of the late Duke of Alencon that he had Negotiated with the Ministers or the King of Spain and of the Duke of Savoy during the Siege of Amicns that he was full of discontents thought that such a one was seeking for a Master They spoke together and mixed their grievances propounding to seek out of the Kingdom what they could not find within and to contract an intelligence with the Duke of Savoy thus after so many examples of unavoidable dangers the Duke of Biron did venture upon a Journey full of Rocks and Shelves under the conduct of one who was yet wet with the Shipwrack he had lately made The Duke went into Flanders for the execution of the Treaty of Vervins where one Picoté of Orleans spoke to him and inspired into him strange desires of raising his Fortune with those that knew and admired his deserts The Duke of Biron did hearken to him and told him he would be glad to hear him some other time upon that subject From that time forwards the Spaniards thought themselves sure of him and grew confident either to have him or to destroy him a French Gentleman who because of the Civil Wars was retired into Flanders and had some imployment in the Arch-Dukes Court gave the first intelligence of it to the King who took it kindly but sent him word that the Duke of Biron had too much courage and honesty to harbour such a wickedness being come back again from Flanders the King wished him to Marry but he shewed that his inclinations tended to some other party then that which was offered unto him and though he made shew to court the Daughter of my Lady Lucé he nevertheless intended to have the natural Sister of the Duke of Savoy of which the Knight Breton had spoken to him La Fin had in charge from the Duke of Biron to do all what he could for his satisfaction Picoté had made a Journey into Spain only to know and receive the propositions Farges a Monk of the Order of Fifteaux went into Savoy and from thence to Milan to receive Orders how to pluck of this Plant out of France Things went very slowly for the Spaniards do not easily believe the words of the French unless they be with great effects of rebellion and change but the Duke of Savoy being at Paris did wholly put out the Flower de Luces he had in his Heart and did dispose him to disturb the King so much at home that he should have but little time to dispute him the Markdom of Suluces upon that hope the Duke of Savoy neglected the Execution of the treaty of Peace made at Paris the War was proclaimed and the Duke of Biron took the chief places in Bresse Being at Pierre Chastel in the beginning of September La Fin came to him and by his order made two Journeys to St. Claude where Roncas was The King had notice of it but thought it better to dissemble it than to surprise a man he loved in his infidelity he thought enough to bid him come into Savoy and to rid himself of La Fin. He did believe that what the King said to him out of his affection proceeded from fear and kept company still with La Fin and never went to see the King but with great many attendants refusing to take his lodging near his that he might have more liberty he perswaded the King being at Annessy that he did desire to discover some passages and therefore desired to have some guides of the Countrey but it was to send safely Renaze La Fin's Secretary to the Duke of Savoy to give him intelligence in what state the Kings Army was and to bid d'Albigny retreat who otherwise had been defeated This was about the time that the Duke of Biron did intreat the King to bestow the Government of the Citadel of Bourg on him whom he should name It is the Nature of the great ones that serve Princes to believe they deserve all and to become more dangerous than Enemies if they are refused what they ask for The King did declare that he would bestow the place upon de Boisses This denial did so trouble the mind of the Duke of Biron and put him upon such a strange and diabolical resolutions that he resolved one Morning being yet in his Bed at Chamoâ—t to kill the King as it is expressed in the depositions of La Fin and Renazé but this took no effect himself afterwards did abhor the thought of it La Fin also went from the Army to conclude the Bargain with the Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes he treated first with the Duke of the Spanish Embassador at Yurée afterwards at Thurin with Roncas where also came Picoté bringing the answers of the Councel of Spain upon the propositions of the Duke of Biron with order to confer with La Fin and to perswade him to make a Journey into Spain He said plainly that the King of Spain was resolved to have the Duke of Biron at any rate The Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes appointed a day to be at Some with La Fin and Picoté there the minds of every one were clearly expressed and understood La Fin who was acquainted with all his secret Councels told the King that the Marriage of the third Daughter of the Duke of Savoy was the sodder and cement of all the treaty with a promise of five hundred thousand Crowns and all the rights of Soveraignty in Burgundy While La Fin treated in Italy the capitulation of the Duke of Biron the treaty of Peace was concluded at Lyons The Duke of Biron had been always against this Peace when he saw that it was concluded and that the King had heard something of his dealings with La Fin he fained to be very penitent of it and asked the King forgiveness in the Cloister of the Franciscan Friers at Lyons and intreated him most humbly to forgive the evil intentions that the denial of the Citadel of Bourg had put into his mind The King did forgive him and told him that he was glad he had trusted to his clemency and in the affection he bore to him of which he would always give him such tokens that he should never have occasion to doubt of it Leaving the King he met with the Duke of Espernon and told him that he would impart unto him as unto his best friend the best fortune that ever he had in his life which was that he had discharged his Conscience to the King and that he had forgiven him all what was past The Duke of Espernon told him that he was glad of it but that it was necessary he should have his pardon in writing for such faults could not be so easily blotted out What said he upon what can I rely better than upon the Kings word if the Duke of Biron wanteth an abolition what shall others do So they parted one thinking that his Lyons Courage ought not to be
near that he might be either killed or taken telling what cloths he himself would wear and what Horse he would ride that he might be distinguished To have sent several times la Fin to treat with the Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes against the Kings service These are the first confessions and acknowledgements that the Prisoner made before the Commissioners in the Bastille but now he thinketh he may as lightly deny them as he had unadvisedly before confessed them Upon the first Article he answered that Picoté being once his Prisoner had offered his service for the reduction of the Town of Seurre in Burgundy and that the King had approved of it that it is true he had given him the said sum but it was as a reward for his pains and charges in this negotiation which sum he hath charged upon the Kings account with some other small ones laid out by him for the King that since the reduction of the said Town he had not seen Picoté but in Flanders when he went thither Embassadour for the confirmation of the Peace where the said Picotée came to him with many others intreating him he would be pleased to mediate with the King for the liberty of returning into their Countrey and enjoying their Estates and that he did wish them to go to the Lords Belieure and Sillery who would prescribe them what orders they were to follow in this business and never had any other conversation with Picoté Upon the second That he could not have treated with the Duke of Savoy three days after his arrival at Paris seeing that himself did not come there but a formighafter and that la Fin came but after him that all his discourses with him were in publick and before witnesses and therefore could not be suspected that Roncas had sometimes mentioned to him the Marriage of the third daughter of the Duke and that he did impart it to the King that his Majesty having sent him word by la Force his Brother in Law that he did not approve of it he never thought of it since that the intelligence he is accused to have kept with the Duke of Savoy is confuted enough by what he did for when the King had commanded him to wait and keep company to the Duke in his return from France and to shew him the strongest places upon the Frontiers of Burgundy he did humbly excuse himself to the King of it saying that he foresaw well enough that the Duke would not keep the Treaty of Peace and that it would be a great grief to him to make War against a Prince with whom he should have kept company and made good cheer and that he did advise the Baron of Lux to let him see only the weaker places that he might not know the strength of the Countrey Upon the third That if he had kept correspondence with the Duke of Savoy he would not have undertaken the taking of Bourg almost against the Kings will without any other help then of those that were ordinarily with him that of fourty Convoys that were brought to relieve the Town he had routed thirty seven and the other three entered in his absence that the King knoweth very well he was offered 200000. Crowns to let the succours enter into the Citadel of Bourg that although his Majesty had commanded him in the time of a Truce made with the Duke of Savoy to let those of the Citadel of Bourg have every day 400. Loafs of Bread 50. bottles of Wine half an Oxe and six Sheep he did only let them have fifty bottles of Wine and one Sheep by which means the Town was surrendred within the time promised that if he had had any evil design against the King and Kingdom he would not so freely and willingly put the Town into the hands of him that is now Governour of it that the Governours of Places that were in the Duke's service and are now in that of the King can witness whether he shewed them any favour that for his giving advice to the Duke to defeat the Regiment of Chambauld he will prove that Chambauld did not come into the Army but one Month after the time mentioned in his Calumny besides that this advice was without appearance of reason for from Chambaula's quarters to his there was at least six days journey and as much to go to the Duke and as much to come back besides the time required for the marching of the Forces therefore all that was a meer invention of la Fin. Upon the fourth That he intreated his Majesty to call to memory that he was the onely man who dissuaded him to go and view the Fort representing unto him that there was in it â—xtraordinary good Gunners and that he could not view it without great danger and upon that he offered the King to bring him the next day the Plat-form of it and to take it with 500. Musquettiers and that himself would be in the Head of them Upon the fifth That it was true all the evil he had done was in two Months time that la Fin had been with him during which he did hearken and write more then he ought but that with the same he had written he had so long served the King that it was enough to prove the sincerity of his intentions that the refusal of the Citadel of Bourg which he thought the King had promised him had put him into such a discontent that he found himself in a capacity to hearken to any thing and to do any thing that if he had been a Protestant it may be the place should have been refused him no more then it was to de Boaisse who was such an one as he told the King himself at Lyon that la Fin had also once told him that the King speaking of him and of his Father said that God had done well for to take him out of this world when he was killed for he was a very chargeable and unprofitable servant and for the Son it was not all Gold that shined that these words had so much incensed him that he could have found in his heart to be all covered with blood Upon that the Chancellor asked him of what blood he meaned he answered of my own desiring not to live any longer after he had heard such reproches as blemished the services of his Father and his onw that nevertheless his anger and discontent went never so far as to attempt upon the King that his fault was only in words and it may be little in Writting that his Majesty seeing with how much ingenuity he did acknowledge his fault had forgiven him all what was past in the presence of the Lords Villeroy and Sillery and that if since that time he was found to have done any thing amiss he would blame his Judges of Injustice if they did not condemn him to death that if he had done nothing amiss since he thought the Kings pardon to be sufficient
obvious to the meanest capacity X. French Embassadeur pour une Dame A son Vaissau mettra la rame Pour prier le grand Medecin Que de l'Oster de telle peine Mais a ce s'opposera Roine Grand peine avant qu'en voir la fin English An Embassador for a Lady Shall set Oares to his Ship To intreat the great Physition To take her out of such pain But a Queen shall oppose it A great deal of trouble before the end of it ANNOT. This Prophecy is concerning Mary Stuart Queen of Scots put in Prison by Queen Elizabeth who is called here the opponant Queen to the Embassy that the said Queen of Scots sent for relief to the King of France called here the great Physitian XI French Durant le Siecle on verra deux ruisseaux Tout un terrouer inonder de leurs eaux Et submerger par Ruisseaux Fontaines Coups Monfrein Beccoyran Alais Par le Gardon bien souvent travaillez Six cens quattre Ales trente Moines English In this Age two Rivolets shall be seen To overflow a whole Countrey with their waters And to drown by Rivolets and Fountains Coups and Monfrein Beccoiran and Alais By the Gardon often troubled Six hundred and four Alais and thirty Monks ANNOT. An Age is the space of one hundred years the meaning therefore of this is that within the Age following his Prophecies namely as he saith after in the year 1664. there shall be great Inundation in Languedoc caused by the overflowing of two small Rivers besides that of Gardon which Inundation shall drown these following places Coups Monfrein Becoyran and Alais besides and Abbey wherein there was 30. Monks but of this I could find nothing in the History therefore those that live about those places must make it good XII French Six cens cinq tres grand nouvelle De deux Seigneurs la grand querelle Proche de Gevaudan sera En une Eglise apres l'offrande Meuttre commis prestre de mande Tremblant de peur se sauvera English In six hundred and five shall be great news The quarrel of two great Lords Shall be near Gevaudan In a Church after the Offering A murder committed the Priest shall ask And quaking for fear shall save himself ANNOT. This like the former is a particuler accident of which the publick History taketh no notice it seemeth that in the year 1665. in Gevaudan a Province of France near Langnedoc there was a great quarrel between two Lords who meeting at Church did about the time of the Offering set one upon another and one of them was killed whereupon the Priest being terrified ran away XIII French L'aventurier six cens six ou neuf Sera surpris par fiel mis dans un Oeuf Et peu apres sera hors de puissance Par le puissant Empereur General Qu'ou Monde nest an pereil ny esgal Dont un chascun luy rend obeissance English The adventurer six hundred six or nine Shall be surprised by Gall put into an Egge And a little while after shall be out of power By the potent Emperour General To whom in the world there is not his like or equal Wherefore every one yieldeth obedience to him ANNOT. This Prophecie was concerning the Duke of Savoy and Henry the IV. for about that time mentioned by the Author after the death of Marshal de Biron who sided with the Duke of Savoy which death is called here Gall put into an Egg the Duke of Savoy refused to perform the treaty concerning the restitution of the Marquisate of Saluces wherefore Henry the IV went and subdued most of his Countrey and compelled him to give the Province of Bresse instead of the said Marquisate XIV French Au grand Siege encor grand forfaits Recommenceant plus que jamais Six cens cinq sur la verdure La prise reprise sera Soldats es Champs jusqu ' en froidure Puis apres recommencera English At the great Siege yet great misdemeanors Beginning again more than ever Six hundred and five about the Spring The taking and retaking shall be Souldiers in the fields till Winter And after that shall begin again ANNOT. This Stanza is about the same subject as the precedent By the great Siege here is meant the Siege of Montpelian the strongest place in Savoy which Henry the IV. took and by it compelled the Duke of Savoy to an agreement The rest is â—aâ—â—â— XV. French Nouveau esleu Patron du grand Vaisseau Verra long temps briller le grand flambeau Qui sert de Lampe a ce grand territoire Et auquel temps Armées soubs son nom Jointes a celles de l'heureux de Bourbon Levant Ponant Couchant sa memoire English The new elected Master of the great Ship Shall a great while see the great light shine Which serveth for a Lamp to this great Territory And at which time Armies under his name Joyned with those of happy of Bourbon East West and North his memory shall be ANNOT. The three first Verses are concerning Clement the VIII who was elected Pope about that time and was Instrumental to make a Peace between the King of France and the Duke of Savoy and was Pope a good while By the great Ship is meant the Church of which he is called Master The rest is easie XVI French En Octobre Six cens cinq Pourvoieur du MonstreMarin Prendra duSouverain le cresme Ou en six cens six en Juin Grand joye aux Grands au Commun Grand faits apres ce grand Baptesme English In October six hundred and five The Purveyor of the Sea Monster Shall take the unction of the Sovereign Or in six hundred and six in June Great joy shall be to the Great ones and to the Commons Great feats shall be after this great Baptism ANNOT. In the year 1606. the 14 of September instead of which the Printer hath put October the Dolphin of France Lewis the XIII son to Henry the IV. was Christened with his two Sisters at Fountainbleau and because the Ceremonies were extraordinary and our Author calleth this a great Baptism it will not be amiss for the satisfaction of the curious Reader to give here succinctly a description of it In the great quadrangle of the Castles Yard was erected a great Theatre all spread and hanged with most rich Carpets and Hangings in the middle of which Theatre was a square of thirty foot on each side with rails about it all covered with Carpets in the front of it was erected an Altar adorned with the Ornaments belonging to the Order of the Holy Ghost behind the Table was a Footstool of three steps spread with Carpets and in the middle of the Footstool was a kind of a Stand covered with a Silver Cloth upon which were the Fount covered with a most exquisite Towel and a Canopy over it on both sides of the Altars were two Scaffolds for two Quires of Musick and
Churches and other barbarous actions it hath been seen so often in France in the time of the Civil VVars for Religion that it needeth no confirmation The last Verse concerning a peace between the Turks and the Polonians was fulfilled in the year 1623. when Sigismundus King of Poland by his Embassador the Duke Sbarasky and by the mediation of the English Embassador concluded a Peace with the great Turk Mustapha the Articles of which you may read at large in the Turkish History LXXIV French De sang Trojen naistra coeur Germanique Qui deviendra en si haute puissance Hors chassera gent estrange Arabique Tonrnant l'Eglise en pristine préeminence English Of Trojan blood shall be born a German heart Who shall attain to so high a power That he shall drive away the strange Arrabian Nation Restoring the Church to her former splendor ANNOT. It seemeth to signifie that by Alliance made between a German Emperour and a Daughter of France which derive their Pedigree from the Trojans a Prince shall be born of so stout and valiant a heart as shall drive away all the Turkish power out of Germany and shall restore the Church to her former splendor LXXV French Montera haut sur le bien plus a dextre Demourra assis sur la pierre carrée Vers le midy posé a la senestre Baston tortu en main bouche serrée English He shall go up upon the good more on the right hand He shall stay sitting upon the square stone Towards the South being set on the left hand A crooked stick in his hand and his mouth shut ANNOT. I do acknowledge my Ignorance in this LXXVI French En lieu libere tendra son Pavillon Et ne voudra en Citez prendre place Aix Carpentras Lisle Volce Mont Cavaillon Par tous ces lieux abolira sa trace English He shall pitch his Tent in the open air Refusing to lodge in the City Aix Carpentras Lisle Volce Mont Cavaillon In all those places he shall abolish his trace ANNOT. Aix Carpentras Lisle Volce Mont Cavaillon are Cities of Provence LXXVII French Tous les degres d'honneur Ecclesiastique Seront changez en Dial Quirinal En Martial quirinal Flaminique Puis un Roy de France le rendra Vulcanal English All the degrees of Ecclesiastical honour Shall be changed into a Dial Quirinal Into Martial Quirinal Flaminick After that a King of France shall make it Vulcanal ANNOT. All what I can say upon this is that Dialis in Latine is a Priest of Jupiter and Quirinal is a Priest of Romulus Martial Flamen is a Priest of Mars Vulcanal is a Priest of Vulcan let the ingenious Reader make of all these the best construction he can LXXVIII French Les deux unis ne tiendront longuement Et dans treize ans au Barbare Satrape Aux deux costez feront tel perdement Qu'un benira la Barque sa cappe English The two united shall not hold long Within thirteen years to the Barbarian Satrape They shall cause such loss on both sides That one shall bless the Boat and its covering ANNOT. The word Satrape is a Persian word signifying one of the Grandees at Court. By the last Verse is meant one that shall save his life and make his escape by the means of a covered Boat or Barge LXXIX French La sacree Pompe viendra baisser les aisles Par la venue de grand Legislateur Humble haussera vexera les rebelles Naistra sur Terre aucun Aemulateur English The sacred Pomp shall bow down her wings At the coming of the great Lawgiver He shall raise the humble and vex the rebellious No Emulator of his shall be born ANNOT. This seemeth to have a relation to the birth of Christ or Christmas-day LXXX French L' Ogmion grande Bizance approchera Chassée sera la Barbarique ligue Des deux Loix l'une unique lachera Barbare France en perpetuelle brigue English The Ogmion shall come near great Bizance And shall expel the Barbarian League Of the two Laws the wicked one shall yeild The Barbarian and the French shall be in perpetual jar ANNOT. By the word Ogmion every where in his Book the Author meaneth the King of France who according to his words shall come near Constantinople and shall break the Barbarian League and of the two Laws that is the Christian and the Mahometan the Mohometan shall yield to the other LXXXI French L'Oyseau Royal sur la Cité solaire Sept mois devant fera nocturne augure Mur d'Orient cherra Tonnerre esclaire Sept jours aux Portes les ennemies a l'heure English The Royal Bird upon the solar City Seven Months together shall make a nocturn angury The Eastern Wall shall fall the Lightning shall shine Then the enemies shall be at the Gate for seven days ANNOT. By the Royal Bird is meant an Eagle which for seven days together shall be observed upon some Eastern City and shall be taken for a presage that the Eastern Wall of that City shall fall by Lightning at which time the enemies shall be at the Gate for seven days together LXXXII French Au conclud pache hors de la Forteresse Ne sortira celuy en desespoir mis Quand ceux d' Arbois de Langres contre Bresse Auront mis Dolle bouscade d'ennemis English Upon the agreement made out of the Fort Shall not come he that was in despair When those of Arbois of Langres against Bresse Shall have put in Dolle an Ambuscado of foes ANNOT. The sense is that according to the Articles or agreement made between the Besieger of a Fort and the Governour of it the said Governour by despair will not come out and this shall happen when those of Arbois and Langres shall be against those of Bressia and shall have put an Ambuscado in the City of Dolle LXXXIII French Ceux qui auront entreprins subvertir Nompareil Regne puissant invincible Feront par fraude nuicts trois advertir Quand le plus grand a Table lira Bible English Those that shall have undertaken to subvert The Kingdom that hath no equal in power and victories Shall cause by fraud notice to be given for three nights together When the greatest shall be reading a Bible at the Table ANNOT. What place is meant by the unparalell'd Kingdom the Author hath hid as well from me as the Reader LXXXIV French Naistre du Gouphre Cité immesurée Nay de parens obscurs tenebreux Qui la puissance du grand Roy reverée Voudra destruire par Rouen Eureux English One shall be born out of the Gulf and the unmeasurable City Born of Parents obscure and dark Who by the means of Rouen and Eureux Will go about to destroy the power of the great King ANNOT. VVithout doubt by this Gulf and unmeasured City the Author means Paris by reason of its greatness and the multitude of its Inhabitants LXXXV French Par les Sueves lieux circonvoisins Seront en
hitherto hath been like an Air calm and pure should upon a sudden be disturbed with Clouds and Lightning and so made a resolution that if the Duke of Biron should tell him the truth he would forgive him his Councel was of the same advice provided he would shew himself thenceforth as forward for his service against his Enemies as he had been earnest to do mischief Out of many Papers that la Fin put into the Kings hands there were seven and twenty pickt out which onely spoke of him the King being unwilling to discover the rest of the Conspirators and intending that the punishment of one should serve for example to all the rest The Chancellor kept those Papers with such care that he caused them to be sowed in his Doublet that no body might have a sight of them till it was time The Baron of Lux was yet at Fountainbleau when la Fin came thither The King told him that he was very well pleased that la Fin had spoken to him so honourably and wisely of the Duke of Biron and that he was confident now that the intentions of the Duke of Biron were righteous and sincere The Baron of Lux did not perceive the Kings anger so much the more dangerous that it was hidden he went back again to Dijon very well pleased that the things were always in the same state La Fin did write to the Duke of Biron that he had satisfied the King concerning his actions and had told him onely what might serve for his justification The King did manage this business so prudently that the success of it was fortunate he was well informed of all the Dukes designs and desired to hear them out of his own mouth that he might have occasion to forgive him for that purpose he sent to him the Lord d'Escures bidding him to come because he had a mind to trust him with the Army that he was raising upon the Frontiers he excused himself and said that the enemy being so near it would be a shame to him to turn his back and that the States of the Province were convented at Dijon and therefore could not for sake neither the Frontiers nor the States The Vidame of Chartres made a Journey to him and assured him that his Uncle la Fin had said nothing to his prejudice The persuasions of the President Janin were more powerful for flattering the Duke in his humour he also made him sensible of the Kings power and anger in case of refusal his friends gave him contrary advices and desired him not to stir and to make his peace afar off the Bastille is a repairing said they and the common talk is that it is for such one as less thinketh upon it the King hath been heard say that they cut heads in England and that some shall compel him upon that example to change his wonted Clemency into a just severity in conclusion they advise him to mistrust all things and to beware of those that persuaded him to come others did assure him of the contrary and that his coming should dissipate all mistrusts suspicions and jealousies The Duke of Biron holdeth here the Wolf by the ears for let him come or not there is danger by not coming he accuseth himself and the King swore he would fetch him himself and in coming his conscience was a witness against him that the same fault can hardly be forgiven twice He seeth la Fin retired into his House and living in peace and hath so good an opinion of his own Valour that he thinketh no body so bold as to seize upon him The discourses of reason the discerning of the truth serve no more to a wicked and passionate man then the Wings serve to a Bird when they are clogged with Bird-lime But now we talk of Birds there were several ill Omens of his journey one Bird of Prey called a Duck was found in his Closet no body knowing which way it was come in he commanded it to be carefully kept and lookt to but assoon as the Duke was upon his journey the Bird died Presently after the Horse that the Arch-Duke had given him called the Pastrave became mad and killed himself so did another that was given him by the Duke of Florence another that the Duke of Lorrain had given him fell into a consumption He came to Fountainbleau when he was no more expected and the King was resolved to get on Horseback and to fetch him As his Majesty went about six of the Clock into the great Garden he was heard to say unto the Lord of Sonvray he will not come he had no sooner ended the words but the Duke appeared among seven or eight he drew near and being yet a pretty way off he made three great Congies the King did embrace him and the first words he spoke to the King were about the delaying of his coming The King heard but few words of it and took him by the hand to walk and to shew him his buildings as he passed from one Garden into another the Duke of Espernon took occasion to salute him and to whisper him in the ear that in his coming he had believed his courage more then the Councel of his friends In all the discourse he had with the King there was observed a great coldness in the Kings face and a great deal of fire in the Dukes words The King told him of the evil way which he had taken the end of which could be nothing but ruine despair and confusion The Duke answered that he was not come to ask forgiveness nor to justifie himself with many other frivolous and impudent words which the Kings presence and his own duty ought to have restrained The time of dinner being come he asked the Duke of Espernon to dine with him because his Train was not yet come this was the first fault of his carriage for he ought to dine at the Table of the great Master and to harbour in no other House then that of the King seeing his own was not open After dinner they came to see the King who having walked one turn or two about the dinning-room entered into his Closet bidding two or three to go in with him and saying nothing to the Duke of Biron who was at the corner of the Bed near the Chair taking notice that he was not looked upon as formerly The Marquess of Rhosny went into the Closet passing by the Duke of Biron without taking notice of him and after he had stayed there about half an hour he came and saluted the Duke of Biron and told him the King asked for him there he was exhorted not to conceal what time would ere long discover and of what he was so well informed that the desire he had to know it from himself was meerly because no body else should take notice of it The Duke of Biron who thought that la Fin had revealed nothing stood still upon the protestations of his own innocency
with him whose good and bad fortune depended from an answer pleasing his Majesty who bid him once for all to tell what he had done with the Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes assuring him that his clemency should be greater than his fault The Duke of Biron answered the King more proudly than eyer that it was to pross an honest man too much that he never had any other design but what he had told him already Would to God it were so said the King You will not tell me Farewell good night As he went out of the Closet and had passed the Chamber door he met Vitry who with his right hand seized upon the Hilt of his Sword and with his left upon his right Arm saying The King â—ath commanded me to give him an account of your Person give up your Sword You jeer said the Duke No my Lord he hath so commanded me The Duke of Biron answered I pray thee let me speak to the King No my Lord the King is gone to Bed He saw the Duke of Monbazon and desired him to intreat the King that he might surrender it into his own Hands The King sent word to Vitry to obey his commands The Duke was fained to suffer his Sword to be taken from him saying My Sword that hath done so many good services Yes my Lord give me your Sword said Vitry To me said the Duke that have served the King so well that my Sword should be taken from me my Sword that hath made an end of the War and given Peace to France that my Sword which could not be taken by my Enemies should be taken away by my Friends All these complaints availed nothing he ungirted his Sword with his left hand and gave it to Vitry looking about if he could seize upon any other out care was taken for that When he saw all the Guards in order in the Gallery he thought he should have been Massacred upon the place and cryed to them fellow Souldiers give me a little time to pray to God and let me have some Firebrand or Candlestick in my hand that I may have the Honour to die desending my self He was answered that no Body would offend him that his best defence was to obey the King who commanded to lead him to Bed you see said he how the good Catholicks are used He was carryed into the Arms Closet where he neither slept nor lay down but past the night in blasphemies against God and reviling words against the King Pralin was staying for the Earl of Auvergne at the Castle Gate and when he offered to go out to his lodging stay my Lord you are the Kings Prisoner The Earl astonished answered I I and Pralin answered yes my Lord you I Arrest you by the King and make you his Prisoner give up your Sword take it said the Earl it never killed any thing but Boars if you had given me notice of this I should have been in Bed and asleep two hours ago The next day about dinner time the Duke of Biron sent word to the King that if he did not take care of the Province of Burgundy it would be lost because the Baron of Lux would let in the Spaniards as soon as he should have notice of his detention The King was very much offended at this message and said see the impudence and boldness of the Duke of Biron who sendeth me word that Burgundy is lost if I do not look to it His obstinacy hath undone him if he would have confessed the truth of a thing that I have under his hand he should not be where he is I wish I had paid 200000. Crowns and he had given me the means to forgive him I never loved any man so much I would have trusted him with my Son and my Kingdom 'T is true he hath served me well but he cannot deny but that I have saved his life three times I rescued him once from the hands of the Enemy at Fontain Francoise so wounded and astonished with blows that as I plaid the part of a Souldier to save him I was also fained to make that of a Captain to make the retreat for he told me he was not in a case to do it The Saturday next the prisoners were carryed to Paris by water and put into the Bastille in several Chambers The Duke of Biron was put into that called of the Saints famous for the Prison of the Constable of Saint Paul executed in the time of Lewis the XI and the Earl in the Chamber above him The care the order and vigilancy with which he was guarded did put him in some amazement for his Guards waited on him without Arms and served him with a Knife without a point which made him say that it was the way to the Grave the place of Execution But when he knew that the Hangman of Paris was a Burgundian he remembred that La Brosse an Astrologer had foretold him sometimes seeing his Horoscope which he fained to be that of one of his friends that he should be beheaded and Caesar a Magician that a blow of a Burgundian given behind should hinder him to attain the Kingdom The Arch-Bishop of Bourges went to see him and endeavoured to settle his Conscience and to disswade him from some Atheistical opinions that he had Villeroy and Sillery went also to see him and by the Kings Command and at his request Few days after the King being at St. Mourder Fossez the Lords la Force the Earl of Roussy Brother in Law to the Duke of Biron Saint Blancard his Brother Chasteau-neuf Themines Salignac St. Angel Longuac Friends and Kinsmen of the Duke of Biron went and cast themselves at the Kings feet to implore his Mercy and that he would be pleased to moderate the severity of his Justice requesting that the same clemency which he had shewed to many others that had as grievously offended him would at least save his life and confine him into such a place where he might do no harm that their whole Kindred might not be branded with Insamy and have a regard to his Fathers service and his which though they were not equal to his offence yet at least to consider that he was only guilty for his intention The King bid them rise and told them that their requests were not displeasing to him That he would not be like his Predecessors who would not suffer any body to intercede for those that were guilty o high Treason The King Francis II. would never give a hearing to the Wife of the Prince of Condé my Uncle Concerning the clemency you would have me shew to the Duke of Biron it should not be clemency but cruelty if it were only my particular Interest I would forgive him as I do now with all my heart but my Kingdom and my Children to whom I owe much are concerned in it or they might reproach me hence forwards that I have tollerated an evil which I might have
gave him Thence he went to Salon de Craux a City distant from Aix one dayes Journey and in the middle way between Avignon and Marseille there he Married his second Wife Anna Ponce Genelle by whom he had three Sons and one Daughter the eldest was Michael Nostradamus who hath written some pieces of Astrology Printed at Paris in the year 1563. The second was Caesar Nostradamus who hath deserved to be numbred among the French Historians by reason of the great Volume be hath written of Provence The third was a Capuchine Frier Caesar did insert in his History the propagation of that Order in Provence The fourth was a Daughter Nostradamus having found by experience that the perfect knowledge of Physick dependeth from that of Astrology he addicted himself to it and as this science wanteth no allurement and that besides his Genius he had a peculiar disposition and inclination to it he made such a progress in it that he hath deserved the Title of the most illustrious one in France insomuch that making some Almanacks for recreation sake he did so admirably hit the conjuncture of events that he was sought for far and near This success was the cause of an extraordinary diminution of his fame for the Printers and Booksellers seeing his same did print and vent abundance of false Almanacks under his name for lucre sake whence it came that his reputation suffered by it and was the cause that the Lord Pavillon wrote against him and that the Poet Jodele made this bitter Distichon Nostra damus cum falsa damus nam fallere nostrumest Et cum falsa damus nil nisi Nostra damus To which may be answered Nostra damus cum verba damus quae Nostradamus dat Nam quacunque dedit nil nisi vera dedit Or thus Vera damus cum verba damus quae Nostradamus dat Sed cum Nostra damus nil nisi falsa damus Nevertheless the Beams of Truth did shine through the Clouds of Calumny for he was singularly esteemed of by the Grandees Queen Katharine of Medicis who had a natural inclination to know furture things And Henry the II King of France who sent for him to come to the Court in the year 1556. and having had private conference with him about things of great concernment sent him honourably back again with many gifts He went from Salon to the Court upon the 14 of July in the year 1555. and came to Paris upon the 15 of August Assoon as he was come to Town the Lord Constable of Montmorency went to see him at his Inn and presented him to the King who received him with much satisfaction and commanded that his lodging should be at the Palace of the Cardinal of Bourbon Archbishop of Sens. There he was taken with the Gout for ten or twelve days after which his Majesty sent him one hundred Crowns in Gold in a Velvet Purse and the Queen as much Their Majesties desired him to go to Blios to see the Princes their Children and to tell them his opinion of them It is certain that he did not tell them what he thought considering the Tragical end of those three Princes viz. Francis the II. Charles the IX and Henry the III. Having been so much honoured at Court he went back again to Salon where he made an end of his last Centuries two years after he dedicated them to the King Henry the II. in the year 1557. and in his Luminary Epistle discovereth unto him the future events that shall happen from the Birth of Lewis the XIV now Reigning till the coming of Antichrist While he was at Salon he received there the Duke of Savoy and the Lady Margaret of France Sister to Henry the II. who was to Marry the said Duke according to the treaty of the general Peace made at Cambresis both entertained him very familiarly and honoured him often with their presence The Duke came in October and the Lady in December When Charles the IX went a progress through his Kingdom he came into Provence and did fail not to go to Salon to visit our Author who in the name of the Town went to salute him and make a Speech this was in the year 1564. the 17 of November The extraordinary satisfaction that the King and the Queen Mother received from him was such that being both at Lion they sent for him again and the King gave him 200 Crowns in Gold and the Queen almost as much with the quality of Physician in Ordinary to the King with the Salaries and profits thereunto appertaining Being come back to Salon he lived about 16 Months longer and died upon the 2 of July 1566. in his Climacterical year of 63. having all his Senses about him His Disease was a Gout at first which turned into a Dropsie the time of his death it seemeth was known to him for a friend of his witnesseth that at the end of June in the said year he had writen with his own hand upon the Ephemerides of John Stavius those Latine words Hic prope mors est that is near here is my death and the day before his death that friend of his having waited on him till very late took his leave saying I shall see you again to morrow morning you shall not see me alive when the Sun riseth which proved true He died a Roman Catholick having received all his Sacraments and was solemnly buried in the Church of the Franciscan Friers at Salon on the left hand of the Church door where his Widow erected him a Marble Table fastened in the Wall with this Epitaph with his Figure to the Life and his Arms above it The Inscription of his EPITAPH is in imitation of that of Titus Livius and is thus D. M. Ossa clarissimi Michaelis Nostradami unius omnium pene mortalium digni cujus Divino calamo totius Orbis ex astrorum influxu futuri eventus conscriberentur Vixit annos LXII menses VI. dies X. Obiit Salonae CIâ— Iâ—LXVI Anna Pontia Gemella conjugi optimo V. E. Which may be rendred thus Here lies the Bones of the most famous Nostradamus one who among Men hath deserved by the opinion of all to set down in writting with a Quill almost Divine the future Events of all the Universe caused by the Coelestial influences he lived 62 years 6. Months and 10. days he died at Salon in the year 1566. O Posterity do not grudge at his rest Anna Pontia Gemella wisheth to her most loving Husband the true Happiness He had a Brother named John Nostradamus famous for several Works that he hath witten the Catalogue of which is in the Book of Mr. du Maine de la Croix Intitled the Library As for our our Author he hath left several Works among which is a Book of Receits for the preservation of health Printed at Poitiers in the year 1556. Another concerning the means of beautifying the Face and the Body that was Printed at Antwerp by Plantin in the year 1557.
again into France and so the Pope did by the means of the Common-wealth of Venice and of the Duke of Florence it was concluded and signed with the 23 of September This is the Authors meaning in the 4 Verse that all the misfortune which befell the French was by reason of that peace for the Pope disbanded his Troops consisting most of French and Switzers the greatest part of whom fell into the hands of their enemies and of the Countrey people others died of sickness It is true that the Duke of Guise brought his own Army back without much loss but the Author speaketh here of the Guise and Switzers that were in the Pope's service under the command of Marshall Strozzy Monluc Cardinal Caraffa and others The time of this peace agreeth with the Prophesie for it was concluded on the 23 of September which is a Month near the Vintage XXXIX French Les sept en trois Mois en concorde Pour subjuger les Alpes Apeninnes Mais la tempeste Ligure coüarde Les profligent en subites ruines English The seven shall agree together within three Months To conquer the Apennine Alpes But the tempest and coward Genoese Shall sink them into sudden ruines ANNOT. There shall be seven persons who shall be three Months in making an agreement to go beyond the Apennines but they shall be hindred by a tempest and by the cowardliness of the Genoeses XL. French Le grand Theatre se viendra redresser Les dez jettez les rets ia tendus Trop le premier en glaz viendra lasser Par arc prostrais de long temps ia fendus English The great Theatre shall be raised up again The Dice being cast and the nest spread The first shall too much in Glass Beaten down by Bows who long before were split ANNOT. This must be put among Insolubilia de Alliaco XLI French Bossu sera esleu par le Conseil Plus hideux Monstre en Terre napperceu Le coup volant luy crevera un oeil Le traistre au Roy pour fidele receu English Crook-back shall be chosen by the Councel A more hideous Monster I never saw upon Earth The flying blow shall put out one of his eyes The Traitor to the King shall be admited as faithful ANNOT. This needs no explication XLII French L'Enfant naistra a deux dents en la gorge Purres en Tuscie par pluie tomberont Peu d'ans apres ne sera Bled ny Orge Pour saouler ceux qui de faim failleront English A Child shall be born with two Teeth in his mouth It shall rain stones in Tuscany A few years after there shall be neither Wheat nor Barley To feed those that shall faint for hunger ANNOT. Those two Prodigies mentioned in the two first Verses do presage a great Famine that shall ensue a few years after XLIII French Gens d'alentour du Tar Lot Garonne Gardez les Monts Apennins de passer Vostre tombeou pres de Rome d' Ancone Le noir poil crespe fera Trophée dresser English People that live about the Tar Lot and Garonne Take heed to go over the Apennine Mountains Your Grave is near Rome and Ancona The black frisled hair shall dress a Trophy of you ANNOT. The Tar the Lot and the Garone are three Rivers of Gascony the Inhabitants of which are forewarned not to go over the Apennine Mountains or else they shall meet with their Graves near Rome and Ancona This hath relation to the 38 Stanza and to the interpretation thereof therefore vide XLIV French Quand l'Animal a l'Homme domestique Apres grands peines sauts viendra parler Le foudre a vierge sera si malefique De Terre prinse suspendue en l'Air English When the Beast familiar to Mankind After great labour and leaping shall come to speak The Lightning shall be so hurtful to a Virgin That she shall be taken from the Earth and suspended in the Air. ANNOT. It is a Dog that shall come howling and leaping to his Mistresses friends because she was killed and suspended in the Air by the Lightning XLV French Les cinq estranges entrez dedans le Temple Leur sang viendra la Terre prophaner Aux Thoulousain sera bien dur exemple D'un qui viendra ses loix exterminer English The five strangers having come into the Church The blood shall prophane the ground It shall be a hard example to those of Thoulouse Concerning one that came to break their Laws ANNOT. I suppose these five strangers to be five Commissioners for the altering something in the Government of Thoulouse who shall be all killed in a Church and the ground prophaned by their blood according to the Romish opinion XLVI French Le Ciel de Plancus la Cité nous presage Par clercs insignes par estoiles fixes Que de son change subit saproche lage Ne pour son bien ne pour ses malefices English The Heaven foretelleth concerning the City of Plancus By famous Clerks and fixed Stars That the time of her sudden change is near hand Neither because of her goodness or wickedness ANNOT. The City of Plancus is Lion because he was the Founder of it That City is threatned here of a sudden change caused neither by her goodness or wickedness but by a certain position and aspect of the fixed Stars which makes it fatal XLVII French Le vieux Monarque dechassé de son Regne Aux Orients son secours ira querre Pour peur des Croix ploiera son Enseigne En Mitylene ira par Mer par Terre English The old Monarch being expelled out of his Kingdom Shall go into the East to get succours For fear of the Crosses be shall fold up his Colours He shall go into Mitylene by Sea and Land ANNOT. Mitylene is an Island of the Archipelago belonging to the Turk XLVIII French Sept cens Captifs attachez rudement Pour la moitie meurtrir donné le sort Le proche espoir viendra si promptement Mais non si tost qu'une quinziesme mort English Seven hundred prisoners shall be tied together To murder half of them the lot being cast The next hope shall come quickly And not so quickly but fifteen shall be dead before ANNOT. By the next hope he meaneth the reprieve The rest is clear XLIX French Regne Gaulois tu seras bien changé En lieu estrange est translaté l'Empire En autre moeurs Lois seras rangé Rouan Chartres te feront bien du pire English French Kingdom thou shalt be much changed The Empire is translated in another place Thou shalt be put into other manners and Laws Rouan and Chartres shall do the worse they can to thee ANNOT. Rouan is the chief City of the Province of Normandie and Chartres the chief City of that of Beausse L. French La Republique de la grande Cité A grand rigueur ne voudra consentir Roy sortir hors par Trompette
Contre leur Chef seront denuit fer livre Ennemy d' Albe doibt par main furieuse Lors vexer Rome principaux seduire English When the seditious fury of the Souldiers Against their Chief shall make the Iron shine by night The enemy d'Albe shall by a furious hand Then vex Rome and seduce the principal one ANNOT. The Lord de Thou doth judiciously observe that the Pope being unacquainted with things belonging to War as to Money Victuals and Ammunition was easily persuaded by Cardinal caraffa to make war against Spain for without being provided oâ— all these things he put his Armies into the Field nec satis perpendens quám a pecuniâ milite ac caeteris rebus ad bellum necessariis imparatus intempestive arma sumeret In the 15. Book of his History the Duke of Urbin had commission to raise 6000 Foot and 300. Horses in the Dukedom of Spoleto and in Mark of Ancona John Caraffe the Popes Nephew was made General of the Army and being but Earl of Mortor was Created Duke of Palliano by the confiscation of the goods of Mark Anâ—ony Colonna Camillo Ursini was made General of the Forces in Rome and in the Territory thereof Blasius of Monluc the Mars of his time and by birth a Gascon was sent by the King to help with his advice and courage the Romans who are always fitter for the Breviary then for the Sword Besides these Forces raised within the Church Dominions Charles Caraffa gathered all the Bandittes of Naples and Florence and raised some Regiments of Switzers that came to succour the Pope With these Troops the Pope seized upon the most important places and persons belonging to the Spanish party as the Coloneses and the Vitelly These asked succours of the Emperour Charles the V. who presently commanded Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alba to succour them He was then tasked in the Piemont and Milanes to resist the French that were then under the conduct of the Marshal of Brissac To conclude his design the better he wrote many Letters to the Pope and the Colledge of Cardinals full of respect and submission desiring them to moderate their passion against the Spanish party but the Pope being angry by several reports answered him complaining of many things which made the Duke resolve to the war and to be there in person He took his occasion as a prudent Captain when the news was brought to him that the Popes Forces were in mutiny against their General for want of pay and made a great tumult in the night hearing that he was approaching with a great train of Artillery Bzovius saith that the Earl of Montor regarded more his profit then the Popes Interest and kept back a great part of the money that was to pay the Souldiers whence proceeded this tumult which helped much the Duke of Alva's business This is the explanation of the two first Verses of this Stanza concerning the mutiny of the Souldiers that were in the Popes service during which mutiny the enemy d' Alba did not fail to vex Rome this word the enemy d' Alba doth not signifie the enemy of the Duke of Alba as if one should say in Latine Hostis Albanus He did then vex Rome for in a short time he took Ponte Corvino Frusino Anagnia Marino Lavaci Prâ—â—neste Tivoli Ostia Neptuno Alba Vico-Varro Monte Fortino and almost all the places of the Roman Territory This did streighten Rome so much that the General Camillo ursini made several Trenches within the VValls of Rome instead of preserving the outworks as Montluâ— would have persuaded him to do the alarums were so great at Rome that Montluâ— was fain to encourage the Romans and to make a VVarlike Speech to them which is inserted in his VVorks Moreover the same Duke began to seduce the Principals of Rome by his friends that he had in it but particularly by the cheat that he put upon the Pope for his design being to prevent the French Forces and to surprize the Pope he resolved to go streight to Rome and to bring his design the better to pass he sent Pyrrbus Coffrede to the Pope to see if there was any way of agreement to the end that upon this porposition the Pope should mistrust nothing In the mean time the Duke of Alba was coming near Rome at which the Pope was so angry that he put this Embassadour in Prison where he was kept till the conclusion of the Peace in this sort were the principal men of Rome seduced having no thought of the Spaniards approaches this is the relation of the Lord de Thou Lib. 16. LXIX French La grand pitie sera sans long tarder Ceux qui donnoient seront contraints de prendre Nuds affamez de froid soif soy bander Passer les Monts en saisant grand esclandre English What a great pitty will it be t' re-long Those that did give shall be constrained to receive Naked famished with cold thirst to mutiny To go over the Mountains making great disorders ANNOT. The words of the first Verse before it be long is the Key of the Stanza because we infer from thence it was shortly to happen as in truth it did at the latter end of the year 1556. when the Duke of Guise came into Piemont to joyn with the Marshal of Brissac Then the troops of the Marshal seeing those of the Duke better paid then they were forsook the Marshal the History saith there was above 1500. of them and that the Marshal paid the Souldiers of his own money to stay them The great pitty was when he had no more to give he was compelled by the Kings order it self and against his own inclination to raise some moneys upon the Countreys Secondly to take some Towns and give the plunder to the Souldiers Thirdly to permit the Souldiers to pillage the Countrey The Author was willing to foretell this because there was never a man more strict in keeping the Martial discipline then this General was The Marshal of Brissac being thus abused some of his troops forsook him to follow the Duke of Guise being for the most part naked and starved with cold hunger and thirst which makes the Author to specifie hunger cold and thirst want having compelled them to disband they went over the Mountains not of Piemont but the Apennines of Montferrdt and whatsoever thing they found was a Fish for their Net LXX French Un Chef du Monde le grand Cheiâ—en sera Plus outre apres aime craint redoute Son bruit los les Cieux surpassera Et du seul titre Victeur fort contente English A Chief of the World the great Cheiren shall be Moreover beloved afterwards feared dreaded His same and praise shall go beyond the Heavens And shall be contented with the only title of Victor ANNOT. VVe have said already before that the Author by the word Cheyren meaneth Henry the II. his Master by transposition of Letters who as he saith was contented with
entre iceux dissension horrible Rage fureur sera toute Province France grand guerre changement terrible English King against King and Duke against a Prince Hatred between them horrid dissension Rage and fury shall be in every Province Great War in France and horrid changes ANNOT. This is a true picture of the miseries of the Civil Wars in France when Charles the IX King of France was against Henry King of Navarre and the Duke of Guise against the Prince of Condé VII French L'accord pache sera du tout rompue Les amitiez pollues par discorde L'haine euvieille toute foy corrompue Et l'esperance Marseilles sans concorde English The agreement and contract shall be broken in pieces The friendships polluted by discord The hatred shall be old all faith corrupted And hope also Marseilles without concord ANNOT. This is a second part of the foregoing VIII French Guerre debats a Blois guerre tumulte Divers aguets adveux inopinables Entrer dedans Chasteau Trompette insulte Chasteau du Ha qui en seront coulpables English War and strifes at Blois war and tumult Several lying in wait acknowledgment unexpected They shall get into the Chasteau Trompette by assault And into the Chasteau du Ha who shall be guilty of it ANNOT. This Prophecy is concerning the Civil Wars of France between the King and the League He saith at Blois War and tumult because the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his Brother were both killed there at the convention of Estates by the Kings command which he calleth here acknowledgment unexpected because the Kingdom did own the fact The last two Verses are concerning the two Castles or Fortresses of Bourdeaux who in those days were sometimes by one party and sometimes by another LXV French A tenir fort par fureur contraindra Tout coeur trembler Langon advent terrible Le coup de pied mille pieds te rendra Girond Garon ne furent plus horribles English He shall by fury compel them to hold out Every heart shall tremble Langon shall have a terrible event The kick shall return to thee a thousand kicks Girond Garon are no more horrid ANNOT. The two last Verses seem to have a relation to the foregoing Stanza and to import that the Governour of Bourdeaux shall compel them to hold our and because Langon a Town 20 or 30 Miles distant from Bourdeanx was of the contrary party and did annoy sometimes those of Bourdeaux it is threatned here to have a thousand kicks for one Gironde and Garonne are the two Rivers of Bourdeaux LXIX French Eiovas proche esloigner Lac Leman Fort grand apprests retour confusion Loin des Nepueux du feu grand Supelman Tous de leur suyte English Eiovas near yet seemeth to be far from the Lake Leman Very great preparatives return confusion Far from the Neveux of the late great Supelman All of their train ANNOT. This is a notable one directly foretelling the Enterprise or Scalado made by the Duke of of Savoy upon Geneva for the better Intelligence of which we shall first give the sense word for word and then set down the whole History as a piece of Cabinet that the Reader after so much tedious and crabbid reading may have some field to spatiate and recruit it self Eiovas near Eiovas by Anagram is Savoy or the Duke of it who at that time was near Geneva yet seemeth far from the Lake Leman which is the Lake that passeth through Geneva called in Latine Lacus Lemannus Very great preparatives because at that time he made great preparations to Scale the Walls of Geneva Return because he was forced to retire Confusion because he was confounded in his undertaking Far from the Neveux of the great Supelman that is an action much unworthy the Kindred of Henry the IV. called here great Supelman to whom he was Allied All of their Train that is all that were with him in that undertaking did partake of his return and confusion Now the History is thus About the latter end of the year 1600. the Duke of Savoy having done before all his endeavours to take the City of Geneva by force did resolve at last to have it by craft and stratagem He did frame a design full of Courage Understanding and Conduct as well as of misfortune it was long a hatching without being discovered and although it was known that he caused Ladders to be made and that he bought every where men of courage and resolution and had a great number of them alread◠at Chambery well payed and maintained waiting for the ripeness of the design though Ignorant of it No body could believe that it was against those of Geneva because at that time he did treat with them of the manner of living friendly and of the liberty of Trade having sent to them for this purpose a few days before the President Rochette to treat and advise of a manner of living friendly together for the ease of the people They did so much hearten and relish his propositions and promises that although Cities of such condition do not lightly believe them that have been their Enemies nevertheless they trusted to that and grew careless of their own preservation thinking that there was nothing more powerfull for their security than the treaties of peace between France Spain and Savoy in which they thought themselves included under the name of the confederate with the Cantons of Switzerland insomuch that the Dukes Subject went thither so familiarly that the day before this Execution some Gentlemen that knew something of the design being come into the Town to buy some Horses said they would come again the next day to conclude the Bargain and others had kept the same Language for other Wares so fully perswaded were they of a success though Heaven who laugheth at the thoughts of the proud had resolved to humble and abase them The Governour of Lion had presently notice that the Duke of Savoy was coming on the side of the Mountain and carryed with him scaling Ladders of which he sent notice to the King and provided what was necessary for the defence of Lion although the same Advice said it was not for France yet all this could not hinder the Execution which was in the mean time a doing D'Albigny Lieutenant General of the Duke in those Countreys he had on this side of the Mountains had made the Troops to pass and for that purpose had assigned them of their Quarters in the Towns of Geneva in several places that they might not be so soon discovered The Randezvous was at a place called Chambery the time of the Execution was reserved to the prudence of the Leader The time was not according to the precept of the Parthians who ever fought by night nor of the Lacedemonians who undertook nothing but in the time of the full Moon for it was one of the darkest and longest nights of all the year the Troops began their March about six
killed The Order is such at Geneva that in all extraordinary accidents every Citizen knoweth the place of his Randezvous and there goeth with his Arms and the Town House is never destitute of Souldiers In the mean time the Magistrate cryeth He that loveth me let him follow me Some Countrey Fellows of the Neighbouring Towns who kept their Watch by turns being led by some Captains and Citizens did present themselves at the New Gate where they were stoutly received and beaten back and yet the first shot of theirs killed the Petard-Master who was much troubled with his Tools This first Charge would not have driven them back if the body of the Citizens had not come and Charged them so furiously that they lost all their Courage Necessity which strengthens even those that want Courage did so animate the Citizens to their defence that the undertakers were fained to give back The more nimble went again to their Ladders which proved useless because the Canon that was Planted in the Fort of Loye near the Ditch had broken them so that they left four and fifty dead upon the place and upon the Curtain of the Corraterie and thirteen that were taken alive If the Town had had Souldiers in readiness to make a Sally in that Andâ—bâ—tism the night being sometimes favourable to such expeditions those that were at Plain Palais would not have retreated in so good an Order There were thirteen taken alive among whom were the Baron of Attignac the Lord Sonas the Lord Chaffardon upon promise of their Lives and to be Prisoners of War or else they had preserved an Honourable death to all the promises to be spared in laying down their Arms among them was d'Attignac who fought valiantly and gave his Order of St. Maurice to his man bidding him save himself being resolved to die with his Sword in his hand The Lords of Geneva would not use them as Prisoners of War but as Thieves and Robbers come into the City over the Walls They said that the Duke was too generous a Prince for so wicked and perfidious an action there was several Opinions concerning their Sentence of Death the more moderate would have them be put to Ransom others would have them be kept Prisoners that they might serve for exchange if some of the Town were taken in the continuation of the War but the more violent did stir the people in representing unto them the loss of their Religion the ravishing of their Wives and Maids the Massacre the Sack and Plunder of the Town and their perpetual slavery and the complaints of the Widows and Children of those that had been killed were so much considered that the more moderate Opinions did not appear injust but in how much they tended to Death They were Condemned to be Hanged which is thought the most Ignominious Death they desired to have their Heads cut off as Gentlemen which was granted but it was after they were Hanged Fifty nine were found killed and wounded who had all their Heads cut off In the Ditch there were some Arms found thirty dead and four wounded all their Heads were cut off and set with the rest upon the Gallows Of the Citizens of the Town there were seventeen found dead most of them killed by their Companions in the dark Their Names were John Canal one of the Lords of the Councel Lewis Baudiere John Vandel Lewis Galatin Peter Cabriol Mark Cambiagua Nicolas Baâ—gueret James Mercier Abraham de Baptista Daniel Humbert Martin de Bolo Michael Monard Philip Potier Francis Bouzesel John Buignet James Petit Gerrard Muzy and about twenty wounded The Sunday after Dinner about two of the Clock 67 Heads as well of those that were killed as of those that were Hanged were fastened upon the Gallows and the Bodies thrown into the Rhosne The next Tuesday there was a solemn Fasting day kept and they began to publish every where the wonders of this Deliverance Here followeth the Copy of their Letter to the Governour of Lion My Lord You have known before this by many of your Letters how his Highness of Savoy notwithstanding he knew and had confessed that we were included in the Peace made in the year 1600 between his Royal Majesty of France and him hath neverthless divers times oppressed us by detaining our Rents prohibiting of Trade other violences and extorsions refusing to hearken to the just and pressing remanstrances which his Majesty hath made him several times in our behalf but hath also contrived many defigns to surprise us in time of Peace Now it is so that for the encompasing his pernicious design the Lord d'Albigny Saturday last the Eleventh of this Month did bring before our Town on the side of Plain Palais about two Thousand men Horse and Foot all choice men and hath caused to pass about 200. of them over our Ditch by the Corraterie and having set up Ladders one within another hatb caused them to come into our Town about three of the Clock in the Morning upon Sunday the Twelfth of this Month encouraging them himself bâ—ing in the Ditch so that being come down into the Town some went towards our New Gate to force it open and give entrance to their Companions who were in the â—lain of Plain Palais others went towards the Mint Gate that they might by this means come into the middle of the Town But iâ— hath pleased God to look upon us with his favourable Eye and to give such a Heart to the Citizens that they beat them back and killed the best part of them taken upon the place the rest hath been taken and since that Hanged by our Order the rest threw themselves down from the wall so that we hear many of them are either dead or grievously wounded It is a wonderfull deliverance of our God for which we are particularly bound to Praise him But as it is probable that the said Lord d'Albigny will continue his ill designs by so much the more that we hear his Highness is not far from us we do intreat and request by all our affection that you would be pleased to consider what prejudice the taking of this place would be to his Majesty and to continue us your favour and assist us with our wise and prudent advise c. Many did judge of the success of this enterprise by the beginning and were more forward to write than to perform well The King had notice that the Duke was Master of the Town and the manner of doing was represented with so much felicity and facility that there was less reason to doubt of it than believe it The Truth was not known but by the advise of the Governour of Lion which came before any discourse that the Town did publish after its deliverance The Duke went Post back again over the Mountains and left his Troops within three miles of Geneva in three places at Tournon Fossigny and Ternier he caused his Embassadours to say to the Lords of Beâ—ne that he
had not made that enterprise to trouble the Peace of the Cantons but to prevent l'Esdiguieres to seize upon it for the King of of France who should have been so powerfull a Neighbour as would have given them great occasion of fears and jealousies The success of this undertaking made it appear that God will not have those Treaties to the assurance of which his name hath been called for a Witness to be violated whatsoever appeararance or pretext of Religion there be Thus Gentle Reader thou seest by all these Circumstances the Truth of our Authors Prognostication LXXI French Fleuves Rivieres de mal seront obstacles La vielle flame d'ire non appaisee Courir en France cecy come d'Oracles Maisons Manoirs Palais secte rasée English Brooks and Rivers shall be a stopping to cvil The old flame of anger being not yet ceased Shall run through France take this as an Oracle Houses Mannors Palaces Sect shall be raced ANNOT. This hath a perfect relation to the miseries that followed the general Massacre of the Protestants in France in the year 1572. when the Rivers were a stop to the cruelty of the Persecutors and when so many Houses Mannors and Palaces belonging to those of the reformed Religion were demolished and to signifie the certainty thereof he saith in the third Verse take this as an oracle To the Curious READER Gentle Reader THou shalt take notice that in this place the covetousness of Booksellers and Printers hath in the modern Copies vented new Prophecies which they call Prognostications drawn out of those of Michael Nostradamus which are so absurd and nonsensical that they have been rejected both by his Son and the best Wits of this age therefore I would not soil the Paper with them for fear to put such a course List upon so fine a Cloth but shall proceed on to give you the rest of those Prophecies which truly and undoubtedly belong to our Author Wonderful Prognostications for the Age 1600. Gathered out of the Notes of Mr. Michael Nostradamus Physitian to King CHARLES the IX and one of the most excellent Astronomers that ever were PRESENTED To the Most Victorious and Merciful PRINCE HENRY the IV. King of FRANCE and NAVARRE at Chantilly the Constable of Montmorency's House the 15th of March 1605. By Vincent Seve of the Town of Beaucaire in Languedoc To the King Sir HAving some years ago recovered certain Prophecies or Prognostications made by the lately Deceased Michael Nostradamus from the hands of Henry Nostradamus his Nephew which he gave me before his death and which I have kept secret till now that I saw they treated of the affairs of your Estate and particularly of your Person and Successors as your self may see if you please tó take the pains to look upon and wherein you shall find things worâ—â—y of admiration I have taken the boldness though unworthy to present them to you transcribed in this little Book no less wonderful then the other two which he made for in it he hath treated of what shall happen in this Age 1600 not so obscurely as he hath done formerly but by aenigmes specifying so clearly the things he speaketh of that one may certainly judge of them as of things that are already come to pass Being therefore desirous that your Majesty should have the first notice thereof I thought to discharge my duty in this as one of your most obedient and faithful Subjects which I intreat your Majesty would be pleased to agree obliging so not onely the body of one of your faithful Subjects already yours but also the Soul who shall continue to pray for the health and prosperity of your Majesty and of all those that have relation to it as one that is and shall ever be SIR Your most humble most obedient and faithful Servant and Subject SEVE From your Town of Beaucairâ— in Languedoc OTHER PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus For the Years of this Age 1600. 1. French SIecle nouveau alliance nouvelle Un Marquisat mis dedans la Nacelle A qui plus fort des deux l'emportera D'un Duc d'un Roy Gallere de Florence Port de Marscille Pucelle dans la France De Catherine Fort Chef on rasera English New Age new Alliance A Markdom put into a Boat Who shall be the strongest of the two to carry it Of a Duke or of a King Galley of Florence In the Port of Marseilles a Maid in France Of the Fort Catherine the Head shall be demolished ANNOT. By New Age is meant the Age 1600. to the end of the Century each age containing a hundred years The new Alliance was the match between Henry the IV. and Catherine of Medicis made and celebrated that year A Markdom put into a Boat was the Markdom of Saluces in Italy which the Duke of Savoy had surrepticiously taken from the Crown of France in the time of the Civil Wars and would not restore it for which there was great Wars between the King of France and the Duke of Savoy till at last they agreed that the Duke of Savoy should give in exchange of it the Countrey of Brescia and this is the sense of the second third and half the fourth Verse Galley of Florence in the Port of Marseilles a Maid in France signifieth the arrival of Mary of Medicis in the Galleys of France and her Landing in the Port of Marseilles Of the Fort Catherine the head shall be demolished the Duke of Savoy to plague and bridle those of Geneva upon whom he hath had always pretentions had built a strong Fort two leagues from Geneva called the Fort St. Catherine which did so annoy the Town that they made their addresses to Henry the IV. who was then in War with the Duke of Savoy representing to him that they were not able to relieve his Army with Victuals because of the said Fort whereupon Henry the IV. took it and demolished it to the ground II. French Que d'or d'argent fera de pendre Quand Comte voudra Ville prendre Tant de mille mille Soldats Tuez noiez sans y rien faire Dans plus forte mettra pied terre Pigme'e aidé des Censuarts English How much Gold and Silver shall be spent When Earl shall go about to take a Town So many thousands and thousands of Soldiers Killed drowned without doing any thing In a stronger he shall put his foot on ground A Pygmie helped by the Censuarts ANNOT. This Stanza and the next are concerning the Town of Ostend which was Besieged by the Arch-duke and defended by the States of Holland under the conduct of Earl Maurice of Nassaw In a stronger he shall put his foot on ground signifieth that Earl Maurice during the said Siege took the Sluys another Town of the Spaniards thought stronger then Ostend A Pygmie helpeld by the Censuarts signifieth that Prince Maurice whom he calleth here a Pygmie in comparison of the Arch-duke was helped by the French and English whom he calleth