Chapter I: 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 _Marseille_, 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.