Chapter XCVI: French

Grand Cité a Soldats abandonnée,
Onc ny eut mortel tumult si proche,
O quelle hideuse calamités approche,
Fors une offence n’y sera pardonnée.

English.

A great City shall be given up to the Souldiers,
There was never a mortal tumult so near,
Oh! what a hideous calamity draws near,
Except one offence nothing shall be spared.

ANNOT.

This is concerning the taking of the Town of St. _Quentin_ in 1557. because the Author saith, no tumult was like this, so near the year 1555. when our Author writ.

He calleth it great City; because it is one of the most considerable in _France_, therefore it was besieged by the King of _Spain_ with 37000. men, and 12000. Horses and 8000. _English_. The plunder was given to the Souldiers; for it was taken by assault.

_There was never a mortal tumult so near_; for the Souldiers taking revenge upon the Inhabitants, and Garrison, put all to the Sword; the Admiral having much ado to save himself.

In consequence of this our Prophet cryeth, _O what a fearfull calamity_; because the taking of this Town joyned with the loss of St. _Laurence_ did almost ruine _France_. He addeth, _except one offence nothing shall be forgiven_; that is, the Town should be afflicted in all respects, except that it should not be burnt. The taking of this Town was upon the 27 of _August_, 17 days after the Battle of St. _Laurence_.

The loss was so great to _France_, that the King was fained to call the Duke of _Guise_ back from _Italy_, and _Charles_ V. hearing this news, asked presently if his Son _Philip_ was not in _Paris_, as much as to say, it was a thing he ought to have done.

But God permitted that the King of _Spain_ went another way, and in the mean time, the King of _France_ strengthned himself, and the Duke of _Guise_ took from the _English_, _Calais_, _Guines_, and the County of d’_Oye_. The _Spanish_ History saith, that _Philip_ had forbidden to touch any old people, Children and Ecclesiastical persons; but above all St. _Quentins_ reliques.

XCVII.

French.

Cinq & quarante degrez ciel bruslera,
Feu approcher de la grand Cité neuve,
Instant grand flamme esparse sautera,
Quand on voudra des _Normans_ faire preuve.

English.

The Heaven shall burn at five and forty degrees,
The fire shall come near the great new City,
In an instant a great flame dispersed shall burst out,
When they shall make a trial of the _Normans_.

ANNOT.

This signifies some extraordinary lightning under five and forty degrees, which is about the Southern part of _France_.

It is not easie to guess what he meaneth by the great new City, unless it be one in the Authors Countrey, called _Villa Nova_.

The last Verse seemeth to intimate, that this shall happen when an Army of _Normandie_ shall be raised.

XCVIII.

French.

Ruyne aux _Volsques_ de peur si fort terribles,
Leur grand Cité taincte, faict pestilent:
Piller Sol, Lune, & violer leur Temples,
Et les deux Fleuves rougir de sang coulant.

English.

A ruine shall happen to the _Volsques_ that are so terrible,
Their great City shall be dyed, a pestilent deed:
They shall plunder Sun and Moon, and violate their Temples,
And the two Rivers shall be red with running blood.

ANNOT.

The _Volsi_ were a warlike people of _Italy_ joyning to _Rome_, which makes me believe that by the great City he meaneth _Rome_, which was plundered and sackt by the Duke of _Burgondy_ and the Prince of _Orange_, Generals of the Emperour _Charles_ V.

XCIX.

French.

L’Ennemy docte se tournera confus,
Grand Camp malade, & de faict par embusches
Monts _Pyrenees_ luy seront faicts refus.
Roche du Fleuve descouvrant antique ruches.

English.

The learned enemy shall go back confounded,
A great Camp shall be sick, and in effect through ambush,
The _Pyrenean_ Mountains shall refuse him.
Near the River discovering the ancient Hives.

ANNOT.

The words are plain, though the sense be too obscure, and I shall not endeavour to give an interpretation, when every one may make one himself.