Chapter XVII: French

Le tiers premier, pis que ne fit _Neron_,
Vuidez vaillant que sang humain respandre,
Redifier fera le Forneron,
Siecle d’or mort, nouveau Roy grand esclandre.

English.

The third first, worse than ever did _Nero_,
Go out valliant, he shall spill much humane blood,
He shall cause the Forneron to be builded again,
Golden Age dead, new King great troubles.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy pointeth directly at our Authors Master _Charles_ the IX. King of _France_, whom he calleth he _the third first_, because he was the third son to _Henry_ II. and came to be King, using more cruelties then ever _Nero_ did, for he was the cause of the Massacre of the Protestants in _France_ in the year 1572. where above a hundred thousand people were murdered. _Forneron_ is a barbarous word, put here to make a Verse, and to rhime with _Neron_. At that time he saith the _Golden Age was dead_, and upon the coming of a new King, who was _Henry_ III. great tumults did happen, and great Wars, as is to be seen in the _French_ History.