CENTURY VI.
Theophilus Garencières translation
I.
French. Autour des Monts Pyrenees grand amas, De gent estrange secourir Roy nouveau, Pres de Garonne du grand Temple du Mas, Un Romain Chef le craindra dedans l’Eau. English. About the Pyrenean Mountains there shall be a great gathering Of strange Nations to succour a new King; Near Garonne and the great Temple of Mas, A Roman Captain shall fear him in the Water.
ANNOT.
The Pyrenean Mountains are those that part Spain from France; Garonne is the River that runneth at Bourdeaux, it seemeth then, that upon that River a Roman Captain shall stand in much fear of the new King before mentioned.
II.
French. En la cinq cens octante plus & moins, On attendra le siecle bien estrange, En l’an sept cens & trois (cieux en tesmoins), Regnes plusieurs un a cinq feront change. English. In the year five hundred fourscore more or less, There shall be a strange Age, In the year seven hundred and three (witness Heaven), Many Kingdoms, one to five shall be changed.
ANNOT.
What strange age it was in the year 1580. every one may satisfie himself by History. As for the year 1703. our Author saith there will be great wonders, chiefly there shall many changes be in Kingdoms, insomuch, that one shall be divided into five.
III.
French. Fleuve qu’esproune le nouveau nay Celtique, Sera en grande de l’Empire discorde: Le jeune Prince par gent Ecclesiastique, Le Sceptre osté Corone de concorde. English. The River that makes tryal of the new born Celtick, Shall be at great variance with the Empire, The young Prince shall be an Ecclesiastical person, And have his Scepter taken off, and the Crown of concord.
ANNOT.
This River is the River of Rhyne, because the ancient French when they had a King newly born, they used to put him upon a Target, to make him swim upon that River, to try whether by his swimming he was lawfully begotten or no; the meaning therefore is, that this new born Celtique or French King shall be at variance with the Empire, and that in his young years the Clergy shall take his Scepter and Crown from him.
IV.
French. Fleuve Celtique changera de Rivage, Plus ne tiendra la Cité d’Agripine, Tout transmué horsmis le viel Language, Saturn, Leo, Mars, Cancer en rapine. English. The River of the Low-Countreys shall change her Shoare, It shall touch no more the City of Agrippina, All shall be transformed, except the old Language, Saturn, Leo, Mars, Cancer in Rapine.
ANNOT.
This is a strange prediction, if it should prove true, that the Rhine should change its course, and should touch no more the City of Colen, which is here called Agrippina; because its name in Latine is Colonia Agrippina, being a Colony of the Romans, built by M. Agrippa, son in Law to Augustus; others say by Agrippina, Mother to the Emperour Nero.
The last Verse signifieth no more than an unfortunate position and Aspect of the two Planets, Saturn and Mars, and of the two Signs, Leo and Cancer.
V.
French. Si grand famine par une pestifere, Par pluye longue le long du Pole Artique. Samarobryn cent lieux de l’Hemisphere, Vivront sans loy exempt de politique. English. So great a famine with a plague, Through a long Rain shall come along the Artick Pole, Samarobryn a hundred Leagues from the Hemisphere, Shall live without Law, exempt from pollicy.
ANNOT.
The two last Verses foretel a great Plague and Famine that shall come from the North, by the means of the long Rain.
Samarobryn he calls a people, that shall be a hundred Leagues from our Hemisphere, and shall live without Law and Policy.
VI.
French. Apparoistra vers le septentrion, Non loing de Cancer l’estoille cheveluë, Suze, Sienne, Boëce, Eretrion, Mourra de Rome grand, la nuict disperuë. English. Towards the North shall appear, Not far from Cancer a blazing Star, Suza, Sienna, Boëce, Eretrion, There shall die at Rome a great man, the night being past.
ANNOT.
Here he foretelleth the apparition of a Commet that shall be vertical to the Cities here named, and not far from the Sign of Cancer, at which time a great person shall die at Rome, about the dawning of the day.
VII.
French. Norvege & Dace, & l’Isle Britannique, Par les unes freres seront vexées, Le chef Romain issu du sang Gallique, Et les copies aux forests repousées. English. Norvegia, and Dacia, and the Brittish Island, Shall be vexed by the Brothers united. The Roman Captain issued from French blood, His Forces shall be beaten back to the Forrest.
ANNOT.
The difficulty lyes in the word Brothers, which I suppose to be the United Provinces. The rest is plain.
VIII.
French. Ceux qui estoient en regne pour scavoir, Au Royal change deviendront a pauvris, Uns exilez sans appuy, Or navoir, Lettréz & lettres ne seront a grand pris. English. Those that were in esteem for their learning, Upon the change of a King shall become poor, Some banished, without help, having no Gold, Learned and learning shall not be much valued.
ANNOT.
This Prophecie is clear enough, and here the Author hath said nothing, but what doth commonly happen.
IX.
French. Aux Temples Saints seront faits grands scandales, Comptez seront peur honneurs & louanges, D’un que l’on grave d’Argent, d’Or les Medals, La fin sera en tourmens bien estranges. English. To the holy Temples shall be done great scandals, That shall be accounted for honours and praises, By one, whose medals are graven in Gold and Silver, The end of it shall be in very strange torments.
ANNOT.
Here the Reader must understand that the Author was a Roman Catholick, and therefore calleth Holy Temples, the Churches of the Romish Religion, which in the beginning of the Civil Wars in France, were much abased by those of the Protestant Religion, then called Huguenots, whose chief was Henry King of Navarre, who was the only man amongst the Protestant party, that could have Money and Medals coined to his stamp, as being King of Navarre. But the last Verse of this Prophecie proved too true, when upon St. Bartholomews day, the 24 of August, in the year 1572. the general Massacre of the Protestants was made through France.
X.
French. Un peu du temps les Temples des Couleurs, De blanc & noir des deux entremislée, Rouges & jaunes leur embleront les leurs, Sang, terre, peste, faim, feu, eau affollée. English. Within a little while the Temples of the Colours, White and Black shall be intermixt, Red and Yellow shall take away their Colours, Blood, earth, plague, famine, fire, water shall destroy them.
ANNOT.
By the Temples of the Colours White and Black, I suppose he means that of Peace, and of War; by the Red and Yellow, may be meant the Empire of the Sweads, who shall be at variance together; and by their long War shall bring the Plagues here mentioned, as it came to pass in the Wars of Germany, between the Emperour and Gustavus Adolphus, King of the Sweads.
XI.
French. Les sept rameaux a trois seront reduits, Les plus aisnez seront surprins par morts, Fratricider les deux seront seduits, Les Conjures en dormant seront morts. English. The seven branches shall be reduced to three, The eldest shall be surprised by death, Two shall be said to kill their Brothers, The Conspirators shall be killed, being asleep.
ANNOT.
It is apparent, that he speaks of seven Brethren, that shall be reduced to three, whereof the eldest son shall be surprised by death, and two of the rest shall be said to have murdered their Brother, the Conspirators shall afterwards be killed in their sleep.
XII.
French. Dresser Copie pour monter a l’Empire, Du Vatican le sang Royal tiendra, Flamens, Anglois, Espagne aspire, Contre l’Italie & France contendra. English. To raise an Army, for to ascend unto the Empire, Of the Vatican, the Royal blood shall endeavour, Flemings, English, Spain shall aspire, And shall contend against Italy and France.
ANNOT.
This prediction signifies no more, but that there shall be a great commotion among the Nations, of Europe, concerning the election of a Pope, which is called here the Empire of the Vatican; because the Vatican is the Popes Palace in Rome.
XIII.
French. Un dubieux ne viendra loing du regne, La plus grand part le voudra soustenir, Un Capitole ne voudra point quil regne, Sa grande Chaire ne pourra maintenir. English. A doubtful man shall not come far from the Reign, The greatest part will uphold him, A Capitol will not consent that he should Reign, His great Chair he shall not be able to maintain.
ANNOT.
What should that doubtful man be, whom our Author doth mention here, is not easie to be understood; but it seemeth that it shall be some body pretending to the Popedom, who shall have a great party for himself, and yet for all that shall be excluded, and not able to keep his Seat; so that this Prophecie is but the second part of the foregoing; for they have both a relation together. The Capitol anciently was the Citadel of Rome, and now is the place where the Courts of Judicature meet, called Campidoglio.
XIV.
French. Loing de sa Terre Roy perdra la Bataille, Prompt, eschapé poursuivy, suivant pris, Ignare pris soubs la dorée maille, Soubs feint habit, & l’Ennemy surpris. English. Far from his Countrey the King shall loose a Battle, Nimble, escaped, followed, following, taken, Ignorantly taken under the gilded Coat of Mail, Under a feigned habit the enemy taken.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy was fulfilled in the year 1578. when Don Sebastian King of Portugal, went into Affrica, to help and succour Muley Hamet, against Muley Maluc, that had expelled him out of the Kingdom of Fez and Morocco, and there fought that famous Battle of Alcasserquibir, wherein his whole Army was routed, and himself slain by the Moores, and his body afterwards sold to the King of Spain for a 100000. Crowns.
XV.
French. Dessous la Tombe sera trouvé le Prince, Qu’aura le pris par dessus Nuremberg: L’Espagnol Roy en Capricorne mince, Feinct & trahy par le grand Vutitemberg. English. Under the Tomb shall be found the Prince, That shall have a price above Nuremberg, That Spanish King in Capricorn shall be thine, Deceived and betrayed by the great Vutitemberg.
ANNOT.
We hear of no Prince that had that advantage upon Nuremberg, but only Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden, who took it. The last two Verses signifie no more, then that the King of Spain shall be wasted at the time when the Sun is in Capricorn.
XVI.
French. Ce que ravy sera du jeune Milve, Par les Normans de France & Picardy, Les noirs du Temple du lieu de Negrisilve, Feront aux Berge & feu de Lombardie. English. That which shall be taken from the young Kite, By the Normans of France and Picardie, The black ones of the Temple of the place called black Forrest. Shall make a Rendezvouz, and a fire in Lombardie.
ANNOT.
The meaning is, that what the Normans and those of Picardie shall save from the hand of a young conquering Prince, the same shall be imployed in building a Temple in the black Forrest, which is that part of the Forrest of Arden, that lies near Bohemia, and another part of it to build a House in Lombardie.
XVII.
French. Apres les livres bruslez les Asiniers, Contraints seront changer d’habits divers: Les Saturnins bruslez par les meusniers, Hors la pluspart qui ne sera convers. English. After the Books shall be burnt, the Asses, Shall be compelled several times to change their Cloaths, The Saturnins shall be burnt by the Millers, Except the greater part, that shall not be discovered.
ANNOT.
This seems to foretell a persecution of ignorant men against the learned, after which shall happen a confusion amongst the ignorant persons, who shall be forced to disguise themselves.
The last two Verses seem to be of the same sense, for by the Saturnins I understand studious people, and by the Millers rude and unlearned persons.
XVIII.
French. Par les Physiques le grand Roy delaissé, Par sort non art de l’Ebrieu est en vie, Luy & son Genre au Regne hault pousé, Grace donnée a gent qui Christ envie. English. The great King being forsaken by Physicians, Shall be kept alive by the Magick and not by the art of a Jew, He, and his kindred shall be set at the top of the Kingdom, Grace shall be given to a Nation that envieth Christ.
ANNOT.
This in plain words signifieth no more, but that a King shall be desparately sick and forsaken by his Physicians, and shall recover by the help of a Jew, for which fact those of that Nation shall be reestablished in his Countrey.
XIX.
French. La vraye flamme engloutira la Dame, Que voudra mettre les Innocens a feu, Pres de l’aussaut l’exercite s’enflamme, Quand dans Seville monstre en Bœuf sera veu. English. The true flame shall swallow up the Lady, That went about to burn the guiltless, Before the Assault the Army shall be incouraged, When in Seville, a Monster like an Ox shall be seen.
ANNOT.
Seville is the chiefest City of Andalusia a Province in Spain; the rest is plain.
XXI.
French. L’Union feinte sera peu de durée, Les uns changes reformez la plus part: Dans les Vaisseaux sera gent endurée, Lors aura Rome un nouveau Leopart. English. The feigned union shall not last long, Some shall be changed, others for the most part reformed, In the Ships people shall be pen’d up, Then shall Rome have a new Leopard.
ANNOT.
When the things contained in the three first Verses shall come to pass, then Rome shall have a new Pope, expressed here by the word Leopard from the variousness, that is, in his Pontifical Garments.
XXI.
French. Quand ceux du Pole Artique unis ensemble, En Orient grand effrayeur & crainte, Esleu nouveau soustenu le grand tremble, Rodes, Bisance de sang Barbare taincte. English. When those of the Artick Pole shall be united together, There shall be in the East a great fear and trembling, One shall be newly Elected, that shall bear the brunt, Rodes, Bisance, shall be dy’d with Barbarian blood.
ANNOT.
This foretelleth an union between the Europeans, or Nations of the North against the Eastern people, or Turks, and that the Christians shall make choice of such a General, that shall make the East quake, and get such Victories, whereby Rhodes and Constantinople shall be dyed with Turkish blood.
XXII.
French. Dedans la Terre du grand Temple Celique, Neveu a Londres par paix feinte meurtry, La Barque alors deviendra Schismatique, Liberté feinte sera au corne & cry. English. Within the ground of the great Cœlestial Temple, A Nephew at London by a fained peace shall be murdered, The Boat at that time shall become Schismatical, A fained liberty shall be with Hue and Cry.
ANNOT.
I think that by the great Cœlestial Temple, he meaneth that of St. Paul, in which, or in the ground about it, shall be murdered a Nephew by his Uncle, which shall cause great divisions and dissensions in the City, compared here to a Boat, and that a dissembled or fained liberty shall be proclaimed.
XXIII.
French. Despit de Roy, numismes descriez, Peuples seront esmeus contre leur Roy, Paix fait nouveau, Saintes Loix empirées, Rapis onc fut en si piteux arroy. English. The despight of a King, and Coin being brought lower People shall rise against their King, Peace newly made, Holy Laws being made worse, Rapis was never in such a great disorder.
ANNOT.
The first thing here to be observed, is the word Rapis, which is the Anagramme of Paris, which he saith was never in such a trouble before, as it shall be when the people shall rebel against the King for hatred, and because he shall have put low the price and intrinsical value of Coin and Money; he foretelleth also that there shall be a new Peace made, and that the Holy Laws shall be much impaired.
XXIV.
French. Mars & le Sceptre se trouvera conjoint, Dessoubs Cancer calamiteuse guerre, Un peu apres sera nouveau Roy oingt. Qui par long temps pacifiera la Terre. English. Mars and the Scepter, being conjoyned together, Under Cancer shall be a calamitous War, A little while after a new King shall be anointed, Who for a long time shall pacifie the Earth.
ANNOT.
The meaning of this is, that when the Planet of Mars shall be in conjunction with the constellation he calleth here the Scepter, that then shall be a very calamitous War. The two last Verses are plain enough of themselves.
XXV.
French. Par Mars contraire sera la Monarchie, Du grand Pescheur en trouble ruineux, Jeune, noir, rouge prendra la Hierarchie, Les proditeurs iront jour bruineux. English. By Mars contrary shall the Monarchy Of the great Fisherman, be brought into ruinous trouble, A young, black, red shall possess himself of the Hierarchy, The Traitors shall undertake it on a misty day.
ANNOT.
This Prophecie is concerning a certain Pope, signified here by the word of great Fisherman; because in his Seal is graven a Fisherman, and therefore in all his Bulls and Expeditions, it is always written, Datum Romæ sub sigillo piscatoris: this Pope then it seemeth, shall be brought to ruine, and another it seemeth shall succeed him, having here three Epithetes, viz. Young, Black, and Red, which signifieth, that against the common election of Popes, he shall be elected young, and shall be Black in his complexion, and Red in Cloaths, viz. a Cardinal. Hierarchy is a Greek word, signifying Dominion over the Church. The last Verse needeth no explication, being plain enough of it self.
XXVI.
French. Quattre ans le siege quelque peu bien tiendra, Un surviendra libidineux de vie, Ravenna, & Pise, Verone soustiendront, Pour eslever la Croix de Pape envie. English. Four years he shall keep the Papal seat pretty well, Then shall succeed one of a libidinous life, Ravenna, Pisa, shall take Verona’s part, To raise up the Popes Cross to Life.
ANNOT.
This Prediction seemeth to have not only a relation to the foregoing, but also a connexion; for the Author still handleth the matter of the Popedome, and saith, that after that Pope shall have Reigned four years, there shall succeed one that shall be notorious for debauchedness and lechery, and that those Towns he mentioneth here (which are all in Italy) shall take the Popes part.
XXVII.
French. Dedans les Isles de cinq fleuves a un, Par le croissant du grand Chyren Selin, Par les bruynes de l’air fureur de l’un, Six eschapez, chachez fardeaux de lin. English. In the Islands from five Rivers to one, By the increase of great Chyren Selin, By the Frost of the Air one shall under furious, Six shall escape, hidden within bundles of Flax.
ANNOT.
Chyren by transposition is taken for Henry, and Selin for a King called so; because it is the name of a Turkish Emperour: So that by this Stanza I suppose he means Henry II. his Master, King of France. The rest is plain.
XXVIII.
French. Le grand Celtique entrera dedans Rome, Menant amas d’exilez & bannis, Le grand Pasteur mettra a mort tout homme, Qui pour le Coq estoient aux Alpes unis. English. The great Celtique shall enter into Rome, Leading with him a great number of banished men, The great Shepheard shall put to death every man, That was united for the Cock near the Alpes.
ANNOT.
Because this word Celtique is often repeated in this Book, it would not be amiss to satisfie the Reader of the meaning of it; it is properly the Nation of the Flemings, and some others of the Low-Countreys as far as the Mase and the Rhyne, which anciently were called Galli Celtæ. By the great Shepheard, is meant the Pope, and by the Cock is meant the French Nation. The rest is easie.
XXIX.
French. La Veufve Sainte entendant les nouvelles, De ses rameaux mis en perplex & trouble, Qui sera duit appaiser les querelles, Par son pourchas des Razes sera comble. English. The holy Widow hearing the News Of her Branches put in perplexity or trouble, That shall be skilfull in appeasing of quarrels, By his purchase shall make a heap of shaven heads.
ANNOT.
By the holy Widow, is meant the City of Rome, which is called in Italian, Roma la santa, because of the blood of so many Martyrs that hath been shed there, for the maintenance of the Christian Religion, he calleth it a Widow; because at that time there will be no Pope elected, and there shall be a kind of interregnum, as it always happens when a Pope is dead, until the new one be elected. What he calleth here Branches, are the Clergy men, and the shaven heads the Priests.
XXX.
French. Par l’apparence de feinte Saincteté, Sera trahy aux ennemis le siege, Nuit qu’on croioid dormir en seureté, Pres de Brabant marcheront ceux de Liege. English. By the appearance of a feigned holiness, The siege shall be betrayed to the enemies, In a night that every one thought to be secure, Near Brabant shall march those of Liege.
ANNOT.
Brabant is one of the seventeen Provinces, and Liege is a great City upon the River of Maze. The rest is not difficult.
XXXI.
French. Roy trouvera ce quil desiroit tant, Quand le Prelat sera repris a tort, Response au Duc le rendra mal content, Qui dans Milan mettra plusieurs a mort. English. A King shall find what he so much longed for, When a Prelate shall be censured wrongfully, An answer to the Duke will make him discontented, Who in Milan shall put many to death.
ANNOT.
This Prophecie is too indefinite, to admit of a particular sense; for there be so many Prelates, so many Kings, so many Dukes, that it is not easie to fix upon any particular one, and therefore we must leave this Stanza in Democritus’s Well.
XXXII.
French. Par trahison de verges a mort battu, Puis surmonté sera par son desordre, Conseil frivole au grand captif sentu, Nez par fureur quand Berich viendra mordre. English. By Treason one shall be beaten with rods to death, Then the Traitor shall be overcome by his disorder, The great Prisoner shall try a frivilous Counsel, When Berich shall bite anothers nose through anger.
ANNOT.
The words are so plain, that every one may make his own interpretation of them.
XXXIII.
French. Sa main derniere par Alus sanguinaire, Ne le pourra par la Mer garentir, Entre deux fleuves craindra main militaire, Le noir l’Ireux le fera repentir. English. His last hand bloody through Alus, Shall not save him by Sea, Between two Rivers he shall fear the military hand, The black and Cholerick one shall make him repent.
ANNOT.
This seemeth to be concerning a bloody man, that had killed one Alus, and sought to save himself by Sea; but was taken between two Rivers, and put to death by the command of one that was a black and Cholerick man.
XXXIV.
French. De feu volant la machination, Viendra troubler le Chef des Assiegez, Dedans sera telle sedition, Qu’en desespoir seront les profligez. English. The device of flying fire Shall trouble so much the Captain of the Besieged, And within shall be such mutiny, That the Besieged shall be in despair.
ANNOT.
It is a Fort or Town besieged by an Enemy, who shall torment the besieged so much with Bombs and Granadoes, and other flying fire, that they shall despair to escape.
XXXV.
French. Pres de Rion & proche Blanchelaine, Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, La Vierge, Mars, Jupiter, le Sol ardra grand plaine, Bois & Citez, Lettres cachez au Cierge. English. Near Rion going to Blanchelaine, Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Mars, Jupiter, Sol shall burn a great Plain, Woods and Cities, Letters hidden in a wax Candle.
ANNOT.
The meaning of it is, that when by the virtues and meetings of the said Constellations, a great plain shall be burnt by Rion (which is a City in Auvergne) that then Letters shall be found hidden in a wax Candle.
XXXVI.
French. Ne bien ne mal par bataille terrestre, Ne parviendra au confins de perouse, Rebeller pise, Florence voir mal estre, Roy nuit blessé sur mulet a noire house. English. Neither good nor evil by a Land-fight, Shall reach to the Borders of Perusa, Pisa shall rebel, Florence shall be in an ill case, A King being upon his Mule shall be wounded in the night time.
ANNOT.
Perusa, Pisa, and Florence are Cities in Italy; the rest is plain.
XXXVII.
French. L’œuvre ancienne se parachevera, Du toit cherra sur le grand mal ruine, Innocent fait, mort on accusera, Nocent caché taillis a bruine. English. The ancient work shall be finished, From the tiling shall fall upon the great one an evil ruine, The innocent declared to be so, shall be accused after his death, The guilty shall be hidden in a wood in a misty weather.
ANNOT.
By the first Verse is understood an ancient building, which shall be finished and brought to perfection, I suppose it to be the Louvere, which hath been a building in the Reign of seven Kings. But before it be throughly finished, some ruine shall fall upon a great man and kill him; one declared innocent of the fact shall be accused of it after his death, and he that shall be guilty of it shall escape by hiding himself in a Wood in misty weather.
XXXVIII.
French. Aux profligez de Paix les ennemis, Apres avoir l’Italie superée, Noir sanguinaire, rouge sera commis, Feu, sang verser, eau de sang colorée. English. To the vanquished the enemies of peace, After they shall have overcome Italy, A bloody black one shall be committed, Fire and blood shall be powerd, and water coloured with blood.
ANNOT.
A bloody black man shall be put into the hands of the vanquished, by those that were enemies to peace, after they have conquered Italy, whence shall proceed fire and blood, and water coloured with blood.
XXXIX.
French. L’Enfant du Regne par Paternelle prinse, Expolier sera pour delivrer, Aupres du Lac Trasym en la Tour prinse, La troupe hostage pour trop fort s’enyvrer. English. The Child of the Kingdom, through his Fathers imprisonement, Shall be deprived of his Kingdom for the delivering of his father, Near the Lake Trasymene shall be taken in a Tower, The troop that was in Hostage, being drunk.
ANNOT.
The Lake Trasymene in Italy, is that near which Annibal got that famous Battle upon the Romans. The rest is as plain as the words can bear.
XL.
French. Grand de Mogonce pour grande soif esteindre, Sera privé de sa grand dignité, Ceux de Cologne si fort le viendront plaindre, Que le grand Groppe au Rhin sera jetté. English. The great one of Ments for to quench a great thirst, Shall be deprived of his high dignity, Those of Colen shall bemoan him so much. That the great Groppe shall be thrown into the Rhine.
ANNOT.
This foretelleth the fall of an Archbishop of Ments, in Latine Moguntia, who is the first Ecclesiastical Elector, and shall be deprived of his dignity by a covetous and powerful Prince to satisfie his covetousness, at which those of Colen his neighbours shall be so incensed, that they shall throw that covetous person into the Rhine.
XLI.
French. Les second Chef du Regne Dannemark, Par ceux de Frize & l’Isle Britannique, Fera despendre plus de cent mille mark, Vain exploiter voiage en Italique. English. The second head of the Kingdom of Dannemark, By those of Friezeland, and the Brittish Island, Shall cause to be spent above 100000. Mark, Vainly endeavouring a journey into Italy.
ANNOT.
This signifieth onely a conjunction of the Dutch, Danish, and English Forces, to attempt something in Italy, which shall prove fruitless, and cost a great deal of Money.
XLII.
French. A l’Ogmion sera laissé le Regne, Du grand Selin, qui plus fera de fait, Par l’Italie estendra son enseigne, Regira par prudent contrefait. English. Unto l’Ogmion shall be left the Kingdom, Of great Selyn, who shall do more then the rest, Through Italy he shall spread his Ensigns, He shall govern by a prudent dissimulation.
ANNOT.
We have said before, that when ever the Author speaks of Ognion, he meaneth the King of France, the meaning therefore of this whole Stanza is, that Henry the II. Son to Francis the I. whom he calls here great Selin, shall do more in Italy then his Predecessors had done, which proved true, and he governed his Kingdom with a prudent dissimulation.
XLIII.
French. Long temps sera sans estre habitée, Ou Siene & Marne autour vient arrouser, De la Thamise & Martiaux tentée, Deceus les gardes en evidant repousser. English. A great while shall be unhabited, Where Seine, and Marne comes to water about, Being attempted by the Thames and Martial people, The Guards deceived in thinking to resist.
ANNOT.
By the two first Verses, he meaneth without doubt the City of Paris, for it is watered by those two Rivers the Seine and Marne, that joyn together at the head of it, but how this City should become unhabited is the great question, and chiefly by the means here alledged, viz. of the English signified by the Thames, and other Martial people, the Guards deceived in thinking to repulse the enemy.
XLIV.
French. De nuict par Nantes l’Iris apparoistra, Des Arcs Marins susciteront la pluye: Arabique Goulfre grand classe parfondra, Un Monstre en Saxe naistre d’Ours & Truye. English. By night in Nantes the Rain-bow shall appear, Sea Rain-bows shall cause Rain; The Arabian Gulf shall drownd a great Fleet, A Monster shall be in Saxony from a Bear and a Sow.
ANNOT.
Nantes is a City in France, Iris is the Rainbow, Saxony is a Province in Germany; the rest is plain.
XLV.
French. Le Governeur du Regne bien scavent, Ne consentir voulant au faict Royal: Medite classe par le contraire vent, Le remettra a son plus desloyal. English. The Governour of the Kingdom being learned, Shall not consent to the Kings will: He shall intend to set out a Fleet by a contrary Wind, Which he shall put into the hands of the most disloyal.
ANNOT.
This signifies that the Governour or Vice-Roy of a Kingdom shall refuse to consent to his Kings Deeds; the rest needeth no interpretation.
XLVI.
French. Unjuste sera en exil Anvoyé, Par pestilance aux confins de non seggle, Response au rouge le fera desvoye, Roy retirant a la Rane & a l’Aigle. English. A just person shall be banished, By plague to the Borders of Non seggle, The answer to the red one shall make him deviate, Retiring himself to the Frog and the Eagle.
ANNOT.
I cannot find what he meaneth by Non-seggle; by the Eagle he meaneth the Emperour, and by the Frog the King of France, for before he took the Flower de Luce, the French bore three Frogs.
XLVII.
French. Entre deux Monts les deux grands Assemblez, De laisseront leur simulte secrete, Bruxelle & Dolle par Langres accablez, Pour a Maline executer leur peste. English. Between two Mountains the two great ones shall meet, They shall forsake their secret enmity, Brusselle and Dolle shall be crushed by Langres, To put their plague in Execution at Maline.
ANNOT.
Brussel is a Town of Brabant, and so is Maline; Dolle is one of Burgundy; and Langres another of France.
XLVIII.
French. La saincteté trop faincte & seductive, Accompagne d’une langue diserte, La Cité vieille, & Parme trop nastive, Florence & Sienne rendront plus desertes. English. The fained and seducing holiness, Accompanied with a fluent tongue, Shall cause the old City, and too hasty Parma, Florence and Sienna to be more desert.
ANNOT.
I know not what he means by the old City, unless it be Rome, by reason of its antiquity.
XLIX.
French. De la partie de Mammer grand Pontife, Subjuguera les confins du Danube, Chasser les croix, par fer raffe ne riffe, Captifs, Or, bagues, plus de cent mille Rubles. English. From the party of Mammer high Priest, They shall subdue the borders of Danubius, They shall expel crosses, by Sword topse-turvy, Slaves, Gold, Jewels, more than 100000. Rubles.
ANNOT.
Some parties of the Popes side, shall subdue those bordering upon Danubius, and drive away the Priests, turn all things topse-turvy, make slaves, and take a booty above the value of 100000. Rubles. A Ruble is a piece of Gold of the great Mogul, worth two or three pound sterling.
L.
French. Dedans le puis seront trouvez les os, Se l’inceste commis par la Marastre, L’estat changé, en fera bruit des os, Et aura Mars ascendant pour son astre. English. In the Well shall be found the bones, Incest shall be committed by the Stepmother, The case being altered, there shall be great stir about the bones, And she shall have Mars for her ascending Planet.
ANNOT.
It is the strange wickedness of a woman, that shall incestuously be got with Child by her Son in Law, and when she is delivered, shall kill her Child, and throw him into a Well; a while after the water beginning to corrupt, a search shall be made of the cause, and then the Childs Bones shall be found, which shall cause a great stir, and for to know this wicked woman, he saith, that the Planet of Mars shall be the ascendant in her Horoscope.
LI.
French. Peuple assemble voir nouveau spectacle, Princes & Roys par plusieurs assistans, Piliers faillir, murs, mais comme miracle, Le Roy fauve & trente des instans. English. People assembled to see a new show, Princes and Kings, with many assistants, Pillars shall fail, walls also, but as a miracle, The King saved, and thirty of the standers by.
ANNOT.
The words of this prediction are plain and easie, and signifie no more than what often happeneth, and may happen yet, viz. that where a concourse of people shall be to see a new show, the Pillars and walls of the Building shall fall, and people perish by the ruine, (as if it were by a Miracle) the King and thirty of the spectators shall be preserved.
LII.
French. En lieu du grand qui sera condamné, De prison hors, son amy en sa place, L’espoir Troyen en six mois joinct, mort né, Le Sol a l’Vurne seront prins fleuves en glace. English. Instead of the great one that shall be condemned And put out of Prison, his friend being in his place, The Trojan hope in six months joyn, still born, The Sun in Aquarius, then Rivers shall be frozen.
ANNOT.
By the Trojan hope, is meant a King of France, who after he hath been marryed six Months, shall have a Child still born.
LIII.
French. Le grand Prelat Celtique a Roy suspect, De nuict par cours sortira hors du Regne, Par Duc fertile a son grand Roy Bretagne, Bisance a Cypres, & Tunis insuspect. English. The great Celtique Prelate suspected by his King, Shall in hast by night go out of the Kingdom By the means of a Duke the fruitful Britanie, Bisance by Cyprus, and Tunis shall be unsuspected.
ANNOT.
The great Celtique Prelate, was the Cardinal of Lorrain, Brother to the Duke of Guizse, who being suspected by the King, went away by night to Rome.
By fruitfull Brittain, is understood the province of that name in France, which by the means of the Duke of Mercure, her Governour shall be unsuspected by the King.
LIV.
French. Au point du jours au second chant du Coq, Ceux de Tunes, de Fez, & de Bugie, Par les Arabes captif le Roy Maroq, L’an mil six cens & sept, de Liturgie. English. At the break of day, at the second crowing of the Cock, Those of Tunis, and Fez, and Bugia, By means of the Arabians, shall take Prisoner the King of Morocco, In the year 1607. by Liturgie.
ANNOT.
By Liturgie, I suppose he meaneth under pretext of Religion. The rest is easie to be understood.
LV.
French. Au Chelme Duc, en arrachant l’esponce, Voile Arabesque voir, subit descouverte: Tripolis, Chio, & ceux de Trapesonce, Duc prins, Marnegro, & la Cité deserte. English. The Chelme Duke, in pulling a spunge, Shall see Arabian Sails suddenly discovered: Tripolis, Chios, and those of Trapesan, The Duke shall be taken, Marnegro and the City shall be desert.
ANNOT.
Chelme is a German word, that signifies a Rogue. By Marnegro, is meant the Black Sea, or Nigropont. By pulling a Spunge, I suppose the great quantity of Spunges that stick to the Rocks in that Sea.
Tripolis, Chios, and Trapezon, are places in the Turkish Dominions.
LVI.
French. La crainte Armée de l’ennemy Narbon, Effroyera si fort les Hesperiques, Parpignan vuide par l’aveugle d’Arbon, Lors Barcelon par Mer donra les piques. English. The feared Army of the enemy Narbon, Shall so much terrifie the Spaniards, That Parpignan shall be left empty by the blind d’Arbon, Then Barcelon by Sea shall give the Chase.
ANNOT.
A great Army gathered about Narbon, shall so much terrifie the Spaniards, that Parpignan a Town of theirs shall be desolate, and left empty by the Governour, here called the blind d’Arbon, then Barcelon, which is a Sea-Town in Catalonio, belonging to the Spaniards shall come to its succours, and chase the enemy by Sea.
LVII.
French. Celuy qu’estoit bien avant dans le Regne, Ayant Chef rouge proche a la Hierarchie, Aspre & cruel, & se fera tant craindre, Succedera a sacrée Monarchie. English. He that was a great way in the Kingdom, Having a red head and near the Hierarchy, Harsh and cruel, shall make himself so dreadful, That he shall succeed to the Sacred Monarchy.
ANNOT.
This is a person of great quality, and near of blood to a King, who being a Cardinal, cruel and dreadful, shall be Elected Pope, I suppose Clement the VII.
LVIII.
French. Entre les deux Monarques esloignez, Lors que le Sol par Selin clair perdue: Simulté grande entre deux indignez, Qu’aux Isles & Sienne la liberté renduë. English. Between the two Monarchs that live far one from the other, When the Sun shall be Ecclipsed by Selene, Great enmity shall be between them two, So that liberty shall be restored to the Isles and Sienne.
ANNOT.
Here is nothing difficult but the word Selene, which is the Moon from the Greek σεληνη.
The meaning is, that at such a time when the Sun is Ecclipsed by the Moon, Sienna and the Islands about it shall be at liberty.
LIX.
French. Dame en fureur par rage d’adultere, Viendra a son Prince conjurer non dire, Mais bref cogneu sera le vitupere, Que seront mis dixsept a Martyre. English. A Lady in fury by rage of an Adultery, Shall come to her Prince and conjure him to say nothing, But shortly shall the shameful thing be known, So that seventeen shall be put to death.
ANNOT.
The sense of this Stanza and the words are plain.
LX.
French. Le Prince hors de son Terroir Celtique, Sera trahy, deceu par interprete, Rouen, Rochelle, par ceux de l’Armorique, Au Port de Blavet deceux par Moin & Prestre. English. That Prince being out of his Celtick Countrey, Shall be betrayed and deceived by an Interpreter, Rouen, Rochel, by those of Gascony, At the Port of Blavet shall be deceived by Monk and Priest.
ANNOT.
We have said many times before, what is meant by the word Celtique. The Port of Blavet is that of the River of Bordeaux.
LXI.
French. Le grand Tapis plié ne monstrera, Fors qu’a demy la pluspart de l’Histoire, Chassé du Regne aspre loin paroistra, Au fait Bellique chacun le viendra croire. English. The great Carpet folded shall not shew, But by half the greatest part of the History, The driven out of the Kingdom shall appear sharp afar off, In Warlike matters every one shall believe him.
ANNOT.
This needeth no interpretation.
LXII.
French. Trop tard tous deux les fleurs seront perdües, Contre lay loy Serpent ne voudra faire, Des ligueurs forces par gallops confondues, Savone, Albingue, par Monech grand martyre. English. Both the flowers shall be lost too late, Against the Law the Serpent will do nothing, The forces of the Leaguers by gallops shall be confounded, Savone, Albingue, by Monech shall suffer great pain.
ANNOT.
The two first verses are too mistical for me; the third signifieth, that by gallops; that is, by Troops of Horses, the Leaguers, viz. those that held the party of the League, shall be routed by the Kings Cavalry. The fourth, that Savone and Albingue, two Towns of the Genoeses, shall be put to much trouble by those of Monech and Monaco, another Town near them, belonging to the Prince of Monaco, a Genoese of the house of Grimald.
LXIII.
French. La Dame seule au Regne demurée, L’unique esteint premier au lict d’honneur, Sept ans sera de douleur epleurée, Puis longue vie au regne par bonheur. English. The Lady shall be left to reign alone, The only one being extinguished, first in the Bed of Honour, Seven years she shall weep for grief, After that she shall live long in the Reign by good luck.
ANNOT.
The second and fourth Verses perswade me, that this Stanza came to pass in the time of Catharine of Medicis, wife to Henry II. because she lived long, and the King died in the bed of Honour, and thus he saith, that she was left to Reign alone; because her four Sons were all little ones, so that she alone was Regent in France.
The second Verse saith, The holy one being extinguished, first, in the Bed of Honour.
By this word the only one, the Author meaneth not the only Son, but the only one living, such as Henry II. was to her, who was extinguished in the Bed of Honour, and died of the wound he received at Tilting.
The third Verse saith, that after his death, her mourning lasted seven years, that is, from the first of August 1559. to the first of August 1566. because that all those 16 Months that Francis II. she had nothing but continual sorrow, by the conspiracy of Amboise, the secret practises of the King of Navarre, and Prince of Condé his Brother, by the insurrection of the Protestants, when Charles IX. visited his Kingdom, Anno 1556. after which she put off her mourning.
The fourth Verse signifieth, that she should be long lived; for she lived above 60 years, He saith also, that she was Regent by great luck, that is, great luck for her self, but not for the Kingdom, for it was most unhappy in her time.
LXIV.
French. On ne tiendra pache aucun arresté, Tous recevants iront par tromperie, De trefue & paix, Terre & Mer protesté, Par Barcelone classe prins d’industrie. English. No agreement shall be kept, All those that shall admit of it deal falsly, There shall be protestations made by Land and Sea, Barcelone shall take a Fleet by craft.
ANNOT.
This is a description of the sad and calamitous estate of France, in the time of the Civil wars, when no agreement could be kept on the Roman Catholicks side, witness the several Peaces that were made and broken, the Massacre of Vassa, and that infamous perfidy committed by them on St. Bartholomews day, being the 24 of August, Anno 1572.
LXV.
French. Gris & bureau demy ouverte guerre, De nuit seront assaillis & pillez, Le bureau prins passera par la serre, Son Temple ouvert, deux au plastre grillez. English. Between the Gray and sad Gray shall be half open War, By night they shall be assaulted and plundered, The sad Gray being taken, shall be put in Custody, His Temple shall be open, two shall be put in the Grate.
ANNOT.
This Stanza affordeth us a commical History, which is, that about the year 1601. when there sprang up in France a Kind of Friers, who bosted themselves to be the true observers of the Rule of St. Francis, and that the Cordeliers and Capushines did not keep it so exactly, but they had need of a great reformation; the King Henry IV. granted them a Convent at Beaufort, and upon his example many other places desired them, they went to possess themselves of the house of la Blamet, near Angiers; but the Cordeliers being loath to be dispossessed by these new comers, called Recollets, did besiege them by main force, broke open the Gates, scaled the Walls, the besieged did not defend themselves by words or exorcismes, but with good Stones and Flints, so that if the people had not come, the fray would not have ended without murder, some of them were put in Prison, others kept in Custody: this is the meaning of the Author, when he saith, There will be half an open War between the Gray and the sad Gray; for the Cordeliers have a Gray habit, and the Recollets a sad Gray.
LXVI.
French. Au fondement de nouvelle secte, Seront les os du grand Romain trouvez, Sepulchre en Marbre, apparoistra converte, Terre trembler en Auril mal enfeüvez. English. At the foundation of a new sect, The Bones of the great Roman shall be found, The Sepulchre shall appear covered with Marble, The Earth shall quake in April, they shall be ill buried.
ANNOT.
The meaning is, that when they shall go about to make a foundation of a house, for a new Sect of Friers; they shall find the bones of a famous Roman in a Marble Sepulchre, and that in April the Earth shall quake, whereby many shall be swallowed up.
LXVII.
French. Au grand Empire par viendra tout un autres, Bonté distant plees de felicité, Rege par un issu non loing du peautre, Corruer Regnes grande infelicité. English. To the great Empire quite another shall come, Being farther from goodness and happiness, Governed by one of base parentage, The Kingdom shall fall, a great unhappiness.
ANNOT.
This needeth no Interpretation.
LXVIII.
French. Lors que Soldats fureur seditieuse, Contre leur Chef seront denuit fer livre, Ennemy d’Albe doibt par main furieuse, Lors vexer Rome & principaux seduire. English. When the seditious fury of the Souldiers, Against their Chief shall make the Iron shine by night, The enemy d’Albe shall by a furious hand, Then vex Rome, and seduce the principal one.
ANNOT.
The Lord de Thou doth judiciously observe, that the Pope being unacquainted with things belonging to War, as to Money, Victuals, and Ammunition, was easily persuaded by Cardinal Caraffa to make war against Spain, for without being provided of all these things, he put his Armies into the Field, nec satis perpendens quám a pecuniâ, milite ac cæteris rebus ad bellum necessariis imparatus intempestive arma sumeret.
In the 15. Book of his History: the Duke of Vrbin had commission to raise 6000. Foot and 300. Horses in the Dukedom of Spoleto, and in Mark of Ancona. John Caraffe the Popes Nephew was made General of the Army, and being but Earl of Mortor, was Created Duke of Palliano, by the confiscation of the goods of Mark Antony Colonna. Camillo Ursini was made General of the Forces in Rome, and in the Territory thereof; Blasius of Monluc, the Mars of his time, and by birth a Gascon, was sent by the King to help (with his advice and courage) the Romans, who are always fitter for the Breviary, then for the Sword.
Besides these Forces raised within the Church Dominions, Charles Caraffa gathered all the Bandittes of Naples and Florence, and raised some Regiments of Switzers that came to succour the Pope.
With these Troops the Pope seized upon the most important places and persons belonging to the Spanish party, as the Coloneses and the Vitelly.
These asked succours of the Emperour Charles the V. who presently commanded Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alba to succour them. He was then tasked in the Piemont and Milanes, to resist the French that were then under the conduct of the Marshal of Brissac.
To conclude his design the better, he wrote many Letters to the Pope and the Colledge of Cardinals, full of respect and submission, desiring them to moderate their passion against the Spanish party, but the Pope being angry by several reports, answered him, complaining of many things, which made the Duke resolve to the war, and to be there in person.
He took his occasion as a prudent Captain, when the news was brought to him that the Popes Forces were in mutiny against their General for want of pay, and made a great tumult in the night, hearing that he was approaching with a great train of Artillery. Bzovius saith, that the Earl of Montor regarded more his profit then the Popes Interest, and kept back a great part of the money that was to pay the Souldiers, whence proceeded this tumult, which helped much the Duke of Alva’s business.
This is the explanation of the two first Verses of this Stanza, concerning the mutiny of the Souldiers that were in the Popes service, during which mutiny the enemy d’Alba did not fail to vex Rome; this word the enemy d’Alba doth not signifie the enemy of the Duke of Alba, as if one should say in Latine Hostis Albanus. He did then vex Rome; for in a short time he took Ponte Corvino, Frusino Anagnia, Marino, Lavaci, Prœneste, Tivoli, Ostia, Neptuno, Alba Vico-Varro, Monte Fortino, and almost all the places of the Roman Territory.
This did streighten Rome so much, that the General Camillo Ursini made several Trenches within the Walls of Rome, instead of preserving the outworks, as Montluc would have persuaded him to do; the alarums were so great at Rome, that Montluc was fain to encourage the Romans, and to make a Warlike Speech to them, which is inserted in his Works.
Moreover, the same Duke began to seduce the Principals of Rome by his friends that he had in it, but particularly by the cheat that he put upon the Pope; for his design being to prevent the French Forces, and to surprize the Pope, he resolved to go streight to Rome, and to bring his design the better to pass, he sent Pyrrhus Coffrede to the Pope, to see if there was any way of agreement, to the end that upon this proposition the Pope should mistrust nothing. In the mean time the Duke of Alba was coming near Rome, at which the Pope was so angry, that he put this Embassadour in Prison, where he was kept till the conclusion of the Peace; in this sort were the principal men of Rome seduced, having no thought of the Spaniards approaches, this is the relation of the Lord de Thou, Lib. 16.
LXIX.
French. La grand pitie sera sans long tarder, Ceux qui donnoient seront contraints de prendre Nuds affamez, de froid, soif, soy bander, Passer les Monts en faisant grand esclandre. English. What a great pitty will it be e’re-long, Those that did give shall be constrained to receive, Naked, famished with cold, thirst, to mutiny, To go over the Mountains making great disorders.
ANNOT.
The words of the first Verse, before it be long, is the Key of the Stanza, because we infer from thence it was shortly to happen, as in truth it did at the latter end of the year 1556. when the Duke of Guise came into Piemont to joyn with the Marshal of Brissac. Then the troops of the Marshal seeing those of the Duke better paid then they were, forsook the Marshal, the History saith there was above 1500. of them, and that the Marshal paid the Souldiers of his own money to stay them.
The great pitty was, when he had no more to give, he was compelled by the Kings order it self, and against his own inclination to raise some moneys upon the Countreys. Secondly, to take some Towns and give the plunder to the Souldiers. Thirdly, to permit the Souldiers to pillage the Countrey.
The Author was willing to foretell this, because there was never a man more strict in keeping the Martial discipline, then this General was.
The Marshal of Brissac being thus abused, some of his troops forsook him to follow the Duke of Guise, being for the most part naked and starved with cold, hunger and thirst, which makes the Author to specifie hunger, cold and thirst; want having compelled them to disband, they went over the Mountains, not of Piemont, but the Apennines of Montserrat, and whatsoever thing they found was a Fish for their Net.
LXX.
French. Un Chef du Monde le grand Cheiren sera, Plus outre, apres aime, craint, redouté, Son bruit & los les Cieux surpassera, Et du seul titre Victeur sort contente. English. A Chief of the World the great Cheiren shall be, Moreover, beloved afterwards, feared, dreaded, His fame and praise shall go beyond the Heavens, And shall be contented with the only title of Victor.
ANNOT.
We have said already before, that the Author by the word Cheyren meaneth Henry the II. his Master, by transposition of Letters, who as he saith was contented with the bare title of Victorieux, when he had undertaken the protection of the German Princes against the Emperour Charles the V.
LXXI.
French. Quand on viendra le grand Roy parenter, Avant quil ait du tout l’Ame rendue, On le verra bien tost apparenter, D’Aigles, Lions, Croix, Courone de Rüe. English. When they shall come to celebrate the obsequies of the great King, A day before he be quite dead, He shall be seen presently to be allyed With Eagles, Lions, Crosses, Crowns of Rüe.
ANNOT.
In the general Peace made Anno 1559. two Marriages were concluded, one of Elizabeth of France, daughter to Henry II. King of France, with Philip II. King of Spain, which was Celebrated at Paris with an extraordinary magnificence, in the presence of the Duke of Alba, the Prince of Orenge, and the Earl of Egmont, who came to fetch the Princess.
In the Celebrating of these Nuptials happened the unfortunate death of Henry II. This brought such a sadness to the Court, that the second match which was between Margaret of France, Daughter to Francis I. and the Duke of Savoy was Celebrated without solemnity.
We must add to this, that the Duke weareth in his Coat of Arms some Eagles, some Lions, some Crosses, and a Crown of Rue; by this, we understand this Stanza, which saith, that the King being mortally wounded, every one was preparing himself to render him the last duties, which the Author calleth to Parante, from the Latine word Parentare, which signifieth to Celebrate the Funeral duties of a man. Thus the second Verse saith, before the day that he yieldeth up his Soul, in hast was the Marriage Celebrated, between the Lady Margaret of France, and the Duke of Savoy, who beareth for his Arms some Eagles, some Lions, some Crosses, and a Crown of Rue.
LXXII.
French. Par fureur feinte devotion Divine, Sera la femme du grand fort violée, Judges voulants damner telle Doctrine, Victime au peuple ignorant immolée. English. By a faigned fury of Divine inspiration, The wife of the great one shall be ravished, Judges willing to condemn such a Doctrine, A Victimo shall be sacrificed to the ignorant people.
ANNOT.
Of this fact and others as bad, have been seen strange examples, formerly done by those called Enthousiastes, who have committed horrible villanies, under pretence of divine inspiration, some commiting Incests, others rapes, others murders, as may be seen at large in the History of John de Leiden, and other desperate Anabaptists, too tedious to be inserted here; I shall only relate here a little remarkable History, in confirmation of this, to discover the Wiles of the spirits of error, transformed into an Angel of Light.
The 7 day of February 1526. two Brothers, Thomas and Leonard Schyker, living near the Town of St. Gal in Switzerland, did assemble together with some other Anabaptists, in their fathers house, where they passed the most part of the night in discourses, making of faces, and relating of Visions, which every one said he had seen. The next day, upon break of day; Thomas did lay hold on his Brother Leonard, and dragged him in the middle of the company, bid him kneel in the presence of his Father and Mother, and of all the rest there present, and as all the rest of the Company bid him take heed to do any thing amiss; he answered, that there was no need to fear, and that in this business, nothing could be done against the Will of the Father; thereupon he drew his Sword, and cut off the head of his Brother, who was on his knees, all besotted before this murderer. All the rest being astonished, and besides their wits for this furious blow, and lamenting the dead, Thomas ran towards the Town with a fearful Countinance, as a Phanatick besides himself, without Shooes; and having no Cloaths but his Shirt and Breeches. At that time the Burg-master of St. Gal was Joachim Vadian, a wise and learned person, before whom the said Thomas stood, crying aloud with a fearful Countenance, that the day of Judgment was near; saying besides, that strange things had come to pass, (without telling what) that the will of his Father was done for his part. The Burg-master after he had reprehended him very much for his madness, and insolent carriage, commanded a Cloak to be put upon him, and to lead him home softly back again. But in the mean time, news was brought of his detestable murder, whereupon he was apprehended, examined, convicted, and executed. The like hath been done many times for Rapes and Incests: What is particular here, is, that our Author saith, that the Judges being willing to punish such Villanies, yet that unhappy accident shall fall, that an innocent person shall be put to death (belike) instead of the guilty, to please the people.
LXXIII.
French. En Cité grande en moyne & artisan, Pres de la porte logez & aux murailles, Contre modene secret, Cave disant, Trahis pour faire sous couleur d’espousailles. English. In a great City a Monk and an Artificer, Dwelling near the Gate, and the Walls, Near an old woman, ’tis a secret saying Cave, A Treason shall be plotted under pretence of a Marriage.
ANNOT.
Paradin maketh mention, that in the year 1552. a Monk deceived the Marshal of Brissac, making him believe that he would put him in possession of the Town of Quizres, if he would give him so much for reward. The Marshal used all the Caution possible, not to be deceived by that Imposter, who took Money on both sides, viz. the French and the Spaniards; nevertheless the Monk plaid the Knave with him, and the undertakings proved prejudicial to the French, though not considerably by reason of the precaution of the said Marshal.
The same Author writes, that in the year 1555. the 17 of August, the Spaniard had designed to retake Cazal, the same way that the French had surprised it. First, they had got a Widow in the Town, who received the undertakers in her house, which was near the Gate, and the Wall. Secondly there was a Marriage to be made between two persons of quality, where great Cheer and rejoycings were to be. Thirdly they got a woman that carryed Herbs to sell in the Town, and under the Herbs the Letters were hidden. The Author says likewise, that there was a Monk and a Tradesman, that lodged at this Widows house, those two actors in this business, viz. the Monk said Tradesman, ane secretly to the woman that sold Herbs, Cave, which signifies take heed, they said these words secretly near Matrone, that is, they whisperd in her ear Cave. Their design was to betray the Town, under pretence of a Marriage, but it did not succeed; because the Letters in the womans Basket were intercepted, the Vulgar impression hath a fault in the third Verse, where there is Modene instead of Matrone, and another in the fourth Verse, when instead of Treason, they have put for betrayed. The History obligeth us to correct it, as we have done.
LXXIV.
French. Le dechassé au regne tournera, Ses ennemis trouvez des conjurez, Plus que jamais son temps triomphera, Trois & septante a mort trop asseurez. English. The expelled shall come again to the Kingdom, Her enemies shall be found to be the Conspirators, More than ever his time shall triumph, Three and seventy appointed for death.
ANNOT.
This is a clear and express prediction of the happy restauration of his sacred Majesty, and our dread Sovereign Charles II. now Reigning, who after a long exile is come again to enjoy his own Kingdom, and to flourish more than ever he did before, by these seventy appointed to death, are meant the Judges and murderers of his Father, who with some few others of the same gang made about that number, and some of which have payed their shot by the hand of publick Justice, others have prevented their shame by dying before hand, others have been their own Executioners, and those that remain, lead a life worse then death it self; so true it is that vengeance dances the round.
LXXV.
French. Le grand Pilot sera par Roy mandé, Laisser la classe pour plus haut lieu atteindre, Sept ans apres sera contrebandé, Barbare Armée viendra Venise craindre. English. The great Pilot shall be sent for by the King, To leave the Fleet, and be preferred to a higher place, Seven years after he shall be countermanded, A Barbarian Army shall put Venice to a fright.
ANNOT.
This needeth no further explanation.
LXXVI.
French. La Cité antique d’Antenorée forge, Plus ne pouvant le Tyran supporter, Le manche feint au Temple couper gorge, Les siens le peuple a mort viendra bouter. English. The ancient City founded by Antenor, Being not able to bear the Tyrant any longer, With a fained haft, in the Church cut a throat, The people will come to put his servants to death.
ANNOT.
The City founded by Antenor (who was Companion and came into Italy with Æneas) is Padua, a University of the Venetians, of which it is said here, that being no longer able to bear a Tyrant, the said Tyrant shall be murdered in the Church with a knife hidden in a haft, and all his Men and Servants killed by the people of the Town.
LXXVII.
French. Par la victoire du deceu fraudulente, Deux classes une, la revolte Germaine, La Chef meurtry & son fils dans la Tente, Florence, Imole pourchassez dans Romaine. English. By the deceitful victory of the deceived, One of the two Fleets shall revolt to the Germans, The Chief and his Son murdered in their Tent, Florence, Imole persecuted in Romania.
ANNOT.
The three first Verses are plain. Florence and Imole are two Cities of Italy, seated in the Province of Romania.
LXXVIII.
French. Crier victoire du grand Selin croissant, Par les Romains sera l’Aigle clamé, Ticin, Milan, & Gennesny consent Puis par eux mesmes Basil grand reclamé. English. They shall cry up the victory of the great Selins half Moon, By the Romans the Eagle shall be claimed, Ticin, Milan and Genoa, consent not, Then by themselves the great Basil shall be claimed.
ANNOT.
The first Verse foretelleth some conquests of the Turks, whose Arms is the half Moon. The second Verse signifies, the Romans shall move the Emperour to succour them, which is the Eagle. Ticin, Milan and Genoa shall refuse to give help, and afterwards they shall call the great Basil (which in Greek signifies the great King, from βασίλευς) to their help.
LXXIX.
French. Pres de Tesin les habitants de Logre, Garonne & Saone, Seine, Tar, & Gironde: Outre les Monts dresseront promonitoire, Conflict donné, Pau franchi, submerge onde. English. Near the Tesin the Inhabitants of Logre, Garonne and Saone, Seine, Tar and Gironde, Shall erect a promontory beyond the Mountains, A Battle shall be fought, the Po shall be passed over, some shall be drowned in it.
ANNOT.
Tesin is the River that passeth by Milan. Garonne, Saone, Seine, Tar, and Gironde are Rivers of France. Po is the greatest River of Italy.
LXXX.
French. De Fez le Regne parviendra a ceux d’Europe, Feu leur Cité, & Lame tranchera, Le grand d’Asie Terre & Mer a grand troupe, Que bleux, pars, Croix a mort dechassera. English. The Kingdom of Fez shall come to those of Europe, Fire and Sword shall destroy their City, The great one of Asia by Land and Sea with a great troop, So that blews, greens, Crosses to death he shall drive.
ANNOT.
This is strange Prophecy if it prove true, viz. that the Kingdom of Fez (which is in Africa) shall be taken by those of Europe, and the Town put to Fire and Sword, after which the great one of Asia (meaning the great Turk) shall come by Land and by Sea with an innumerable Army, and shall drive and destroy all before him.
LXXXI.
French. Pleurs, cris & plaincts, heurlemens, effrayeur, Cœur inhumain, cruel, noir & transy: Leman, les Isles de Gennes les majeurs, Sang espancher, tochsain, a nul mercy. English. Tears, cryes and complaints, howlings, fear, An inhumane heart, cruel, black, astonished, Leman, the Islands the great ones of Genoa, Shall spill blood, the Bell shall ring out, no mercy shall be given.
ANNOT.
This foretels bloody Wars only, and needs no interpretation.
LXXXII.
French. Par les Deserts de lieu libre & farouche, Viendra errer Neveu du grand Pontife, Assomme a sept avec lourde souche, Par ceux qu’apres occuperont le Scyphe. English. Through the Deserts of a free and ragged place, The Nephew of the Pope shall come to wander, Knockt in the head by seven with a heavy Club, By those who after shall obtain the Scyphe.
ANNOT.
This signifies that the Nephew of a Pope shall be driven away, and shall wander in a desert place, where he shall be knockt in the head by seven men, one of which shall afterwards enjoy the Papacy; for Scyphe is a Latine word, signifying a Cup or Chalue, such as the Romish Priests say Mass with, and take the Sacrament.
LXXXIII.
French. Celuy qu’aura tant d’honneurs & caresses, A son entrée en la Gaule Belgique, Un temps apres sera tant de rudesses, Et sera contre a la fleur tant bellique. English. He that shall have had so many honours and welcoms, At his going into Flanders, A while after shall commit so many rudenesses, And shall be against the warlike flower.
ANNOT.
This is positively concerning the Duke of Alencon, Brother to Henry III. King of France, who having been sent for by the States of the Low-Countreys, and received with much honour to be their General and Governour against the Spaniard, did most unworthily break his trust, and being come to Antwerp, he was so ravished with the beauty and riches of the Town, that he seized upon it for himself, but was beaten out by the Citizens, and most of his men killed.
The fourth Verse saith. He shall be against the warlike flower; that is, his action shall be against Military Honour, and common practice of Honourable Souldiers.
LXXXIV.
French. Celuy qu’en Sparte Claude ne veut regner, Il fera tant par voye seductive, Que du court, long, le sera arraigner, Que contre Roy fera sa perspective. English. He that Claudius will not have to reign in Sparta, The same shall do so much by a deceitful way, That he shall cause him to be arraigned short and long, As if he had made his prospect upon the King.
ANNOT.
I believe the words of Claudius and Sparta here are Metaphorical, and the Author was unwilling they should be known.
The sense is, one shall be hindred from Reigning by another, whom he shall accuse of Treason against the King.
LXXXV.
French. La grand Cité de Tharse par Gaulois, Sera d’estriute captifs tous a Turban, Secours par Mer du grand Portugalois, Premier d’esté le jour du sacre Vrban. English. The great City of Tharsis shall be taken by the French, All those that were at Turban shall be made slaves, Succours by Sea from the great Portugals, The first day of the Summer, and of the installation of Urban.
ANNOT.
Here are two difficulties in this Stanza; the first is, what the Author means by the great City Tharsis; the second is in the last Verse, what he meaneth by the Installation of Vrban, I believe he meaneth no more then the election of a Pope, whose name shall be Urban.
LXXXVI.
French. Le grand Prelat un jour apres son songe, Interprete au rebours de son sens, De la Gascogne luy surviendra un Monge, Qui fera eslire le grand Prelat de Sens. English. The great Prelate the next day after his dream, Interpreted contrary to his sense, From Gascony shall come to him a Monge, That shall cause the great Prelate of Sens to be elected.
ANNOT.
Monge is a Barbarous word, that hath no relation to any Language in the world, (that I know) unless it signifies a Monk. Sens is a fine City, about threescore Miles beyond Paris, towards the South, and the Seat of an Arch-Bishop, who it seemeth shall be elected into some eminent place, the next day after he that was in it shall dream a dream, that shall be interpreted contrary to the sense and meaning of it.
LXXXVII.
French. L’election faicte dans Francfort, N’aura nul lieu, Milan s’opposera, Le sien plus proche semblera si grand fort, Qu’oute le Rhin Marais les chassera. English. The election made at Francford, Shall be void, Milan shall oppose it, He of the Milan party shall be so strong, As to drive the other beyond the Marshes of the Rhine.
ANNOT.
The Election of Francford is concerning an Emperour; for there they are elected, Crowned. The rest is plain.
LXXXVIII.
French. Un Regne grand demourra desolé, Aupres de l’Hebro se seront assemblées, Monts Pyrenees le rendront consolé, Lors que dans May seront Terres tremblées. English. A great Kingdom shall be left desolate, Near the River Hebrus an assembly shall be made, The Pyrenean Mountains shall comfort him, When in May shall be an Earth-quake.
ANNOT.
This needeth no interpretation, but what any one may give that knoweth where the River Hebrus is.
LXXXIX.
French. Entre deux cymbes pieds & mains attachez, De miel face oingt & de laict substante, Guespes & mouches feront amour fachez, Poccilateurs faucer, Scyphe tente. English. Between two Boats one shall be tyed hand and foot, His face annointed with Honey, and he nourished with Milk, Wasps and Bees shall make much of him in anger, For being treacherous Cup-bearers, and poisoning the Cup.
ANNOT.
This is a description of the punishment which the Persians use to afflict upon poisoners; for they were put between two Troughs, which are here called Boats, from their likeness to them, with their face only uncovered, which was daubed with Honey, that the Wasps and Bees might be drawn to it and torment them, they were fed with Milk, which if they refused to do, and had rather dye than be so tormented, then did the Tormenter prick their Eyes with Needles to force them to their diet, and so were they left, till the Vermin eat them up. We have an example of this in the Life of Artaxerxes King of Persia.
XC.
French. L’honnessement puant abominable, Apres la faict sera felicité, Grand excusé, pour n’estre favorable, Qu’a paix Neptune ne sera incité. English. The stinking and abominable defiling After the secret shall succeed well, The great one shall be excused for not being favourable, That Neptune might be perswaded to peace.
ANNOT.
By the two first Verses it seemeth that some abominable action, after its effect shall succeed well; the two last signifie, that a great person shall be excused for not permitting the Fleet to be at peace.
XCI.
French. Le conducteur de la guerre Navale, Rouge effrené, severe horrible grippe, Captif eschapé de l’aisné dans la baste, Quand il naistra du grand un Fils Agrippe. English. The leader of the naval forces, Red, rash, severe, horrible extortioner, Being slave, shall escape, hidden amongst the Harnesses, When a Son named Agrippa, shall be born to the great one.
ANNOT.
This needeth no Interpretation, the words being so plain.
XCII.
French. Princesse de beauté tant venuste, Au chef menée, le second faict trahy, La Cité au Glaive poudre face aduste, Par trop grand meurtre le chef du Roy hay. English. A Princess of an exquisite beauty, Shall be brought to the General, the second time the fact shall be betrayed, The City shall be given to the Sword and fire, By two great a murder the chief Person about the King shall be hated.
ANNOT.
The only difficulty lyes in what City he doth mean.
XCIII.
French. Prelat avare, d’ambition trompé, Rien ne fera que trop cuider viendra, Ses Messagers, & luy bien attrapé, Tout au rebours voir qui les bois fendra. English. A covetous Prelate, deceived by ambition, Shall do nothing but covet too much, His messengers and he shall be trapt, When they shall see one cleave the Wood the contrary way.
ANNOT.
This needeth no Annotation.
XCIV.
French. Un Roy iré sera aux sedifragues, Quand interdicts seront harnois de guerre, La poison taincte au succre par les fragues, Par eaux meurtris, morts, disant, serre, serre. English. A King shall be angry against the Covenant-breakers, When the Warlike Armour shall be forbidden, The Poison with Sugar shall be put in the Strawberries, They shall be murdered and die, saying, close, close.
ANNOT.
The words are plain.
XCV.
French. Par detracteur calomnié puis nay, Quand istront faicts enormes & martiaux, La moindre part dubieuse a l’aisné, Et tost au Regne seront faicts partiaux. English. The youngest Son shall be calumniated by a slanderer, When enormous and Martial deeds shall be done, The least part shall be left doubtfull to the Eldest, and soon after they shall be both equal in the Kingdom.
ANNOT.
This lacketh no interpretation.
XCVI.
French. Grand Cité a Soldats abandonnée, Onc ny eut mortel tumult si proche, O quelle hideuse calamités approche, Fors une offence n’y sera pardonnée. English. A great City shall be given up to the Souldiers, There was never a mortal tumult so near, Oh! what a hideous calamity draws near, Except one offence nothing shall be spared.
ANNOT.
This is concerning the taking of the Town of St. Quentin in 1557. because the Author saith, no tumult was like this, so near the year 1555. when our Author writ.
He calleth it great City; because it is one of the most considerable in France, therefore it was besieged by the King of Spain with 37000. men, and 12000. Horses and 8000. English. The plunder was given to the Souldiers; for it was taken by assault.
There was never a mortal tumult so near; for the Souldiers taking revenge upon the Inhabitants, and Garrison, put all to the Sword; the Admiral having much ado to save himself.
In consequence of this our Prophet cryeth, O what a fearfull calamity; because the taking of this Town joyned with the loss of St. Laurence did almost ruine France. He addeth, except one offence nothing shall be forgiven; that is, the Town should be afflicted in all respects, except that it should not be burnt. The taking of this Town was upon the 27 of August, 17 days after the Battle of St. Laurence.
The loss was so great to France, that the King was fained to call the Duke of Guise back from Italy, and Charles V. hearing this news, asked presently if his Son Philip was not in Paris, as much as to say, it was a thing he ought to have done.
But God permitted that the King of Spain went another way, and in the mean time, the King of France strengthned himself, and the Duke of Guise took from the English, Calais, Guines, and the County of d’Oye. The Spanish History saith, that Philip had forbidden to touch any old people, Children and Ecclesiastical persons; but above all St. Quentins reliques.
XCVII.
French. Cinq & quarante degrez ciel bruslera, Feu approcher de la grand Cité neuve, Instant grand flamme esparse sautera, Quand on voudra des Normans faire preuve. English. The Heaven shall burn at five and forty degrees, The fire shall come near the great new City, In an instant a great flame dispersed shall burst out, When they shall make a trial of the Normans.
ANNOT.
This signifies some extraordinary lightning under five and forty degrees, which is about the Southern part of France.
It is not easie to guess what he meaneth by the great new City, unless it be one in the Authors Countrey, called Villa Nova.
The last Verse seemeth to intimate, that this shall happen when an Army of Normandie shall be raised.
XCVIII.
French. Ruyne aux Volsques de peur si fort terribles, Leur grand Cité taincte, faict pestilent: Piller Sol, Lune, & violer leur Temples, Et les deux Fleuves rougir de sang coulant. English. A ruine shall happen to the Volsques that are so terrible, Their great City shall be dyed, a pestilent deed: They shall plunder Sun and Moon, and violate their Temples, And the two Rivers shall be red with running blood.
ANNOT.
The Volsi were a warlike people of Italy joyning to Rome, which makes me believe that by the great City he meaneth Rome, which was plundered and sackt by the Duke of Burgondy and the Prince of Orange, Generals of the Emperour Charles V.
XCIX.
French. L’Ennemy docte se tournera confus, Grand Camp malade, & de faict par embusches Monts Pyrenees luy seront faicts refus. Roche du Fleuve descouvrant antique ruches. English. The learned enemy shall go back confounded, A great Camp shall be sick, and in effect through ambush, The Pyrenean Mountains shall refuse him. Near the River discovering the ancient Hives.
ANNOT.
The words are plain, though the sense be too obscure, and I shall not endeavour to give an interpretation, when every one may make one himself.
C.
French. Fill de Laure, asyle du mal sain, Ou jusqu’au Ciel se void l’Amphitheatre: Prodige veu, ton mal est fort prochain, Seras captive, & des fois plus de quatre. English. Daughter of Laura, Sanctuary of the sick, Where to the Heavens is seen the Amphitheatre, A prodigy being seen, the danger is near, Thou shalt be taken captive above four times.
ANNOT.
This is an ingenious Stanza, concerning the City of Nismes in Languedoc, famous for its Amphitheatre built by the Romans, and remaining to this day, which Town he calleth Daughter of Laura, because the Lady Laura, Mistress to the famous Poet Petrarche was born thereabout; he also calleth it Sanctuary of the sick, for the salubrity of the air.
The meaning of the two last Verses is, that when a prodigy shall be seen, viz. Civil War in France, it shall be taken above four times, as it hath happened by one party or other.
Legis cautio contra ineptos Criticos.
Qui legent hos versus, maturè censunto: Prophanum vulgus & inscium ne attrectato: Omnesque Astrologi, Blenni, Barbari procul sunto, Qui aliter faxit, is rite sacer esto.
