Chapter XLV: French

La main escharpe & la jambe bandée,
_Louis_ puisné de _Palais_ partira,
Au mot du guet la mort sera tardée,
Puis dans le Temple a Pasques seignera.

English.

The hand on a Scarf, and the leg swadled,
The younger _Lewis_ shall go from _Palais_,
At the Watch word his death shall be protracted,
Then afterwards at _Easter_ he shall bleed in the Temple.

ANNOT.

The Prince of _Condé_, whose name was _Lewis_, and the youngest of the Children of _Charles_ of _Bourbon_, the first Duke of _Vendosme_, father to _Anthony_ of _Bourbon_, King of _Navarre_, went away from the Court in the time of _Francis_ the second King of _France_, and came into _Bearn_ to the King his Brother. He was summoned many times by _Francis_ II. to come to Court; but finding his name to be amongst those that intended to surprise _Lion_, he durst not venture.

Nevertheless he was perswaded by his Uncle the Cardinal of _Bourbon_, and came to the Court at _Orleans_. It is easie to believe that he fained himself to be hurt by a fall from his Horse, or that really he was so; _having his Arm in a Scarf, and his Leg swadled up_, in which posture he came to testifie his obedience to the Kings commands.

In this posture of a wounded man, whether really and fictitiously he came from _Palais_, which by mistake is printed _Calais_; the Printer being ignorant, that in _Bearn_, where the Prince had sheltered himself, there is a Castle called _Palais_, which was the place that the Prince used to live in.

Being come to Court he was presently arrested, arraigned and condemned to death. Nevertheless the Kings sickness proving mortal, the execution was suspended, and his life saved. After that the Prince sought all occasions to revenge himself, and began about _Easter_ in _April_ following. It was not by an open Rebellion against the King, but under pretence to maintain the Protestant Religion: therefore the Author saith, _that this life saved shall bleed in the Temple_; because the Princes pretext was the Temple and the Church; that is Religion. Hence the fourth Verse is clearly understood. Resteth the third Verse, which saith, that his life was differred till the _Watch word_; because the Queen seeing the King her Son upon his death bed, caused secretly the execution of the Sentence to be differred, that she might make use of the King of _Navarre_, and of the Prince his Brothers favour, against the house of _Guise_, for the obtaining of the Regency.

Moreover I observe, that in the year 1562. the Prince of _Condé_ began openly to rebel, surprising the City of _Orleans_ the 29 of _March_, which was _Easter day_ that year, which sheweth the truth of the fourth Verse.

XLVI.

French.

_Pol Mensolée_ mourra trois lieues du _Rhosne_,
Fuis les deux prochains _Tarare_ destrois,
Car _Mars_ sera le plus horrible Throsne,
De Coq & d’Aigle, de _France_ frere trois.

English.

_Paul Mensolée_ Shall die three Leagues from the _Rhosne_,
Avoid the two straights near the _Tarare_;
For _Mars_ shall keep such a horrible throsne,
Of Cock and Eagle, of _France_ three Brothers.

ANNOT.

By this _Pol Mensolée_, he meaneth some proper name. _Tarare_ is a great Mountain near the City of _Lions_, that hath two principal ways to go through, which here he calleth Straights; for indeed they are very dangerous for Thieves and Murderers. The rest is but a threating of War between the Emperour and _France_, when there shall be three Brothers in _France_.

XLVII.

French.

Lac _Trasmenien_ portera tesmoignage,
Des conjurez ferrez dedans _Perouse_,
Un _Despolle_ contrefera le sage,
Tuant _Tedesque_ de _Sterne_ & _Minuse_.

English.

_Trasmenian_ Lake shall bear witness
Of the Conspirators shut up in _Perugia_,
A _Despolle_ shall counterfeit the wise,
Killing _Tedesque_ of _Sterne_ and _Minuse_.

ANNOT.

I think that the Impression is false here; for instead of _Despolle_, which is a barbarous word, and signifieth nothing, I would have it in _French_ _Despoville_, in _English_ robbed of all; so that _Trasmenian_ Lake is that Lake in _Italy_ not far from the Town of _Perugia_, where _Hannibal_ gave that notable overthrow to the _Romans_, and killed above 20000. of them, with their consul _Flaminius_.

That man whom he calleth here robbed of all, shall kill some _Germans_; for _Tudesco_ in _Italian_, is a _German_, the two last words are barbarous.

XLVIII.

French.

_Saturne_ en _Cancer_, _Jupiter_ avec _Mars_,
Dedans _Fevrier_ _Caldondon_, _Salvaterre_,
_Sault_, _Castalan_, assailly des trois parts,
Pres de _Verbiesque_, conflict mortelle guerre.

English.

_Saturn_ in _Cancer_, _Jupiter_ with _Mars_,
In _February_ _Caldondon_, _Salvaterre_,
_Sault_, _Castalon_, assaulted on three sides,
Near _Verbiesque_, fight and mortal War.

ANNOT.

The multiplicity of barbarous and insignificant words, makes this incapable of any construction, if any body will exercise his wit thereupon, I shall willingly lend him my ear.