made at Nantes the 1. of February 1560. whose chief Ring-leader was the Lord La Renaudie they presently got the King out of Blois and carryed him to Amboise caused the Town to be fortified and set strong Guards upon all the passages The day appointed for the execution of the conspiracy at Blois was the 10th of March But the King being got to Amboise the Conspirators went thither in such great numbers and under such specious pretences that had they not been betrayed no body would have suspected them All the Suburbs and the Countrey Towns thereabouts were full of them the Prince of Condé the Admiral d'Andelot and his Brother the Cardinal were all there Then the Guisians began to fall to work and to set upon the Conspirators on all sides Abundance were taken some in the City some in the Suburbs others in the Countrey round about Most of these were slain before they could come to Town or be carried to Prison And their process was so short that they were hanged in their Boots and Spurs The Scouts did every where kill those they met withall To conclude it proved a very Bloody Tragedy La Renaudie the Chief of the Conspirators was met with by the Lord Pardaillan a Gascon At the first approach La Renaudie killed him but himself was killed by Pardeillan's Servant and his dead body brought and hanged at Amboise The second History is concerning England which palpably makes this Prophecie good if we make reflection upon what hath happened in this last Century of years concerning banished people that have conspired against their King and Countrey as we may see through all the Life of Queen Elizabeth and by that famous Plot of the Gun-powder-Treason in King James's time which must be understood here by the Mine XIV French De gens esclave chansons chants requestes Captifs par Princes Seigneurs aux prisons A l'aduenir par Idiots sans testes Seront receus par divins oraisons English From slavish people Songs Tunes and requests Being kept Prisoners by Princes and Lords For the future by headless Idoits Shall be admitted by divine prayers ANNOT. This is a prognostication of the beginning and increase of the Protestants in France who began to sing their Psalms in French and from time to time presented their request for tolleration The Author being a zealous Papist calleth them Idiots and that notwithstanding the persecution that should be against them being put in Prison by Princes and Lords they should at last be admitted by reason of their often praying to God XV. French Mars nous menace par la force bellique Septante fois fera le sang respandre Auge ruine de l'Ecclesiastique Et par ceux qui d'eux rien ne voudront entendre English Mars threatneth us of a Warlike force Seventy times he shall cause blood to be shed The flourishing and ruine of the Clergy And by those that will hear nothing from them ANNOT. The Author having premonished us in his Preface that God having imparted to him the knowledge of many future things he was curious to know if his Divine Majesty had written the same thing in the Coelestial Book as concerning the States Empires Monarchies Provinces and Cities and he found that it was even so as it had been revealed to him so that the Book of Heaven written with Gods own hand in so many shining Characters might serve to studious men for a light and a Torch to discover very near the common estate of the world He then having learned from God in his solitariness the prosperities and afflictions of the Clergy from the beginning of the year 1555. to the end of the world he found that there was an agreement between his prophetical Knowledge and the motion of the Heavenly Bodies because having made the Systeme of the years after 1550. he found that Mars was in a dangerous Aspect to the Ecclesiastical estate and found that this Planet by its position did presage a long bloody and horrid Catastrophe in the world by which the Ecclesiastical estate should suffer much To make good this prediction the Author doth assure us in his Preface that he had considered the disposition of this Planet not only in the year 1555. but also in the years following and joyning together all that he had found in his Ephemerides he found that this Planet did on all sides presage most bloody actions Although saith he the Planet of Mars maketh an end of its course and is come to its last Period nevertheless it will begin it again but some gathered in Aquarius for many years and others by long and continual years As if he would say that his prediction ought not to be rejected because Mars ended his course and cometh to its late period for it would take again its Exaltation and Dominion with a worse conjunction having his Astronomical dignities with the Conjunction of other Planets in the Sign of Aquarius during many years and in the Sign of Cancer for many years more Which maketh the Author conclude that within the space of 177. years three months and eleven dayes the world shall be afflicted with Wars Plagues Famines and Innundations that scarce any body shall be left to Till the Ground By which prediction we learn that those evils began in the year 1555. the first of March which is the date of the Authors Book and shall last till the second of June 1732. abating the ten days of the Gregorian Calender During which time he saith that Mars threatneth us with bloody Wars that shall be reiterated 70 times This word seventy doth not signifie a determinate number but a great number indeterminated according to the Phrase of the Scripture which by the number of seven signifieth many times and by that of seventy incomparably many times more Thus the Scripture saith that the just man falleth seven times in one day that is many times and our Saviour saith to St. Peter that we ought to forgive our Enemies not only seven times but seventy times seven that is innumerable times We have found the truth of this Prophecie to this very day 1. In France by the Wars between Henry II. and Charles V. and Philip II. 2. By the Wars of Charles IX against the Protestants wherein so much blood was spilt on both sides 3. By Henry III. against the same Protestants and factions of his time and then against the Parisians and others of their league 4. Between Henry IV. and those of the league in his revolted Kingdom 5. By the Wars of Lewis XIII against the Protestants against the Duke of Savoy in the Valteline in Piemont in Lorrain in Alsatia in Catalonia in Franche-Conty in Flanders and for the defence of Portugal which have been continued by his successor Lewis XIV now Reigning Italy did also find the truth of this prophecie by the Wars between Paul IV. and the Spaniard between Pius V. and the Turks between Clement VIII and the Duke of Ferrara
History is that the Duke of Nemours Son was one of the chief ringleaders of the League against Henry IV and did what he could before he dyed to get the Kingdom of France endeavouring first to make himself Sovereign Prince of Lion Forrest and Beaucolois The fourth History is that at the latter end of the year 1555. the Lord la Mole carrying to Rome the Cardinals of Tournon and Lorrain went directly to the Island of Corsica whence he drew some Forces which he joyned to his and to those of Monluc and would not Land at Monaco for some reasons but went directly to Civita Vecchia By this we understand that Verse of the Stanza The Ship of the Mole shall notcome near Monaco XCII French Teste trenchée du vaillant Capitaine Sera jettée devant son adversaire Son corps pendu de la Classe a l'Antenne Confus fuira par rames avent contraire English The head cut off the valliant Captain Shall be thrown down before his adversary His body hanged at the Sails Yard Confused they shall fly with Oars against the Wind. ANNOT. These words are plain enough though no body can tell whether the thing is past already or shall come to pass hereafter XCIII French Un Serpent veu proche du lict Royal Sera par Dame nuict chien n'abageronts Lors nastre en France un Prince tant Royal Du Ciel venu tous les Princes verront English A Serpent shall be seen near the Royal bed By a Lady in the night the Dogs shall not bark Then shall be born in France a Prince so Royal Come from Heaven all the Princes shall see it ANNOT. This seemeth to be an allusion to the Birth of Alexander the great for it is said that when his mother Olympia proved with Child of him there was seen in her Bed and about her Bed a great Serpent which was the presage of his future greatnesâ— therefore our Author also will have that when such a Prodigie shall appear in France that then shall be born such a Prince as he mentioneth here the circumstances are that this Serpent shall be seen by a Lady in the night time and that the Dogs of the house shall not bark at him XCIV French Deux grand freres seront chassez d' Espagne Laisné vaincu soubs les Monts Pyraenaecs Rougis Mer Rhosne sang Leman d' Alemagne Narbon Blyterre d' Agath contaminées English Two great Brothers shall be driven from Spain The elder of them shall be overcome under the Pyrenean Mountains Bloody Sea Rhosne Blood Leman of Germany Narbon Bliterre of Agath polâ—uted ANNOT. The two first Verses are easily understood by those that know the Pyrenean Mountains to be those that part Spain from France The two last Verses signifie there shall be bloody VVars in those places the Rhosne is a swift River of France that passeth through the City of Lyons Leman is the Lake of Geneva and Narbon is a City of Languedock XCV French Le Regne a deux laissé bien peu tiendront Trois ans sept mois passez feront la guerre Les deux vestales contre rebelleront Victor puisnay en Armorique Terre English The Kingdom being left to two they shall keep it but a little while Three years and seven months being past they shall make War The two Vestals shall rebel against them The youngest shall be Conquerour in the Armorick Countrey ANNOT. This signifies that a Kingdom shall be left to two who shall keep it but a little while about the space before mentioned By the two Vestals that shall rebel are to be understood two Nuns who having Interest in the state by their nearness of blood shall challenge a title in the Kingdom The last Verse signifies that the youngest that contended for the Kingdom shall overcome the eldest in the Province of Gascony XCVI French La soeur aisnèe de l'Isle Britannique Quinze ans devant le frere aura naissance Par son promis moyenant verifique Succedera au Regne de Balance English The eldest Sister of the Brittain Island Shall be born fifteen years before her Brother By what is promised her and help of the truth She shall succeed in the Kingdom of Libra ANNOT. This signifies that the Princess born so long after her Brother shall be married to a King of France which is understood here by the Kingdom of Libra therefore the last King Lewis the XIII was called the Just because born under the Sign of Libra XCVII French L'An que Mercure Mars Venus retrograde Du grand Monarque la ligne ne faillit Esleu du peuple Lusitant pres de Pactole Qu'en Paix Regne viendra fort enveillir English When Mercury Mars and Venus shall retrograde The Line of the great Monarch shall be wanting He shall be elected by the Lusitanians near Pactole And shall Reign in Peace a good while ANNOT. This signifies the late change of state in Portugal when they threw off the Spanish yoke and chose a King amongst themselves John the IV. Duke of Branganza Father to the present Queen of England for by the Lusitanians are meant the Portugals so called from their Countreys name Lusitania Pactoles is the River that runs by Lisbonne otherwise called Tagus in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Sands XCVIII French Les Albanois passeront dedans Rome Moyennant Langres demipiler affubles Marquis Duc ne pardonnes a l'homme Feu sang morbilles point d'eau faillir les ble's English The Albanians shall pass through Rome By the means of Langres covered with half Helmets Marquess and Duke shall spare no man Fire blood small Pox Water shall fail us also Corn. ANNOT. The meaning is that when the people of Albania lying between the Venetian Territories and Grecia shall come to Rome by the means of a Bishop of Langres who is a Duke and Peer of France being covered with half Helmets a kind of a Cap that they wear in War then shall be fire blood small Pox and want of Corn. XCIX French L'Aisnè vaillant de la fille du Roy Repoussera si profond les Celtiques Qu'il mettra Foudres combien en tel arroy Peu loing puis profond es Hesperiques English The valliant eldest son of the daughter of the King Shall beat back so far those of Flanders That he will cast Lightnings O how many in such orders Little and far after shall go deep in Spain ANNOT. This is scarce to be understood of any body but the present King of France Lewis the XIV who was the elder son and born of Queen Ann Daughter to the King of Spain who by his valour and fortune made last year such progress in the Conqueâ— of Flanders that it hath caused admiration in every body insomuch that if he do the like this year it may be propably suspected he will afterwards go deep into Spain according to the contents of this Prophecy C. French Du feu Celeste au Royal
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 â—iote Aeacida 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 fera 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 terroüer 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and joyn things past to those that are to come to darken the Readers understanding and as the Scripture saith Us 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 Tyraâ—â— 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 leaving 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 future 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 Caesar of Naples besides the Inhabitants Never was a place so suriously assaulted and so manfully defended so that the French were many times beaten
for what was and if there was need to ask for it again his knees were as supple and ply able as ever But a Letter which he had written to la Fin since the pardon of Lyon and the Birth of the Dolphin did spoil all for it was a manifest evidence of the continuation of his ill designs and the Chancellor having produced it he answered he would never deny his hand but that Imbert and Renazée Domestick Servants to la Fin could counterfeit it that though he might have had some ill thoughts he had always well done that although the King would not forgive him this fault it was not in the power of men to condemn him jusâ—ly for single words which were contradicted by the effects that his consolation was in his misfortune his Judges were not ignorant of the services he had done to the Kingdom which he had Sealed with five and thirty wounds that his body whose life and death was in the disposition of their Justice had not a vain but had bleeded for their service and to restore them into their places from whence the League had driven them that the hand which had written the Letters produced against him was the same that had done contrary to what it did write that he had written and spoke more then he ought but that it could not be proved he had ever ill done that there was no Law that punished with death the lightness of a single word or motion of the thoughts that anger and discontent had made him capable of saying and doing any thing but that his reason had not given leave to say or to do ought but what deserveth to be commended which words were as carefully considered as he repeated them often with several Oaths and Imprecations Upon that the Chancellor having asked him why then he did not open himself more to the King who desired him with great affection to do it at Fountain-bleau seeing he knew in his conscience to have done nothing against his duty since his pardon There he cut himself in his answer and said he thought la Fin had revealed nothing of what was between them and that he had lately assured him so with Oaths and fearful imprecations that he would never have thought la Fin had been such a damnable man as to reveal that which with so many deep Oaths and Imprecations they had promised to keep secret between themselves that having propounded the question to a Monk of the Order of Minimes at Lyon whether he might with a safe conscience reveal what was between tâ—em and what he had promised with Oath to la Fin to keep secret because he suspected that la Fin would deceive him and tell all to the King and so ruine him The Minime had answered that seeing they had no more intention to put in execution the things they had projected he was not to reveal them and if la Fin did it he should go to Hell and himself to Heaven that he did so firmly believe this that although the Archbishop of Bourges had visited him in Prison and alledged many reasons to the contrary yet his soul was so settled in that belief that he thought it was only the part of an Atheist to swear with intâ—ntion to deceive Upon this he begun to accuse la Fin of the most execrable crimes that a man is capable of saying that he made use of Renazée for Sodomy that he was a Witch and had ordinary communication with the Devils that he had so be witched him with enchanted Waters and Wax Images that spoke that he was constrained to submit himself to all his will that he never spoke to him but whispering and in unknown words and aâ—ter he had kissed him in the left eye and he could not deny but he had shewed him a Wax Image speaking and saying Rex impie morieris thou shalt die ungodly King and called him continually his Master Lord Prince and King that he was a false Coiner and had persuaded him manâ— times to attempt upon the King but that he would never hearken to it that the quality of the Accusators was to be considered who not only were partners but instigators of the Fact that certainly the Duke of Savoy was his mortal enemy for having since his pardon left of all his intelligences with him and seeing that after a long detention he had released Renazée to come and to be a witness against him that the King had forgiven him at Lyon and that upon his acknowledging many times to the King that the refusal of the Ciradel of Bourg had very much incensed him his Majesty did comfort him with these words Marshal never remember Bourg and I will never remember what is past that in 22 Months after he had not offended that if he had continued his ill designs he might have done it easily in England and Switzerland That above 100. Gentlemen shall be Witnesses of his first Embassy and for the second he desireth no other Witnesses than the Kings Embassadors themselves that if they would be pleased to consider how he was come and in what what case he had left the Province of Burgundy it was impossible to have an ill opinion of his designs for there was not one Souldier in all the Countrey and at his going away he gave no other charge to the Commanders and Captains than to serve the King faithfully that every one disswaded him to come to Court and in the way he received many Letters to that purpose that he was come upon the Kings word trusting upon his own Conscience and Innocency If the King be not pleased to consider my services said he to the Court and those assurances he hath given me of his Mercy I acknowledge my self guilty of Death and do not expect my life from his Justice but from yours my Lords who will remember better than he what dangers I have undergone for his service I confess I had a mind to do ill but I never proceeded to effects It would be a hard matter if I should be the first in whom thoughts should be punished Great offences require great ciemency I do implore that of the King and nevertheless I am the onely one in France that is made an example of his severity and that can have no hope in his clemency which he never denyed to those that had done worse However I trust more in you my Lords than I do in the King who having heretofore looked upon me with his Eyes of love looketh upon me now with those of his anger and thinketh it a Vertue to be cruel unto me and a Vice to excercise upon me the act of clemency Thus pleaded the Prisoner with so much eloquency and boldness that if his Judges had not seen evidently the truth of the fact under his own Hand and Seal the respect of his first condition might have perswaded them to believe his Innocency and to take compassion of his ruined fortune The Court did
and bellowing one would have thought them to be a storm and hissing of winds A rich Farmer and father of seven Children being involved in the Flood and much astonished at this accident nevertheless thinking the danger less then it was went about to save some of his best Goods but seeing the Waters to increase he forsook all and went to save one of his Children whom he loved best but the Waters followed him so close that all he could do was to get upon the Roof of his house Among the Children there was a little one sleeping in a Cradle which being made of close boards did swim upon the VVaters about three Miles and was taken up alive and sound The Hay cocks did swim like Ships upon the VVaves the Pigeons and Pigs were upon the Sheaves that the VVater carried away The Coneys being driven out of their holes had leapt upon the backs of the swiming Sheep A certain Shepheard being about to gather his Sheep into their Fold was followed by the Flood ran for his life and climbed upon a high Tree where seeing his Sheep bleating in the water he began to tear his hair to smite his breast to lift up his hands and his eyes to Heaven and when his Sheep had all perished and himself endured an extream cold and hunger he was at last taken up in a Boat that was sent to save the distressed But here we must talk of Bristol which is one of the chiefest Cities in England by reason of the Haven which bringeth thither abundance of Merchants from several Nations The same day of that Inundation the Sea breaking into a great Channel did presently overflow the Countrey with such quickneâ—s and violence that it covered the Valleys and the smaller Hills in so much that nothing but an utter ruine was expected many whole houses were turned upside down and carried away with the Flood The Barns full of Corn Hay and Straw were overthrown and the Cattle carried away besides abundance of people of all sorts The Merchants of London and Bristol and the rest of the Inhabitants besides the loss of Provisions suffered an inestimable one in their Commodities which they had provided for the Fair that was then near hand the most part of them being carryed away by the Flood and the rest so spoiled that the owners could not tell what to do with them A Gentleman dwelling between Barnstable and Bristol and two Leagues off from the Sea being gone abroad in the Morning to oversee his grounds did look towards the Sea ran back again to his house to bring this sad news to his Wife and Servants while they were endeavouring to pack up the most precious of their Goods the Water came about the house of fast that they altered their resolution and bethought themselves only to save their lives the servants busied themselves about tying the Goods together thinking the Water could not have carryed them away As for the Gentleman he went with his VVife and Children to the top of the house and got upon the rafters of the Roof Although nothing appeared to them but the Image of death nevertheless some hope and desire of escaping made the Gentleman come down to save a little Trunk wherein his papers of greatest concernment were Being come down from the Rafter he laid hold of the Trunk and fastened it to a Manger while he was busie about it the Waves of the Sea did so beat against that house that it fell down to the Ground The Wife Children and Servants were swallowed up in the ruine The Gentleman laid hold on a Rafter and was carryed away with it above half a League further to a Mountain where he set his foot upon dry Ground being half dead with fear and grief and bewailing the loss of his VVife Children and Servants he spyed the little Trunk and the Manger which he drew to Land and that was all he saved besides his Life Another Gentleman living thereabouts and newly married was resolved that day to go to the next Town and make merry with some friends whereupon he bid his man make his Horse ready and himself went to put on his Boots after he had put on one and whilst he held the other in his hand the VVaters came so fiercely into that house that they compelled the half Booted Gentleman to run away for his life in an upper Chamber but he was followed so close by that merciless Element that he was fained to get upon the top of the Roof to save his life and to ride upon the upper Rafter but the house and Roof melting by the violence of the VVaves this new Knight was carryed by the violence of them towards the Town where he intended to make merry and there was saved with much adoe It happened at the same time near Markand in the Dutchy of Norfolk that two Thieves going about to steal some Cattle while they were driving of them perceived in the Morning the Justice of God following them it was the VVater which having overtopped the Dikes threatned the takers of being taken and compelled them to save themselves with all speed From their wickedness did arise a great good for to the next Town they went and bid the Sexton to Ring the Bell and to cry VVater VVater The Inhabitants being for the most part asleep did not know what to do in such an Alarm Some climbed into the Church's Steeple others thinking there were Thieves went about to fence and defend their houses others hearing of a Flood laughed at it and said that those who brought this News deserved to be punished but presently they altered their Languages and their laughing was turned into a fearful mourning every one flying to save himself his VVife and Children and whatsoever they could pack up of their most precious Goods Some thinking to have more wit than others went about to divert the Current of the VVater from their houses but seeing there was no remedy they went with their VVives and Children to the tops of their houses in a lamentable fright But when the VVater came to seize upon the houses wherein there were some Playing some Drinking others already Drunken a great part of them were drowned others ran to a Hill near the Town where they spent the rest of that night and the day following with great lamentations The next day they saw their houses half under VVater and many people who from the windows and Steeples cryed for help others endeavoured to save themselves upon Boards and Rafters the Horses tyed to the Manger were all suffocated The Cattle in the fields were by this time driven to the Mount called Truhill and for all that were not out of danger for the Mountain was encompassed with VVater to such a heighth and depth that without Boats there was no access to it chiefly because of the Thickets and Bushes Thus so much Cattle was about to perish had not some Shepherds brought Boats loaded with provisions for Men and Beasts
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 interpotation XCVI French Grand Cite a Soldats abandonnée Onc ny eut mortel tumult si proche O quelle hideuse calamités approche Fo rs 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 Ginq 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 Petrache 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 Barhari procul sunto Qui aliter faxit is rite sacer esto THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus CENTURY VII I. French L'Ar◠du Thresor par Achilles deceu Aux procrées sceu le Quadrangulaire Au fait Roial le comment sera sceu Corps veu pendu au Sceu du populaire English The bow of the Treasure by Achilles deceived Shall shew to posterity the Quadrangulary In the Royal deed the Comment shall be known The body shall be seen hanged in the knowledge of the people ANNOT. By the bow of the Treasure is understood the Marshal d' Ancre Favorite to the Queen Regent of France Mary of Medicis who was first complained of for his maleversations by Achilles de Harlay President of Paris whence followed his death being Pistolled in the Quadrangle of the Louvre by the command of Lewis XIII and his body afterwards dragged through the streets and hanged publickly by the people upon the new Bridge II. French Par Mars ouvert Arles ne donra guerre De nuit seront les Soldats estonnez Noir blanc a l'Inde dissimulez en terre Soubs la feinte ombre traistre verrez sonnez English Arles shall not proceed by open War By night the Souldiers shall be astonished Black white and blew dissembled upon the ground Under the fained shadow you shall see them proclaimed Traitors ANNOT. Arles is a considerable City in France the rest is plain III. French Apres de France la victoire Navale Les Barchinons Salinons les Phocens Lierre d'or l'Enclume serré dans balle Ceux de Toulon au fraud seront consents English After the Naval victory of the French Upon those of Tunis Sally and the Phocens A golden Juy the Anvil
high That they 'l think that Deucalion is born again Most of them will run into the Colossus And a Sepulchre and fire extinguished shall appear ANNOT. Near Nismes there is the River called Gardon which cometh from St. Romans and dischargeth it self into the Rhosne at Beaucaire there is to be seen in that City abundance of Antiquitez which the Goths had built 1150. years before there is also many Roman Antiquities as an Amphitheater so well builded that neither the Goths nor the Saracens nor Attila nor Charles Martel with all their power could not utterly demolish it The Author nameth it Colossus because its building appeared like a Colossus for solidity There is also an ancient Temple which is called the Fountain builded as a Quadrangle and supported by two rows of great Pillars which at present is a Church of Nuns This being supposed the River of Gardon did overflow so much that its VVaters joyning with that of a Flood that happened there the ninth of September 1577. every one thought that Dencalion had been born again The Author saith this because in the fables of the ancients Deucalion is thought to be the Author of the Flood which Ovid mentioneth During this Flood which was like to overflow the Town as well as the Countrey many did retire themselves into that Amphitheater And in that ancient Temple of the Fountain the VVaters overthrowing a great many old buildings did discover abundance of Antiquities and amongst the rest one of those Lamps that burneth always in the Sepulchre of a Vestal which went out as soon as it felt the fresh Air. In confirmation of this the History of Provence saith that the storm began about five of the Clock in the Morning and lasted till Eight of the Clock at night and that these waters did uncover abundance of Antiquities that were hidden 1100. years before as Pillars Portico's Medâ—ls Jasper stones and serpentine-stones pieces of broken Vessels Epitaphs lodging Rooms and Caves and all other things that use to be found in the ruines of a Palace There was also heard in the Air Dogs barking Pillars of fire Armed men fighting and were seen two suns in the Clouds of the Colour of Blood all which were the sad presages of the Civil VVars of France presently after and chiefly that of Provence The ninth Century in the ninth stanza speaketh almost the same and sheweth that Nismes shall perish by VVater VII French Le grand conflict qu'on appreste a Nancy L' Aemathien dira tout je soubmets L'Isle Britane par Vin Selâ—en solcy Hem. mi. deux Phi. long temps ne tiendra Mets. English A great War is preparing at Nancy The Aemathien shall say I submit to all The British Island shall be put in care by Salt and Wine Hem. mi. two Phi. shall not keep Mets long ANNOT. Nancy is the chief City of Lorrain and by the Aemathien is understood the French the British Isle is England which is said here shall come into great distress by Salt and VVine because the Countrey aboundeth in those two Commodities The last Verse I do not understand save that Mets is a great City in Lorrain VIII French Index Poulse parfondera le front De Senegalia le Comte a son Fils propre La Myrnamée par plusieurs de plain front Trois dans sept jours blessez more English Index and Poulse shall break the forehead Of the Son of the Earl of Senegalia The Myrnamée by many at a full bout Three within seven days shall be wounded to death ANNOT. Senegalia is a Town in Italy all what can be gathered out of the obscurity of this Stanza is that the son of the Earl of that Town shall have his forehead broken and within seven days after three more shall be wounded to death IX French De Castilon figuieres jour de brune De semme infame naistra Souverain Prince Surnum de chausses per hume luy posthume Onâ— Roy ne fut si pire en sa Province English Out of Castilon figuieres upon a misty day From an infamous woman shall be born a Soveraign Prince His surname shall be from Breeches himself a posthume Never a King was worse in his Province ANNOT. Castilon figuieres is a petty Town in Provence in which he saith that a Severaign Prince shall be born of an infamous Woman and shall be a posthume which in Latine signifieth one that is born after his Fathers death he saith also that his name shall be derived from Breeches and that never a King was worse in his Countrey whether by worse he meaneth in manners or fortune I know not X. French Tasche de murdre enormes Adulteres Grand ennemy de tout le genre humain Que sera pire qu'ayeulx Oncles ne Pere En fer feu eau sanguin inhumain English Endeavour of Murder enormous Adulteries A great enemy of all mankind That shall be worse then Grand-father Unvle or Father In Iron fire water bloody and inhumane ANNOT. This Stanza as well as the next hath relation to the precedent making mention what a wicked person shall that Posthume be of which he spoke before XI French Dessoubs Jonchere du dangereux passage Fera passer le posthume sa bande Les Monts Pyrens passer hors son bagage De Parpignan courira Duc a Tende English Below Joncheres dangerous passage The posthume shall cause his Army to go over And his Baggage to go over the Pyrenean Mountains A Duke shall run from Perpignan to Tende ANNOT. This is still concerning the same posthume or Bastard who shall cause his Army to pass at Jonchere and his Bagage to go over the Pyrenean Mountains which parts Spain from France and that upon the fear of him a Duke shall run from Perpignan which is the chief City of Râ—ussillon to Tende which is a little Town in Provence XII French Esleu en Pape d'Esleu sera mocqué Subit soudain esmeu prompt timide Par trop bon doux a mourir provoqué Crainte estainte la nuit de sa mort guide English Elected for a Pope from Elected shall be baffled Upon a sudden moved quick and fearful By too much sweetness provooked to die His fear being out in the night shall be Leader to his death ANNOT. This Prophecy was fulfilled in the person of the Cardinal Santa Severina who in the Conclave of Cardinals after the death of Pope Innocent IX was Elected Pope and presently after was baffled by the same Cardinals and Clement the VIII chosen in his place for which the other a little while after died for grief XIII French Soubs la pasture d'animaux ruminans Par eux conduits au ventre Herbi-polique Soldats cachez les armes bruit menants Non loin tentez de Cité Antipolique English Under the pasture of Beasts chewing the cud Conducted by them to the Herbi-polique belly Souldiers hidden the Weapons making a noise Shall be attempted not far from Antipolick City ANNOT. The sense of this is
used so meanly the other wiser remembring that a Lyon is never so well tamed but one time or another he will prove still a Lyon and at last biteth the hand of him that hath wronged him so fiercely that he is for ever avenged of him The Duke of Espernon had reason to advise him to take an abolition in writing and the Duke of Biron was not too blame to trust to the Kings Word who certainly would have forgiven that fault if he had done nothing since to renew the Memory of it But here is once more to be observed a passage that containeth all the signs of an implacable Spirit The Duke of Biron being sent for by the King to receive his commands and the effects of his clemency went from Bourg and came to lie at Vimy From thence he wrote a Letter to La Fin that was at Milan and then went to Lyons where he was received by the King as the prodigal Son he stayed some time at Lyons and went to Vimy again from whence he wrote another Letter to La Fin by Farges As soon as he came to Bourg he sent to Bosco cousin of Roncas to advance the business This negotiation did continue at Some between the Duke of Savoy the Earl of Fuentes and La Fin. The Earl of Fuentes carryed La Fin to Milan and being desirous to be better informed upon some points and finding La Fin not so firm in his answers he thought it not good to trust him wholly with the secret and resolved to rid himself of him therefore he sent him back and intreated him to see the Duke of Savoy in his way He had the good fortune to go by the way of the Grisons and so through Basle Porentru and Besancon for Renazé his Secretary that went through Savoy was there Arrested and made Prisoner The work nevertheless went on Alphonsus Casal and Roncas did continue it with the Baron of Lux and in the mean time the Duke of Biron plaid his part having sent an express into Spain though he were then with the King who loth to loose him kept him near carryed him to see the Frontier Towns and sent him Embassador into England where he saw the head of the Earl of Essex a late example of justice upon those who will be feared by their Masters and abuse their favour At his return he made a Journey into Gascony where he was visited and honoured by the Nobility of the Countrey as a Prince and being come to Dijon he went into Switzerland to make an end of the renewing of the Alliance between the King and the Switzers where he continued still his practises with the Earl of Fuentes to whom he sent his secretary under pretence to send his Pages into the Garrisons of Palma for the Venetians Being come back from Switzerland he came not to the King to give an account of his negotiation excusing himself upon the convocation of the Estates in the Province The King that had some notice of these broils by Combelles was infinitely desirous to speak with La Fin to know the truth of it La Fin who was highly incensed that the Baron of Lux would have all the fruit of this negotiation and that Renazée is kept Prisoner in Savoy sent Cerezat to the Duke of Biron to let him know that he could be no longer his Servant if his Secretary was not fet at liberty and that he could no longer defer to go to the King desiring also to know what he should say upon the things that were past He slighted the first of these propositions and spoke of Renazée as of one that was not to be reckoned among the living concerning the other he told Cerezat that he was of opinion he might go to the Court with a small train and that he should prepare himself at the first to receive ill language and contempt from the King which he should sweeten by intreating him to believe that the Journey he had made into Italy had no other design than to visit our Lady of Loretta And that passing through Milan and Thurin he had been charged to propound the Marriage between him and the third Daughter of Savoy to which he would not hearken because the King would take care to provide for him He did intreat and adjure Cerezat to tell La Fin that he should rid himself of all those that travailed with him and chiefly of a Curate and that he should secure his Papers if he had not rather to burn them In a word to consider his life his fortune his honour were in his Hands La Fin came to Court at the end of Lent and saw the King at the Wine-press of Fountainbleaâ— and after that at the mid way He spake first to the King after to Villeroy and after to the Chancellor in his house at Fontainbleau and with Rhosny in the Forâ—est and with Sillery in the Wine-press all with horror saw the writings and heard his designs The King could hardly believe such a wickedness for who could have believed that he who had driven the Spaniard from the Frontiers of Picardy would let him in again by that of Burgundy that he who had a hundred times beaten and defeated them could contract a friendship with them and conspire with them against the service of his Prince and the love of his Countrey that he who hated them to death would have trusted his life in their Hands He had shewed himself so much their Enemy that seeing his Father would not charge the Prince of Parma in an advantagious place said aloud that if he were King for 24 hours he would cause the head of the Marshall of Biron to be cut off He pronounced against his Father the Sentence that was to be executed once upon him La Fin shewed the King so many true and undeniable tokens of this conspiracy that he was fained to believe more than he desired He told him all what did pass in his Journeys to the Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes concerning the Duke of Biron saying that for his part he would have been glad that the War had continued that he might have benifitted himself therein but finding that his sacred person was not excepted and that there were cruel designs made against it either to kill him or to carry him prisoner into Spain he was resolved to give him notice of it choosing rather to disoblige the Servant than the Master The King full of clemency and goodness was extreamly sorry to see such an unnatural conspiracy Nevertheless he said that if the Con pirators did their duty and gave him means to prevent the designs of his Enemies he would forgive them If they remember what they owe me I will not forget what I owe them they shall find me as full of clemency as they are void of affection I would not have the Duke of Biron to be the first example of my Justice and to be the cause that my Reign which
rendra sa gloire memorable English The Phoenix of the old Charon shall be seen To be the first and last of the Sons To shine in France beloved of every one To Reign a great while with all the honours That ever his Predecessors had By which he shall make his glory memorable ANNOT. No doubt but this is meant of some King of France which is to come XLIX French Venus Sol Jupiter Mercure Augmenteront le genre de nature Grande Alliance en France se fera Et du Midy la Sangsue de mesme Le feu esteint par ce remede extreme En Terre ferme Olivier plantera English Venus and So Jupiter and Mercury Shall augment humane kind A great Alliance shall be made in France And on the South the Leech shall do the same The fire extinguished by this extreme remedy Shall plant the Olive-Tree in a firm ground ANNOT. By the consent of all Astronomers those four benigne Planets augment generation That great Alliance mentioned here by which the fire was extinguished and the Olive-Tree planted in a firm ground is the Marriage of the present King of France Lewis the XIV with the Infanta of Spain by which all differences were composed and the Peace firmly settled L. French Un peu devant ou apres l' Angleterre Par mort de Loup mise aussy bas que terre Verra le feu resister contre l'eau Le rallumant avecque telle force Du sang humain dessus l'humaine escorce Faute de pain bondance de cousteau English A little while before or after England By the death of the Wolf being put as low as the ground Shall sec the fire resist against the water Kindling it again with such force Of humane blood upon the humane bark That want of bread and abundance of knives shall be ANNOT. The meaning is that a little while after or before the said match mentioned in the foregoing England was or should be brought as low as the ground and that there should be abundance of humane blood spilled and a great decay of Trade with Wars which is that he calleth Want of Bread and abundance of knives LI. French La Ville qu'avoit en ses ans Combatu l'Injure du temps Qui de son Vainqueur tient la vie Celuy qui premier la surprit Que peu apres Francois reprit Par Combats encore affoible English The City that had in her years Resisted the injury of the times And oweth her life to him that overcame her Being the first that surprised it Which a little while after Francis took again Being yet weâ—kened with fightings LII French La grand Cité qui n'a Pain a demy Encor un coup la saint Barthelemy Engravera au profond de son Ame Nismes Rochelle Geneve Montpelier Castres Lion Mars entrant au Belier S'entrebattront le tout pour une Dame English The great City that hath not bread half enough Shall once more engrave In the bottom of her soul St. Bartholomew's day Nismes Rochel Geneva and Montpelier Castres Lion Mars coming into Aries Shall fight one against another and all for a Lady ANNOT. That great City mentioned here is Paris which is threatned of another St. Bartholomew's day which was fatal to the Protestants in France for upon that day in the year 1572. there was a general Massacre made of them through all France insomuch that in Paris alone there was above ten thousand slain As for those Towns here named that are to fight about a Lady I cannot guess what Lady it should be unless he meaneth the Roman Church LIII French Plusieurs mourront avant que Phoenix meure Jusques six cens septante est sa demeure Passé quinze ans vingt un trente neus Le premier est Subjet a maladie Et le second au fer danger de vie Au seu a l'eau est subjet a trenteneus English Many shall die before that Phoenix dieth Till six hundred and seventy he shall remain Above fifteen years one and twenty thirty nine The first shall be subject to sickness And the second to Iron a danger of life Thirty nine shall be subject to fire and water ANNOT. By the Phoenix is meant a Pope because there is but one of that kind at once the meaning of the rest is unknow to me LIV. French Six cens quinze vingt grand Dame mourra Et peu apres un fort long temps pleuvra Plusieurs Pais Flandres l' Angleterre Seront par seu par fer affligez De leurs Voisins longuement affiegez Contraints seront de leur faire la Guerre English Six hundred and fifteen and twenty a great Lady shall die And a little after it shall rain for a great while Many Countreys as Flanders and England Shall by fire and Iron be afflicted And a good while Besieged by their Neighbours So that they shall be constrained to make War against them ANNOT. What that great Lady was that should die in the year 635. is not easie to guess there being many in every Countrey that died that year The rest is easie and we have seen the truth of it in our days and may see it hereafter LV. French Un peu devant ou apres tres-grand Dame Son ame au Ciel son corps soubs la lame De plusieurs gens regretée sera Tous ses parens seront en grand tristesse Pleurs souspirs d'une Dame en jeunesse Et a deux grands le dueil delaissera English A little while before or after a very great Lady Her soul in Heaven and her body in the Grave Shall be lamented by many All her kindred shall be in great mourning Tears and sighs of a Lady in her youth And shall leave the mourning to two great ones ANNOT. This may be understood of the death of Anna of Austria Queen of France who left in mourning two great ones viz. her two Sons Lewis the XIV King of France and Philip of Bourbon Duke of Orleans Or of the death of the Queen Dowager of England Henrietta Maria who also was much lamented and left in mourning two great ones viz. Charles the II. King of England and James Duke of York his Brother LVI French Tost l'Elephant de toutes parts verra Quand Pourvoyeur au Griffon se joindra Sa ruine proche Mars qui tousiour gronde Fera grands faits aupres de Terre Sainte Grands Estendars sur la Terre sur l'Onde Si la Nef a esté de deux frere enceinte English Shortly the Elephant on all sides shall see When the Purveyor shall joyn with the Griffin His ruine at hand and Mars which always grumbleth Shall do great feats near the Holy Land Great Standarts upon the Earth and the Sea If the Ship hath been with Child of two Brothers ANNOT. The Elephant is the Emperor the Purveyor the King of France the Griffin the Hollanders the meaning then is that the Emperor shall go to ruine when the French and the Hollanders shall joyn together And that there shall be great Wars and Fightings in the Holy Lands both by Sea and Land when two Brothers of great quality shall go in one Ship LVII French Peu apres l'Alliance faite Avant solemnises la Feste L'Empereur le tout troublera Et la nouvelle Mariée Au Franc Païs par sort liée Dans peu de temps apres mourra English A little after the Alliance made Before the Feast be Solemnized The Emperor shall trouble all And the new Bride Being by fate tied to the French Countrey A little while after shall die ANNOT. This is concerning a match that shall be made between the French King and some Lady of another Countrey which Match shall be disturbed by the Emperour and the Bride shall die a little while after her Marriage LVIII French Sangsue en peu de temps mourra Sa mort bon signe nous donra Pour l'accroissement de la France Alliances se trouveront Deux grands Roiaumes se joindront Francois aura sur eux puissance English The Leech within a little while shall die His death shall be a good sign to us For the augmentation of France Alliances shall be found Two great Kingdoms shall joyn together The French shall have power over them ANNOT. The Leech was Philip the IV. the last King of Spain who died a little while after he had Married his Daughter to Lewis the XIV now King of France by which Marriage the Peace was made between the two Kingdoms in the Island of the Conference upon the Borders of France and Spain By his death and that Match is foretold the encrease and happy condition of the Kingdom of France FINIS