CENTURY VIII.
Theophilus Garencières translation
I.
French. Pau, Nay, Loron, plus feu qu’a sang sera, Laude nager, fuir grands aux Surrez, Les Agassas entrée refusera, Pampon, Durance, les tiendront enserrez. English. Pau, Nay, Loron, more in fire then blood shall be, Lauda to swim, great ones run to the Surrez, The Agassas shall refuse the entry, Pampon, Durance shall keep them enclosed.
ANNOT.
The Prophecies of this, and of the remaining Centuries being for the most part so obscure, as no man is able to make any sense of them, the judicious Reader must not expect from me, what no man else can do; let him suffice if I give him as much light as I can, and leave the rest to his own judgement and industry.
Pau is the chief Town of the Province of Bearn, in the Kingdom of Navarre, where Henry the IV. King of France and Navarre was born. Nay and Loron are barbarous words, so are Surrez, Agassas and Pampon. Durance is a River of France.
II.
French. Condon & Aux, & autour de Mirande, Je voy du Ciel feu qui les environne, Sol, Mars, conjoint au Lion, puis Marmande, Foudre, grand guerre, mur tomber dans Garonne. English. Condon and Aux, and about Mirande, I see a fire from Heaven that encompasseth them, Sol, Mars, in conjunction with the Lion, and then Marmande, Lightning, great War, Wall falls into the Garonne.
ANNOT.
Condon, Aux, Mirande, and Marmande are Towns in the Province of Guyenne and Languedoc, Garonne is the River of Bourdeaux.
III.
French. Au fort Chasteau de Vigilanne & Resviers, Sera serré les puisnay de Nancy, Dedans Turin seront ards les premiers, Lors que de dueil Lyon sera transy. English. In the strong Castle of Vigilanne and Resviers, Shall be kept close the youngest son of Nancy, Within Turin the first shall be burnt up, When Lyon shall be overwhelmed with sorrow.
ANNOT.
Vigilanne and Resviere being falsly writen here, it must be set down Veillane and Riuiere, which are two strong Castles, the first being seated in Piemont, and the last in Burgundy.
Nancy is the chief Town of Lorrain, and Turin of Piemont, Lyon is a famous City in France, so that the sense of this Prophecy seemeth to be, that the youngest Son of Nancy, (that is of Lorrain) shall be kept close Prisoner in those two Castles of Veillane and Riuiera, and that the chief men of Turin shall be burnt, when the City of Lyon shall be oppressed with sorrow.
IV.
French. Dedans Monech le Coq sera receu, Le Cardinal de France apparoistra, Par Logarion Romain sera deceu, Foiblesse a l’Aigle, & force au Coq croistra. English. Within Monech the Cock shall be admitted, The Cardinal of France shall appear, By Logarion, Roman shall be deceived, Weakness to the Eagle, and strength to the Cock shall grow.
ANNOT.
Monech is false written here, it must be Monaco, which is a Principality and Town in Italy by Genoa, belonging to the House of the Grimaldi, wherein the French were admitted by the policy of Cardinal Richelieu, during the Wars between France and Spain.
Logarion is a Barbarous name, by which he meaneth some body unknown to us.
By the Eagle is meant the Emperour, who was very low at that time, and by the Cock, the King of France, who was very powerful, where it is to be observed, that by the Eagle the Emperour is always understood, because it is his Arms, and by the Cock is meant the King of France, because a Frenchman is called in Latine Galius, which also signifieth a Cock.
V.
French. Apparoistra Temple luisant orné, La Lampe & Cierge a Borne & Bretueil, Pour la Lucerne le Canton destourné, Quand on verra le grand Coq au Cercueil. English. A shining adorned Temple shall appear, The Lamp and wax Candle at Borne and Bretueil, For Lucerne the Canton turned of, When the great Cock shall be seen in his Coffin.
ANNOT.
Borne and Bretueil are two particular places, the first is one of the four Baronies of the River Mase, viz. Petersem, Steen, Horne, Borne, the other is a little Town in Britany.
Lucerne is one of the Cantons of Switzerland. We have said before what is meant by the great Cock, viz. the King of France. Let the Reader make up the rest, according to his fancy.
VI.
French. Charté fulgure a Lyon apparente, Luysant, print Malte, subit sera estainte, Sardon, Mauris traitera decevante, Geneve a Londres, a Coq trahison feinte. English. A thundering light at Lyons appearing, Bright, took Maltha, instantly shall be put out, Sardon shall treat Mauris deceitfully, To Geneva, London, and the Cock a fained treason.
ANNOT.
Maltha is an Island in the Mediterranean Sea, famous for the Knights that inhabit it, and take their name from thence. Sardon and Mauris are barbarous words.
VII.
French. Verceil, Milan donra intelligence, Dedans Tycin sera faite la paye, Courir par Seine eau, sang, feu par Florence, Unique choir d’hault en bas faisant maye. English. Verceil, Milan shall give intelligence, In the Tycin shall the Peace be made, Run through Seine water, blood, fire through Florence, The only one shall fall from top to bottom making maye.
ANNOT.
Verceil and Milan are two Cities in Italy, the Tycin, or rather Thesin is a River of the same Countrey; Seine is the River that runneth at Paris. Florence is a famous City in Italy, and maye a barbarous word, foisted up to patch up his Rime.
VIII.
French. Pres de Linterne dans des tonnes fermez, Chivas fera pour l’Aigle la menée, L’Esleu cassé, luy ses ges enfermez, Dedans Turin rapt espouse emmenée. English. Near Linterne, enclosed within Tuns, Chivas shall drive the plot for the Eagle, The Elect cashiered, he and his men shut up, Within Turin, a rape, and Bride carried away.
ANNOT.
Linterne is a small Town in Italy; by Tuns are meant woodden Vessels, such as they put Rhenish wines and others in.
Chivas is a Town in Piemont, and Turin the chief Town of the said Countrey.
IX.
French. Pendant que l’Aigle & le Coq a Savone, Seront unis, Mer, Levant & Hongrie, L’Armée a Naples, Palerme, Marque d’Ancone, Rome, Venise, par barbe horrible crie. English. Whilst the Eagle and the Cock at Savona, Shall be united, Sea, Levant, and Hungary, Army at Naples, Palermo, Mark of Ancona, Rome, Venice, cry because of a horrid beard.
ANNOT.
By the Eagle is meant the Emperour, and by the Cock the King of France; the rest is easie.
X.
French. Puanteur grande sortira de Lausane, Qu’on ne scaura l’origine du fait, L’on mettra hors toute la gent loingtaine, Feu veu au Ciel peuple estranger deffait. English. A great stink shall come forth out of Lausane, So that no body shall know the ofspring of it, They shall put out all the Forreiners, Fire seen in Heaven, a strange people defeated.
ANNOT.
Lausane is a City situated in Savoy, by the Lake of Geneva, but now as I take it in the possession of the Switzers.
XI.
French. Peuple infiny paroistre a Vicence, Sans force feu brusler la Basilique, Pres de Lunage des fait grand de Valence, Lors que Venise par morte prendre pique. English. Infinite deal of people shall appear at Vicence, Without force, fire shall burn in the Basilick, Near Lunage the great one of Valence shall be defeated, When Venice by death shall take the pique.
ANNOT.
Vicenza is a Town in Italy, under the dominion of the Venetians. Basilick is the name of the biggest sort of Canons or pieces of Ordinance. As for Valence there is three Cities of that name, one in Spain, the second in France, and the third in Italy; instead of Lunage, it must be Lignago which is a Town in Italy.
XII.
French. Apparoistra aupres du Bufalore, L’haut & procere entré dedans Milan, L’Abbé de Foix avec ceux de Saint Maure, Feront la fourbe habillez en vilain. English. Near the Bufalore shall appear, The high and tall, come into Milan, The Abbot of Foix with those of Saint Maure, Shall make the trumpery being cloathed like rogues.
ANNOT.
Bufalore is a barbarous word; Foix is a Countrey in France, and St. Maure a little Town in the said Countrey.
XIII.
French. Le croisé Frere par amour effrenée, Fera par Praytus Bellerophon mourir, Classe a mil ans, la femme forcenée, Beu le breueage, tous deux apres perir. English. The crossed Brother through unbridled love, Shall cause Bellerophon to be killed by Praytus, Fleet to thousand years, the woman out of her wit, The drink being drunk, both after that, perish.
ANNOT.
Bellerophon and Praytus are two supposed and fictitious names.
XIV.
French. Le grand credit, d’or, d’argent l’abundance, Aveuglera par Libide l’honneur, Cogneu sera d’adultere l’offence, Qui parviendra a son grand deshonneur. English. The great credit, the abundance of Gold and Silver Shall blind honour by lust, The offence of the Adulterer shall be known, Which shall come to his great dishonour.
ANNOT.
This is easie to be understood; for it is frequently seen, that Honour is made blind by lust, and chiefly if that lust be propped up with credit; and abundance of Gold and Silver.
XV.
French. Vers Aquilon grands efforts par hommasse, Presque l’Europe, l’Univers vexer, Les deux Eclipses mettra en telle chassé, Et aux Pannons vie & mort renforcer. English. Towards the North great endeavours by a manly woman, To trouble Europe, and almost all the world, She shall put to flight the two Eclipses, And shall re-inforce life and death to the Pannons.
ANNOT.
By the Pannons is meant the Hungarians. The rest is easie.
XVI.
French. Au lieu que Hieson fit sa nef fabriquer, Si grand Deluge sera & si subite, Qu’on n’aura lieu ne Terre sattaquer, L’onde monter Fesulan Olympique. English. In the place where Jason caused his Ship to be built, So great a Flood shall be, and so sudden, That there shall be neither place nor Land to save themselves, The Waves shall climb upon the Olympick Fesulan.
ANNOT.
Jason was Son to King Æson, who built a Ship called Argos, in which he went to Colchos, to Conquer the Golden Fleece.
Fesulan here is to be understood of some high and eminent place, which therefore he calleth Olympick, from Olympus a high Mountain in Grecia. The place where Jason builded his Ship.
XVII.
French. Les bien aisez subit seront desmis, Le monde mis par les trois freres en trouble, Cité Marine saisiront ennemis, Faim, feu, sang, peste, & de tous maux le double. English. Those that were at ease shall be put down, The world shall be put in trouble by three Brothers, The Maritine City shall be seized by its enemies, Hunger, fire, blood, plague, and the double of all evils.
ANNOT.
It is not easie to tell what them three Brothers have been, or shall be, nor that Maritine or Sea City, therefore we leave it to the liberty of every ones judgement, the words being plain enough.
XVIII.
French. De Flore issue de sa mort sera cause, Un temps devant par jeusne & vieille bueyre, Car les trois lis luy feront telle pause, Par son fruit sauve comme chair crüe mueyre. English. Issued from Flora shall be the cause of her own death, One time before, through fasting and old drink, For the three Lillies shall make her such a pause, Saved by her fruit, as raw flesh dead.
ANNOT.
This is one of those, wherein the Author would not be understood, and may be did not understand himself.
XVIX.
French. A soustenir la grand cappe troublée, Pour l’esclaireir les rouges marcheront, De mort famille sera presqu’accablée, Les rouges rouges, le rouge assommeront. English. To maintain up the great troubled Cloak, The red ones shall march for to clear it, A family shall be almost crushed to death, The red, the red, shall knock down the red one.
ANNOT.
This seemeth to carry no other sense than a conspiracy of the Cardinals, called here by the name of the Red, the Red against the Pope, who is called the Red one.
XX.
French. Le faux message par election feinte, Courir par Urbem rompue pache arreste, Voix acheptées de sang chappelle teinte, Et a un autre qui l’Empire conteste. English. The contract broken, stoppeth the message, From going about the Town, by a fained election, Voices shall be bought, and a Chappel died with blood, By another, who challengeth the Empire.
ANNOT.
This was so falsely printed, and so preposterously set in order, that I had much ado to pick out this little sense of it, which amounteth to no more, than that by reason of an agreement broken, the Messenger, that went to publish a faigned election (it seemeth of the Empire) shall be hindred, and that one of the Competitors to the said Empire, shall be killed in or near a Chappel, that shall be soiled by his Blood.
XXI.
French. Au port de Agde trois fustes entreront, Portant infection avec soy, pestilence, Passant le pont mil milles embleront, Et le pont rompre a tierce resistance. English. Three Galleys shall come into the harbour of Agde, Carrying with them infection and Pestilence, Going beyond the Bridge, they shall carry away thousands, At the third resistance the Bridge shall be broken.
ANNOT.
Agde is a Sea Town in France upon the Mediterranean Sea, which is threatned here of three Galleys, that shall come into the Harbour of it, and shall bring with them infection and Plague; and besides carry away thousands of Captives, by which it seemeth, that these should be Turkish Galleys, till at last upon the third resistance of the Townsmen the Bridge shall be broken.
XXII.
French. Gorsan, Narbonne, par le Sel advertir, Tucham, la Grace Perpignan trahie, La ville rouge ny voudra consentir, Par haute Voldrap, Gris vie faillie. English. Gorsan, Narbonne, by the Salt shall give notice, To Tucham, the Grace Perpignan betrayed, The red Town will not give consent to it, By high Woldrap, Gray, life ended.
ANNOT.
This is another, wherein my best skill faileth me; for take away Narbonne, which is a City of France, in the Province of Languedoc, and Perpignan, which is another in the County of Roussilon near Spain. The rest are either barbarous words or nonsensical to me.
XXIII.
French. Lettres trouvées de la Reyne les Coffres, Point de subscrit, sans aucun nom d’Autheur, Par la police seront cachez les offres, Qu’on ne scaura qui sera lamateur. English. Letters found in the Queens Coffers, No superscription, no name of the Author, By policy shall be concealed the offers, So that no body shall know who shall be the lover.
ANNOT.
This needeth no great explication, being pretty plain, and foretelleth only that a Queens Trunks shall be opened, wherein many love Letters shall be found without subscription, with many great offers, which by policy being suppressed, or no notice taken of. The lover was never known.
XXIV.
French. Le Lieutenant a l’entrée l’huis, Assommera le grand de Perpignan, En se cuidant sauver a Montpertuis, Sera deceu Bastard de Lusignan. English. The Lieutenant shall at the doors entry. Knock down the great one of Perpignan: And the Bastard of Lusignan shall be deceived, Thinking to save himself at Montpertuis.
ANNOT.
The words and the sense are clear, though the meaning is hard to be understood.
XXV.
French. Cœur de l’Amant ouvert d’amour furtive, Dans le ruisseau sera ravir la Dame, Le demy mal contrefaira lascive, Le Pere a deux privera corps de l’Ame. English. The Lovers heart being by a stoln love, Shall cause the Dame to be ravished in the Brook, The lascivious shall counterfeit half a discontent, The Father shall deprive the bodies of both of their souls.
ANNOT.
This signifieth nothing but a Lover, who meeting in or by a Brook, his Mistress shall enjoy her, for which she shall fain a little discontent, as if she had been ravished against her will, but her jealous Father not contented therewith, shall kill them both, which is an ordinary Italian trick.
XXVI.
French. De Carones trouvez en Barcelonne, Mys descouvers, lieu terrouers & ruine, Le grand qui tient ne voudra Pampelone, Par l’Abbaye de Montferrat bruine. English. The Carones fond in Barcelona, Put discovered, place soil and ruine, The great that hold will not Pampelona, By the Abbaye of Montferrat, mist.
ANNOT.
Barcelona is a Town of a Province in Spain, called Catalonia. Pampelona is the chief Town of the Kingdom of Navarre. Montferrat is an Abbaye in the Mountains of Catalonia; the rest is insignificant.
XXVII.
French. La voye Auxelle l’un sur l’autre fornix, Du muy de fer hors mis brave & genest, L’Escrit d’Empereur la Phœnix, Veu en celuy ce qu’a nul autre nest. English. The way Auxelle, one Arch upon another, Being brave and gallant put out of the Iron vessel, The writing of the Emperour the Phœnix, In it shall be seen, what no where else is.
ANNOT.
I can find nothing in this worth interpretation.
XXVIII.
French. Les Simulachres d’or & d’argent enflez, Qu’apres le rapt, Lac au feu furent jettez, Au descouvert estaints tous & troublez, Au Marbre escripts, prescripts interjettez. English. The Images sweld with Gold and Silver, Which after the rape were thrown into the Lake and fire, Being discovered after the putting out of the fire, Shall be written in Marble, prescripts being intermixed.
ANNOT.
It seemeth that this gold and silver Idols having been stoln, were afterwards thrown into a Lake and a fire, which fire being put out, those Idols were found, and the memorial engraven in Marble.
XXIX.
French. Au quart pilier ou l’on sacre a Saturne, Par tremblant Terre & Deluge fendu, Soubs l’edifice Saturnin trouvée Urne, D’or Capion, ravy puis tost rendu. English. At the fourth Pillar where they sacrifice to Saturn, Cloven by an Earth-quake and a Flood, An Urne shall be found under that Saturnian building, Full of Capion gold stoln, and then restored.
ANNOT.
This foretelleth, that at the fourth Pillar of a Temple that was dedicated to Saturn, which Pillar shall be split by an Earth-quake and a Flood, there shall be found an Urne, (which is an Earthen Vessel, wherein the ancient Romans used to keep the ashes of their dead friends) full of gold, that shall be carried away, and then restored.
XXX.
French. Dedans Tholose non loin de Beluzer, Faisant un puis loing Palais d’espectacle, Thresor trouvé un chacun ira vexer, Et en deux locs tout aupres des Vesacle. English. Within Tholose not far from Beluzer, Digging a Well, for the Pallace of spectacle, A treasure found that shall vex every one, In two parcels, in, and near the Basacle.
ANNOT.
Tholose is the chief City of Languedoc, Beluzer is a private place within its precinct, Spectacle is insignificant, and is onely foisted in, to Rime with Basacle, which is a place in Tholose, where there is aboundance of Water-mills, that make a hideous and fearful noise.
XXXI.
French. Premier grand fruit le Prince de Pesquiere, Mais puis viendra bien & cruel malin, Dedans Venise perdra sa gloire fiere, Et mis a mal par plus joyve Celin. English. The first great fruit the Prince of Pesquiere, But he shall become very cruel and malicious, He shall loose his fierce pride in Venice, And shall be put to evil by the younger Celin.
ANNOT.
Pescaire is a Town in the Kingdom of Naples, belonging to the noble Spanish Family of Avalos, of which it seemeth one shall prove cruel and malicious; but he shall be killed in Venice by one young Celin, by which formerly, and in other places the Author understandeth the Turk.
XXXII.
French. Garde toy Roy Gaulois de ton Nepveu, Qui fera tant que ton unique filz, Sera meurtry a Venus faisant vœu, Accompagné de nuit que trois & six. English. Take heed O French King of thy Nephew, Who shall cause that thine only Son Shall be murdered making a vow to Venus, Accompanied with three and six.
ANNOT.
This is a plain warning to a French King to beware of his Nephew, who accompanied with nine others, shall cause his Son to be murdered when he went about some venereal employment.
XXXIII.
French. Le grand naistra de Verone & Vicence, Qui portera un surnom bien indigne, Qui a Venise voudra faire vengeance, Luy mesme prins homme du guet & signe. English. The great one of Verona and Vicenza shall be born, Who shall bear a very unworthy surname, Who shall endeavour at Venice to avenge himself, But he shall be taken by a Watch-man.
ANNOT.
Verona and Vicenza are two famous Cities in Italy, under the dominion of the Venetians; the rest is easie.
XXXIV.
French. Apres victoire du Lion au Lion, Sur la Montagne de Jura Secatombe, Delues, & Brodes septiesme milion, Lyon Ulme a Mausol mort & tombe. English. After the Victory of the Lion against the Lion, Upon the Mountain Jura Secatomb, Delues, and Brodes the seventh Million, Lyons, Ulme fall dead at Mausol.
ANNOT.
The Mount Jura is in Switzerland; Lyon is a great City in France; and Ulme another in Germany; the rest is either barbarous or insignificant.
XXXV.
French. Dedans l’entree de Garonne & Blaye, Et la Forest non loing de Damazan, De Marsaves gelées, puis gresle & Bize, Dordonois gelé par erreur de Mezan. English. Within the entrance of Garonne and Blaye, And the Forrest not far from Damazan, Of Marsaves frosts, then Hail and North wind, Dordonois frozen by the error of Mezan.
ANNOT.
Garonne is the River that runneth at Bourdeaux, and Blaye is the Port Town that lieth at the mouth of it; I should think that instead of Dordonois, it should be Printed Dordone, which is another River thereabouts, and is here threatned to be frozen.
XXXVI.
French. Sera commis contre Oinde a Duché De Saulne, & Saint Aubin, & Belœuvre, Paver de Marbre, de tours loing pluche, Non Bleteran resister & chef d’œuvre. English. A Dukedom shall be committed against Oinde, Of Saulne, and Saint Aubin, and Belœuvre, To pave with Marble, and of Towers well pickt, Not Bleteran to resist, and master-piece.
ANNOT.
I confess my Ignorance, and should be glad that a better Oedipus than I would undertake this.
XXXVII.
French. La forteresse aupres de la Thamise, Cherra par lors, le Roy dedans serré, Aupres du pont sera veu en chemise, Un devant mort, puis dans le fort barré. English. The strong Fort near the Thames Shall fall then, the King that was kept within, Shall be seen near the Bridge in his Shirt, One dead before, then in the Fort kept close.
ANNOT.
The Dream be to them that hate thee, and the Interpretation thereof to thine Enemies, Dan. 4, v. 10.
XXXVIII.
French. Le Roy de Blois dans Avignon regner, Un autrefois le peuple emonopole, Dedans le Rhosne par murs fera baigner, Jusques a cinq, le dernier pres de Nole. English. The King of Blois in Avignon shall Reign Another time the people do murmur, He shall cause in the Rhosne to be bathed through the Walls, As many as five, the last shall be near Nole.
ANNOT.
This foretelleth that a King of France shall take Avignon, which is a City in France belonging to the Pope. And that some of the people beginning to murmur and mutiny, he shall cause five of them to be thrown over the Walls into the Rhosne, which is a swift River that passeth by. Nole must be some place thereabouts.
XXXIX.
French. Qu’aura esté par Prince Bizantin, Sera tollu par Prince de Tholose, La foy de Foix, par le chef Tholentin, Luy faillira ne refusant l’espouse. English. What shall have been by a Bizantin Prince, Shall be taken away by the Prince of Tholose, The faith of Foix by the chief Tholentin, Shall fail him, not refusing the Spouse.
ANNOT.
I can understand nothing else by Prince Bizantin, but some Prince of the house of Gonzague, who derive their pedigree from that of the Palæologues, formerly Emperours of Constantinople, called in ancient time Bizantium. As for the Prince of Tholose, there having been none this two or three hundred years since that Country was devolved to the Crown of France; but the King himself, I suppose he must be understood here; so that the sense of this Prophecie, (if any be) is, that the King of France shall take something from the Duke of Mantua, who is the head of the Gonzagues, as he hath done formerly several times.
By the faith of Foix, is understood the late Duke of Rohan, who descended from the house of Foix, and who did war against the said Duke of Mantua at that time, when the King of France, Lewis XIII. would not suffer his Brother the Duke of Orleans to Marry the Princess Mary, Daughter of the Duke of Nevers, of the house of Gonzague, and lately Queen of Poland.
XL.
French. Le sang du juste par Taur & la Dorade, Pour se vanger contre les Saturnins, Au nouveau Lac plongeront la Mainade, Puis marcheront contre les Albanins. English. The blood of the just by Taur and Dorade, To avenge themselves against the Saturnins, In the new Lake shall sink the Mainade, Then shall go forth against the Albanins.
ANNOT.
Here the Author hath kept his mind to himself, as for my part, being ignorant of his barbarous words, I had rather leave the sense of this to the judgment of the Reader, than by an incongruous and far fetched interpretation make my self ridiculous.
XLI.
French. Esleu sera Renard ne sonnant mot, Faisant le Saint public, vivant pain d’orge, Tyranniser apres tant a un cop, Mettant le pied des plus grands sur la gorge. English. A Fox shall be elected that said nothing, Making a publick Saint, living with Barley bread, Shall tyrannise after upon a sudden, And put his foot upon the Throat of the greatest.
ANNOT.
This Prophecy seemeth to regard particularly the Pope, who having played the Hypocrite before his Election, eating nothing but Barley bread, that he might be reputed a Spaint, shall after his Election shall tyrannise upon a sudden, and trample upon the Throat of the greatest Monarchs, as they have done formerly, and would do yet if they could.
XLII.
French. Par avarice, par force & violence, Viendra vexer les siens chefs d’Orleans, Prez Saint Memire assaut & resistance, Mort dans sa Tente, diront quil dort leans. English. By avarice, by force and violence, Shall come to vex his own chief of Orleans, Near Saint Memire assault and resistance, Dead in his Tent, they’l say he sleepeth there.
ANNOT.
The construction of this must be thus made. The Chiefs of Orleans, (which is a famous Town in France) shall come to vex their own (I suppose) Citizens. And near that place called Saint Memire, shall be a fight, where one of those chief ones shall be killed, or die in his Tent, and shall be denyed under pretence of being asleep.
XLIII.
French. Par le decide de deux choses Bastars, Nepveu du sang occupera le Regne, Dedans Lectoure seront les coups de dards, Nepveu par peur pleira l’Enseigne. English. By the decision of two things, Bastards, Nephew of the Blood shall occupy the Kingdom, Within Lectoure shall be strokes of Darts, Nephew through fear shall fold up his Ensign.
ANNOT.
I think that instead of decision it should be division, and then the sense is easily made up, thus; that through the division of two Bastards, the Nephew of the Blood shall occupy the Kingdom, which Nephew afterwards in a fight at Lectoure, (which is a strong Town in Gascony) shall be put to the worst, and compelled to fold up his Ensigns.
XLIV.
French. Le procrée naturel d’Ogmion, De sept a neuf du chemin destourner, A Roy de longue & amy au my hom, Doit a Navarre fort de Pau prosterner. English. The natural begotten of Ogmyon, From seven to nine shall put out of the way, To King of long, and friend to the half man, Ought to Navarre prostrate the fort of Pau.
ANNOT.
A man needeth a good pair of Spectacles to see through all this, what I understand in it is that this Bastard of Ogmyon, by whom he meaneth the King of France, ought to submit the Fort of Pau to Navarre, and good reason too; for Navarre is the Kingdom, and Pau only the chief Town of one Province of it, called Bearn.
XLV.
French. La main escharpe & la jambe bandée, Louis puisné de Palais partira, Au mot du guet la mort sera tardée, Puis dans le Temple a Pasques seignera. English. The hand on a Scarf, and the leg swadled, The younger Lewis shall go from Palais, At the Watch word his death shall be protracted, Then afterwards at Easter he shall bleed in the Temple.
ANNOT.
The Prince of Condé, whose name was Lewis, and the youngest of the Children of Charles of Bourbon, the first Duke of Vendosme, father to Anthony of Bourbon, King of Navarre, went away from the Court in the time of Francis the second King of France, and came into Bearn to the King his Brother. He was summoned many times by Francis II. to come to Court; but finding his name to be amongst those that intended to surprise Lion, he durst not venture.
Nevertheless he was perswaded by his Uncle the Cardinal of Bourbon, and came to the Court at Orleans. It is easie to believe that he fained himself to be hurt by a fall from his Horse, or that really he was so; having his Arm in a Scarf, and his Leg swadled up, in which posture he came to testifie his obedience to the Kings commands.
In this posture of a wounded man, whether really and fictitiously he came from Palais, which by mistake is printed Calais; the Printer being ignorant, that in Bearn, where the Prince had sheltered himself, there is a Castle called Palais, which was the place that the Prince used to live in.
Being come to Court he was presently arrested, arraigned and condemned to death. Nevertheless the Kings sickness proving mortal, the execution was suspended, and his life saved. After that the Prince sought all occasions to revenge himself, and began about Easter in April following. It was not by an open Rebellion against the King, but under pretence to maintain the Protestant Religion: therefore the Author saith, that this life saved shall bleed in the Temple; because the Princes pretext was the Temple and the Church; that is Religion. Hence the fourth Verse is clearly understood. Resteth the third Verse, which saith, that his life was differred till the Watch word; because the Queen seeing the King her Son upon his death bed, caused secretly the execution of the Sentence to be differred, that she might make use of the King of Navarre, and of the Prince his Brothers favour, against the house of Guise, for the obtaining of the Regency.
Moreover I observe, that in the year 1562. the Prince of Condé began openly to rebel, surprising the City of Orleans the 29 of March, which was Easter day that year, which sheweth the truth of the fourth Verse.
XLVI.
French. Pol Mensolée mourra trois lieues du Rhosne, Fuis les deux prochains Tarare destrois, Car Mars sera le plus horrible Throsne, De Coq & d’Aigle, de France frere trois. English. Paul Mensolée Shall die three Leagues from the Rhosne, Avoid the two straights near the Tarare; For Mars shall keep such a horrible throsne, Of Cock and Eagle, of France three Brothers.
ANNOT.
By this Pol Mensolée, he meaneth some proper name. Tarare is a great Mountain near the City of Lions, that hath two principal ways to go through, which here he calleth Straights; for indeed they are very dangerous for Thieves and Murderers. The rest is but a threating of War between the Emperour and France, when there shall be three Brothers in France.
XLVII.
French. Lac Trasmenien portera tesmoignage, Des conjurez ferrez dedans Perouse, Un Despolle contrefera le sage, Tuant Tedesque de Sterne & Minuse. English. Trasmenian Lake shall bear witness Of the Conspirators shut up in Perugia, A Despolle shall counterfeit the wise, Killing Tedesque of Sterne and Minuse.
ANNOT.
I think that the Impression is false here; for instead of Despolle, which is a barbarous word, and signifieth nothing, I would have it in French Despoville, in English robbed of all; so that Trasmenian Lake is that Lake in Italy not far from the Town of Perugia, where Hannibal gave that notable overthrow to the Romans, and killed above 20000. of them, with their consul Flaminius.
That man whom he calleth here robbed of all, shall kill some Germans; for Tudesco in Italian, is a German, the two last words are barbarous.
XLVIII.
French. Saturne en Cancer, Jupiter avec Mars, Dedans Fevrier Caldondon, Salvaterre, Sault, Castalan, assailly des trois parts, Pres de Verbiesque, conflict mortelle guerre. English. Saturn in Cancer, Jupiter with Mars, In February Caldondon, Salvaterre, Sault, Castalon, assaulted on three sides, Near Verbiesque, fight and mortal War.
ANNOT.
The multiplicity of barbarous and insignificant words, makes this incapable of any construction, if any body will exercise his wit thereupon, I shall willingly lend him my ear.
XLIX.
French. Satur au Bœuf, Jove en l’Eau, Mars en fleche, Six de Fevrier mortalité donra, Ceux de Tardaigne a Bruges si grand breche Qu’a Ponterose chef Barbarin mourra. English. Satur in Ox, Jupiter in water, Mars in arrow, The sixth of February shall give mortality, Those of Tardaigne shall make in Bruges so great a breach, That the chief Barbarin shall die at Pontrose.
ANNOT.
Satur in Ox; that is, Saturn in Taurus, Jupiter in Water; that is, Jupiter in Aquarius; Mars in arrow, is Mars in Sagitarius; when these things shall happen. The sixth day of February shall bring a great mortality. Tardaigne is a fictitious name, unless he intended Sardaigne. Bruges is a Town in Flander, Ponterose is some place, where he saith, that the chief Barbarin shall die, the chief Barbare was the Pope Urban the eighth; but because I do not know the particularities of his death, and the place of it, I cannot make the rest good.
L.
French. La Pestilence lentour de Capadille, Un autre faim pres de Sagunt sapreste, La Chevalier Bastard de bon senille, Au grand de Thunes fera trancher la teste. English. The Plague shall be round about Capadille, Another famine cometh near to that of Sagunce, The Knight Bastard of the good old man, Shall cause the great one of Tunis to be beheaded.
ANNOT.
The difficulty here, is what is meant by that word Cappadille, for my part I think he meaneth Italy, for some times the Italians use by way of admiration to say Capoli, or Capadillo. Sagunce is a Town in Spain, which for the love of the Carthaginians withstood the Romans a great while, till they were brought to an extremity of famine, and then set fire in their Town.
LI.
French. Le Bizantin faisant oblation, Apres avoir Cordube a soy reprinse, Son chemin long, repos, pamplation, Mer passant proye par la Cologne a prinse. English. The Bizantin, making an offering, After he hath taken Cordua to himself again, His way long, rest, contemplation, Crossing the Sea hath taken a prey by Cologne.
ANNOT.
This is an express delineation of Charles the V. Empire, who at the latter end of his days retired into a Monastery, reserving unto himself for his subsistance the revenue of the Kingdom of Castille, expressed here by Cordua, which is a City of Spain.
LII.
French. Le Roy de Blois dans Avignon Regner, D’Amboise & Seme viendra le long de Lindre. Ongle a Poitiers Saintes aisles ruiner, Devant Bony. English. The King of Blois shall Reign in Avignon, He shall come from Amboise and Seme, along the Linder, A Nail at Poitiers shall ruine the Holy Wings, Before Bony.
ANNOT.
The first Verse and the interpretation is easie.
Amboise is a Town in France upon the River of Loire.
The two last Verses being inperfect, admits of no interpretation, onely to let the Reader know that Poitiers is a very great City in France, and Capital of the Province of Poitou.
LIII.
French. Dedans Boulogne voudra laver ses fautes, Il ne poura au Temple du Soleil, Il volera faisant choses si hautes, En Hierarchie n’en fut onc un pareil. English. He shall desire to wash his faultes in Bulloin, In the Church of the Sun, but he shall not be able, He shall fly doing so high things, That the like was never in Hierarchy.
ANNOT.
There is two Towns called Bolloin, one is in Italy, the other in France, the last is that which is meant here; for Cardinal Richelieu who is the man that did so high things, and the like of which was never in Hierarchy (that is in the Clergy) a little afore his death had vowed if he recovered his health to go in Pilgrimage to Bulloin, where there is a famous Temple for Miracles, (as they say) dedicated to our Lady, which is called here the Sun, by an allusion to that passage of the Revelation: And there appeared a Woman cloathed with the Sun; but the said Cardinal was prevented by death.
LIV.
French. Soubs la couleur du traité mariage, Fait magnanime par grand Chiren Selin, Quintin, Arras, recouvrez au voiage, D’Espagnols fait second banc Macelin. English. Under pretence of a Treaty of Marriage, A Magnanimous act shall be done by the great Cheiren Selin, Quintin, Arras recovered in the journey, Of Spaniards shall be made a second Macelin Bench.
ANNOT.
This is a Prognostication concerning a King of France, meant here by the great Cheiren Selin, who under pretence of a Treaty of Marriage, shall recover in his journey these two Towns Saint Quintin and Arras, for the Shambles are called in Latine Macellum. Quod ibi mactentur pectora quæ mercatoribus venundantur.
LV.
French. Entre deux Fleuves se verra enserré, Tonneaux & caques unis a passer outre, Huit Pont rompus chef a tant enferré, Enfans parfaits sont jugulez en coultre. English. Between two Rivers he shall find himself shut up, Tuns and Barrels put together to pass over, Eight Bridges broken, the chief at last in Prison, Compleat children shall have their throat cut.
ANNOT.
It is an accident that hath often happened to a Commander of an Army, to find himself either by his own oversight, or by the policy of his enemies, shut up between two Rivers, having upon neither of them a Bridge at his command; as it did happen once to the Prince of Condé, the Grandfather of this, in the time of the Civil war for Religion, who was forced by it to dissolve his Army, and bid every one shift for himself, so that they almost all escaped by several small parties, some going one way some another, at such time it is an ordinary shift to make use of empty Vessels and Caskes to make a Bridge, as our Author doth mention here.
LVI.
French. La bande foible la Terre occupera, Ceux du haut lieu feront horribles cris, Le gros troupeau d’estre coin troublera, Tombe pres D. nebro descouvert les escrits. English. The weak party shall occupy the ground, Those of the high places shall make fearful cries, It shall trouble the great flock in the right corner, He falleth near D. nebro discovereth the writings.
ANNOT.
I dare not comment upon this, for fear it should be said of me, what was said of the Glose of Accurtius; obscura per obscurius.
LVII.
French. De Soldat simple parviendra en Empire, De Robe courte parviendra a la longue, Vaillant aux Armes, en Eglise ou plus pire, Vexer les Prestres comme l’eau fait l’esponge. English. From a simple Souldier he shall come to have the supreme command, From a short Gown he shall come to the long one, Vaillant in Arms, no worse man in the Church, He shall vex the Priests, as water doth a Spunge.
ANNOT.
I never knew nor heard of any body to whom this Stanza might be better applied, then to the late Usurper Cromwel, for from a simple Souldier, he became to be Lord Protector, and from a Student in the University he became a graduate in Oxford, he was valliant in Arms, and the worse Churchman that could be found; as for vexing the Priests, I mean the Prelatical Clergy, I believe none went beyond him.
LVIII.
French. Regne en querelle aux freres divisé, Prendre les Armes & les nom Britannique, Tiltre Anglican sera tard advisé, Surprins de nuit, mener a l’air Gallique. English. A Kingdom in dispute, and divided between the Brothers, To take the Arms and the Britannick name, And the English title, he shall advise himself late, Surprised in the night and carried into the French air.
ANNOT.
This prognosticateth a great division in England between Brothers, about the Title and Kingdom of England, insomuch, that in conclusion one shall be surprised by night, and carried away into France.
LIX.
French. Par deux fois haut, par deux fois mis a bas, L’Orient aussi l’Occident foiblira, Son adversaire apres plusieurs combats, Par Mer chassé au besoin faillira. English. Twice set up high, and twice brought down, The East also the West shall weaken, His adversary after many fights, Expelled by Sea, shall fail in need.
ANNOT.
This foretelleth of some considerable person, who shall be twice set up, and brought down again. The second Verse is pronounced after the manner of the old Oracles, as
Aio te Æacida Romanos vincere posse,
For no body can tell here whither the East shall weaken the West, or otherways. The last two Verses are easie.
LX.
French. Premier en Gaule, premier en Romanie, Par Mer & Terre aux Anglois & Paris, Merveilleux faits par cette grand mesgnie, Violant, Terax perdra le Norlaris. English. The first in France, the first in Romania, By Sea and Land to the English and Paris, Wonderful deeds by that great company, By ravishing, Terax shall spoil the Norlaris.
ANNOT.
The first in France is the King, the first in Romania is the Pope, who it seemeth shall joyn together by Sea and Land, and come against Paris, who shall call the English to its help, insomuch, that strange deeds shall be done by that great company. As for Terax, it seemeth to be the proper name of some man, who by ravishing a woman called here the Norlaris, shall spoil her and cause sad consequences. Norlaris by transposition of Letters is Lorrain.
LXI.
French. Jamais par le decouvrement du jour, Ne parviendra au signe Sceptrifere, Que tous Sieges ne soient en sejour, Portant au Coq don du Tag a misere. English. Never by the discovering of the day, He shall attain to the Sceptriferous sign, Till all his seats be settled, Carrying to the Cock a gift from the Tag to misery.
ANNOT.
This signifieth that one pretending to a Kingdom, shall never attain to it by often removing his place, until all his seats be settled, that is, untill his wandring be ceased. And a gift brought by him to the King of France from Portugal, signified here by the Tag, which is the River of Lisbon the Capital City of it, from which gift shall proceed misery.
LXII.
French. Lors qu’on verra expiler le Saint Temple, Plus grand du Rhosne, & sacres prophaner: Par eux naistra pestilence si grande, Roy fait injuste ne sera condamner. English. When one shall see spoiled the Holy Temple, The greatest of the Rhosne, and sacred things prophaned, from them shall come so great a pestilence, That the King being unjust shall not condemn them.
ANNOT.
The greatest Temple of the Rhosne, is that of the City of Lion, which is seated upon that River of Rhosne, which when it shall be robbed and spoiled, then shall come a horrid Pestilence, which our Author attributeth to the injustice of the King then Reigning, who shall neglect to punish those Sacriledges.
LXIII.
French. Quand l’adultere blessé sans coup aura, Meurdry la femme & le fils par depit, Femme assomée l’Enfant estranglera, Huit captifs prins sestoufer sans respit. English. When the Adulterer wounded without a blow, Shall have murdered the wife and son by spight, The woman knocked down, shall strangle the child, Eight taken prisoners, and stifled without tarrying.
ANNOT.
This is the description of a sad Tragedy, which to understand, you must joyn all the Verses together, and make it one sense. The Adulterer wounded without a blow, is one that shall get a disease, (suppose the Pox) his wife finding fault with it, he shall murder her, and her Son; she not being quite dead shall strangle another Child (which it seemeth she had by this Adulterer) and for this fact eight shall be taken prisoners and immediately hanged, by which you must suppose the fact to be done in France, for there they Judge and Hang immediately, whereby in England they must stay till Sessions-time.
LXIV.
French. Dedans les Isles les enfans transportez, Les deux de sept seront en desespoir, Ceux de terrouer en seront supportez, Nompelle prins, des ligues fuy l’espoir. English. In the Islands the Children shall be transported, The two of seven shall be in despair, Those of the Countrey shall be supported by, Nompelle taken, avoid the hope of the League.
ANNOT.
This seemeth to have a great relation to our late unhappy troubles in England, when the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Glocester were transported into the Isle of Wight, which are the two of the seven, (for the Queen hath had seven children) and the Kings Majesty and his Highness the Duke of York, were driven into the Low-Countreis, being in a manner in dispair of ever coming again, and those Countreys were much the better for the harbouring of them; in the last Verse by Nompelle I understand Anagrammatically Monpelier, which being taken, there is no more hope in the League, as it did happen in the time of Henry the IV. King of France, who never saw the League or Covenant quite routed, till that Town was taken; for it is familiar enough to those kind of Prophets to make an ὕστερον πρώτερον, and joyn things past, to those that are to come, to darken the Readers understanding, and as the Scripture saith, Ut videntes non videant.
LXV.
French. Le vieux frustré du principal espoir, Il parviendra au chef de son Empire, Vingt mois tiendra le Regne a grand pouvoir, Tyran, cruel en delaissant un pire. English. The old man frustrated of his chief hope, He shall attain to the head of his Empire, Twenty months he shall keep the Kingdom with great power, Tyrant, cruel, and having a worse one.
ANNOT.
The words of this Prophecy are plain enough, and because I cannot learn in History that such things have come to pass yet, therefore I reckon it among those de futuro.
LXVI.
French. Quand l’Escriture D. M. trouvée, Et Cave antique a Lampe descouverte, Loy, Roy, & Prince Vlpian esprouvée, Pavillon, Royne & Duc soubs la couverte. English. When the writing D. M. shall be found, And an ancient Cave discovered with a Lamp, Law, King, and Prince Ulpian tried, Tent, Queen and Duke under the rugge.
ANNOT.
In the year 1555. Ferdinand Alvaro of Toledo Duke of Alba, being sent by Charles the V. into Italy to resist the French, arrived in June at Milan, and having gathered together, all his Forces, Besieged the Town St. Jago, but Henry II. King of France sending some succours by the Duke of Aumale, he raised up his siege, and put his Army into Garrisons. The Duke of Alba leaving the Field in this manner, the Duke of Aumale besieged Vulpian, wherein were 1000. souldiers in Garrison, under the command of Cæsar of Naples, besides the Inhabitants. Never was a place so furiously assaulted, and so manfully defended, so that the French were many times beaten back; but at last after 24. days siege the Duke of Aumale did gloriously take it.
The Author foretelling the time of this victory, said it was when the writing D. M. in big letters was found, that is to say, about the 11. of September after the Equinox, because in the Ephemerides, the Meridional descension of the Planets, and chiefly of Sol, Venus, and Mercury is marked with these two Letters D. M. which descension cometh to pass after the Equinox of Autumn towards the end of September. At the same time was discovered an ancient Cave, wherein was found one of those Lamps, that cannot be put out, and burns continually without any addition of Oil, by an invention that is lost. Such another was found in the time of Alexander the VI. and Adrian the VI.
The Town of Vulpian was at that time tried by a King and a Prince, viz. Henry the II. and the Duke of Aumale Prince of Lorrain, and Brother to the Cardinal of Lorrain, and to the Duke of Guise.
The Author addeth, that besides these three things, viz. the finding of the letters D. M. The Cave discovered the siege of Vulpian; there happened a fourth one, viz. that a Queen and a Duke should consult together in a Summer-house, about the important affairs of the Kingdom. To understand this, we must suppose that Pope Paul the IV. willing to secure his own person and the Ecclesiastical State against the Spanish faction, and that of the Colonese, did seize upon many places belonging to the said Colonese, and knowing besides that the Spaniards being of the Coloneses party, would not fail to come upon him, he disposed the King of France to come to his succours, so that the Queen having a particular confidence in the Duke of Guise, did consult with him about this business in some Summer-house, which the French call a Pavillon.
LXVII.
French. Par. Car. nersaf, a ruine grand discorde, Ne l’un ne l’autre n’aura election, Nersaf du peuple aura amour & concorde, Ferrare, Collonne grande protection. English. Par. Car. Nersaf, to ruine great discord, Neither one nor the other shall be Elected, Nersaf, shall have of the people love and concord, Ferrare, Colonna, great protection.
ANNOT.
It is very hard to say what the Author meaneth by these disjunctives Par. Car. Nersaf, all what can be gathered by what follows, is, that there shall be a great variance and strife about an Election, (I suppose of a Pope as it useth to be) and that Nersaf shall have the good will of the people, and yet none of them shall be Elected.
As for the fourth Verse, it is to be noted first that Ferrara is a strong Town in Italy belonging to the Pope, and Colonna is the name of the chief Family in Rome, now whether Ferrara shall be a protection to Colonna, or Colonna to Ferrara, we leave it to the Reader to judge, because the Verse hath a double sense.
LXVIII.
French. Vieux Cardinal par le jeune deceu, Hors de sa charge se verra desarmé, Arles ne monstres double fort apperceu, Et l’Aqueduct & le Prince embaumé. English. An old Cardinal shall be cheated by a young one, And shall see himself out of his imployment, Arles do not show, a double fort perceived, And the Aqueduct, and the embalmed Prince.
ANNOT.
The two first Verses are very plain, the two last not so; therefore observe that Arles is a City in France, in the Countrey of Dauphine or Provence, famous for antiquity, which is forwarned here not to shew its Fords, nor its Aqueducts, (which are buildings to convey water), nor its embalmed Prince, which it seemeth lyeth thereabout buried. The Author hath deprived here the Author of the reasons for why.
LXIX.
French. Aupres du jeune se vieux Ange baiser, Et le viendra surmonter a la fin, Dix ans esgaux aux plus vieux rabaisser, De trois deux l’un huitiesme Seraphin. English. Near the young one the old Angel shall bowe, And shall at last overcome him, Ten years equal, to make the old one stoop, Of three, two, one, the eighth a Seraphin.
ANNOT.
This is the description of a grand Cheat, when an old man called here Angel, shall stoop before a young one, whom he shall overcome at last, after they have been ten years equal. The last Verse is Mistical, for there is four numbers, three, two, one, which make six; and eight, which he calleth Seraphin, whether by allusion to that Quire of Angels, which some call the eight, or whether to the Order of St. Francis, who calleth it self Seraphical, is not easie to determine.
LXX.
French. Il entrera vilain, meschant, infame, Tyrannisant la Mesopotamie, Tous amis fait d’Adulterine Dame, Tetre horrible noir de Physiognomie. English. He shall come in villaen, wicked, infamous, To tyranise Mesopotamia, He maketh all friends by an adulteress Lady, Foul, horrid, black in his Physiognomie.
ANNOT.
Mesopotamia is a Greek word, signifying a Countrey between two Rivers; and though there be many Countreys so seated, yet to this day, it properly belongeth to that Countrey, that lyeth between the two famous Rivers Tigris and Euphrates near Babylon; the rest is easie.
LXXI.
French. Croistra le nombre si grand des Astronomes, Chassez bannis & livres censureq, L’An mil six cens & sept par sacrez glomes, Que nul au sacres ne seront asseurez. English. The number of Astronomers shall grow so great, Driven away, bannished, Books censured, The year one thousand six hundred and seven by sacred glomes, That none shall be secure in the sacred places.
ANNOT.
The sense of this is clear, viz. that about the year 1607. the number of Astronomers shall grow very great, of which some shall be expelled and banished, and their Books censured and suppressed: the rest is insignificant to me.
LXXII.
French. Champ Perusin O l’Enorme deffaite, Et le conflict tout aupres de Ravenne, Passage sacra lors qu’on fera la feste, Vaincueur vaincu, Cheval mange L’avenne. English. Perugian Field, O the excessive rout, And the fight about Ravenna, Sacred passage when the Feast shall be celebrated, The victorious vanquished, the Horse to eat up his Oats.
ANNOT.
Perugia is a City in Italy, and so is Ravenna, by which it seemeth there shall be a notable Battle fought, as was once before in the time at Lewis the XII. King of France between Gaston de Foix his Nephew, and Don Raimond de Cardonne Vice-roy of Naples, for there the French got the Battle; in conclusion of which, the said Gaston de Foix pursuing a Troop of Spaniards that were retiring, was unfortunately kill’d, and so the victorious were vanquished.
LXXIII.
French. Soldat Barbare le grand Roy frapera, Injustement non esloigné de mort, L’Avare Mere du fait cause sera, Conjurateur & Regne en grand remort. English. A Barbarous Souldier shall strike the King, Unjustly, not far from death, The covetous Mother shall be the cause of it, The Conspirator and Kingdom in great remorse.
ANNOT.
These words are so plain that they need no interpretation.
LXXIV.
French. En Terre neuve bien avant Roy entré, Pendant subjects luy viendront faire accueil, Sa parfidie aura tel rencontré, Qu’aux Citadins lieu de feste & recueil. English. A King being entered far into a new Countrey, Whilst his Subjects shall come to welcom him, His perfidiousness shall find such an encounter, That to the Citizens it shall be instead of feast and welcom.
ANNOT.
The sense of this seemeth to be, that a certain King being far got into a new conquered Countrey, where he shall deal perfidiously with his Subjects, that then he shall meet with such an accident, as to his Citizens shall be instead of feast & welcom.
LXXV.
French. Le Pere & fils seront meurtris ensemble, Le Prefecteur dedans son Pavillon, La Mere a Tours du fils ventre aura enfle, Cache verdure de fueilles papillon. English. The Father and Son shall be murdered together, The Governour shall be so in his Tent, At Tours the Mother shall be got with child by her son, Hide the greenness with leaves Butter-flye.
ANNOT.
There is nothing hard here but the last Verse, whereby it is signified, that after such an incest of the Mother with the Son in the City of Tours (which is a Town in France) the fruit of it shall be secretly buryed, and green Turfs laid upon the place, and Leaves upon them, to take away the knowledge of it.
LXXVI.
French. Plus Macelin que Roy en Angleterre, Lieu obscur ne par force aura l’Empire, Lasche, sans foy, sans loy, seignera Terre, Son temps s’aproche si presque je souspire. English. More Macelin then King in England, Born in obscure place, by force shall reign, Of loose disposition, without faith, without Law, the ground shall bleed, His time is drawing so near that I sigh for it.
ANNOT.
Macelin, is a Butcher or cruel man, from the Latine word Macellum, which signifieth the Shambles, it is without contradiction that by this Prophecy is plain concerning the late tyrant Cromwel, and his unlawful Government.
LXXVII.
French. L’Antechrist bien tost trois annichilez, Vingt & sept ans durera sa guerre, Les Heretiques morts; captifs exilez, Sang corps humain eau rougie, gresler Terre. English. By Antichrist three shall shortly be brought to nothing, His War shall last seven and twenty years, The Hereticks dead, Prisoners banished, Blood, humane body, water made red, Earth hailed.
ANNOT.
What he meaneth here by Antichrist is not easie to determine, for he cannot mean the Pope, himself being a Papist, nor the great Antichrist, whose Reign, according to the Scripture, shall last but three years and a half, it is more likely then that this Stanza hath coherence with the precedent, and that by it he meaneth Henry the VIII. who for the space of about 27 years before he dyed, did handle something roughly the Clergy and Clergy-men.
LXXVIII.
French. Un Bragamas avec la langue torte, Viendra des dieux rompre le Sanctuaire, Aux Heretiques il ouvrira la porte, En suscitant l’Eglise Militaire. English. A Bragamas with his crooked Tongue, Shall come and break the Gods Sanctuary, He shall open the Gates unto Hereticks, By raising the Militant Church.
ANNOT.
Bragamas is the same thing that we call now Bragadocio. By the Gods Sanctuary, he meaneth the Temples of the Romish Religion, who are reputed Sanctuaries, and are full of Images, which they worship as Gods, praying and offering Incense to them.
LXXIX.
French. Qui par fer pere perdra, nay de Nonnaire, De Gorgon sur la fin sera sang perferant, En Terre estrange fera si tout de taire, Qu’il bruslera luy mesme & son entant. English. He that by Iron shall destroy his Father, born in Nonnaire, Shall in the end carry the blood of Gorgon, Shall in a strange Countrey make all so silent, That he shall burn himself and his intent.
ANNOT.
Nonnaire and Gorgon are two barbarous words, as for the sense of that and the rest, he that shall be able to read the words, shall be as wise as my self.
LXXX.
French. Des innocens le sang de Vefue & Vierge, Tant de maux faits par moiens ce grand Roge, Saints simulachres trempez en ardant cierge, De frayeur crainte ne verra nul que boge. English. The blood of the innocent Widow and Virgin, So many evils committed by the means of that great Rogue, Holy Images, dipt in burning wax Candles, For fear no body shall be seen to stir.
ANNOT.
What he meaneth by the great Rogue is not obvious, but the main drift of this Stanza seemeth to be, to foretel the abuses that should be offered to the Popish Images by the Protestant party, as it was done in the time of the Civil Wars of France, and a little while after our Author had written his Prophecies.
By the great Rogue, he meaneth some chief Commander of the Protestant party, that were in those days, as the Prince of Condé, the Admiral of Castilon, or his Brother Dandelot.
LXXXI.
French. Le neuf Empire en desolation, Sera changé du Pole Aquilonaire, De la Sicile viendra l’emotion, Troubler l’Emprise a Philip tributaire. English. The new Empire in desolation, Shall be changed from the Northern Pole, The commotion shall come from Sicily, To trouble the undertaking, tributary to Philip.
ANNOT.
This threatneth the Empire that now is in Germany, of a great desolation, and to be removed from its place, and threatneth also the Island of Sicily of a fearful commotion, which shall trouble the undertakings of Philip, that is, King of Spain, because they usually are called by that name.
LXXXII.
French. Ronge long, sec, faisant du bon valet, A la par fin n’aura que son congie, Poignant poison & Lettres au colet, Sera saisy, eschapé, en dangié. English. Long gnawer, dry, cringing and fawning, In conclusion shall have nothing but leave to be gone, Piercing poison and Letters in his Collar, Shall be seised, escape, and in danger.
ANNOT.
The words of this are easie to be understood, but not who should be that man to whom he giveth these four famous Epithetes of Long-gnawer, dry, cringing and fawning.
LXXXIII.
French. Le plus grand voile hors du port de Zara, Pres de Bizance fera son entreprise, D’Ennemy perte & l’amy ne séra, Le tiers a deux fera grand pille & prise. English. The greatest Sail out of the Port of Zara, Near Bizance shall make his undertaking, There shall be no loss of foes or friends, The third shall make a great pillage upon the two.
ANNOT.
By Zara I suppose that the Venetians are meant, who have a very strong Town of that name, situated in Dalmatia. Bizance is Constantinople, as we have said before; now whether this Prophecy was fulfilled when the Venetians took the Island of Tenedos, some 20 years ago, which is not far from Constantinople, or whether it is to come, I dare not assert.
LXXXIV.
French. Paterne aura de la Sicile crie, Tous les aprests du Gouphre de Trieste, Qui s’entendra jusques a la Trinacrie, De tant de voiles, fuy, fuy, l’horrible peste. English. Paterne shall have out of Sicily a cry, All the preparations of the Gulph of Trieste, That shall be heard as far as Trinacry, Of so many Sails, fly, fly, the horrid plague.
ANNOT.
It hath been impossible for me to make any sense of this, and therefore I believe that it is falsely printed, and that instead of Paterne, it should be Palerme, which is the chief Town in Sicily. Trinacry is Sicily it self, so called, quod tria habeat, άκρα seu promontoria.
LXXXV.
French. Entre Bayonne & a Sainct Jean de Lux, Sera posé de Mars la promottoire, Aux Hanix d’Aquilon, Nanar hostera Lux, Puis suffoque au lit sans adjoutoire. English. Between Bayonne and Saint John de Lux, Shall be put down the promoting of Mars, From the Hunix of the North, Nanar shall take away Lux, Then shall be suffocated in his bed without help.
ANNOT.
Bayonne is a Town in France, upon the frontiers of Spain, and Saint John de Lux is the utmost frontiere of France, that way, (that being supposed) he saith, that about Saint John de Lux, the promoting of the war shall be set down; that is, that peace shall be made, as it was about seven or eight years ago between France and Spain, and the Marriage concluded between the King and the Infanta. The two last Verses are nonsensical, and only set down to make up the rhime.
LXXXVI.
French. Par Arnani, Tholose, & Villefranque, Bande infinie par le Mont Adrian, Passe Riviere, hutin par pont la planque, Bayonne entrer tous Bichoro criant. English. By Arnani, Tholose, and Villefranche, An infinite deal of people by the Aprian, Cross Rivers, noise upon the Bridge and plank, Come all into Bayonne crying Bichoro.
ANNOT.
Arnani, Tholose, and Villefranche are Towns of a Province in France called Languedoc. Mont Adrian is a Mountain thereabout, and Hutin is an old French word, signifying noise and strife, the sense then of this Prophecy is, that by those Towns and Mountains, shall pass an infinite multitude of people, with a great noise and strife, and shall come and enter into Bayonne, every one crying in that Countrey Language Bichoro, which is as much as to say, Victory.
LXXXVII.
French. Mort conspirée viendra en plein effet, Charge donnée & voyage de mort, Esleu, crée, receus, par siens desfait, Sang d’innocence devant soy par remort. English. A conspired death shall come to an effect, Charge given, and a journey of death, Elected, created, received, by his own defeated, Blood of Innocency before him by remorse.
ANNOT.
There is no mistical sense in this, and the words are plain, although of a crabbid construction.
LXXXVIII.
French. Dans la Sardaigne un noble Roy viendra, Qui ne tiendra que trois ans le Royaume, Plusieurs couleurs avec soy conjoindra, Luy mesme apres soin sommeil Matrirscome. English. A noble King shall come into Sardinia, Who shall hold the Kingdom only three years, He shall joyn many Colours to his own, Himself afterwards, care, sleep matrirscome.
ANNOT.
Sardinia is an Island in the Mediterranean Sea, now in the possession of the Spaniard, since he took the Kingdom of Naples, the three first Verses are something intelligible, the last is altogether impossible and barbarous.
LXXXIX.
French. Pour ne tomber entre mains de son oncle, Qui ses enfans par regner trucidez, Orant au peuple mettant pied sur Peloncle, Mort & traisné entre Chevaux bardez. English. That he might not fall into the hands of his Uncle, That had murdered his Children for to rule, Taking away from the people, and putting his foot upon Peloncle, Dead and drawn among armed Horses.
ANNOT.
This signifieth that an Uncle shall murder his Nephews Children, that he may Reign, and that the said Nephew shall withdraw, and save himself from the said Uncle. The rest is altogether obscure, if not absurd.
XC.
French. Quand des croisez un trouvé de sens trouble, En lieu du sacre verra un Bœuf cornu, Par vierge porc son lieu lors sera double, Par Roy plus ordre ne sera soustenu. English. When of the crossed, one of a troubled mind, In a sacred place shall see a horny Oxe, By Virgin Pork then shall his place be double, By King no henceforth, order shall be maintained.
ANNOT.
By the crossed is understood some order of Knight-hood, who for the most part wear that Badge, one of which being mad, and seeing in a Church a Horny Oxe come, by a Virgin Hog shall be kept from harm, or rescued by a Hog or Sow that was a Virgin, and it seems crossed the said Oxe, that he should not gore the Knight, that then such order of Knighthood shall be no more maintained nor upheld by the King of that Countrey, wherein such thing shall happen.
XCI.
French. Parmy les Champs des Rhodanes entrées, Ou les croisez seront presques unis, Les deux Brassiers en Pisces rencontrées, Et un grand nombre par Deluge punis. English. Through the Fields of the Rhodanes comings in, Where the crossed shall be almost united, The two Brassiers met in Pisces, And a great number punished by a Flood.
ANNOT.
Rhodanus in Latine is the River of Rhosne, which cometh from Switzerland, and passing through the Lake of Geneva, runneth to Lyon, it seemeth then that in those Fields that are about that River there, will be a fearful inundation, when the Brassiers (or rather Croziers, which is a constellation so called) shall meet in Pisces, which is one of the twelve Signs of the Zodiack.
XCII.
French. Loin hors du Regne mis en hazard voiage, Grand Ost duyra, pour soy l’occupera, Le Roy tiendra les siens captif, ostage, A son retour tout Pais pillera. English. Far from the Kingdom a hazardous journey undertaken, He shall lead a great Army, which he shall make his own, The King shall keep his prisoners, and pledges, At his return he shall plunder all the Countrey.
ANNOT.
These obscure words signifie no more but that a King shall send a great Army far from his Kingdom, the Commander of which Army shall make the Army his own, which the King hearing, shall seize upon the Commanders Relations, and keep them Prisoners and Hostages, for which the said General being angry, shall at his return spoil the Countrey.
XCIII.
French. Sept mois sans plus obtiendra prelature, Par son decez grand schisme fera naistre, Sept mois tiendra un autre la Preture, Pres de Venise paix union renaistre. English. Seven months and no more, he shall obtain the Prelacy, By his decease he shall cause a great Schisme, Another shall be seven months chief Justice, Near Venice peace and union shall grow again.
ANNOT.
By this Prophecy three things are foretold, the first is of a Pope that shall sit but seven months, at whose death there will be a great Schisme; the second is of a great Governour or Chief Justice, such as were called by the ancient Romans Prætores, shall be in authority also but seven months; and the third, that hard by Venice all these differences shall be composed, and peace made again.
XCIV.
French. Devant la Lac ou plus cher fut getté, De sept mois & son Ost desconfit, Seront Hispans par Albanois gastez, Par delay perte en donnant le conflict. English. Before the Lake wherein most dear was thrown, Of seven months, and his Army overthrown, Spaniards shall be spoiled by Albaneses, By delaying; loss in giving the Battle.
ANNOT.
It is very difficult, if not impossible to tell what our Author meaneth by the Lake, wherein the most dear was thrown, and lost his Army. The Albaneses are a Nation between the Venetians and Greece, now for the most part subject to the said Venetians.
XCV.
French. Le Seducteur sera mis dans la Fosse, Et estaché jusques a quelque temps, Le Clerc uny, le Chef avec sa Crosse, Pycante droite attraira les contems. English. The Deceiver shall be put into the Dungeon, And bound fast for a while, The Clerk united, the head with his Crosierstaf, Pricking upright, shall draw in the contented.
ANNOT.
The two first Verses are plain, the two last Verses not so, which seemeth to foretell of a great union among the Clergy, which shall draw to them those that were peaceably affected.
XCVI.
French. La Synagogue sterile sans nul fruit, Sera receue entre les Infideles, De Babylon la fille du poursuit, Misere & triste luy trenchera les Aisles. English. The Synagogue barren, without fruit, Shall be received among the Infidels, In Babylon, the daughter of the persecuted, Miserable and sad shall cut her wings.
ANNOT.
A Synagogue is a place where the Jews assemble for Divine Worship, as the Christians do in Churches or Temples, the said Jews Synagogue is threatned here to be unfruitful and barren, and chiefly in Babylon, by the means of a woman, daughter of one persecuted; belike of some of their own tribe, whom the rest did persecute.
XCVII.
French. Au fins du Var changer le Pompotans, Pres du Rivage, les trois beaux enfans naistre, Ruine au peuple par Aage competans, Regne au Pais changer plus voir croistre. English. At the ends of the Var to change the Pompotans, Near the Shore shall three fair Children be born, Ruine to the people by competent Age, To change that Countreys Kingdom, and see it grow no more.
ANNOT.
The first Verse being made of insignificant words, as Var and Pompotans cannot be understood; the other three doth foretel of three handsom Children, that shall be born near the Shore, which when they have attained a competent Age, shall change the Kingdom of that Countrey, and suppress it.
XCVIII.
French. Des gens d’Eglise sang sera espanché, Comme de l’eau en si grande abundance, Et de long temps ne sera retranché, Veüe au Clerc ruine & doleance. English. The blood of Churchmen shall be spilt, As water in such abundance, And for a good while shall not be stayed, Ruine and grievance shall be seen to the Clerk.
ANNOT.
This is easie to be understood, which foretelleth a very great persecution to the Clergy-men, viz. Papists, of which Religion our Author was, if this be not already past in the Civil Wars of France, that were made for Religion, in the beginning of Reformation, where abundance of Clergy-men did perish on both sides.
XCIX.
French. Par la puissance des trois Rois temporels, En autre lieu sera mis la Saint Siege, Ou la substance de l’Esprit corporel, Sera remis & receu pour vray Siege. English. By the power of three Temporal Kings, The Holy See shall be put in another place, Where the substance of the Corporeal Spirit, Shall be restored and admitted for a true seat.
ANNOT.
This Stanza is very remarkable, for the thing it foretelleth, viz. a translation of the See of Rome, that is, the Popedom into another place by three Temporal Kings, and not onely that, but it seemeth by the sense of the last two Verses, that these will keep the Ecclesiastical authority to themselves.
C.
French. Pour l’abundance de l’Armée respandue, Du haut en bas, par le bas au plus haut, Trop grande foy par jeu vie perdue, De soif mourir par abondant defaut. English. Through the abundance of the Army scattered, High and low, low and high, Too great a belief a life lost in jesting, To die by thirst, through abundance of want.
ANNOT.
The sense of this is, that by reason of a great Army that shall be much scattered, and occupy a great deal of room, water will be so scarce, that some shall die for thirst, it is that he calleth here, To die by thirst, through abundance of want.
Other Stanza’s heretofore Printed, under the VIII. CENTURY.
I.
French. Seront confus plusieurs de leur attente, Aux habitans ne sera pardonné, Qui bien pensoint perseverer l’attente, Mais grand loisir ne leur sera donné. English. Many shall be confounded in their expectation, The Citizens shall not be forgiven, Who thought to persevere in their resolution, But there shall not be given them a great leisure for it.
ANNOT.
This is plain, and needeth no interpretation.
II.
French. Plusieurs viendront & parleront de Paix, Entre Monarques & Seigneurs bien puissans, Mais ne sera accordé de si pres, Que ne se rendent plus qu’autres obeissans. English. Many shall come and shall talk of Peace, Between Monarchs and Lords very powerful, But it shall not be agreed to it so soon, If they do not shew themselves more obedient then others.
ANNOT.
We are just now at the Eve of this Prophecy, when so many Princes and Potentates do busie themselves about a Mediation between the two Crowns of France and Spain, &c.
III.
French. Las quelle fureur, helas quelle pitie, Il y aura entre beaucoup de gens, On ne vit onc une tell amitié, Qu’auront les Loups a courir diligens. English. Ha! what fury, alas what pitty, There shall be betwixt many people, There was never seen such a friendship, As the Wolfs shall have in being diligent to run.
ANNOT.
It is indeed a great fury and pity to see how wicked people, and chiefly Usurers and false dealers, (understood here by the name of Wolfs) are diligent in doing mischief, and to make good the old Proverb, Homo homini Lupus, there being no other Creature but the Wolf that devours those of his own kind.
IV.
French. Beaucoup de gens viendront parlementer, Aux grand Seigneurs qui leur feront la guerre, On ne voudra en rien les escouter, Helas! si Dieu n’envoie Paix en Terre. English. Many folks shall come to speak, To great Lords that shall make War against them, They shall not be admitted to a hearing, Alas! if God doth not send Peace upon Earth.
ANNOT.
This carrieth its sense with it, and is plain.
V.
French. Plusieurs secours viendront de tous costez, De gens lointains qui voudront resister, Ils seront tout a coup bien hastez, Mais ne pourront pour cette heure assister. English. Many helps shall come on all sides, Of people far off, that would fain to resist, They shall be upon a sudden all very hasty, But for the present they shall not be able to assist.
ANNOT.
This seemeth to point at this present conjuncture of affairs, where there is so many buisying themselves about the relief of Flanders, of which I see no great likelihood.
VI.
French. Las quel plaisir ont Princes estrangers, Garde toy bien qu’en ton Pais ne Vienne, Il y auroit de terribles dangers, Et en maintes Contrées, mesme en la Vienne. English. Ha! what pleasure take Forrain Princes? Take heed least any should come into thy Countrey, There should be terrible dangers, In several Countreys, and chiefly in Vienna.
ANNOT.
There is two Towns called Vienna’s, one is in Germany, in the Province of Austria, and is the Emperours Seat, the other in France, a metter of twenty miles beyond Lion, the rest is easie.
