Chapter XCI: French

Au Duc _Gaulois_ contraint battre au Duelle,
La nef de Mole, _Monech_ naprochera,
Tort accuse, prison perpetuelle,
Son Fils regner avant mort taschera.

English.

A _French_ Duke compelled to fight a Duel,
The Ship of Mole shall not come near _Monaco_,
Wrongfully accused shall have a perpetual Prison,
His son shall endeavour to Reign before his death.

ANNOT.

To understand this Stanza, we must suppose four Histories, _Paradin_ relateth the first, which is, that the _French_ and _Spanish_ Armies having their Winter quarters in the Dukedome of _Milan_, _Anno_ 1555.

The Marquess of _Pescaire_, sent word to the Duke of _Nemours_, by a _French_ Gentleman, that he and three more desired to break a Lance with him upon the borders of _Ast_.

The Duke accepted the challenge, without giving notice to the Marquess of _Brissac_, then General of the _French_ Army, who was very angry at it, nevertheless he advised the Duke to go, but not with a Guilt and light Armour, but with a wrong one, such as became a Cavaliero, which he did not do, nor the other three that went with him: whence it came, that the Lord _Classe_ a _French_ man, running against _Malespine_, was wounded to death in the shoulder; nevertheless one of the seconds to the Duke of _Nemours_, the Lord _Moncha_ killed upon the place _Carassa_, Nephew to pope _Marcel_ II. and the Lord _Manoa_, one of the Duke of _Nemours_ party, falling from his Horse a little wounded, broke his neck.

As for the Duke of _Nemours_, he ran twice against the said Marquess, without hitting one another, but at the third time they both brake their Lances, without doing any harm. Thus, _the French Duke was compelled to fight a Duel_.

We have the second History from _Turpin_, and many others, which is, that the Marquess of _Masseran_, having put himself into the King of _France_’s service, in hopes to have the Government of _Bielais_; and proving a Traitor, the Marshal of _Brissac_, who had discovered his perfidiousness, resolved to take him in his house of _Gaillany_, which he had fortified to secure his retreat after his Treason.

The Lord _de Termes_ was commanded to do it, which he did so dexterously, that he took him into his house after dinner, and then compelled him presently to surrender the Castle of _Jamaglia_, the Marquess obeying, sent thither presently his son _Claudius_, to put it into the hands of the Lords _de la Mante_, and of _Villars_.

These two viewing the Castle, to observe the places that might be fortified, and going from room to room, heard a lamentable voice, crying. _Have mercy upon me._ They caused presently the Prison doors to be opened, and found a poor Gentleman of _Vercelle_, whom the Marquess had detained there 18 years, for endeavouring to serve an execution against him, in the Duke of _Savoy_’s behalf.

And it is remarkable that his Imprisonment was all this while concealed, so that no body ever heard of it, in so much that his friends suspecting he had been killed by one of his enemies, they prosecuted him so hard, that after much tortering, he confessed what he had not done, and was consequently put to death in the presence of the said Marquess of _Masseran_, who knew the Countrey. Thus we see _one wrongfully accused_ that was executed, and this Gentlemans Imprisonment, which was to be perpetual.

After this, they carryed the poor Gentleman almost all naked, and being nothing but skin and bones, to the Lord of _Termes_, who caused him to be clothed, and gave him Money to go back to his friends.

The third History is, that the Duke of _Nemours_ Son was one of the chief ring-leaders of the League against _Henry_ IV. and did what he could before he dyed to get the Kingdom of _France_, endeavouring first to make himself Sovereign Prince of _Lion_, _Forrest_, and _Beaucolois_.

The fourth History is, that at the latter end of the year 1555. the Lord _la Mole_ carrying to _Rome_ the Cardinals of _Tournon_ and _Lorrain_, went directly to the Island of _Corsica_, whence he drew some Forces, which he joyned to his, and to those of _Monluc_, and would not Land at _Monaco_ for some reasons, but went directly to _Civita Vecchia_. By this we understand that Verse of the Stanza. _The Ship of the Mole shall not come near ~Monaco~._

XCII.

French.

Teste trenchée du vaillant Capitaine,
Sera jettée devant son adversaire,
Son corps pendu de la Classe a l’Antenne,
Confus fuira par rames avent contraire.

English.

The head cut off the valliant Captain
Shall be thrown down before his adversary,
His body hanged at the Sails Yard,
Confused, they shall fly with Oars against the Wind.

ANNOT.

These words are plain enough, though no body can tell whether the thing is past already, or shall come to pass hereafter.

XCIII.

French.

Un Serpent veu proche du lict Royal,
Sera par Dame nuict chien n’abageronts
Lors nastre en _France_ un Prince tant Royal,
Du Ciel venu tous les Princes verront.

English.

A Serpent shall be seen near the Royal bed,
By a Lady in the night, the Dogs shall not bark,
Then shall be born in _France_ a Prince so Royal,
Come from Heaven all the Princes shall see it.

ANNOT.

This seemeth to be an allusion to the Birth of _Alexander_ the great; for it is said, that when his mother _Olympia_ proved with Child of him, there was seen in her Bed, and about her Bed a great Serpent, which was the presage of his future greatness: therefore our Author also will have, that when such a Prodigie shall appear in _France_, that then shall be born such a Prince as he mentioneth here: the circumstances are, that this Serpent shall be seen by a Lady in the night time, and that the Dogs of the house shall not bark at him.

XCIV.

French.

Deux grand, freres seront chassez d’_Espagne_,
Laisné vaincu soubs les Monts _Pyrænæes_,
Rougis Mer, _Rhosne_, sang _Leman_, d’_Alemagne_,
_Narbon_, _Blyterre_, d’_Agath_ contaminées.

English.

Two great Brothers shall be driven from _Spain_,
The elder of them shall be overcome under the _Pyrenean_ Mountains
Bloody Sea, _Rhosne_, Blood _Leman_ of _Germany_,
_Narbon_, _Bliterre_ of _Agath_ polluted.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses are easily understood by those that know the _Pyrenean_ Mountains, to be those that part _Spain_ from _France_. The two last Verses signifie there shall be bloody Wars in those places; the _Rhosne_ is a swift River of _France_, that passeth through the City of _Lyons_; _Leman_ is the Lake of _Geneva_, and _Narbon_ is a City of _Languedock_.

XCV.

French.

Le Regne a deux laissé bien peu tiendront,
Trois ans sept mois passez feront la guerre,
Les deux vestales contre rebelleront,
Victor puisnay en _Armorique_ Terre.

English.

The Kingdom being left to two, they shall keep it but a little while,
Three years and seven months being past, they shall make War,
The two Vestals shall rebel against them,
The youngest shall be Conquerour in the _Armorick_ Countrey.

ANNOT.

This signifies, that a Kingdom shall be left to two, who shall keep it but a little while, about the space before mentioned.

By the two Vestals that shall rebel, are to be understood two Nuns, who having Interest in the state by their nearness of blood, shall challenge a title in the Kingdom. The last Verse signifies, that the youngest that contended for the Kingdom, shall overcome the eldest, in the Province of _Gascony_.

XCVI.

French.

La sœur aisnée de l’Isle _Britannique_,
Quinze ans devant le frere aura naissance,
Par son promis moyenant verifique,
Succedera au Regne de Balance.

English.

The eldest Sister of the _Brittain_ Island,
Shall be born fifteen years before her Brother,
By what is promised her, and help of the truth,
She shall succeed in the Kingdom of _Libra_.

ANNOT.

This signifies, that the Princess born so long after her Brother, shall be married to a King of _France_, which is understood here by the Kingdom of _Libra_; therefore the last King _Lewis_ the XIII. was called _the Just_, because born under the Sign of _Libra_.

XCVII.

French.

L’An que _Mercure_, _Mars_, _Venus_ retrograde,
Du grand Monarque la ligne ne faillit,
Esleu du peuple _Lusitant_ pres de _Pactole_,
Qu’en Paix & Regne viendra fort enveillir.

English.

When _Mercury_, _Mars_ and _Venus_ shall retrograde,
The Line of the great Monarch shall be wanting,
He shall be elected by the _Lusitanians_ near _Pactole_,
And shall Reign in Peace a good while.

ANNOT.

This signifies the late change of state in _Portugal_, when they threw off the _Spanish_ yoke, and chose a King amongst themselves, _John_ the IV. Duke of _Branganza_, Father to the present Queen of _England_; for by the _Lusitanians_ are meant the _Portugals_, so called from their Countreys name _Lusitania_; _Pactoles_ is the River that runs by _Lisbonne_, otherwise called _Tagus_, in Greek χροσοροος from the Sands.

XCVIII.

French.

Les _Albanois_ passeront dedans _Rome_,
Moyennant _Langres_ demipiler affubles,
Marquis & Duc ne pardonnes a l’homme,
Feu, sang, morbilles point d’eau, faillir les blés.

English.

The _Albanians_ shall pass through _Rome_,
By the means of _Langres_ covered with half Helmets,
Marquess and Duke shall spare no man,
Fire, blood, small Pox, Water shall fail us, also Corn.

ANNOT.

The meaning is, that when the people of _Albania_ lying between the _Venetian_ Territories, and _Grecia_, shall come to _Rome_, by the means of a Bishop of _Langres_, who is a Duke and Peer of _France_; being _covered with half Helmets_, a kind of a Cap that they wear in War; then shall be _fire, blood, small Pox, and want of Corn_.

XCIX.

French.

L’Aisné vaillant de la fille du Roy,
Repoussera si profond les _Celtiques_,
Qu’il mettra Foudres, combien en tel arroy,
Peu & loing puis profond es _Hesperiques_.

English.

The valliant eldest son of the daughter of the King,
Shall beat back so far those of _Flanders_,
That he will cast Lightnings, O how many in such orders
Little and far, after shall go deep in _Spain_.

ANNOT.

This is scarce to be understood of any body, but the present King of _France_ _Lewis_ the XIV. who was the elder son, and born of Queen _Ann_, Daughter to the King of _Spain_, who by his valour and fortune made last year such progress in the Conquest of _Flanders_, that it hath caused admiration in every body; insomuch that is he do the like this year, it may be probably suspected, he will afterwards go deep into _Spain_ according to the contents of this Prophecy.

C.

French.

Du feu Celeste au Royal edifice,
Quand la lumiere de _Mars_ defaillira,
Sept mois grand Guerre, mort gent de malefice,
_Rouen_, _Eureux_ au Roy ne faillira.

English.

Fire shall fall from the skies on the Kings Palace,
When _Mars_’s light shall be Ecclipsed,
A great War shall be for seven months, people shall die by witchcraft.
_Rouen_, and _Eureux_ shall not be wanting to the King.

ANNOT.

The meaning is, that when _Mars_ is Ecclipsed, the Lightning shall fall on some of the King of _Frances_ Palaces, then shall be a great War, for the space of seven Months, and many shall die by witchcraft; and _Rouen_ the chief City of _Normandy_, and _Eureux_ another of the same province, shall stick fast to the Kings Interest.

THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus.

_CENTURY_ V.

I.

French.

Avant venue de ruine _Celtique_,
Dedans le Temple d’eux parlementeront,
Poignard cœur d’un monté au coursier & picque,
Sans faire bruit le grand enterreront.

English.

Before the coming of the ruine of _Flanders_,
Two shall discourse together in the Church,
Dagger in the heart by one, on Horse-back and Spurring,
Without noise they shall bury the great one.

ANNOT.

This is a further specification of the whole ruine of _Flanders_, before which it shall happen, saith our Author, that two shall talk together in the Church, and one shall stabb the other with a Dagger, and then take Horse, and fly, the dead one being buried without Pompe or Ceremony.

II.

French.

Sept conjurez au Banquet feront luire,
Centre les trois le Fer hors de Navire.
L’un les deux classes au grand fera conduire,
Quand par le mail dernier au front luy tire.

English.

Seven Conspirators at a Banquet shall make their Iron glister
Against three, out of a Ship:
One shall carry the two Fleets to the great one,
When in the Palle-malle the last shall shoot him in the forehead.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses foretell a Conspiracy of seven against three, one of which seven shall carry both Fleets to some eminent person, at which time he shall be shot in the forehead by the last of the seven.

III.

French.

Le Successeur de la Duché viendra,
Beaucoup plus outre que la Mer de _Toscane_,
_Gauloise_ branche la _Florence_ tiendra,
Dans son Giron d’accord nautique Rane.

English.

The Successor to the Dukedom shall come,
Far beyond the _Tuscane_ Sea,
A _French_ branch shall hold _Florence_
In its Lap, to which the Sea-frog shall agree.

ANNOT.

By the two first Verses is meant a lawful Successor to the Duke of _Tuscany_ who shall come to recover the said Dukedom, which shall then be in the possession of the _French_.

It is hard to guess what he means by the Sea-frog, unless it be some considerable Prince at Sea, which shall then be in League with the _French_.

IV.

French.

Le gros Mastin de Cité dechassé,
Sera fasché de l’estrange Alliance,
Apres aux Champs avoir le Cerf chassé,
Le Loup & l’Ours se donront defiance.

English.

The great Mastif being driven from the City,
Shall be angry at the strange Alliance,
After he shall have hunted the Hart in the Fields,
The Wolf, and the Bear shall defie one another.

ANNOT.

By the strange Alliance is meant that which _Cromwel_ had with _France_, to the prejudice of his Majesty of _England_, who is here meant by the Mastif, a Creature, for which _England_ hath been famous.

By the Wolf and the Bear are meant the _French_ King and the _Switzers_, or those of _Savoy_.

V.

French.

Sous ombre faincte d’oster de servitude,
Peuple & Cité l’usurpera luy-mesme,
Pire sera par fraus de jeune pute,
Livré au Champ lisant le faux proësme.

English.

Under the fained shadow of freeing people from slavery,
He shall usurpe the people and City for himself;
He shall do worse by the deceit of a young Whore,
For he shall be betrayed in the field reading a false proem.

ANNOT.

The two first are plain, and may be referred to the foregoing Stanza concerning _Oliver_.

The last Verses are plain, and I leave them to the judicious Reader.

VI.

French.

Au Roy l’_Augur_ sur le chef le main mettre,
Viendra prier pour la Paix _Italique_,
A la main gauche viendra changer le Sceptre,
De Roy viendra Empereur pacifique.

English.

The _Augur_ shall come to put his hand upon the Kings head,
And pray for the Peace of _Italy_,
In the left hand he shall change the Scepter,
Of a King he shall become a peaceful Emperour.

ANNOT.

Although the _Augur_ in Latine signifieth one that telleth events of matters by the flying voices, or sitting of Birds, yet it is taken also (as here) for a Prelat or Clergyman, who shall put his hand upon a Kings head, and pray for the peace of _Italy_, and shall put a Scepter in his hand, and install him Emperour, what King this should be, is easie to be conjectured by the Author, being a _French-man_, and setting down a King without any Epithite, and this Prophecy is a confirmation of one before of the same nature.

VII.

French.

Du _Triumuir_ seront trouvez les os,
Cherchant profond Thresor ænigmatique,
Ceux d’alentour ne seront en repos,
Ce concaver Marbre & plomb Metallique.

English.

The bones of the _Triumuir_ shall be found out,
When they shall seek for a deep and ænigmatical Treasure,
Those there about shall not be in rest,
This concavity shall be Marble and Metallick Lead.

ANNOT.

I suppose none so ignorant in the Roman History, but knows, that there was a combination between _Octavius Cæsar_, _Marcus Antonius_, and _Lepidus_, to make themselves Masters of the _Roman_ Empire, and to divide it amongst themselves, this plot being made by three, was made by the _Triumuiri_, the meaning then is, that when they shall go to seek for a Treasure, they shall find the bones of one of those three persons, and in that cavity that they shall have digged, they shall find Marble and Lead.

VIII.

French.

Sera laissé le feu vif, mort caché,
Dedans les Globes horrible espouventable,
De nuict a classe Cité en poudre lasché,
La Cité a feu, l’ennemy favourable.

English.

The fire shall be left burning, the dead man shall be hid,
Within the Globes terrible and fearful,
By night the Fleet shall shoot against the City,
The City shall be on fire, the enemy shall be favourable unto it.

ANNOT.

The two Verses signifie, that fire shall be hid within Globes, I suppose them to be Granado’s, or a Mine.

The two last Verses signifie, that the Fleet in the Harbour, or near it, shall set the City on fire, and that they shall come out of the Fleet to help to quench the fire, and so shall the enemy be favourable.

IX.

French.

Jusques au fond la grand Arche _Maluë_,
Par chef Captif l’amy anticipé,
Naistra de Dame front, face cheveluë,
Lors par astuce Duc a mort attrapé

English.

To the bottom of the great Arch _Malüe_,
By a Captain that is a Prisoner, the friend shall be anticipated,
One shall be born of a Lady with a hoary face and forehead,
Then by craft shall a Duke be put to death.

ANNOT.

The meaning of the first is unknown to me: I leave it to the Reader.

The sense of the last is as obvious to the meanest capacity, as the two precedent are obscure.

X.

French.

Un chef _Celtique_ dans le conflict blessé,
Aupres de Cave, voiant, siens mort abattre,
De sang & playes & d’ennemis pressé,
Est se couru par incogneus de quattre.

English.

A General of _Flanders_ wounded in Battle,
Near a Cellar, seeing death to overthrow his people,
Being much oppressed with blood, wounds and enemies,
Is succoured by four unknown.

ANNOT.

This needeth no further interpretation, than that it seemeth to be near its event.

XI.

French.

Mer par solaires seure passera
Ceux de _Venus_ tiendront toute l’_Afrique_,
Leur Regne plus _Saturne_ n’occupera,
Et changera la part _Asiatique_.

English.

By solaries she shall pass secure,
Those of _Venus_ shall hold all _Africa_,
_Saturn_ shall hold their Kingdom no longer,
And shall change the _Asiatick_ part.

ANNOT.

This is so obscure in words and sense, that I can judge no more than that it signifies a great change in _Africa_ and _Asia_, which I suppose is already come to pass by _Taffaletta_.

XII.

French.

Au pres du lac _Leman_ sera conduite,
Par garse estrange Cite voulant trahir,
Avant son meurtre a _Ausbourg_ la grand suite,
Et ceux du _Rhin_ la viendront envahir.

English.

Near the _Leman_ Lake shall be a Plot,
By a strange Whore to betray a City,
Before she be kill’d her great retinue will come to _Ausbourg_,
And those of the _Rhine_ shall come to invade her.

ANNOT.

We have said often before, that the _Leman_ Lake is that of _Geneva_. The rest is so manifest, that it needs no interpretation.