Chapter LXXXVII: French

Mort conspirée viendra en plein effet,
Charge donnée & voyage de mort,
Esleu, crée, receus, par siens desfait,
Sang d’innocence devant soy par remort.

English.

A conspired death shall come to an effect,
Charge given, and a journey of death,
Elected, created, received, by his own defeated,
Blood of Innocency before him by remorse.

ANNOT.

There is no mistical sense in this, and the words are plain, although of a crabbid construction.

LXXXVIII.

French.

Dans la _Sardaigne_ un noble Roy viendra,
Qui ne tiendra que trois ans le Royaume,
Plusieurs couleurs avec soy conjoindra,
Luy mesme apres soin sommeil Matrirscome.

English.

A noble King shall come into _Sardinia_,
Who shall hold the Kingdom only three years,
He shall joyn many Colours to his own,
Himself afterwards, care, sleep matrirscome.

ANNOT.

_Sardinia_ is an Island in the _Mediterranean_ Sea, now in the possession of the _Spaniard_, since he took the Kingdom of _Naples_, the three first Verses are something intelligible, the last is altogether impossible and barbarous.

LXXXIX.

French.

Pour ne tomber entre mains de son oncle,
Qui ses enfans par regner trucidez,
Orant au peuple mettant pied sur _Peloncle_,
Mort & traisné entre Chevaux bardez.

English.

That he might not fall into the hands of his Uncle,
That had murdered his Children for to rule,
Taking away from the people, and putting his foot upon _Peloncle_,
Dead and drawn among armed Horses.

ANNOT.

This signifieth that an Uncle shall murder his Nephews Children, that he may Reign, and that the said Nephew shall withdraw, and save himself from the said Uncle. The rest is altogether obscure, if not absurd.

XC.

French.

Quand des croisez un trouvé de sens trouble,
En lieu du sacre verra un Bœuf cornu,
Par vierge porc son lieu lors sera double,
Par Roy plus ordre ne sera soustenu.

English.

When of the crossed, one of a troubled mind,
In a sacred place shall see a horny Oxe,
By Virgin Pork then shall his place be double,
By King no henceforth, order shall be maintained.

ANNOT.

By the crossed is understood some order of Knight-hood, who for the most part wear that Badge, one of which being mad, and seeing in a Church a Horny Oxe come, by a Virgin Hog shall be kept from harm, or rescued by a Hog or Sow that was a Virgin, and it seems crossed the said Oxe, that he should not gore the Knight, that then such order of Knighthood shall be no more maintained nor upheld by the King of that Countrey, wherein such thing shall happen.

XCI.

French.

Parmy les Champs des _Rhodanes_ entrées,
Ou les croisez seront presques unis,
Les deux _Brassiers_ en _Pisces_ rencontrées,
Et un grand nombre par Deluge punis.

English.

Through the Fields of the _Rhodanes_ comings in,
Where the crossed shall be almost united,
The two _Brassiers_ met in _Pisces_,
And a great number punished by a Flood.

ANNOT.

_Rhodanus_ in Latine is the River of _Rhosne_, which cometh from _Switzerland_, and passing through the Lake of _Geneva_, runneth to _Lyon_, it seemeth then that in those Fields that are about that River there, will be a fearful inundation, when the _Brassiers_ (or rather _Croziers_, which is a constellation so called) shall meet in _Pisces_, which is one of the twelve Signs of the _Zodiack_.

XCII.

French.

Loin hors du Regne mis en hazard voiage,
Grand Ost duyra, pour soy l’occupera,
Le Roy tiendra les siens captif, ostage,
A son retour tout Pais pillera.

English.

Far from the Kingdom a hazardous journey undertaken,
He shall lead a great Army, which he shall make his own,
The King shall keep his prisoners, and pledges,
At his return he shall plunder all the Countrey.

ANNOT.

These obscure words signifie no more but that a King shall send a great Army far from his Kingdom, the Commander of which Army shall make the Army his own, which the King hearing, shall seize upon the Commanders Relations, and keep them Prisoners and Hostages, for which the said General being angry, shall at his return spoil the Countrey.

XCIII.

French.

Sept mois sans plus obtiendra prelature,
Par son decez grand schisme fera naistre,
Sept mois tiendra un autre la Preture,
Pres de _Venise_ paix union renaistre.

English.

Seven months and no more, he shall obtain the Prelacy,
By his decease he shall cause a great Schisme,
Another shall be seven months chief Justice,
Near _Venice_ peace and union shall grow again.

ANNOT.

By this Prophecy three things are foretold, the first is of a Pope that shall sit but seven months, at whose death there will be a great Schisme; the second is of a great Governour or Chief Justice, such as were called by the ancient _Romans Prætores_, shall be in authority also but seven months; and the third, that hard by _Venice_ all these differences shall be composed, and peace made again.

XCIV.

French.

Devant la Lac ou plus cher fut getté,
De sept mois & son Ost desconfit,
Seront _Hispans_ par _Albanois_ gastez,
Par delay perte en donnant le conflict.

English.

Before the Lake wherein most dear was thrown,
Of seven months, and his Army overthrown,
_Spaniards_ shall be spoiled by _Albaneses_,
By delaying; loss in giving the Battle.

ANNOT.

It is very difficult, if not impossible to tell what our Author meaneth by the Lake, wherein the most dear was thrown, and lost his Army. The _Albaneses_ are a Nation between the _Venetians_ and _Greece_, now for the most part subject to the said _Venetians_.

XCV.

French.

Le Seducteur sera mis dans la Fosse,
Et estaché jusques a quelque temps,
Le Clerc uny, le Chef avec sa Crosse,
Pycante droite attraira les contems.

English.

The Deceiver shall be put into the Dungeon,
And bound fast for a while,
The Clerk united, the head with his Crosierstaf,
Pricking upright, shall draw in the contented.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses are plain, the two last Verses not so, which seemeth to foretell of a great union among the Clergy, which shall draw to them those that were peaceably affected.

XCVI.

French.

La Synagogue sterile sans nul fruit,
Sera receue entre les Infideles,
De _Babylon_ la fille du poursuit,
Misere & triste luy trenchera les Aisles.

English.

The Synagogue barren, without fruit,
Shall be received among the Infidels,
In _Babylon_, the daughter of the persecuted,
Miserable and sad shall cut her wings.

ANNOT.

A Synagogue is a place where the Jews assemble for Divine Worship, as the Christians do in Churches or Temples, the said Jews Synagogue is threatned here to be unfruitful and barren, and chiefly in _Babylon_, by the means of a woman, daughter of one persecuted; belike of some of their own tribe, whom the rest did persecute.

XCVII.

French.

Au fins du _Var_ changer le _Pompotans_,
Pres du Rivage, les trois beaux enfans naistre,
Ruine au peuple par Aage competans,
Regne au Pais changer plus voir croistre.

English.

At the ends of the _Var_ to change the _Pompotans_,
Near the Shore shall three fair Children be born,
Ruine to the people by competent Age,
To change that Countreys Kingdom, and see it grow no more.

ANNOT.

The first Verse being made of insignificant words, as _Var_ and _Pompotans_ cannot be understood; the other three doth foretel of three handsom Children, that shall be born near the Shore, which when they have attained a competent Age, shall change the Kingdom of that Countrey, and suppress it.

XCVIII.

French.

Des gens d’Eglise sang sera espanché,
Comme de l’eau en si grande abundance,
Et de long temps ne sera retranché,
Veüe au Clerc ruine & doleance.

English.

The blood of Churchmen shall be spilt,
As water in such abundance,
And for a good while shall not be stayed,
Ruine and grievance shall be seen to the Clerk.

ANNOT.

This is easie to be understood, which foretelleth a very great persecution to the Clergy-men, _viz._ Papists, of which Religion our Author was, if this be not already past in the Civil Wars of _France_, that were made for Religion, in the beginning of Reformation, where abundance of Clergy-men did perish on both sides.

XCIX.

French.

Par la puissance des trois Rois temporels,
En autre lieu sera mis la Saint Siege,
Ou la substance de l’Esprit corporel,
Sera remis & receu pour vray Siege.

English.

By the power of three Temporal Kings,
The Holy See shall be put in another place,
Where the substance of the Corporeal Spirit,
Shall be restored and admitted for a true seat.

ANNOT.

This Stanza is very remarkable, for the thing it foretelleth, _viz._ a translation of the See of _Rome_, that is, the Popedom into another place by three Temporal Kings, and not onely that, but it seemeth by the sense of the last two Verses, that these will keep the Ecclesiastical authority to themselves.

C.

French.

Pour l’abundance de l’Armée respandue,
Du haut en bas, par le bas au plus haut,
Trop grande foy par jeu vie perdue,
De soif mourir par abondant defaut.

English.

Through the abundance of the Army scattered,
High and low, low and high,
Too great a belief a life lost in jesting,
To die by thirst, through abundance of want.

ANNOT.

The sense of this is, that by reason of a great Army that shall be much scattered, and occupy a great deal of room, water will be so scarce, that some shall die for thirst, it is that he calleth here, _To die by thirst, through abundance of want_.

Other Stanza’s heretofore Printed, under the VIII. CENTURY.

I.

French.

Seront confus plusieurs de leur attente,
Aux habitans ne sera pardonné,
Qui bien pensoint perseverer l’attente,
Mais grand loisir ne leur sera donné.

English.

Many shall be confounded in their expectation,
The Citizens shall not be forgiven,
Who thought to persevere in their resolution,
But there shall not be given them a great leisure for it.

ANNOT.

This is plain, and needeth no interpretation.

II.

French.

Plusieurs viendront & parleront de Paix,
Entre Monarques & Seigneurs bien puissans,
Mais ne sera accordé de si pres,
Que ne se rendent plus qu’autres obeissans.

English.

Many shall come and shall talk of Peace,
Between Monarchs and Lords very powerful,
But it shall not be agreed to it so soon,
If they do not shew themselves more obedient then others.

ANNOT.

We are just now at the Eve of this Prophecy, when so many Princes and Potentates do busie themselves about a Mediation between the two Crowns of _France_ and _Spain_, &c.

III.

French.

Las quelle fureur, helas quelle pitie,
Il y aura entre beaucoup de gens,
On ne vit onc une tell amitié,
Qu’auront les Loups a courir diligens.

English.

Ha! what fury, alas what pitty,
There shall be betwixt many people,
There was never seen such a friendship,
As the Wolfs shall have in being diligent to run.

ANNOT.

It is indeed a great fury and pity to see how wicked people, and chiefly Usurers and false dealers, (understood here by the name of Wolfs) are diligent in doing mischief, and to make good the old Proverb, _Homo homini Lupus_, there being no other Creature but the Wolf that devours those of his own kind.

IV.

French.

Beaucoup de gens viendront parlementer,
Aux grand Seigneurs qui leur feront la guerre,
On ne voudra en rien les escouter,
Helas! si Dieu n’envoie Paix en Terre.

English.

Many folks shall come to speak,
To great Lords that shall make War against them,
They shall not be admitted to a hearing,
Alas! if God doth not send Peace upon Earth.

ANNOT.

This carrieth its sense with it, and is plain.

V.

French.

Plusieurs secours viendront de tous costez,
De gens lointains qui voudront resister,
Ils seront tout a coup bien hastez,
Mais ne pourront pour cette heure assister.

English.

Many helps shall come on all sides,
Of people far off, that would fain to resist,
They shall be upon a sudden all very hasty,
But for the present they shall not be able to assist.

ANNOT.

This seemeth to point at this present conjuncture of affairs, where there is so many buisying themselves about the relief of _Flanders_, of which I see no great likelihood.

VI.

French.

Las quel plaisir ont Princes estrangers,
Garde toy bien qu’en ton Pais ne _Vienne_,
Il y auroit de terribles dangers,
Et en maintes Contrées, mesme en la _Vienne_.

English.

Ha! what pleasure take Forrain Princes?
Take heed least any should come into thy Countrey,
There should be terrible dangers,
In several Countreys, and chiefly in _Vienna_.

ANNOT.

There is two Towns called _Vienna_’s, one is in _Germany_, in the Province of _Austria_, and is the Emperours Seat, the other in _France_, a metter of twenty miles beyond _Lion_, the rest is easie.

THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus.

_CENTURY_ IX.

I.

French.

Dans la maison du Traducteur de _Boure_,
Seront les lettres trouvées sur la Table,
Borgne, roux blanc, chenu, tiendra de cours,
Qui changera au nouveau Connestable.

English.

In the house of the Translator of _Boure_,
The Letters shall be found upon the Table,
Blind of one eye, red, white, hoary, shall keep its course,
Which shall change at the coming of the new Constable.

ANNOT.

It is not easie to understand what he meaneth by the Translator of _Boure_, unless it be some mean and pittiful fellow, that lived by Translating things from one language into another, because the _French_ use to call a man that is inconsiderable, _un homme du boure_, that is a man of Flocks; and so much the more I am of this opinion, because of the scurvy Epithetes, he attributeth to the same person, by which he might easily be known as _blind of one eye, red, white, hoary_, &c.

II.

French.

Du haut du Mont _Aventin_ voix ouye,
Vuidez, vuidez de tous les deux costez,
Du sang des rouges sera l’Ire assouvie,
D’_Arimin_, _Prato_, Columna debotez.

English.

From the top of Mount _Aventin_, a voice was heard,
Get you gone, get you gone on all sides,
The Choler shall be fed with the blood of the red ones,
From _Arimini_ and _Prato_, the Colonnas shall be driven away.

ANNOT.

Mount _Aventine_ is one of the seven Mountains of _Rome_, from the top of which our Author saith that a voice was heard crying and repeating, _get you gone_, and the reason is, because choler and anger shall feed upon the blood of the Cardinals, understood here by the name of _red ones_.

_Arimini_ and _Prato_ are two cities in _Italy_.

The _Colonna_ is the chiefest and ancientest family of _Rome_.

III.

French.

Le _magna vaqua_ a _Ravenne_ grand trouble,
Conduits par quinze enserrez a _Fornase_,
A _Rome_ naistra deux Monstres a teste double,
Sang, feu, deluge, les plus grands a l’espase.

English.

The _Magna vaqua_ great trouble at _Ravenna_,
Conducted by fifteen, shut up at _Fornase_,
At _Rome_ shall be born two Monsters with a double head,
Blood, fire, Flood, the greater ones astonished.

ANNOT.

This word of _Magna vaqua_ is either falsly printed, or altogether barbarous and insignificant, and so is that of _Fornase_, which maketh the two first Verses incapable of translation; the other are easie.

IV.

French.

L’An ensuivant descouverts par Deluge,
Deux chefs esleus, le premier ne tiendra,
De fuyr ombre a l’un deux le refuge,
Saccagée case qui premier maintiendra.

English.

The year following being discovered by a Flood,
Two Chiefs elected, the first shall not hold,
To fly from shade, to one shall be a refuge,
That house shall be plundered which shall maintain the first.

ANNOT.

Our Author meaneth, that the year after the former Prophecy is come to pass, this shall also be fulfilled, whereby two Chief Commanders shall be chosen, the first of which shall not stand, but shall be compelled to run away, and to seek his security in the open Fields, and that house that did uphold the first shall be plundered.

V.

French.

Tiers doigt du pied au premier semblera,
A un nouveau Monarque de bas haut,
Qui _Pise_ & _Luiques_ tyran occupera,
Du precedent corriger le defaut.

English.

The third toe of the foot shall be like the first,
To a new high Monarch come from low estate,
Who being a Tyrant shall cease upon _Pise_ and _Luica_,
To correct the faults of him that preceded him.

ANNOT.

The meaning of this is, that some body pretending to mend the Government of those two places that are in Italy, shall tyrannically make himself Master of them.

VI.

French.

Par la _Guyenne_ infinité d’_Anglois_,
Occuperont par nom d’_Angle Aquitaine_,
Du _Languedoc_. _I._ palme _Bourdelois_,
Quils nommeront apres _Barboxitaine_.

English.

There shall be in _Guyenna_ an infinite number of _English_,
Who shall occupy it by the name of _Angle Aquitaine_,
Of _Languedoc_, _I_ by the Land of _Bourdeaux_,
Which afterwards they shall call _Barboxitaine_.

ANNOT.

Here is foretold a famous invasion, that shall be made by the _English_ upon that part of _France_ called _Guyenne_, and in Latine _Aquitania_, of which _Bourdeaux_ is the chief City, insomuch, that the _English_ afterwards shall call that Countrey _Angl’ Aquitaine_.

VII.

French.

Qui ouvrira le Monument trouvé,
Et ne viendra le serrer promptement,
Mal luy viendra & ne poura prouvé,
Si mieux doibt estre Roy _Breton_ ou _Normand_.

English.

He that shall open the Sepulchre found,
And shall not close it up again presently,
Evil will befall him, and he shall not be able to prove
Whether is best a _Britain_ or _Norman_ King.

ANNOT.

The sense of this is perspicuous.

VIII.

French.

Puisnay Roy fait son pere mettre a mort,
Apres conflict de mort tres in honeste,
Escrit trouvé soupcon, donra, remort,
Quand loup chassé pose sur la couchete.

English.

A younger King causeth his father to be put
To a dishonest death, after a Battle,
Writing shall be found, that shall give suspicion and remorse,
When a hunted Wolf shall rest upon a truckle bed.

ANNOT.

The words and sense are plain.