch Wood in that Mountain, to bake his wares, he heard a voice of a little Kid, which some Shepherd had left behind them unawares, and was fallen in a little hole that answered to natural, great and deep Caves; this man seeing no Shepherds about him, thought presently it was a strayed Kid, therefore he followed the cry with his ear so directly, that he came by the orifice of that hole, where he heard and saw the Kid, which he resolved to carry away with his Wood, therefore he took the Cords that were at his Mules Saddle, and that he used to bind his Load with, and with the help of them, and of some big pieces of Wood he got down, where, he did observe round about him many other Caves, contiguous and separated from this, which his curiosity caused him to view, and found in the chief of these Caves a great quantity of stones heaped upon one another, & of a substance and colour of Brass, and among the rest there was one that came forth out of the Rock, about the bigness, shape, and length of a mans arm, when it is stretched out; he did apparently judge that the weight and brittleness of that matter had caused those stones to fall down, and that the same that he saw come out of the Rock in this manner, was already loose and like to fall; this man finding himself among such an abundance of rich Lingots, which fortune did offer him, did not know the value of them, but did like the Cock of Æsop which left the precious Pearl to take the Corn of Wheat; thus this Jason took very little of this Golden Fleece, and only a small piece, which he broke from a bigger with one of his Tools, and imployed all his industry to carry away his Kid, which at last with much ado he got out, and carried upon his Mule, believing certainly that this provision would be more profitable to him and his Family, then the yellow stone which he had in his pocket, weighing about five pounds, and which he intended to give to a Tinker of Thoulon, his Gossip and good friend, in hope that for the same he might be presented with a bottle of Wine, to keep company to his Kid; and accordingly the next morning by break of day he went to Thoulon and stayed in the Shop of his friend, who did look with admiration upon so resplendent Brass; a Gold-smith who lodged over the way, and observed the splendor of that Divine mettal, drew near, and presently would have bargained for it, with a great deal of transportation and alteration. The Potter asked him only twenty pence, which the Gold-Smith would have given him presently, but the Tinker making sign to him to retract his words, he put his lingot in his pocket again, with protestation that he would not part with it, unless he had something that were worth the pains of going where he had it; in conclusion, after many contestations and disputes, the Potter who did suspect that it might be gold, would not sell nor deliver it under the sum of thirty Crowns, which the Gold-Smith paid him presently, and which he carried away with more joy, then if he had been possessor of greater riches; the Gold-smith on the other side, who thought that his profit would be above a hundred pounds sterlings, did refine this stone, that was about five pound weight, out of which he drew four pound weight, of very good and pure gold, the rest was a kind of dross, that made it thus brittle; one ought not to think that the Mine is all of the same perfection, but it purifieth it self, according as nature thrusteth it out of the Rock, as we see that Rubies and Emeralds are purer, then the Rock from whence they come. This Gold-Smith having found such fortune, and being resolved to make the best use of it, went to the Lord Scaravaque, then Governour of the Town, and imparted unto him this new discovery, that he might have his assistance and favour in it, and that under his power and authority he might follow and wait upon this precious business without being disturbed by any body, to which the Governour did so much the easier consent, that this Tradesman did oblidge himself to give him the best part of the profit that should arise from thence, and that should exceed any Travels into the Indies or Peru.

In the mean time the Potter was not asleep, the Gold-smiths money had stirred his appetite, and the charm of this witchcraft that worketh generally upon all spirits, did put him upon new hopes. He went into the Mountain with his wife, and with the help of a rope Ladder, which he had provided, and some Iron tools, wherewith he had loaded his Mule, he went down into the Caves, and with much endeavour did at last break that piece, that came out of the Rock like a mans arm, because all the other that were tumbled upon the ground, were so big and heavy that he could not remove them, when he had broken it down, though it were about fourscore and two pounds weight, nevertheless with the help of his wife and of his Ropes and Ladder he got out again, and stopt the hole with a large stone, and some Earth, upon which he planted some small Bushes so ingeniously, that this hole could never be found out again.

The Lord Scaravaque who was most impatient, to conquer like another Jason this Golden Fleece, and who was set on by the persuasions of the Gold-smith, sent for the Potter, under pretence to employ him in the making and furnishing of some Tiles and other small commodities that depended on his art. The Potter obeyed presently, drawn by the hopes to sell his wares well, and mistrusting nothing at all what they would ask him. As soon as he came, the Governour asked him and perswaded him with the best and most flattering words he could, to tell where he had the yellow stone that he sold to the Gold-smith. The Potter who more and more began to know the value of this rare Treasure, invented presently a lie, to free himself of the importunity of them that would have deceived him; therefore with an ingenuity, as simple as artificial he answered, he had found it upon the brim of the Sea, where may be some Ship had been cast away, or the Waves had cast it upon the shore.

The Governour answered that this could not be, and therefore threatned him of violence, and to send for all that he had in his House, which put the fellow into a great perplexity, because of the other stone that should be found there, therefore he chose rather to give it them out of his good will, then to put himself in danger of loosing all, and perchance of being abused to boot, without any more ado, he ingenuously confessed he had another piece of the same stuff as the former in his House, which he had likewise found in the same place, which he was ready to put into their hands, provided he might have his share of it, and be suffered to get his livelihood peaceably. The Lord Scaravaque did promise him all what he desired, and gave him some men to keep him company, with command to bring him back again, and to take special care he should not make an escape. At last this poor man came back again with that piece, which did more inflame the passion that the Governour had to know the place whence came that rich treasure; but neither for prayers, promises, or threats he would never reveal it, which did oblige the Governour to shut him up close in a Chamber, where nevertheless they gave him Victuals and made ready a Bed, but he refused both, and by an extraordinary sadness, gave shew that some notorious mischance was waiting on him, which proved true, for he was found dead in the Morning; which did put the Lord Scaravaque in a grief unexpressible, to see himself deprived by this accident, of the fruit that his hopes had made him conceive. He had recourse to the Potters wife for this discovery, but she could never attain to it, whatsoever exact searches she could make: yea, and after she was married again with a young man, who had spent in that search most of his time. The Lord Scaravaque and other persons of quality have employed all their skills and endeavours, but all their industry and charges have been without effect, as well as of many others, who attempted the same; about that time my Father who was overseer of the Mines in Provence, having received the news of a business of such consequence, that did concern his place, went presently unto that Mountain, to see if he could discover those wonders, I was then in his company, as also that woman, viz. the Potters wife, who carried us in several places for many days, without any success at all, although she gave notice that she could here the Waves of the Sea, when she was in the Cave with her first Husband, so that all our endeavours proved fruitless and unprofitable, because my Father fell sick, which made us forsake our quest, which is of such a consequence as not to be neglected.

During the time of our painful visiting that Mountain, I did consider the particularities of that rich Mountain, and observed that the top of it was almost all Azur, which tokens are the beams of that golden Sun and are the hairs of that fair goodness, under whose feet all things submit; in a word, are the true and infallible signs that underneath are Mines of Gold and Silver. And as I have directed all my thoughts many times to find out the means to compass so excellent a work, whose profit would surpass all what the Indies furnish unto strangers, and that with so much less charges and danger, that there is no heed of Ships or Fleet to cross over the Sea, from one Pole to the other, nor fight against any enemies: at last I have attained to a certain knowledge, which putteth me in hope, and makes me promise and engage my word, that at least I shall find a thred of that golden Mine, which may chance to lead us to the Centre of all these Treasures, but the Royal Authority being necessary to prop up this design, it belongeth to his Majesty to take what course he thinketh best for this, and to me to obey, execute his will. This digression which is an assured experiment, (that is a certain truth), is not come into this discourse, but only to prove that Mines grow by augmentation, in converting into their own nature the more subtle parts of the Neighbouring Earth. Thus far Doctor de Rochas.

XIII.

ANNOT.

Sologne is a Province in France, between the Perche and the Main. Auxois is a Countrey in the South of France, so called of its chief Town called Auch, the seat of an Archbishop. Modena is a Town in Italy, and Bolonia another not far from it. Burancois is a part of the Province of Dauphiné. The meaning then of this Prophecy is, this being known, the Reader may easily find out the rest of the sense.

XIV.

ANNOT.

This hath a relation to the punishment, which in some parts of France and Flanders is inflicted upon false Coiners, which are commonly boiled in Oil, in a great Kettle, such as our Author here saith belong to Dyers. The Author then will have that the time shall come, when seven of that gang shall be so punished together in a Plain, where a great Kettle shall be set for that purpose upon a Furnace.

XV.

ANNOT.

Parpan is either a barbarous or fained name, by the red ones, he hath hitherto understood some Cardinals, the Reader may expound the rest according to his fancy.

XVI.

ANNOT.

Castel Franco is a Town in Piemont; Riviere is a strong Castle in Burgundy, but what he meaneth by the great Gulfe, is more then I can tell.

XVII.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy pointeth directly at our Authors Master Charles the IX. King of France, whom he calleth he the third first, because he was the third son to Henry II. and came to be King, using more cruelties then ever Nero did, for he was the cause of the Massacre of the Protestants in France in the year 1572. where above a hundred thousand people were murdered. Forneron is a barbarous word, put here to make a Verse, and to rhime with Neron. At that time he saith the Golden Age was dead, and upon the coming of a new King, who was Henry III. great tumults did happen, and great Wars, as is to be seen in the French History.

XVIII.

ANNOT.

Although the words and sense of this Prophecy be most obscure, nevertheless we shall endeavour as much as we can to render them something intelligible to the Reader.

By the first Verse is to be understood that Dauffois, or rather Dauphinois, which is the Title of the Kings of France eldest Son shall carry the Lillie, which is the Arms of France into Nancy, the chief Town in Lorrain, which came to pass in the time of the last King Lewis the XIII.

By the second Verse is understood the Elector of Triers, who was taken by the Spaniards in his own Town, and carried prisoner to Bruxelles.

By the third and fourth is expressed the ill luck of the Duke of Montmorency, who having taken part with the Duke of Lorrain, and the Duke of Orleans the Kings Brother, was routed in a Battle, taken prisoner, and afterwards beheaded at Thoulouse.

XIX.

ANNOT.

Fougeres is either the name of a Town in little Britanny, or that of a Noble House, the words are very plain, therefore I leave the sense to every ones capacity.

XX.

ANNOT.

Rennes is the chief Town of little Britanny; the second Verse being made of barbarous words, is impossible to be understood. The third and fourth Verse signifieth, that when a black Monk in that Town of Varennes shall put on a gray sute, he shall be elected Captain, and cause a great tempest or broils by fire and blood.

XXI.

ANNOT.

There is a mistake in the first Verse, for instead of Salonne, it must be written Soulaire, which is a Priory and Church at the top of Blois, all the rest signifieth that in one night these shall happen, viz. that the Bridge, the Prelat, and a pernicious King with a smart victory shall perish, whence the Prelature, that is the place of Command upon the white ones, viz. Canons and Prebends in their Surplices, shall be void and empty.

XXII.

ANNOT.

This Stanza is very obscure, for, first no body can tell what he meaneth by langue halbe, which is the foundation of all the rest of the sense; Secondly, what this Duke of Montor and Mantor should be, which has been unknown in the Histories hitherto; and thirdly, what construction and sense can be made of these disjunctives: Albe, Mantor, Dagger, Tongue, Palate. Therefore i’le leave it free to every bodies opinion to make his construction.

XXIII.

ANNOT.

By this is meant, that the youngest Son of a King, shall be knocked in the head, while he is a playing under a tun; his Father being at the same time in the Temple of Saint Soulaine at Mass.

XXIV.

ANNOT.

These two or three last Stanzas have been concerning the City of Blois, to which it seemeth that this hath also relation, for he saith that two little Royal Children shall be carried at the top of the Castle, and shall be conveyed beyond Aurelle (which is Orleans in Latine Aurelianum) Lutece, which is Paris; S. Denis Cloisters, which is beyond Paris, and a Nunnery besides, where it is like they shall be left to eat green stones of fruit, which is not easie to be understood, no more then the word Mollods.

XXV.

ANNOT.

Beziers is a City in Languedoc; the rest may be construed by the meanest capacity.

XXVI.

ANNOT.

This signifieth that there shall be a silly surrendring of a Town, caused by sharp and threatning Letters that shall be sent into it. By the great Cap he useth to understand the Pope, who he saith shall give what is not it, as he hath done many times; Vultry, in Latine Velitrum, and Piombino are two Cities in Italy, which are threatned here with mighty winds.

XXVII.

ANNOT.

The first Verse signifieth that a woodden Bridge shall be broken by a close wind, as did happen to the Millers Bridge, and the Birds Bridge in Paris.

The second Verse seemeth to foretel the conspiracy of the Mareshal of Biron, against Henry IV. his Dolphin and Estate.

The third and fourth, the Wars and Conquest which the said King (whom he called old Teccon), made upon the Duke of Savoy, who had corrupted the said Marshal of Biron.

XXVIII.

ANNOT.

What he meaneth by Symaclian Sail, is not easie to determine; Massilian Port is that of Marseilles in France, called in Latine Massilia, the sense of this Prophecy then if any be, is, that a great Fleet shall go from thence to Venice, to carry succours to the Hungarians, who it seemeth shall be much distressed at that time by the Turks, and that Sicily and Genoa shall add to this Fleet a considerable succour of Men, and Warlike Munition.

XXIX.

ANNOT.

He that giveth place to no body is the Pope; as for the last Verse, I had rather read St. Quintin and Gales, which are two considerable Towns in France, then otherwise.

That place taken, not taken was the City of Noyon in Picardy, which was taken by the Spanish Cavalry, cloathed after the French Mode, which stratagem deceived the Citizens and Soldiers that defended it: so he saith taken, because it fell into the hands of the Spaniards, and not taken, because it was by a stratagem or deceit.

XXX.

ANNOT.

Puola is for Paulo here, and by it is understood the port of Malta, which being Besieged by the Turks, Philip the II. King of Spain, sent an Army to relieve it, which made those of Byzantium (which is Constantinople) cry alas, &c.

XXXI.

ANNOT.

Mortara is a Town in Italy, by Cassich and St. George he meaneth two other places.

XXXII.

ANNOT.

Porphiry is a kind of hard red Marble speckled with white spots, which is very scarce, and chiefly in great pieces; our Author then saieth that a great Colomn of that stuff shall be found, and about the Basis of it some words in Roman Characters, and that about that time a great Fleet shall be a gathering at the Port of Methelin, which is an Island in the Archipelago, belonging now to the Turks, as for the third Verse, I cannot tell what to make of it.

XXXIII.

ANNOT.

All these intricated words and sense foretell that, when a King of Danmarck named Hercules shall be made King of the Romans, that then Italy and Venice it self shall stand in great fear of him; and that he shall be as great a Prince or Monarch as ever was in Europe; and that very likely, for by his dignity of King of the Romans he consequently shall attain to the Empire.

XXXIV.

ANNOT.

The first Verse signifieth, that some certain man who was married, shall be parted from his wife, and shall attain to some great Ecclesiastical Dignity.

The second Verse is, that in coming back from some place or entreprise, he shall be met and fought with, and compelled to escape over the Tyles of a House.

The third Verse is, that a man of great account shall be betrayed by five hundred of his men.

And the last, that when these things shall come te pass, Narbon and Salces, which are two Cities of Languedoc, shall reap and make a great deal of Oil.

XXXV.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy ought to be understood of an Emperour of Germany, whose name shall be Ferdinand, who being accompanied with many Germans, that for the most part are faire haired people shall come and War against Græcia, which is expressed here by the names of Macedon and Myrmidon, the first of which is a Countrey, and the last a Nation, both in Græcia.

XXXVI.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy was fulfilled in the year 1560. when Antony of Bourbon King of Navarre, and his Brother Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condé, coming to King Francis II. at Orleans, upon the 29. of October, the Prince of Condé was put in prison, and the King of Navarre arrested. The Lord Andrew Fauyn in his History of Navarre, saith, that the opinion of the Councel was, that the Prince of Condé should be beheaded, for having been the chief of the conspiracy at Amboise, and the King of Navarre should be stabbed in the Kings Chamber by the King himself, assisted by others for that purpose. The Lady of Montpensier gave notice of it to the King of Navarre, who being sent for by the King, charged expresly Cattin his waiting man and an old servant of his Father take a care and preserve his bloody shirt after his death till his son came to Age, to revenge it upon the murderers. God be thanked this came not to pass, for the King having called him, and going about to provoke him with foul words, he answered so meekly and humbly, that the Kings anger was appeased, where upon the Duke of Guise going out of the room said, O what a cowardly Prince is this. These things are expressed in the first and second Verse, when he saith that a great King should be put in Prison by a young one, because Antony of Bourbon, though he was not a great King in Lands, yet he was a great one in courage and prudence. And it was not far from Easter, sith it was but five months before, viz. from the beginning of November, to the sixth of April 1591 which was Easterday; the Author putteth in this circumstance, because the next Easter after, the King of Navarre was made General of France under the Queen Regent.

He addeth the blow of a Knife, as we have shewed; he also saith a lasting bad time, which proved very true; moreover, he saith, what lightning in the Hunt or Topmast, because King Francis died presently after. In the fourth Verse he saith, that three Brothers shall be hurt and killed, those three Brothers were Antony of Bourbon King of Navarre, killed at the Siege at Rouen, the Cardinal of Bourbon, and Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condé, killed at the Battle of Jarnac.

XXXVII.

ANNOT.

Here is foretold a prodigious inundation of the River Garonne, in the month of December, by which the Walls, Building, and the City of Thoulouse is threatned to be overturned. The last word of all is barbarous, and added to make up the rhime.

XXXVIII.

ANNOT.

For the better understanding of this, the hard words must first be made plain; Blaye is a City upon the River Garonne, and the Port-Town to Bourdeaux; Rochel is a City upon the same Coast; Agen is a City in Gascony not far from Bourdeaux, and Narbonne is a City in Languedoc, by the Mediterranean Sea; Æmathian was formerly the Countrey of Macedonia, wherein Julius Cæsar and C. Pompeius fought their last Battle in the Pharsalian Fields, and therefore saith the Latine Poet Lucanus:

These things being considered the sense is, that there shall be an Invasion made by the English, to whom those of Rochel shall joyn, upon the Town of Blaye, which shall proceed as far as Agen, and that thereabout will be a bloody Encounter between the English and French, beyond that which was fought in the Æmathian Fields, and that the succours that should come from Narbonne to the French, shall be deluded and hindered by the speech and discourse of some.

XXXIX.

ANNOT.

Arbissella is a Town situated by the Sea-side above Savona, going towards Genoa. Vezema and Crevari are in the Inland Countrey, and a little further remoted from the Sea then Arbissella. The quick Gascon was Blasius of Monluc, one of the Valliantest men of his time, who came from a single Souldier to be Marshal of France. Guiry and la Charry were two of his Companions. This Stanza doth Prophetically foretell two things, one is, the design that the Marshal of Brissac, then Governour of Piemont had upon Savona: the other, the taking of Pianca by Blasius of Monluc, as to the first, the Lord of Villars writeth in his Memorials, that the Lord Damzay sent advice to the King, that the taking of Savona was more probable then any other design, which signifieth that the Marshal of Brissac had of a long time eyed that Town, and therefore he sent by night some Troops into those three little Towns, to see if they could surprise Savona, but the design did not succeed. The Histories only mention that the Marshal of Brissac went from Court in the year 1557. with a design to take Savona; but this stanza speaketh of the same design 1556.

At the same time in the year 1556. the 29. of June Blasius of Monluc, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ANNOT.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 30th. 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 30th. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ANNOT.

This Prophecie foretelleth divers accidents in several places, without determination of any precise time; as for example, I understand by that Barbarian conflict, near the black Corner, to be some famous Battle among the Infidels themselves, some where about the Black Sea; then he saith, that abundance of Blood shall be spilt, and Dalmatia shall tremble, which is a Province belonging to the Venetians, and bordering upon Græcia; by great Ismael he understandeth the great Sophy of Persia, whose name hath been often so. By the Frogs it is not easie to know whether he meaneth France or Spain, for both abound in that kind of Insects.

LXI.

ANNOT.

It seemeth that this Plunder made upon the Sea Coast, shall be about Messina, by the Maltheses, who afterwards shall rue for it, being taken Prisoners, and severely punished.

As for the expression Incita nova, it is a barbarous derivation of the Latine, to signifie the stirring of new troubles.

LXII.

ANNOT.

The word Cheramonagora, is either altogether barbarous and insignificant, or must be derived from these three Greek words, χεὶρ, manus, μόνος, folus, and ἄγω, duco, and so it may signifie one than leadeth along by the hand, in which sense may be understood the King of France, who alone leadeth his people by the hand, without any help of Councel.

The second Verse signifieth the Oppositions he shall meet with among his Neighbours, combined together to hinder him.

By Oppi, he meaneth here Opium, the Juice of Poppies, which he calleth here Pertinax; because of its pertinacious quality in procuring sleep, as also Mandragora.

By Raugon, he meaneth some other soporiferous Herb; so that it seemeth that those three things shall be given upon the third of October to some body, it seemeth to that Cheramonagora, by whom some understand the King of France, others Oliver the last usurpator.

LXIII.

ANNOT.

Narbonne, Bayonne, and Foix are Towns of Languedoc, a Province in France; the rest is easie.

LXIV.

ANNOT.

The Æmathian properly should be the Macedonian, but by it is understood here the Spaniard, whose Countrey is on one side fenced by the Pyrenean Mountains; the rest is plain.

LXV.

ANNOT.

This Stanza hath relation and connexion to the precedent, and by it ought to be understood, that the said Æmathian or Spaniard shall come as far as the corner of Luna, wherein he shall be taken and sent into a strange Countrey, at which time the green Fruits and Grass shall be much damaged, for which one of the parties shall receive great shame, and the other great praise. But what he meaneth by the Corner of Luna, I must leave the judgement of it to the Reader, for I do ingeniously confess that I neither know City nor Countrey of that name.

XLVI.

ANNOT.

This is easie to be understood, many interpret it of the downfall of Rome, at which time all quarrels both of Religion and States would be laid aside, if the world were all of one mind.

LXVII.

ANNOT.

This is a peculiar Prophecy for the Provinces of Dauphiné and Languedoc, in which all the Towns and Rivers here mentioned are situated.

LXVIII.

ANNOT.

There is a notable fault in the impression of the first Verse of this Stanza, for instead of Mount Aymar, it must be Montlimar, which is a Town in Provence or Languedoc, situated by the River Rhosne, the sense therefore of this, is, that from Montlimar shall proceed some notable and obscure design, and that shall reach as far as Lyons, which is the City where the Saone and Rhosne meet, and that for that purpose, there shall be hidden a great many Souldiers in a Wood on St. Lucy’s day, which is the 13th. of December.

LXIX.

ANNOT.

The Mount Bailly, and the Countrey of Bressia, are by Savoy, in which place (our Author saith) the fierce ones; that is, the stout men of Grenoble, the chief Town of Dauphiné, shall be hidden, and that such a Hail shall fall upon them, as not one third part shall be left.

LXX.

ANNOT.

This foretelleth a notable Treason that shall be acted at Lyons, upon the Sacraments day, otherwise called Corpus Christi day, upon which the Roman Catholicks are wont to make a Procession with the Sacrament about the Town, with abundance of burning Torches, of fearful bigness, insomuch that some (as at Angeirs) require 20 or 24 men to carry them, in those Torches (our Author saith) shall Weapons be hidden, by means of which the fact shall be committed. The rest is easie.

LXXI.

ANNOT.

Whether the Author did understand himself here I know not, I am sure I do not; Carcassonne is a City of Languedoc, and Trixe is a barbarous word.

LXXII.

ANNOT.

This is, when the Planet Saturn hath finished twice three Ages; that is, 600 years from the time that this Prophecy was written, then the Senates of Thoulouze, being men of a new Leaven (meaning being Protestants) shall cause the Romish Churches to be polluted and depredated in the Months of April and May.

LXXIII.

ANNOT.

Foix is a Countrey of France, near Gascony, where the Author saith, a King with a Blew Turbant shall come, and shall govern less then an Age, that is 100 years, after which another King with a White Turbant shall come, and shall Conquer Bizance (which in Latine is Constantinople) the Blew or Green Turbant is attributed to the great Turk, and the White one to the King of France, by whom the Turks have a Prophecie, their Monarchy shall be subverted.

LXXIV.

ANNOT.

What is that City of Fertsod, is hard to guess, there being none of this name in Europe that I know. The rest of the words are plain, though the sense be abstruce enough, therefore we shall leave them to the liberty of the Reader.

LXXV.

ANNOT.

What Countrey this Ambraxia should be, is yet unknown, for my part I take it to be a forged word, as for Thracia it is a Countrey between Hungary and Greece.

Observe here that Evil is not an Epithete, to either People or Sea, but a word of admiration by it self, as malum in Latine, which is called vox admirantis.

LXXVI.

ANNOT.

This Prophecie portendeth the death of a black, bloody, and ravenous man (which in Latine is Rapax) who shall be murdered between two Rivers, by one whose proper name shall be Joyne Chaulveron.

LXXVII.

ANNOT.

You must observe, that there is a word false printed, which is Pellix, instead of which should be Pellex, which in Latine signifieth a Whore or Concubine.

The sense therefore of this is, that a certain King having taken another Kingdom, shall put the Queen of it to death, as also her own Son, after which, he shall make his Concubine Queen.

LXXVIII.

ANNOT.

This Stanza is concerning the Lady Elizabeth of France, Daughter to Henry the II. and Sister to Charles the IX. who being promised first to Don Carlo Infante of Spain, was afterwards Married to his Father Philip the II. at which the young man being vexed and discontented, began to raise combustions in the State, for which, and his too much familiarity with his Mother in Law, he was strangled by his Fathers command, and she poisoned.

LXXIX.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses are plain, the third signifieth, that these fearful ones being come out of their Galleys, part of them shall be murdered, and among them the Captain, a renouncer of his Baptism, or Renegado, and the rest afterwards by an Ambuscado, shall requite in the same Coin those that had used them so.

LXXX.

ANNOT.

There is a great fault in the impression of the French Copy in this Stanza, which maketh the sense altogether inexplicable, it must then in stead of Bize and Luc, be written Pise and Lucques, which are two Towns in Italy, near the Duke of Florence’s Dominions; one of these Towns, viz. Pisa he hath taken already, and from a Common-Wealth made it subject to himself; the other though several times attempted by him, hath preserved its liberty to this day. The last Verse signifieth, that after this is come to pass, the Barbarians, that is, the Florentins shall make Vintage without Wine; that is, shall plunder and spoil at their pleasure.

LXXXI.

ANNOT.

The only difficulty here is to know who that Lamprin should be, who shall be diverted from following a Traitor (which he meaneth here by the French word Traducteur) and shall be diverted from it by the Tears of Fryers, which are meant here by the ancient French word Coqueluches, which signifieth a Fryers Cool or Capuchon.

LXXXII.

ANNOT.

This is very plain, if by the great City you understand Paris, who is subject to frequent Innundations and Plagues.

LXXXIII.

ANNOT.

This famous Earth-quake having not yet happened in Europe, it is like to happen within few years, for our Authors Prophecies (by his own confession) do not extend further than the year 1700.

LXXXIV.

ANNOT.

This Prophecie is divided into two parts, The first two Verses are concerning a King, who shall perform the Funeral Rites and Ceremonies to his Parents, when he is come to the knowledge of them, having been exposed for lost before.

The two last Verses are concerning an ancient Sepulcher of a Roman, that shall be digged up and found out by a Torrent, and the Arms of the said Roman shall be something like the head of Medusa, whose Hairs were Serpents, and was so fearful to behold, that by seeing of it, the beholders were turned into stones.

LXXXV.

ANNOT.

The whole of this Prophecie signifieth no more, but that an Army shall pass through all these places, and that at last there will be a Battle fought by that place, called St. Paul de Manseole.

LXXXVI.

ANNOT.

Bourg la Reyne is a little town within six Miles of Paris, Chartres is the chief City of the Province Beausse, Pont Antony is a little Town between them both, so that the sense of the whole is this, that seven men, crafty like Martres (which are those Russia Foxes that afford the richest Furres, called Martres Zibellines) shall go from Bourg la Reyne to Chartres, making a little stay at Pont Antony, and then shall come with an Army into Paris, which shall be besieged at that time, I believe this Prophecy is come to pass already in the time of the Civil Wars of France; but for want of the History I could not quote the time.

LXXXVII.

ANNOT.

Here is a fault in the Impression, for instead of Touphon, it must be written Torfou, which is a Forrest some 30 Miles from Paris towards Beausse, near which is seated the Town of Montlehery, in the said Forrest is seated an Hermitage, and not far from thence the City of Estampes, which carryeth the Title of Dutchy; so that the sense of it is this, that this Forrest being cut off (as it is now for the most part) in the place where that Hermitage was, shall be built a Church or Convent, as it is now Cælestins friars, called Marcoussy, and that the said Hermitage shall be taken from the jurisdiction of the Town of Montlehery, under which it was before.

LXXXVIII.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy did happen in the time of Henry the II. King of France, about the year 1559.

The last Verse saith, that those two Towns Calais and Arras gave succours to Theroanne, that is to the Countrey where Therouenne was seated, which was destroyed by Charles the V. Emperour. This Countrey was called Ponthieu, of which Therouenne was the chief Town.

The second Verse doth determine the time whereabout this came to pass, when he saith, peace or the like shall dissemble the hearing; because in the year 1556. in the beginning of February there was a Truce for five years between the two Crowns of France and Spain, concerning the Low Countreys, and this Truce signified not much, nor was well cemented, so that the Author saith, Peace or the like shall dissemble the hearing; that is, shall fain not to hear that the Cardinal Caraffa did endeavour in France to have the Truce broken.

The third Verse is obscure, because of a fault in the Impression, wherein they have put Ronane instead of Noanne, that is Hannone by transposition of letters, but that being corrected, the Verse is clear, supposing that Philibertus Emanuel Duke of Savoy was General of the Army, against France in the Low-Countreis, and wandering about to do some notable exploit, he came down through the Province of Hainault, called in Latine Hannonia, and came to Mariembourg, as if he would have Besieged it, but after some light skirmishes he laid Siege to Rocroy, and this is the meaning of the third Verse, when he saith, Souldiers of Allobrox shall descend by Noanne, that is, Souldiers in the Army of the Duke of Savoy, which in Latine is Allobrox, came down to Mariembourg, and turned back again to Rocroy.

The fourth Verse mentioneth what did happen at the Siege of Rocroy; that place being not yet very well fortified; the King was unwilling to put any of his best Souldiers therein, but the Duke of Nevers undertook the defence of it, which he did really and gloriously perform, in so much, that the Duke of Savoy was compelled to raise up the Siege, and going back towards St. Quentin, he took Vervins by storm, and gave the booty of it to his Souldiers, who took heart upon it, having been much discouraged before by the resistance of the Duke of Nevers. This is the sense of the fourth Verse, People persuaded shall spoil the march; that is, the people of Rocroy persuaded to hold out by the courage and presence of the Duke of Nevers, spoiled the march that the Duke of Savoy had propounded to himself, insomuch, that raising the Siege he went to Vervins, and from thence to St. Quentin.

LXXXIX.

ANNOT.

This Stanza was made concerning Philip the II. King of Spain, who for the first seven years that he came to his Crown, had prosperous fortune, did brave exploits against the Barbarians, and chiefly in the person of his Brother Don Juan of Austria, who got the memorable Battle of Lapantho against the Turks, but in the middle of his Noon, that is of his Age, fell into great perplexities and cross businesses, being constrained to put his onely son Don Carla to death, and to poison his wife and after that never prospered, when young Ogmion (that is Henry IV. King of France) came to the Crown.

XC.

ANNOT.

Pannonia in Latine is Hungary, there is nothing hard in this, unless it be what he meaneth by the King of Kings, whether it be the great Turk or the Emperour.

XCI.

ANNOT.

There is several faults in the impression here, for instead of Perynthe, it must be Corinth. For Marceloine, it must be Macedoine: the substance of the whole is, that there shall be a great plague in all these Countries of Asia. The refusal of Antony is foisted here to make up the rime with Macedony.