To his most Honoured Friend
NATHANIEL PARKER
OF
Grayes-Inne, Esq;
THEOPHILUS de GARENCIERES,
D. Med. Colleg. Lond.
Humbly Dedicateth this Book.

Reader,

Before thou goest on further to the perusing of this Work, thou art humbly intreated by the Authour, to forgive him his Anglicisme; for being born a Forreigner, and having had no body to help him to the polishing of it, for several reasons, it cannot be expected he should please thine Ears, so much as he may perhaps do thy Fancy. Every Exotick Plant can hardly become Domestical under one or two Generations: Besides that, the Crabbedness of the Original in his own Idiome, can scarce admit a Polite Eloquency in another. The very Antient English Language in this refined Age, is become both obsolete and unintelligible, as we may see in Chaucer, Gower, and others. If you adde to this, that the Authours Nation hath been alwayes famous for its Civility to those that were Strangers to their Language, as not onely to abstain from laughing at them when they spoke amiss, but also in redressing them charitably to the best of their power. I may probably expect you will measure me with the same measure, as you would be if you were in my case.

As for the Errataes of the Press, I could not help them, being out of Town most part of the time that the Book was a Printing; when you meet with any, I hope your Charitable Pen will either mend or obliterate them, and not lay another mans fault upon me, who neither for pride nor ostentation undertook this laborious Work, but that I might give some Satisfaction and Recreation to the Learned and Curious, who have had a longing for it ever since its Birth.

Farewell.

Mystically.

READER,

Before I speak any thing of the Author, or of his Works, I think it convenient to speak somthing of my self, and of my intention in setting out this Translation, with my Annotations.

The Reputation that this Book hath amongst all the Europeans, since its first coming out, which was in the year 1555. and the curiosity that from time to time the learned have had to see the Mysteries contained in it, unfolded: is a sufficient warrant for my undertaking.

Many better Pens (I confess) could have performed this work with better success, but not with greater facility than I, having from my youth been conversant with those that pretended or endeavered to know somthing in it. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for a man of my profession to wade through it. This Book was the first after my Primmer, wherein I did learn to read, it being then the Custom in France, about the year 1618. to initiate Children by that Book; First, because of the crabbidness of the words; Secondly, that they might be acquainted with the old and absolete French, such as is now used in the English Law; and Thirdly, for the delightfulness and variety of the matter, so that this Book in those days was printed every year like an Almanack, or a Primer for Children. From that time, without any other Study than reading of History, and observing the events of the world, and conversing with those that made it their Study, (some of which were like to run mad about it) I have attained to so much Knowledge, as to bring it into a Volume.

The Book is written in the Nature of Prophecies, digested into old French Verses, most of which are very hard to be understood, and others impossible at all, whether the Author did affect obscurity, or else wanted the faculty to express himself, which is the cause that it could not be rendred into English Verses, it being troublesome enough to be understood in Prose, as the Reader will find. That’s the reason that I have translated it almost word for word, to make it as plain as I could; as also because the Reader (if curious of it) may benefit himself in the knowledge of the French Tongue, by comparing the English and French together. The rest that can be said upon this subject, you shall find either in the Authors Life, or in the Appology made for him.

And because I have told you before, that many have been like to run mad by over-studying these, and other Prophecies, give me leave to give you this advice, that in vain, or at least without any great profit, thou shalt bestow thy time, care, and study upon it: for which I will give thee the chief reasons, that have disswaded me from it.

The first is, that the thing it self, which you may think to understand, is not certain in it self; because the Author disguiseth it in several manners, sometimes speaking a double sense, as that of the ancient Oracle.

Which is to be understood two ways, and cannot be determinated, till the event of it be past.

It is true, that the Author doth mark so many particular Circumstances, that when the thing is come to pass, every one may clearly see that he pretended to Prophecie that particular thing. And besides he doth sometimes deliver the thing in so obscure terms, that without a peculiar Genius, it is almost impossible to understand it.

The second is, that though the Prophecie be true in it self, yet no body knoweth, neither the time, nor how: For example, he plainly foretelleth, that the Parliament of England should put their King to death; nevertheless no body could tell, nor when, nor how, till the thing was come to pass, nor what King it should be, till we had seen it.

The third is, that he marketh the times with Astrological terms, viz. when such and such Planets, shall be in such and such Signs; but as those Planets are often here, and go out of it, and come there again, no certain judgement can be made of it.

The fourth is, that many times he giveth some peculiar Circumstances to those he speaketh of, which may be found in others. Thus the Royal first born might have been applied to Lewis the XIII. to Lewis the XIV. to the first born of Philip the II. and Philip the III. King of Spain, and to Kings of England, Father and Son. Nevertheless we find that this word Royal first born, was intended for Henry IV. Grandfather on his Mothers side, as we shall shew hereafter. This being so, it cannot be expounded, but after the event.

The fifth is, that the knowledge of future things, belongeth to God alone, and no body can pretend by any study, to have a certain acquisition of it in all its Circumstances.

The sixth is, that the orders of Gods providence, which cause the several events in all States, will not permit that men should have a publick notion of his designs, sometimes he revealeth them to his Servants, or to some particular man as he pleaseth, but he will not have them to be known among the common sort of men.

The seventh, is the experience we have had of many, who pretending to understand the Author, have made a quantity of false Prophecies, expounding the Stanza’s according to their fancy, as if God had given them the same understanding that he gave the Author, and what ought to confirm us more in this point, is, that they have expounded some Prophecies, as if they were to come to pass, which were past already, by which we see the darkness of humane wit, who without authority pretendeth to bite into the forbidden fruit of knowledge.

The eighth is, that this knowledge is no way profitable for the Vulgar; because those things being decreed by God, they shall come to pass without forceing our liberty, nor hindering the contingency of sublunary things, where we must observe that the Prophecies which were revealed to men, are many times conditional, as we see in that of Jonas against Ninive, but those that they have left in writing for the times that should come after them, are absolutely true, and shall infallibly come to pass, as they have foretold them. This no ways hindereth, but God may reveal some secrets of his to private men, for their benefit, and that of their friends, without imparting it to the Vulgar, who may be, should laugh at them.

The ninth is, that God hath peculiarly reserved to himself the knowledge of times. Daniel, by a special favour, knew the end of the Babylonian Captivity, and the time of the Messiah’s birth, and yet the interpreters can scarce yet expound clearly the meaning of the seventy weeks of Daniel, and we see, that since 1600 years ago, holy men, from age to age, have foretold the proximity of Dooms-day, and the coming of Antichrist.

The tenth is, that the foretelling of future things in this Author, is for the most part included in business of State, and one might be guilty of a criminal temerity, if he would discover things that concern us not, and the concealing of which, is commended by all prudent persons, seeing that we owe respect, love, and submission to those that bear rule over us.

For these reasons (dear Reader) I would not have thee intangle thy self in the pretentions of knowing future things. If you have light concerning them, keep thine own secret, and make use of it for thy self: Preserve peace, and let the Almighty govern the World: for he can turn all things to his Glory, and may when he pleaseth, raise up some Wits that will make known unto us, what we desire, without any further trouble to our selves. Before I make an end, I cannot but acquaint thee for gratitude sake, of my Obligation to several persons, which have lent me Books, to help me towards the finishing of this work, as namely that worthy Gentleman, and the Honour of his profession Mr. Francis Bernard, Apothecary to St. Bartholemews Hospital, and Mr. Philip Auberton Gentleman, belonging to the Right Honourable the Earl of Bridgwater. Farewell.

Michael Nostradamus, the most renowned and famous Astrologer, that hath been these many Ages, was born in St. Remy, a Town of Provence, in the year 1503. upon a Thursday, the 14th of December, about noon. His father was James Nostradamus, a Notary of the said Town, his Mother was Renata of St. Remy, whose Grandfathers by the Fathers and Mothers side, were men very skilfull, in Mathematick and Physick, one having been Physitian to Renatus, King of Jerusalem, and Sicily, and Earl of Provence, and the other Physition to John, Duke of Calabria, Son to the said Renatus, whence cometh that our Author saith in his Commentaries, that he hath received from hand to hand the Knowledge of Mathematicks, from his ancient Progenitors. After the death of his great Grandfather by the Mothers side, who first gave him a slight tincture, and made him in love with the Mathematicks, he was sent to School to Avignon. After that he went to Mount Pelier, to study Philosophy and Physick, till a great Plague coming, he was compelled to go to Narbonne, Thoulouse, and Bourdeaux, where he first began to practise, being then about 22 years of age. Having lived four years in those parts, he went back again to Monpelier, to get his degrees, which he did with a great deal of applause. Going to Thoulouse, he past through Agen, where Julius Cæsar Scaliger stayed him, with whom he was very familiar and intimately acquainted, though they fell out afterward; there he took to wife a very honourable Gentlewoman, by whom he had two Children, a Son and a Daughter, all which being dead, and seeing himself alone, he resolved to retire himself into Provence his Native Countrey. After he had gone to Marseille, he went to Aix, where the Parliament of Provence sitteth, and was there kept three years at the City Charges; because of the violent Plague that raged then in the year 1546. as you may read in the Lord of Launay’s Book, called the Theater of the World, who describeth that Plague according to the informations our Author gave him. Thence he went to Salon de Craux, a City distant from Aix one dayes Journey, and in the middle way between Avignon and Marseille; there he Married his second Wife Anna Ponce Genelle, by whom he had three Sons and one Daughter, the eldest was Michael Nostradamus, who hath written some pieces of Astrology, Printed at Paris in the year 1563.

The second was Cæsar Nostradamus, who hath deserved to be numbred among the French Historians, by reason of the great Volume he hath written of Provence.

The third was a Capuchine Frier. Cæsar did insert in his History the propagation of that Order in Provence. The fourth was a Daughter.

Nostradamus having found by experience that the perfect knowledge of Physick dependeth from that of Astrology, he addicted himself to it, and as this Science wanteth no allurement, and that besides his Genius he had a peculiar disposition and inclination to it; he made such a progress in it, that he hath deserved the Title of the most illustrious one in France, insomuch that making some Almanacks for recreation sake, he did so admirably hit the conjuncture of events, that he was sought for far and near.

This success was the cause of an extraordinary diminution of his fame; for the Printers and Booksellers seeing his fame, did print and vent abundance of false Almanacks under his name for lucre sake, whence it came that his reputation suffered by it, and was the cause that the Lord Pavillon wrote against him, and that the Poet Jodele made this bitter Distichon.

To which may be answered.

Or thus

Nevertheless the Beams of Truth did shine through the Clouds of Calumny; for he was singularly esteemed of by the Grandees, Queen Katharine of Medicis, who had a natural inclination to know future things.

And Henry the II. King of France, who sent for him to come to the Court in the year 1556. and having had private conference with him about things of great concernment, sent him honourably back again with many gifts. He went from Salon to the Court upon the 14 of July in the year 1555. and came to Paris upon the 15 of August. As soon as he was come to Town, the Lord Constable of Montmorency went to see him at his Inn, and presented him to the King, who received him with much satisfaction, and commanded that his lodging should be at the Palace of the Cardinal of Bourbon Archbishop of Sens.

There he was taken with the Gout for ten or twelve days, after which his Majesty sent him one hundred Crowns in Gold in a Velvet Purse, and the Queen as much. Their Majesties desired him to go to Blois to see the Princes their Children, and to tell them his opinion of them. It is certain that he did not tell them what he thought, considering the Tragical end of those three Princes, viz. Francis the II. Charles the IX. and Henry the III.

Having been so much honoured at Court, he went back again to Salon, where he made an end of his last Centuries, two years after he dedicated them to the King Henry the II. in the year 1557. and in his Luminary Epistle discovereth unto him the future events that shall happen from the Birth of Lewis the XIV. now Reigning, till the coming of Antichrist.

While he was at Salon he received there the Duke of Savoy, and the Lady Margaret of France, Sister to Henry the II. who was to Marry the said Duke according to the treaty of the general Peace made at Cambresis, both entertained him very familiarly, and honoured him often with their presence. The Duke came in October and the Lady in December.

When Charles the IX. went a progress through his Kingdom, he came into Provence, and did fail not to go to Salon to visit our Author, who in the name of the Town went to salute him, and make a Speech, this was in the year 1564. the 17 of November.

The extraordinary satisfaction that the King and the Queen Mother received from him was such, that being both at Lion, they sent for him again, and the King gave him 200 Crowns in Gold, and the Queen almost as much, with the quality of Physician in Ordinary to the King, with the Salaries and profits thereunto appertaining. Being come back to Salon he lived about 16 Months longer, and died upon the 2 of July 1566. in his Climacterical year of 63. having all his senses about him: His Disease was a Gout at first, which turned into a Dropsie; the time of his death it seemeth was known to him; for a friend of his witnesseth, that at the end of June in the said year he had writen with his own hand upon the Ephemerides of John Stavius these Latine words, Hic prope mors est; that is, near here is my death, and the day before his death that friend of his having waited on him till very late took his leave, saying, I shall see you again to morrow morning, you shall not see me alive when the Sun riseth, which proved true. He died a Roman Catholick, having received all his Sacraments, and was solemnly buried in the Church of the Franciscan Friers at Salon, on the left hand of the Church door, where his Widow erected him a Marble Table fastened in the Wall with this Epitaph, with his Figure to the Life, and his Arms above it.

He had a Brother named John Nostradamus, famous for several Works that he hath written, the Catalogue of which is in the Book of Mr. du Maine de la Croix, Intitled, the Library.

As for our Author, he hath left several Works, among which is a Book of Receits, for the preservation of health, Printed at Poitiers, in the year 1556.

Another concerning the means of beautifying the Face and the Body, that was Printed at Antwerp by Plantin in the year 1557. which he Dedicated to his Brother John Nostradamus, an Attorney at the Parliament of Aix.

Besides this, he Translated from Latine into French the Paraphases of Galen, upon the Exhortation of Menedotus, which was Printed at Lyon by Antony du Rhosne, in the year 1557.

But before we conclude, it will not be amiss to give some recreation to the Reader, by relating a merry passage that happened to Nostradamus being in Lorrain, for being in the Castle of Faim, belonging to the Lord of Florinville, and having in cure the Mother of the said Lord; it chanced one day that they both walking in the Yard, there was two little Piggs, one white, and the other black, whereupon the Lord enquired of Nostradamus in jest, what should become of these two Piggs? he answered presently, we shall eat the black, and the Wolf shall eat the white.

The Lord Florinville intending to make him a Lyar, did secretly command the Cook to dress the white for Supper; the Cook then killed the white, drest it, and spitted it ready to be rosted when it should be time; In the mean time having some business out of the Kitchin, a young tame Wolf came in, and eat up the Buttocks of the white Pig, that was ready to be rosted; the Cook coming in the mean time, and fearing least his Master should be angry, took the black one, killed it, and drest it, and offered it at Supper. Then the Lord thinking he had got the Victory, not knowing what was befallen, said to Nostradamus, well Sir, we are eating now the white Pigg, and the Wolf shall not touch it. I do not believe it (said Nostradamus) it is the black one that is upon the Table. Presently the Cook was sent for, who confessed the accident, the relation of which was as pleasing to them as any meat.

In the same Castle of Faim, he told many that in a little Hill that was near the Castle, there was a Treasure hidden, which should never be found, if it were sought with design, but that it should be discovered when the Hill should be digged for some other intent. There is a great probability in this prediction, for there was an ancient Temple built upon it, and when they dig there, many times several Antiquities are found. All France telleth several Histories foretold by the Author, but I am unwilling to write any thing without good warrant. His Stanza’s are sufficient to prove the extraordinary Talent he had in foretelling future things.

It is not unusual for Calumny to follow the best Wits, and those whom God hath endowed with so extraordinary Talent, upon weak and slight grounds. It is not also unusual for Men to side easier with calumny against innocent persons, then with those truths that justifie them; therefore no body ought to wonder, if Michael Nostradamus hath been so much cried down and defamed by several Authors, being in the number of those extraordinary persons, whom God had priviledged with that grace so much desired by curious Men, viz. the knowledge of future events.

Besides that, there was four things in him, which might have been the grounds of this diffamation.

The first was the vulgar life which he led in the Roman Catholik Religion, which seemed to bear no proportion with such an extraordinary favour of God.

The second was his application to judicial Astrology, which is condemned by many learned Men, and detested by those that pretend to ignorant devotion.

The third was a suspition brought by his enemies, and many devout persons in his time, that he was a Negromancer, and had familiarity with the Angel of darkness.

The fourth was the obscurity of his Stanza’s, which was made worse by the enormous faults of those that first Copied them, and by the carelesness of the Printers.

In consequence of the first Objection, calumny hath endeavoured to place him among the false Prophets, because scarce any body can persuade himself, that there being among the Faithful so many Illustrious persons in Holiness and Learning, the Holy Ghost would have made choice of a common person, and to reveal him so many rare secrets, concerning the future Estate of his Church, and of those Kingdoms that acknowledge her for their Mother, seeing that the Holy Scriptures shew us, that the knowledge of future things (chiefly if it be extraordinary in its extent) is a special Priviledge wherewith God honoureth his most faithful Servants.

And to say truth, when the Holy Fathers and the Interpreters of the Scripture speak of the Prerogatives of the Apostle St. John, they make the chiefest to be that by which being full of Prophetical Spirit, he foretold the future Estate of the Church; and in the Old Testament, so many Prophets were so many Miracles and Prodigies of Holiness, and the only name of Prophet in the Scripture is the most glorious Title that is given to those that were Gods most faithful Servants.

If we find in the Scripture that Balaam hath Prophesied notwithstanding his perfidiousness, and that the High Priest Caiaphas, notwithstanding his wicked design of murdering Christ, hath also Prophesied; it was only for a few things, and in such cases where God would singularly shew forth his Glory, by those that would have smothered it.

How can we then believe the same of Nostradamus, who had not so much as an extraordinary atom of Christian piety, by which he might have been so much priviledg’d of God, as to know by his Divine Light the future Estate of the Church, her Persecutions and her Victories from the year 1555. to the end of the World.

Can it be possible that a Physician, an Astrologer, and one of the common sort of people should have been chosen of God among so many thousands his betters, to impart unto him those Graces, which have been the reward of the purity and holiness of his Apostles, and of the faithfulness of St. John the Evangelist.

This seemeth altogether improbable to Christian piety.

Some are more moderate in the censuring of this Author, and being unwilling to call him maliciously a false Prophet, would have him to be a foolish Dreamer, who believed his own imaginations, and took pleasure in his own fancies, whence came that Latine Distick of the Poet Jodelle,

This Distick was so pleasing to the Wits of the times, that without further inquiry, since that time Nostradamus went for a Dreamer and a doting fool.

This opinion increased more and more by his making of many Almanacks, wherein every body may see how much he was taken with judicial Astrology; and we see often in his Stanza’s the decision of the times, by the conjunction of the Planets with the Signs, and by the Eclipses, whence sometimes he doth infer some events that were to happen.

But what did undo him most, was the covetousness of the Printers and Booksellers of his time, who seeing his Almanacks so well received, did set forth a thousand others under his name, that were full of lies and fopperies.

From that time the Author went for one of those poor Astrologers, who get their living by foretelling absurdities; and pretend to read in the Heavens, that which is only in their foolish imagination.

If the precedents have been moderate in their censure; others have been more severe in delivering their opinion, accusing him to have kept acquaintance with the Devil, as the Negromancers and other Prestigiators of the ancient times did.

The reason that made them think so is, that seeing so many things come to pass, just as the Author had foretold; they could not attribute it to the knowledge of judicial Astrology, nor to Divine Revelation, and consequently concluded, that it must of necessity come from Satan.

They could not attribute it to judicial Astrology, either because they had no opinion of it, or that the greatest defensors of that Astrology do agree among themselves, that it cannot reach so far as to foretell a thousand peculiar circumstances, which depend purely from the freedom of Men, such as proper names are, and the like, which nevertheless our Author did foretell.

They could neither attribute it to Divine Revelation, for the reasons alledged in the first objection; moreover, because he was accused of a thousand falsities and fopperies, Printed in those Almanacks that went falsly under his name, whence they concluded that it could not come by Divine Revelation, seeing that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Truth.

It followeth then (say they) that it must come from the Devil, by the help of the Black Art; the Lord Florimond de Raimond a very considerable Author, was of that opinion in his Book of the Birth of Heresies, Chap. 3.

As Fame doth increase by continuation of time, so doth calumny increase by the multiplicity of opinions, she was not contented to deflour slightly the Authors reputation, by making him pass for some sottish Dreamer, and to rank him amongst the false Prophets, by accusing him to meddle with the black Art, but must needs also sacrifice him to the infernal Furies, by making him the Prince of Seductors and Impostors, that ought to be banished out of every Common-wealth. The fondamental reason of this was the obscurity of his Stanza’s, where there was neither rime nor reason; the obscurity did proceed of abundance of gross faults, which the Copisters and Printers have inserted in them, from the omission of several words, from the changing and altering of others, and from the addition of some others, which did destroy the sense.

From this great obscurity, calumny draweth this argument, to ruine utterly the Author, charging him to be all at once a false Prophet, a dotish Dreamer, a Magician, and an infamous Seductor of people.

If God had inspired him what he hath written, he would have done it for the good of his Church and true Believers, seeing he never granteth this Prophetical Grace to any, but to that end as it appeareth in the Holy Scriptures.

This being so, what profit can any body draw from him, if the sense of his Stanza’s be so obscure, as not to be understood? and although it should be granted, that some accidents that have happened in Christendom, may sometimes be found in his Prophecies, what fruit hath the Church reaped of it, seeing that those accidents that were foretold, were never known, till they had come to pass, and that there was no avoiding of them?

It cannot therefore be believed, that God should have been the Author of his Predictions, but rather the Subtle Spirit of Satan, with whom he was acquainted by such like black Arts.

According to those four Objections, the Lord Sponde in the third Volume of his Annals, made him this Epitaph in the year 1566. Mortuus est hoc anno nugax ille toto orbe famosus Michael Nostradamus, qui se præscium & præsagum eventuum futurorum per astrorum influxum venditavit, sub cujus deinceps nomine quivis homines ingeniosi suas hujusmodi cogitationes protendere consueveruent, in quem valde apposite lusit qui dixit. Nostra damus cum falsa damus, &c. In English. In the year 1566. died that Trifler so famous through all the World, Michael Nostradamus who boasted while he lived, to know and foretell future things, by the knowledge he had of the influences of the Planets, under whose name afterwards many ingenious Men have vented their Imaginations, insomuch, that he that made that Distick, Nostra damus cum falsa damus, &c. seemeth to have very well said.

In consequence of these objections forged by calumny, Nostradamus name hath been so cried down, that I have thought me self oblidged to make his Apology, to give the greater credit to his Prophecy, the exposition of which I do here undertake, and to proove, that effectually he was enlightned by the Holy Ghost: first, by writting the History of his Life, as I have done in the beginning of this Book; Secondly, by answering to all the said Objections; Thirdly, by alledging the Elogies given him by several Grave and Authentical Authors.

First, I maintain that he was enlightned by the Holy Ghost, by an unanswerable reason, drawn out the Theology, but before we discourse of it, let us suppose that Nostradamus hath foretold many things, which absolutely depends from the free will of men, and cannot be known, neither by judicial Astrology, nor by Satan himself, such are for exemple the proper names of Persons, which nevertheless he doth in his Prophecies.

He nameth the Lord of Monluc, the Sprightful Gascon, the Captain Charry, his Camerade, the Lord de la Mole, Admiral of Henry the II. Galleys, Entragues, who was beheaded by order of Lewis the XIII. the Headsman of the Duke of Montmorency, named Clerepegne; the Bassa Sinan, destroyer of Hungary; the Murderer of Henry the III. named Clement; the Attorney David, the Captain Ampus; the Mayor of the City of Puy in Gelay, named Rousseau, under Henry the IV. Lewis Prince of Condé, under Francis II. Sixtus V. calling him the Son of Hamont; Gabrielle d’Estrée; the Lord Mutonis sent to Paris by those of Aix, under Charles the IX. the Lord Chancellor of France, named Antony de Sourdis; the Queen Leuise: Antony of Portugal: the Governour of Cazal under Henry II.

Secondly, The number of things is of the same nature: Nostradamus doth often calculate it; he reckoneth fourteen Confederates for the service of Henry IV. in the City of Puy: ten great Ships prosecuting extreamly the Admiral in the Battle of Lepanto: five Ships taken from the Spaniard by those of Diepe, under Henry II. nine hundred thousands Mores that went out of Spain under Henry IV. three hundred and fifty thousands killed under Charles IX. and Henry III. three saved at the taking of a Town in Hungary by the Turks: nine separated from the company of Seditious, that were to be put to death, three Princes of Turky Massacred, and the fourth being the youngest saved; thirty Conspirators upon London Bridge, against the Majesty of King Charles I. and such like.

Thirdly, We find in these Prophecies, the Prodigies that have no other causes in nature, then the meer will of God; such as Comets are, the casting of monstrous Fishes by the Sea upon the Land, the Armies in the Air, the speaking of Dogs, the birth of Monsters, and such like.

Fourthly, We find in those Prophecies those actions that are purely indifferent; for example, that the King of England did appear upon a Scaffold without his Doublet; that in the place where he was beheaded, another man had been killed three days before; that Libertat went a Hunting with a Greyhond, and a Blood-hond; that the two little Royals were conducted to St. Germain, rather then to any other place, and such like.

Fifthly, We find the Birth of several particular persons that were born after his death.

Sixthly, The Governments of Places given by the free will of Kings to such and such.

All these things cannot be known by judicial Astrology, seeing that in Heaven there is neither Names, nor Numbers, nor extraordinary Prodigies: seeing also that judicial Astrology presupposeth the Birth of persons, that one may foretel their future actions; the same things are also unknown to Satan, for the Angelical species know nothing of individual things, but under the notion of possible, and not of future.

Whence I conclude with this irrefragable Argument, that the Author hath known many several things that are not written in the Heavenly Book, nor represented to him by Angelical Species, therefore he hath known them from God himself.

The Author himself in his Epistle to his Son Cæsar Nostradamus confesseth, that he hath foretold many things by Divine Virtue and Inspiration.

And a little after he saith, that the knowledge of those things, which meerly depends from free will, cannot be had either by humane auguries, nor by any other humane knowledge, nor by any secret virtue that belongeth to sublunary things, but only by a Light, belonging to the Order of Eternity.

This is not a small Argument, to confirm what we have said, and to prove that the Author hath evidently been conscious, that his knowledge came from Heaven, and that Gods goodness did him that grace; for having rejected and abhorred other means, that Impostors make use of for foretelling something.

He writteth all these things of himself: First, in his Liminary Epistle to his Son Cæsar, he conjureth him, that when he should go about to study the foretelling of future things by Astrology, to avoid all kind of Magick, prohibited by the Holy Scripture, and the Canons of the Church; and to encourage him the more to it, he relateth what happened to him, viz. that having been Divinely enlightned, and fully persuaded that God only can give the knowledge of future things, which absolutely depends of the free will of men, he did burn abundance of Writings, wherein was taught the Art of Prophecying, and as they were a burning, there came out a great flame, which was like (he thought) to burn his House all to ashes, by which accident he understood the falsity of such Writings, and that the Devil was vexed to see his plots discovered; besides that, he confesseth that being the greatest Sinner of the World, nevertheless he got that favour from Heaven by a Divine Inspiration; and because no body should doubt of it, he learnedly expoundeth wherein consisteth that inspired Revelation, he saith that it is, A participation of the Eternal Divinity, by which we come to judge of what the Holy Ghost imparteth to us; by that participation of Eternity, the Author doth not understand a communication of the continuance of the Divine being, but a participation of the Divine knowledge, measured by its Eternity, as the Schools terms it.

Effectively, the Author compareth this participation to a glistering flame, which createth a new day in our understanding, which flame proceeding from Gods infinite knowledge, who seeth and comprehendeth what is Eternity, doth impart unto us what is inclosed in the volubility of the Heavens.

After this testimony, which wholly destroyeth the Sinister opinions that men had of his Prophecies, he sheweth how Judicial Astrology may agree with the knowledge of that which proceedeth from a Prophetical Spirit.

It is true, saith he, that sometimes God imparteth this Light not only to the unlearned, and to his Holy Prophets, but also to those that are versed in Judicial Astrology, making that instrumental for the confirmation of his inspired truths: As we see that natural Sciences, help the light of the Faith, and make a certain disposition in the mind fitter then ordinary, to receive those Divine impressions.

Thus (saith he) in the beginning of the Epistle, God did supernaturaly inspire me, not by any Bacchick fury, nor by Lymphatical motions, as he did the Sybilles; but by Astronomical assertions; that is to say, that God gave him that grace, not by any Extasy, but by studying those rules, which Astrology teacheth.

The same things he saith again a little after in this manner: the Astrologer being in his Study, and consulting the Astronomical Rules upon the motions of the Heavens, the Conjunction and several Aspects of the Planets, he guesseth at some future events, of which being not certain, this Divine Light riseth in his mind, and imparteth clearly to him what he knew before, only Ænigmatically and obscurely, and in the shade of that natural light.

Sometimes also (saith he) this Light cometh the first into the Astrologers mind, and he afterwards comparing the thing revealed unto him with the Astronomical rules, he seeth that they do wholly agree together; and this is the method that he hath made use of, to know whether the inspired truths were agreeing with the Astronomical Calculations; a method that he hath made use of some times, but not always, for he hath foretold many things, which he could not read in the Heavens.

By these testimonies of the Author himself, every one may see how he made use of Judicial Astrology, and wherefore he studied it so much; how far his knowledge did extend; the glory he giveth to God alone, for his Prophetical knowledge; what horrour he hath always had against unlawful means to attain unto it; how much he did value that Grace, considering his unworthiness; and the manner how the Lord was pleased to gratifie him.

Let us see now what calumny pretendeth for the obscuring this Prophet of our days; the knowledge of future things (saith she) is a priviledge belonging to the Saints, and to those whom God hath endowed with an eminent vertue. I acknowledge, it is so commonly, and in the ordinary way of Grace, but if God be pleased to impart that priviledge to those that have not attained to that Degree of Holiness, and that it really appeareth by the reasons of Theologie, that they have been gratified with it, we are bound to admire his Royal bounty, which giveth when, and to whom he pleaseth: for example, no body deserveth to be a Marshal of France, but he that hath been in several Battles, and at the taking of many Towns; but if the King be pleased to honour with that Dignity a Gentleman that never Warred but against the Deer, the Kings goodness is to be praised, which extendeth even to those that have not deserved it; it is the same reason here, it is visibly apparent that Nostradamus hath been enlightned by the Holy Ghost, and yet he hath not imitated the lifes of those great Saints of the Church: what can be inferred from thence, but that it was Gods pleasure to extend his bounty upon his poor Creatures, which is easie to be granted in this point, because the gift of Prophecy is not a sanctifying Grace, but a supernatural gift, of which a sinner is capable of, as we see in Balaam, Caiaphas, and the Sybilles, and much more in a Christian, who observeth Gods Commandments, and endeavoureth to keep himself in his Grace.

But (saith calumny) Christian piety seemeth to be repugnant to this Divine disposition, seeing that in Nostradamus time, there were thousands in the Church of God that were capable of this favour, and to prefer to them a Physitian, an Astrologer, and an Almanack-maker, is a thing that the Wits cannot apprehend so well, as to frame a good opinion for this Author.

Hold there Reader, do not enter into the Sanctuary of Gods secret Judgements, you should loose you self, and never find the way out: how many such questions might I ask you? why did God in former times chuse the Family and person of David, and preferred it to so many others of the Children of Israel? why did Christ raise Judas to the dignity of an Apostle, preferring him before Nathaniel, and so many others that lived Holily.

Bring therefore no more such questions, but say with the Scripture, As it pleased the Lord, so it was done: I will nevertheless give you some satisfaction in that point. There was two things in the Author which might have procured that blessing from God.

The first is, that having in his possession those writtings which promised the knowledge of future things, to which he was much inclined, he slighted and burnt them, being persuaded that God alone was the Author of this Grace; I do esteem that action very Heroical in its circumstance, because being inticed by a vehement curiosity to know future things, and having in his hand the means that opened the way to it, he did Sacrifice them to God, for which perhaps God was willing to gratifie him with this favour.

The second thing that was in Nostradamus is, that he had naturally a Genius for the knowing of future things, as himself confesseth in two Epistles to King Henry the II. and to Cæsar his own Son, and besides that Genius, the knowledge of Astrology, did smooth him the way to discover many future events. Having those two things, he had a greater disposition then others to receive those Supernatural Lights; and as God is pleased to work sweetly in his Creatures, and to give some forerunning dispositions to those Graces he intendeth to bestow, it seemeth that to that purpose he did chuse our Author to reveal him so many wonderful secrets.

We see every day that God in the distributing of his Graces carrieth himself towards us, according to our humours and natural inclinations, he employeth those that have a generous and Martial heart for the defence of his Church, and the destruction of Tyrants; he leadeth those of a melancholick humour into Colledges and Cloisters, and cherisheth tenderly, those that are of meek and mild disposition; even so, seeing Nostradamus inclined to this kind of knowledge, he gave him in a great measure the grace of it.

We shall not have much to say to these more moderate persons, seeing that we have already given the reason of it, viz. the covetousness of the Booksellers and Printers, who made use of the Authors name, for the better sale of their false Almanacks, therefore if Jodelle the Poet grounded upon this opinion, made that Satyrical Distick.

We answer him,

Or thus

The more doth Calumny lift up her self against this great man, the weaker are her arguments, like the smoke which is so much the easier dissipated, as it ascendeth higher.

Her reason is impertinent in this distributive argument, he hath known those things (saith she) which he could not know by the Planets, and he had them not from God, therefore he had them from Satan.

And we answer this argument in the same way, he hath known those things which he could not know by the Planets, nor by Satan, therefore he had them from God; this Argument is concluding, but that of calumny halteth, for it ought to have proved that he had not his knowledge from God, and that all those things he hath known may be known to Satan, which two things we have manifestly proved to be false, therefore if the Lord Florimond de Raimond was alive, I believe he would correct what he hath written against him.

The Weapons of this Medusa are sharper in this point then in others, therefore our Buckler accordingly must be of the best mettle and temper.

We cannot deny but Nostradamus hath affected obscurity, himself acknowledgeth it in his two Epistles, in that to Cæsar his son, he saith, he hath done it, not only because of the times wherein he lived, but also by reason of those that were to follow, in the times wherein he lived the Case was as it is now, Veritas odium parit, and this hatred in powerful men is prejudicial to those that speak the Truth, he was also cautious in that, by reason of the times following; for if he had plainly declared what he meant, the Wits would have laughed at it, and would not have believed those strange revolutions that came to pass, and which our Author had foretold. In his Epistle to Henry the II he telleth him, that he doth purposely make use of obscure terms to express his mind, for the reasons before alledged.

Now Calumny saith, that this affectation of obscurity is a sign that God was not the Author of his Knowledge, seeing that by this obscurity they have proved unprofitable to the Church.

I answer first, that the consequence is false; for the Holy Prophets have spoken so obscurely, that a great part of what they had Prophecied was not known till after it had come to pass.

I answer secondly, that although Prophecies were not understood till after the fulfilling thereof, it doth not follow that they were unprofitable; because by their fulfilling in due time, we gather, that he who revealed them was the true God, Lord of times and Eternity, and therefore being the God of Israel, and of the Christians, he ought to be worshiped. By this principle Cyrus and Alexander knew the true God, Cyrus by having seen the Prophecies of Isaiah, and Alexander those of Daniel.

Therefore as the Prophecies of the Saints have not been fruitless, though not understood till they were fulfilled, even so we must not infer that Nostradamus’s Prophecies have been useless, though they have remained in obscurity so long a while.

Besides, there is no doubt but Nostradamus having Prophecied so many several things that are come to pass, but that hereafter when the Heathen shall see it they shall glorifie God, and shall acknowledge a true Religion, as did Cyrus, who many Authors believe to have obtained Salvation.

I answer in the third place, that God permitteth ordinarily that Prophecies lie long in the dark, and then raiseth the Spirit of some men to expound them, as he did that of Daniel to interpret the 70 Weeks of the Babylonian Captivity, Prophecied by Jeremiah, to incourage the faithful three ways.

First, in shewing them, that if the first Prophecies have been punctually fulfilled, the rest will likewise come to pass, seeing the same God hath dictated them.

Secondly, in unfolding to them the future wonders, of which they shall be partakers.

Thirdly, in giving warning how they may attain to them, and shew those accidents that might be an hindrance. Thus God did permit, that for the space of 100. years Nostradamus Prophecies should lie in darkness, and be contemned, but after that time God will raise some body to interpret them, whence the faithful seeing so many things foretold come to pass so exactly, will incourage one another by seing so many wonderful prodigies, of whom they shall be Eye Witnesses.

As for my part I have undertaken this Work, only to authorise the wonders that shall be seen in our days, and to invite the Christian Princes to the same design.

The conclusion of this discourse is, that our Medusa Calumny, must needs retreat in her dens, and that we ought to forgive those Authors that have spoken so ill of our Author, seing they wanted the Intelligence of his Prophecies, and that the Church did suspend the authorising of them.

We have (thanks be to God) sheltered this famous man from the back-biting of Calumny, but that we may clear wholly the Heaven of this reputation, we add this Chapter more for the clearing of some words that are in his Epistles, which seem to contradict some of those things we have said; the Author in his Epistles to his Son Cæsar, after he had said that God had disposed him to receive thy impression of supernatural lights, not by a Bacchant furor, nor by a Lymphatical motion, but by Astronomical assertions, he saith in the same Epistle towards the end; That sometimes in the Week being surprised by a Lymphatick humor, and making his Nocturnal Studies sweet by his calculations, he made Books of Prophecies, each one containing a hundred Astronomical Stanza’s, which he endeavoured to set out something obscurely, from which words it might be gathered, that he made his Prophecies by a Lymphatical Spirit, and by the only judicial Astrology.

And in the Epistle to King Henry the II. he seemeth to confess, that his Prophecie is nothing but a natural Genius, which he had by Inheritance from his Ancestors.

To these difficulties I answer, supposing first that anciently those were called Lymphaticks, who were mad for Love; because the first that was observed among the Ancients to be mad with that passion, threw himself into the water, which in Latine is called Lympha, whence all those that were afterwards transported with the excess of any passion, either of Love, Melancholy, Choler or Envy, have been called Lymphaticks.

So that in this place a Lymphatical motion is nothing properly but a deep Melancholy, which separating us from all Earthly things, doth transport the mind to extraordinary thoughts either good or bad.

This being suposed, I say that the Author confesseth, that his retreat, solitariness, nocturnal Watchings, and Melancholy, have disposed him much to the receiving of that Heavenly flame, which is the cause of Vaticination and Prophecie.

And because he did often spend the whole nights in this study, this Nocturnal retreat caused in him a retirement from all worldly things, at which time he felt a Divine elevating Virtue, that raised his understanding to those Divine Knowledges.

And because this elevating Vertue was caused in him by Divine operation, he doth attribute always his Prophecies to God alone; and by reason that this elevation hath some resemblance with that of the Lymphaticks, he saith, that sometimes he did Lymphatise not properly speaking, but by resemblance.

So that it is true, our Author did not receive his Prophecies by Lymphatical motion, or Bacchant furie, but from God himself, who did work in him while he observed his Astronomical assertions; and it is also true, that he felt this Divine operation by a kind of a Lymphatical motion.

Concerning what he saith to Henry the II. it is certain he maketh use of that Language as much by a motive of Truth to conceal that Grace which he had received from God, as of Humility.

By a Motive of Truth, because effectually; because all the Nostradamus’s had some tincture of Prophecie, and his Son the Capucin acknowledgeth it himself.

By a Motive of Humility; because acknowledging himself to be a miserable sinner, and seeing that this gift of Prophecie was not ordinarily granted but unto Saints. He chuseth rather to attribute his Prophecies to his Genius, than otherways to procure a Fame and Authority to his predictions.

In confirmation of what we have said, That he was often in that transport, many years before his death he made the Stanza of the Century, in which is contained all the great Works of the Philosophers, and foretelleth, that a great Divine shall attain to the perfection of that great Work, which Divine is called, the Divine Verbe, turning into French the Word θεολογος, which signifieth Divine Word or Verb. Nevertheless he never wrought himself at that Work, but got his living Honourably by his practise of Physick, by which we may see, that he did write some things which himself understood not, unless they were such general ones, as might be read in the Heavens.

If several Authors either by envy or ignorance have defamed our Author, others of no shall repute have taken his defence in hand.

D’Aurat one of the most excellent Poets of France, living at the same time as Nostradamus, made a few explications of his Prophecies, which as the report goes, did please the Readers. I am sorry I could not get them, it would have been some ease to me; for it is easier to add than to invent. The first Volume of the Lord la Croix du Main, maketh honourable mention of him, the same saith, that his Motto was Felix Oviam prior Ætas, Happy the first Age that was contented with their Flock, shewing by that, what esteem he had of frugality and sincerity of manners, and what aversion he had against the Vices of his Age, the unruliness of manners, and cousenage of men. Ronsard the Prince of the French Poets singeth his praises: The Lord Boucher in that great Volume, intitled the Mistical Crown, in favour of the future Croisade, doth vindicate our Author from Calumny, and expoundeth some of his Prophecies pretty happily.

I will not relate here what his Son Cæsar Nostradamus writeth modestly of him in his History of Provence, under Lewis the XII. Henry the II. and Charles the IX. his Evidence may be suspected, because of the Consanguinity.

One of the greatest Wits of this last Age, who desireth to be nameless, giveth him this Character.

First, That God Almighty hath chosen Michael Nostradamus among the common sort of Christians, to impart unto him the knowledge of many prodigious and extraordinary future things.

Secondly, He maintaineth, that after the Apostles and Canonical Prophets, he is the first of all in three things, in his certainty and infallibility, in the generality and in the quantity. As to the first, he doth not doubt but the Abbot Joachim ought to give him place; for though he hath foretold some things that have come to pass, he hath written a hundred others which are meer fopperies.

Thirdly, He maintaineth that the Emperour Leo in his prophetical Tables is far below him; for he doth only aim at those things which regard the Eastern Empire, as Theophrastus Paracelsus hath done for the Western.

Concerning the quantity of things, he maintaineth, that none of the others can dispute it with him; for Nostradamus hath made above a thousand stanza’s (if we had them all) each of which containeth two or three prophetical Truths, some of which regard the East, others the West, others some private Kingdoms and States others private and particular things, and all with Truth and certainty.

The Author in his Epistle to King Henry the II. saith, that he treateth of things which were to happen in many Cities and Towns of Europe, and of a part of Asia and Africa.

And to say Truth, I have found nothing in them concerning the East or West, Jappan or China.

He treateth chiefly of France as of his Native Kingdom, and of his own Countrey Provence, and that which is next to it, viz. Piemont.

He speaketh amply of the Popes, and of Italy, Turky and England: As for the Empire Spain, and Suedeland, he doth moderately speak of them. Concerning Æthiopia and Africa there is some nine or ten Stanza’s.

In all those places he foretelleth many things, not only general for every State, but also particular and individual for several persons. He also foretelleth many supernatural prodigies in the Heavens, the Air, the Sea, and the Land.

He hath inserted among his Prophecies four Horoscopes, the first of the Grandfather of the Lord l’Ainier in the Province of Anjou; the second of one called Urnel Vausile; the third of one Cosme du Jardin; and the fourth of one, whom he nameth not, but describeth him by his stature.

It is certain that they began in January 1555. because he dedicated the first seven Centuries to his Son Cæsar the first day of March in the said year, and consequently they were made before that time, and we cannot allow less than two Months to an Author for the making of 700. Stanza’s: Nevertheless for a greater manifestation of his prophetical Spirit, I have not found any of his Prophecies that did come to pass before the first of March 1555.

As for the Eight, Ninth and Ten Century, there is reason to believe, that the effect of them doth not begin before the 27 June 1558. which is the date of his Liminary Epistle to Henry the II. Nevertheless he saith in the same Epistle, that in a writing by it self he will set down the exposition of his Prophecies, beginning the 14 of March 1557. and in the Epistle to Nostradamus his Son, he saith in general that he hath composed Books of Prophecies, each one containing one hundred Stanza’s, without specifying whether he spoke of the seven that he dedicated to him, or of all the others.

As for my part, I believe he had made them all in the year 1555. but that he had not yet examined the three last Centuries, according to the Calculation of his Astronomical assertions, as he seemeth to indicate often in his Epistle to Henry II. and to say the truth, I have found some Stanza’s, which were fulfilled before the year 1558. though very few.

As for the extent of his Prophecies, it is certain, that it is to the end of the World, as I shall make it appear in the explication of the 48, the 49, and 56. Stanza’s of the first Century, and the 72, 73, and 94. of the tenth, and all according to the Holy Scripture.

All these things being premised, we shall proceed to the explication of the Prophecies, setting first the Authors Luminary Epistle to his Son.

Thy late coming, Cæsar Nostradamus, my son, hath caused me to bestow a great deal of time in continual and nocturnal watchings, that I might leave a Memorial of me after my death, to the common benefit of Mankind, concerning the things which the Divine Essence hath revealed to me by Astronomical Revolutions; and since it hath pleased the immortal God, that thou are come late into this World, and canst not say that thy years that are but few, but thy Months are incapable to receive into thy weak understanding, what I am forced to define of futurity, since it is not possible to leave thee in Writing, what might be obliterated by the injury of times, for the Hereditary word of occult prædictions shall be lockt up in my brest, considering also that the events are definitely uncertain, and that all is governed by the power of God, who inspired us not by a Bacchant fury or Lymphatick motion, but by Astronomical affections. Soli numine Divino afflati præsagiunt & Spiritu Prophetico particularia: Although I have often foretold long before what hath afterwards come to pass, and in particular Regions, acknowledging all to have been done by Divine Vertue and Inspiration, being willing to hold my peace by reason of the injury, not onely of the present time, but also of the future, and to put them in Writing, because the Kingdoms, Sects, and Regions shall be so Diametrically opposed, that if I should relate what shall happen hereafter, those of the present Reign, Sect, Religion and Faith, would find it so disagreeing with their fances, that they would condemn that which future Ages shall find and know to be true; considering also the saying of our Saviour, Nolite Sanctum dare canibus ne conculcent pedibus & conversi discumpant vos, which hath been the cause that I have withdrawn my tongue from the Vulgar, and my Pen from Paper. But afterwards I was willing for the common good to enlarge my self in dark and abstruse Sentences, declaring the future Events, chiefly the most urgent, and those which I foresaw (what ever humane mutation happened) would not offend the hearers, all under dark figures more then Prophetical, for although, Abscondisti hæc a sapientibus & prudensibus, i. e. potentibus & Regibus enucleasti ea exiguis & tennibus, and the Prophets by means onely of the immortal God and good Angels, have received the Spirit of Vaticination, by which they foresee things, and foretel future events; for nothing is perfect without him, whose power and goodness is so great to his Creatures, that though they are but men, nevertheless by the likeness of our good Genius to the Angels, this heat and Prophetical power draws near us, as it happens by the Beams of the Sun, which cast their influence both on Elementary and not Elementary bodies; as for us who are men, we cannot attain any thing by our natural knowledge, of the secrets of God our Creator. Quia non est nostrum nosse tempora nec momenta, &c.

Besides, although there is, or may come some persons, to whom God Almighty will reveal by impressions made on his understanding some secrets of the future, according to the Judicial Astrology, as it hath happened in former times, that a certain power and voluntary faculty possessed them as a flame of fire, so that by his inspiration, they were able to judge of Divine and Humane things: for the Divine works that are absolutely necessary, God will end. But my son, I speak to thee too obscurely; but as for the secrets that are received by the subtle Spirit of fire, by which the understanding being moved, doth contemplate the highest Celestial Bodies, as being active and vigilant to the very pronunciation without fear, or any shameful loquacity: all which proceeded from the Divine Power of the Eternal God, from whom all goodness floweth. Now my son, although I have inserted the name of Prophet here, I will not attribute to my self so sublime a Title, for qui Propheta dicitur hodie olim vocabatur videns, and Prophets are those properly (my Son) that see things remote from the natural knowledge of Men; but put the case, the Prophets by the means of the perfect light of Prophecy, may see as well Divine things as Humane, (which cannot be seeing the effects of future predictions) do extend a great way, for the secrets of God are incomprehensible, and the efficient power moveth afar off the natural knowledge, taking their beginning at the free will, cause those things to appear, which otherwise could not be known, neither by humane auguries, or any hidden knowledge or secret virtue under Heaven, but only by the means of some indivisible Eternal being, or Comitial and Herculean agitation, the causes come to be known by the Cœlestial motion. I say not therefore my Son, that you may not understand me well, because the knowledge of this matter cannot yet be imprinted in thy weak brain, but that future causes afar off are subject to the knowledge of humane Creatures, if (notwithstanding the Creature) things present and future were neither obscure nor hidden from the intellectual seal; but the perfect knowledge of the cause of things, cannot be acquired without the Divine Inspiration, seeing that all Prophetical Inspiration received, hath its original principle from God the Creator, next, from good Luck, and afterwards from Nature, therefore cases indifferently produced or not produced, the Prophecy partly happens where it hath been foretold, for the understanding being intellectually created, cannot see occult things, unless it be by the voice coming from the Lymbo, by the means of the thin flame, to which the knowledge of future causes is inclined; and also my Son I intreat thee not to bestow thy understanding on such fopperies, which drie up the Body and damn the Soul, bringing vexation to the Senses; chiefly abhor the vanity of the execrable Magick, forbidden by the Sacred Scriptures, and by the Canons of the Church; in the first of which is excepted Judicial Astrology, by which, and by the means of Divine Inspiration, with continual supputations, we have put in writting our Prophecies. And although this occult Philosophy was not forbidden, I could never be persuaded to meddle with it, although many Volums concerning that Art, which hath been concealed a great while, were presented to me; but fearing what might happen, after I had read them, I presented them to Vulcan, who while he was a devouring them, the flame mixing with the Air, made an unwonted light more bright then the usual flame, and as if it had been a Lightning, shining all the house over, as if it had been all in a flame; therefore that henceforth you might not be abused in the search of the perfect Transformation, as much selene as solar, and to seek in the waters uncorruptible mettal; I have burnt them all to ashes, but as to the judgement which cometh to be perfected by the help of the Cœlestial Judgement, I will manifest to you, that you may have knowledge of future things, rejecting the fantastical imaginations that should happen by the limiting the particularity of Places; by Divine inspiration, supernatural, according to the Cœlestial figures, the places, and a part of the time, by an occult, property, and by a Divine virtue, power and faculty, in the presence of which the three times are comprehended by Eternity, revolution being tyed to the cause that is past, present, and future, Quia omnia sunt Nuda & aperta, &c. therefore my Son, thou mayst notwithstanding thy tender brain comprehend things that shall happen hereafter, and may be foretold by cœlestial natural lights, and by the Spirit of Prophecy; not that I will attribute to my self the name of a Prophet, but as a mortal man, being no farther from Heaven by my sence, then I am from Earth by my Feet, possum errare, falli, decipi; I am the greatest Sinner of the World, subject to all humane afflictions, but being supprised sometimes in the week by a Prophetical humour, and by a long Calculation, pleasing my self in my Study, I have made Books of Prophecies, each one containing a hundred Astronomical Stanza’s, which I have joyned obscurely, and are perpetual Vaticinations from this year to the year 3797. at which some perhaps will frown, seeing so large an extention of time, and that I treat of every thing under the Moon, if thou livest the natural Age of a Man, thou shalt see in thy Climat, and under the Heaven of thy Nativity the future things that have been foretold, although God only is he who knoweth the Eternity of his Light, proceeding from himself; and I say freely to those to whom his incomprehensible greatness hath by a long melancholick inspiration revealed, that by the means of this occult cause Divinely manifested, chiefly by two principal causes, which are comprehended in the understanding of him that is Inspired and Prophecyeth, one is that he cleareth the supernatural Light in the person that foretelleth by the Doctrine of the Planets, and Prophecyeth by inspired Revelation, which is a kind of participation of the Divine Eternity, by the means of which the Prophet judgeth of what the Divine Spirit hath given him by the means of God the Creatour, and by a natural instigation, viz. that what is predicted is true, and hath taken its original from above, and such light and small flame is of all efficacy and sublimity, no less then the natural light makes the Philosophers so secure, that by the means of the principles of the first cause, they have attained the greatest depth of the profoundest science; but that I may not wander too far (my Son) from the capacity of thy sense, as also, because I find that Learning would be at a great loss, and that before the universal Conflagration shall happen so many great Inundations, that there shall scarce be any Land, that shall not be covered with water, and this shall last so long, that except Ænographies and Topographies all shall perish, also before and after these Inundations in many Countreys there shall be such scarcety of rain, and such a deal of fire, and burning stones shall fall from Heaven, that nothing unconsumed shall be left, and this shall happen a little while before the great conflagration; for although the Planet Mars makes an end of his course, and is come to the end of his last Period, nevertheless he shall begin it again, but some shall be gathered in Aquarius for many years, others in Cancer also for many years, and now we are governed by the Moon, under the power of Almighty God; which Moon before she hath finished her Circuit, the Sun shall come, and then Saturn, for according to the Cœlestial Signs, the Reign of Saturn shall come again, so that all being Calculated, the World draws near to an Anaragonick revolution, and at this present that I write this before 177. years, three Months, eleven Days, through Pestilence, Famine, War, and for the most part Inundations, the World between this and that prefixed time, before and after for several times shall be so diminished, and the people shall be so few, that they shall not find enough to Till the Ground, so that they shall remain fallow as long as they have been Tilled; although we be in the seventh Millenary, which ends all and brings us near the eighth, where the Firmament of the eighth Sphere is, which in a Latitudinary dimention is the place where the great God shall make an end of the revolution, where the Cœlestial Bodies shall begin to move again. By that Superiour motion that maketh the Earth firm and stable, non inclinabitur in seculum seculi, unless his will be accomplished, and not otherwise; although by ambiguous opinions exceeding all natural reasons by Mahometical Dreams, also sometimes God the Creator by the Ministers of his Messengers of fire and flame shows to our external senses, and chiefly to our eyes, the causes of future Predictions, signifying the future Event, that he will manifest to him that Prophecyeth for the Prophecy that is made by the Internal Light, comes to judge of the thing, partly with and by the means of External Light, for although the party which seemeth to have by the eye of understanding, what it hath not by the Lœsion of its imaginative sense, there is no reason why what he foretelleth should come by Divine Inspiration, or by the means of an Angelical Spirit, inspired into the Prophetick person, annointing him with vaticination, moving the fore part of his fancy, by divers nocturnal apparitions, so that by Astronomical administration, he Prophecyeth with a Divine certitude, joyned to the Holy prediction of the future, having no other regard then to the freedom of his mind. Come now my Son, and understand what I find by my revolutions, which are agreeing with the Divine Inspiration, viz. that the Swords draws near to us now, and the Plague and the War more horrid then hath been seen in the Life of three Men before, as also by Famine, which shall return often, for the Stars agree with the revolution, as also he said visitabo in virgâ ferreà iniquitates eorum & in verberibus percutiam eos, for the Mercies of God shall not be spread a while, my Son, before most of my Prophecies shall come to pass; then oftentimes shall happen sinister storms, (Conteram ergo (said the Lord) & confringam & non miserebor) and a thousand other accidents that shall happen by Waters and continual Rains, as I have more fully at large declared in my other Prophecies, written in solutâ oratione, limiting the places, times and prefixed terms, that men coming after, may see and know that those accidents are certainly come to pass, as we have marked in other places, speaking more clearly, although the explication be involved in obscurity, sed quando submovenda erit ignorantia, the case shall be made more clear; making an end here, my Son, accept of this Gift of thy Father Michael Nostradamus, hoping to expound to thee every Prophecy of these Stanza’s, praying to the Immortal God, that he would grant thee a long Life in Felicity.

From Salon this 1. of March 1555.

In this Stanza, Nostradamus expresseth those Humane dispositions which he made use of to be favoured of God, for the knowledge of future things, to the benefit of the Publick.

[2]

The first Disposition, was the tranquility of Mind, when he saith, Sitting by night; Because a troubled Mind cannot see clearly the Things it is busie about, no more than tossed Waters can distinctly represent the Objects that are opposed to them. Thus we read in the Scripture, that the Prophet Elishah, being transported with Zeal against Joram King of Israel; and nevertheless willing to consult God concerning the event of the Warr against the Moabites, called for a Minstrel, that the Harmony of the Instrument might quiet his Mind, as it did happen. And it came to pass when the Minstrel played, that the Hand of the Lord came upon him, 2 Kings chap. 3. ver. 15.

The Author in his Dedicatory Epistle to his Son Cæsar, calleth this Tranquility of Mind, A long Melancholick Inspiration; because the Melancholick Humour and Mind sequestreth a Man from the concerns of worldly things, and maketh him present to himself, so that his Understanding is not darkned by a multitude of Species that troubles its Operation.

The Second Disposition, was, the Silence of the Night; For Man who is compounded of Body and Soul, doth notably intricate himself in External things by the commerce of the Senses with the Objects; which obligeth him to withdraw himself from visible things, when he intends to apply himself to some serious Study. And as the silence of the Night causeth in the Universe a cessation of noises and clashings in Business, Visits and Colloquies, the Mind is then more at rest. Besides that, Night covering with her Darkness our Hemisphere, our Senses are less distracted, and our Internal Faculties are more united to serve the Operations of the Understanding.

Therefore the Author in his two Liminary Epistles, makes often mention of his continual Nocturnal Watchings, of his Sweet-smelling nocturnal Studies, and of his Nocturnal and Prophetical Calculations.

The Third Disposition, was Solitariness; that is, having no other Conversation then that of his Books, being retired in his Study, Alone. For it seemeth that God commonly maketh use of Solitariness when he doth impart himself to Men, and revealeth them his Oracles: And the Sybils were chosen to be Prophets, as much for their Solitariness, as for their Chastity.

The Author saith, that with those three Dispositions he raised himself to the knowledge of future things; which is signified by those words, Resting upon the Brazen Stool. Servius in his Commentaries upon Virgil, speaking of this Brazen Stool, saith two things of it. The First, that this Stool was a Table set upon a Trevet, called by the Greeks τρίπους, and by the Latines Tripus. The Second is, that the Sybils, or the Priests of the Delphick Temple of Apollo, got upon that Table, when they went about to pronounce their Oracles. Pliny, in his 33. Book, Chap. 3. saith, that they called those Tables Cortinas, and that some were made of Brass for the use aforesaid.

From the use of that Brazen Trevet is come the Proverb, Ex tripode loqui. When one speaketh like an Oracle. Thus the Author willing to express, that being in his Study in the solitariness of the Night, he raised himself to the Knowledge of Future things, to write them, and transmit them to Posterity; he saith, He was sitting or resting upon the Brazen Stool.

Thus raising himself, and taking his Pen in hand to write what he should learn, he saith in the Third Verse, that A slight Flame, or small Light did insinuate it self in his understanding, by whose splendor and brightness he saw future things.

The Author in his Epistle to Cæsar his Son, expoundeth always this Prophetical Light, by the comparison of a shining Flame, and calleth it rather a Flame than a pure Light, because this Light doth not only discover the Mysteries, but more-over it lightens in us a certain Heat and Prophetical Power, as himself terms it; as if we should say a Sacred Enthusiasm, even (saith he) as the Sun coming near us with his Light, not only darteth upon all Elementary things the brightness of his Beams, but withal infuseth in them a certain quickning heat, which causeth the Vegetables to grow, and[3] upholdeth the Being of all other natural things; Even so (saith he) this good Genius, as the Ancients term it; or as we Christians say, that Divine Spirit of Prophecy coming near our understandings, not only importeth a Light to them, but more-over a certain heat and Prophetical Power, which strenghteneth them in the knowledge of the aforesaid things, and causeth them to breath out, as by a Sacred Enthusiasm some Prophetical Verses.

Which happeneth to them (saith the Author) coming out of Solitude, that is to say, when their Spirit stoopeth down, and by degrees cometh down from that sublime Region and high elevation, taking the Pen to write down the future time. Therefore he with his dispositions participating of that slight flame, coming out of his solitude, began to write and to utter, What is not in vain to believe.

The things that the Author hath written, shall not be unprofitable as we have proved already, and the time will come, when by the means of Divine Providence the Church shall receive the fruit thereof, at which we ought not to wonder, seeing that God saith of himself in Isaiah Chap. 48. Ver. 17. I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit.

The Author foretelleth many wonders, of which we ought to be certain by the verification of those that are already past, seeing that it is the same Spirit that shewed them all.

The same Prophecies are also profitable, in that every where the Author condemneth Seditious and Rebellious persons, and Prophecieth the Churches Victory over her Enemies.

They are also profitable for particular Men that understand the meaning of them, for by it they may provide for their own business, according to the storm, undertaking nothing but upon sure grounds, following always the best party, and disposing themselves to patience, when the calamities are general, and involve together the guilty and guiltless. Therefore our Author saith well, A slight flame breaking forth out of that solitude, makes me utter what is not in vain to believe.

Amongst the customs, the Ancients observed, before they pronounced their Oracles; one was to take a Tuffie Branch of Laurel, and with it dipt in water, to sprinkle the edges and Columns of the Table, that was upon the Brazen Trevet, by which ceremonies they procured credit to their Oracles.

The Author willing to let us know, that his Verses were not only a simple writing,[4] but also Prophetical and full of Oracles, doth represent them to us by this Metaphore of the Ancients, when they did amuse the people with their ambiguous, and many times fallacious Oracles.

Being then sitting and quiet in his solitariness; coming out of that great devotion of mind, animated by the virtue of his good Genius, he putteth first the Rod into his hand, that is the Pen, and putteth it in the middle of the Branches, putting it between his Fingers. Secondly he dippeth this Rod into Water, dipping his Pen in his Ink; with this Pen dipt in Ink, he wetteth the Limb and the Foot, writing upon his paper from one end to the other, and from the top to the bottom.

Which we must understand by this word Lymbe, which is a Latin word, signifying the long and narrow pieces of stuffe, which women wore at the bottom of their Petticoats, therefore the Latins called them Lymbos, from the Latin Verbe Lambo, which in matter of cloths signifieth, to leek or sweep; and because those pieces of cloath were in the bottom of their Garments, the word hath been afterwards employed to signifie the brims of some things, so that the Lymbs of a sheet of paper, are the two margines, and the top and the bottom, as if it were the four ends of a Quadrangular Figure.

The third Verse sheweth the internal disposition of the Author, after he hath described his external one; that disposition was a Sacred quaking, which putting his heart into a palpitation, caused his hands and arms to shake, as if he had been taken with some fit of an Ague. This quaking is the disposition which the good Genius causeth in Prophets, that they may be humbled, and not be puffed up with pride, when they come near the Majesty of God, as we read in Daniel, St. John, and the 4th. of Esdras. Therefore the Author saith:

In fear I write, quaking in my sleeves. And because the Divine Spirit after he hath cast down those, to whom he will impart himself, doth afterwards quiet them; the Author therefore addeth, that a Divine splendor did sit by him.

The two first Verses signifie that a great tempestuous wind was to happen, in which a litter should be overturned, and every one should muffle his face in his Cloak, for the fierceness of the wind.

And that presently after the Common-wealth should be troubled with new Sects and Opinions, which may be understood of the beginning of Reformation by Luther and Calvin, which was about that time.

[5]

The last Verse by the white and red signifieth here (as it doth thorough all the Book) the French and the Spaniards, because the French wear white Scarfes, and the Spaniards red ones: and consequently the troubles and jars that happened presently between those two Nations.

That Monarch was Henry the II. King of France, who did not Reign long, but was unfortunately slain, running at Tilt against the Earl of Montgomery (as we shall see hereafter) and almost during all his Reign had Wars with Charles the V. Emperour, and his Son Philip the II. King of Spain; the said Emperour in that time did sack Rome, took the Pope Clement the VII. prisoner, which is signified here; as also in several other places by the loss of the Fishing Boat; the Roman Church being often compared to a Ship or Boat.

Herein is nothing mystical, the meaning is that some of the Protestant party intending to take or vex the Cities of Carcassone and Narbonne in Languedoc, shall be easily repulsed, and shall afterward fall upon the Countrey round about, which shall suffer for.

[6]

This is a confirmation of the fourth Stanza, concerning the loss of the Pope, Clement the VII. who is called here the eye of Ravenna, because he is Lord of that famous City, which was once an Exarchat of the Empire.

The wings that shall rise at, or against his feet, shall be those of the Eagle, which are the Arms of the Emperour.

The two of Brescia were the Governour and Proveditor of Venice in that place, who would at that time have endeavoured to seize upon Turin and Verceil, the two chiefest Towns of Piemont, but were prevented by the French.

The sense of the whole is this, there shall be fourteen Conspirators of one mind, and their Ring-leader, a Red-haired man, who shall be put to death, because their Reprieve could not come timely enough, being hindered by cross winds, and Letters intercepted. I could find no particular things in History concerning this.

[7]

It is hard to judge what he meaneth by the Solar City that shall be so often taken.

As by Adria, it is certain he meaneth Venice, that was so called anciently, because of its scituation in the Adriatick Sea.

This was a clear and true Prognostication of that famous Invasion made upon Maltha, by the grand Signor Solyman the magnificent, in the year of our Lord 1565. and just ten years after the writing of this Prophecy, wherein that Island, and some of the Neighbouring ones were wholly depopulated by the Turks, to the terror of Venice, called here Adria, and of all the Islands of the Adriatick Sea. For the better understanding of this, the Reader must observe, that Punicus in Latin signifieth Africa, so that the African heart signifieth the help the Turk had from Tunis, Tripoly, and Algier, Cities seated in Africa, and under the Turkish Dominion; by which not only Maltha (which in Latin is Melita) but Venice and Rome were put into a great fright; the conclusion of this Siege was, that after six weeks time, and the loss of 26000. Men, the Turks were constrained shamefully to retire. Vide the Turkish History.

[8]

This Prophecy signifieth, that some Sergeants or Executioners shall be sent into a Prison, to put to death seven Children, servants of a King that were Imprisoned there, and that some old Men their Fathers, shall see their death, and hear their cries.

The two first Verses signifie the concord that shall be among the Spanish dominions, expressed here by Sense, Heart, Feet, and Hands. After which, the Romans or those of Rome, shall be evilly intreated, being drowned, killed, and put to death by a weak brain. I guess this to have come to pass, when the Emperour Charles the V. his Army sacked Rome, under the command of the Duke of Bourbon, who was killed at the Assault; and of the Prince of Orange, who permitted licentiousness to his Souldiers, and suffered them to commit more violence, than ever the Goths or Vandales did, and therefore is called here weak brain. This Prince of Orange was of the House of Chalon, after which came that of Nassau.

[9]

This foretelleth of a wicked person, who in a short time shall be from a low degree exalted to a high one, by reason that those that have the Government of Verona, shall be unfaithful and slippery. That person seemeth to be some Pope, who from a low degree shall be exalted to that dignity, by the unfaithfulness and slipperiness of the Venetians, who are now Lords of the City Verona in Italy.

Although this Prophecie seemeth to be indefinitely spoken, because in every Countrey or Kingdom where there is banished people, they most commonly plot against their King and Countrey; nevertheless I find two remarkable Histories to make this good, one in France, and the other in England. That of France is thus.

The Cardinal of Lorrain, and the Duke of Guise his Brother, being in great favour with Henry II. the Queen Mother promoted them in the beginning of the Reign of Francis II. his successor, so that the Cardinal was made Lord high Treasurer, and the Duke General of the Armies, to the prejudice of the Constable of Montmorency. Those two favourites, fearing the persecution that is raised by envy,[10] did remove all the great ones from the Court, whether they were commanded to do so, or whether they had any other pretences.

The Princes of Condé, and of la Roche sur yon, were sent into Flanders to Philip II. Condé, to confirm the alliance between the two Crowns, and la Roche sur yon to carry the Order of France.

Diana of Poitiers Dutchess of Valentenois, was banished from Court, and compelled to surrender to the Queen all the Jewels she had extorted from the King, besides the Castle of Chenonceaux, which the Queen took for her self.

The Marshal St. Andrew was likewise banished from the Court. The King of Navarre was in Bearn.

The Constable took also his leave, and surrendred to the King the Seal of his Office. On the other side, the Protestants began to stir notably, having on their part many Princes, as that of Condé, of Porcien, Gaspard, of Coligny, Admiral of France, d’Andelot, and the Cardinal of Chastillon his brothers, Magdalene of Mailly, their Sister, Lady of Roye, the King of Navarre. All these discontented persons, and the Protestants made a great conspiracy under pretence of Religion, and of freeing the King from the tyranny of the Guisians.

They did by Choler, the Protestants because they had been so ill used, in the time of Francis I. and Henry II. and lately by the Guisians. And the discontented, for to pull down their power, it was also by an intestine hatred, because the Constable could not brook to be dispossessed of his Office of great Master, which was given to the Duke of Guise; and the others to see themselves from the management of Affairs, and the Protestants by the spirit of a contrary Religion.

Their conspiracy tended to expel the Guisians, and to seise upon the Queen, the King, and his Brothers.

To compass their end, they secretly sent some trusty persons of their own, who nevertheless feigned to be their Enemies; insomuch that the King of Navarre sent them word, that he would be always of their party, though apparently he took the Courts part.

But the Old his own, saith the fourth Verse, that is to say, the Kings old friends shall raise Sedition against them, which happened in the year 1650. when the Guisians having discovered the conspiracy that was made at Nantes, the 1. of February 1560. whose chief Ring-leader was the Lord La Renaudie; they presently got the King out of Blois, and carryed him to Amboise, caused the Town to be fortified, and set strong Guards upon all the passages.

The day appointed for the execution of the conspiracy at Blois, was the 10th of March: But the King being got to Amboise, the Conspirators went thither in such great numbers, and under such specious pretences, that had they not been betrayed, no body would have suspected them. All the Suburbs and the Countrey Towns thereabouts were full of them. The Prince of Condé, the Admiral, d’Andelot, and his Brother the Cardinal, were all there.

Then the Guisians began to fall to work, and to set upon the Conspirators on all sides.

Abundance were taken, some in the City, some in the Suburbs, others in the Countrey round about.

Most of these were slain before they could come to Town, or be carried to Prison. And their process was so short that they were hanged in their Boots and Spurs.

The Scouts did every where kill those they met withall. To conclude, it proved a very Bloody Tragedy.

La Renaudie the Chief of the Conspirators, was met with by the Lord Pardaillan a Gascon. At the first approach La Renaudie killed him; but himself was killed[11] by Pardeillan’s Servant, and his dead body brought and hanged at Amboise.

The second History is concerning England, which palpably makes this Prophecie good, if we make reflection upon what hath happened in this last Century of years, concerning banished people that have conspired against their King and Countrey, as we may see through all the Life of Queen Elizabeth, and by that famous Plot of the Gun-powder-Treason in King James’s time, which must be understood here by the Mine.

This is a prognostication of the beginning and increase of the Protestants in France, who began to sing their Psalms in French, and from time to time presented their request for tolleration. The Author being a zealous Papist calleth them Idiots, and that notwithstanding the persecution that should be against them, being put in Prison by Princes and Lords, they should at last be admitted by reason of their often praying to God.

The Author having premonished us in his Preface, that God having imparted to him the knowledge of many future things, he was curious to know if his Divine[12] Majesty had written the same thing in the Cœlestial Book, as concerning the States, Empires, Monarchies, Provinces and Cities, and he found that it was even so as it had been revealed to him, so that the Book of Heaven, written with Gods own hand, in so many shining Characters, might serve to studious men for a light and a Torch to discover very near the common estate of the world.

He then having learned from God in his solitariness, the prosperities and afflictions of the Clergy, from the beginning of the year 1555. to the end of the world; he found that there was an agreement between his prophetical Knowledge, and the motion of the Heavenly Bodies; because having made the Systeme of the years after 1550. he found that Mars was in a dangerous Aspect to the Ecclesiastical estate, and found that this Planet by its position did presage a long, bloody and horrid Catastrophe in the world, by which the Ecclesiastical estate should suffer much.

To make good this prediction, the Author doth assure us in his Preface, that he had considered the disposition of this Planet, not only in the year 1555. but also in the years following, and joyning together all that he had found in his Ephemerides, he found that this Planet did on all sides presage most bloody actions. Although, saith he, the Planet of Mars maketh an end of its course, and is come to its last Period: nevertheless it will begin it again, but some gathered in Aquarius for many years, and others by long and continual years.

As if he would say that his prediction ought not to be rejected; because Mars ended his course, and cometh to its late period; for it would take again its Exaltation and Dominion with a worse conjunction, having his Astronomical dignities, with the Conjunction of other Planets in the Sign of Aquarius during many years, and in the Sign of Cancer for many years more.

Which maketh the Author conclude, that within the space of 177. years, three months and eleven dayes, the world shall be afflicted with Wars, Plagues, Famines and Innundations, that scarce any body shall be left to Till the Ground. By which prediction we learn that those evils began in the year 1555. the first of March, which is the date of the Authors Book, and shall last till the second of June 1732. abating the ten days of the Gregorian Calender.

During which time, he saith, that Mars threatneth us with bloody Wars that shall be reiterated 70 times.

This word seventy doth not signifie a determinate number, but a great number indeterminated according to the Phrase of the Scripture, which by the number of seven signifieth many times, and by that of seventy incomparably many times more. Thus the Scripture saith, that the just man falleth seven times in one day, that is many times, and our Saviour saith to St. Peter, that we ought to forgive our Enemies, not only seven times, but seventy times seven; that is innumerable times.

We have found the truth of this Prophecie to this very day. 1. In France, by the Wars between Henry II. and Charles V. and Philip II. 2. By the Wars of Charles IX. against the Protestants, wherein so much blood was spilt on both sides. 3. By Henry III. against the same Protestants, and factions of his time, and then against the Parisians and others of their league. 4. Between Henry IV. and those of the league in his revolted Kingdom. 5. By the Wars of Lewis XIII. against the Protestants, against the Duke of Savoy, in the Valteline, in Piemont, in Lorrain, in Alsatia, in Catalonia, in Franche-Conty, in Flanders, and for the defence of Portugal, which have been continued by his successor Lewis XIV. now Reigning.

Italy did also find the truth of this prophecie, by the Wars between Paul IV. and the Spaniard, between Pius V. and the Turks, between Clement VIII. and the Duke of Ferrara, between the Emperour and the Duke of Mantua, between Urban VIII. and the Duke of Parma, between the Venetians and the Florentines,[13] by the revolt of the Kingdom of Naples, under the conduct of the Duke of Guise.

England hath had its share of it under Queen Elizabeth, by the revolt of Yorkshire, and some other Provinces, by the Spanish fleet of 88.

By the death of Queen Mary, by the revolt of the Kingdom against Charles I. And by the horrid perfidiousness of Cromwel.

Germany hath made it good by the War against the Turks, the Protestants and the Swedes.

Poland hath done the same against the Russians, Tartars, Turks, Cassaks and Swedes.

And Venice against the Turk, for the Islands of Cyprus and Candia, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Wars of Dalmatia.

This Mars besides presageth two contrary things, one is the Auge or Exaltation, the other the ruine of the Clergy: where it is to be observed, the Auge in tearms of Astrology signifieth mounting or ascending, and cometh from the Latin verbe augere, which signifieth to augment or increase. This augmentation and ruine of the Clergy is made good by the several changes that have been in the Ecclesiastical estate, in France, England, Low-Countreys, Denmark, Swede, Poland, Hungary, Valachia, Transylvania, Moldavia, Dalmatia, Geneva, Switzerland, &c.

The fourth Verse saith. By those that will hear nothing from them: that is, by the Protestants that will hear nothing from the Roman Catholicks.

The sense of all this is, that when a Meadow that was a Fish-pond before, shall be Mowed, the Sign of Sagittarius being in its Auge or ascendant, then shall Plague, Famine, and War Reign, and that age (which a Century of years shall be near its end and renovation viz. of another Century.)

The Interpretation of this is easie, and signifieth nothing else but that during 40. years the Rainbow shall not be seen, and during that time there shall be an exceeding great drought upon the Earth, and that for 40. years after the Rainbow shall be seen every day, which shall cause great flouds and innundations.

In the year 1559. Sultan Solyman called Leonclavius, according to the alliance made between him and Francis I. King of France, was desired by Henry II. his Son to send him some succours: Whereupon he sent some of his Gallies to scour the Tyrrhenean Sea (otherwise the Sea of Tuscany) to give a diversion to the Spanish forces in Italy, while the King by the means of the Marshal of Brissac, should continue his Conquests in the Piemont and Milanese.

All what this Turkish Fleet did, was to plunder and over-run the Island of Elbe, and to attempt Piombino without effect; and because these places were seated upon the Sea of Sienna, called in Latin Mare Tirrhenum, the Author saith that both the Land and Sea of Sienna shall be died with Blood, and at that time the Haven of Marseilles, which was called by the Ancients, Port-Phocen was full of Sales and Ships, as well to go into the Island of Corse, as for other designs. This History makes good that Stanza which saith, that through the discord and negligence of the French, a passage shall be opened to Mahomet, wherein it is to be observed that the Marshal of Brissac doing wonders for the King in Piemont, his virtue got him abundance of enviers and enemies in the Kings Councel, which was the cause of a great discord among them, by the diversity of opinions, and this diversity was the cause of a prodigious negligence in sending to him relief, as Turpin witnesseth in his History of Naples, and Paradin in the continuation of his History.

[15]

By this discord and negligence, a passage was opened to Mahomet, his Fleet going freely upon the Mediterranean Sea near the Coasts of France. And the reason of it was, because this discord and negligence did compel Henry the II. to ask succours of Solyman, that the Spaniard might be compelled to divide his Forces in sending some to the Sea-Towns, and so should not be so strong in Piemont; and thus must be understood the French discord and negligence, in the first and second Verse. As for the many Sails and Ships that were then in the Haven of Marseilles, to go into the Island of Corsica, the following Stanza’s are full of predictions concerning it.

By the Serpents, the Author being a Roman Catholick, meaneth the Protestants, who then began to appear numerous in the Reigns of Francis the I. and Henry the II. in whose time the Admiral Coligny was the chief among them, for his great feats in War.

These Serpents or Protestants begun to encompass the Are, that is to say, the Church and the Altar, which in Latin is called Ara.

And that happened when the Trojan-blood was vexed by Spain. By the Trojan-blood, the Author meaneth the French blood, according to the vulgar opinion, that the French are descended from the Trojans. The French were then vexed by the Spaniards, at the Battle of St. Laurence, and at the taking of St. Quentin, and other places in the Year 1557.

The third Verse saith by them, that is, by the Protestants a great number shall perish, that is to say, a great number of French. Among whom the Admiral of Chatillon having done what was possible to be done at the defence of St. Quentin, and seeing the Town taken, run away with three more, and hid himself among the Rushes that are in the Boggs about the Town, where he was found, and carried Prisoner to the Duke of Savoy, who received him very honorably, according to his valour and deserts.

Observe that the word Saignes here signifieth in old Provencal a Marish.

All the Cities mentioned in the first Verse are seated by the River of Loire, and are threatned here of a sudden change, and that some strangers shall set up their Tents against them, and chiefly at Rennes, there shall be an Earth-quake felt both by Sea and Land.

It is a Rock in the middle of the Sea, whose Roots are fed by a white clay, which is at the foot of this Rock, in the bottom of the Sea, and therefore called deep.

This clay being softned, and dissolved by the Sea-water, shall appear upon the superficies of it like milk about the Rock. Those that shall see this wonder, being ignorant that in the bottom there is a milky clay, shall in vain be troubled at it, and shall not dare to touch it.

[17]

This is a great Riddle, which was never found out till now; and had I not been born in the Countrey where the History did happen, it might have been unknown to this day, and buried in oblivion.

In the year of the Lord 1613. which was that of my Birth. There was in the Town of Sens a Taylors Wife named Columba Chatry, who presently after her marriage conceived, and for the space of 28. years persuaded her self to be with Child, had all the signs of it in the beginning of her impregnation, and having gone her compleat time, she begun to feel the pains of a woman in Labour, with great gripings in the Guts. The Urine was suppressed for a while, but at last it broke out with a strong current. This quantity of water not coming so much out of the Bladder as was supposed, as from the womb, by the breaking of the Membrane, called Amnion, seeing that with those serous excrements, she avoided some conjealed blood. After that her breast begun to fall, and the Child had little or no motion, her pains being less than they were, which caused no small admiration to the Midwifes, who expected a safe deliverance. For the space of three years after, this woman kept her Bed, and was brought to Deaths door, complaining of gripings and a hard swelling, which she desired all the Physitians and Chyrurgeons to feel, having lost all appetite, but that little which she recovered by the use of sharp things, as Verjuice, Lemmons, &c. she was wont to say to her Neighbours, that she bare a Child that should be the cause of her death. After she was dead, her Husband got two experienced Chyrurgeons to open her body, who having opened the belly, and taken away the Peritonæum, saw the Womb of several colours, as the flesh that is about the head and neck of a Turky-cock, but as it were of a Horny substance. They begun to make an incision in it with a Rasour, but finding it resisted the edge, they begun to use their Incision knives with all their strength; at last one of them by chance hit the Scull, and after that some Ribs, and then the Shoulder bone, by which, knowing that there was bones contained in that lump, with greater strength they made a deeper incision, and having parted the edges of the womb, saw in the bottom of the womb a Child, wrapped in the membrane, called Allantoides; at which the Chyrugeons wondering, sent for the Physitians to have their opinion in a thing that is almost beyond belief; in the mean time people flocking thither from all parts, and troubling the Chyrurgeons in their operation; they thought good to take away with their Instruments all that Lump, as a Tree from its Roots, and to carry it home, that they might with more time and leasure examine the whole Anatomy of it. In that hasty pulling out of the Child, they had no time to observe what Chorion it had, what umbilical Vessels, and what connexion there was of the Allantoides with the Womb, and with the Child, chiefly about the right hip, the Buttocks, and the Back-bone being all grown solid together.

The scituation of the Child was almost Spherical, the face leaning upon the breast, and the Nostrils upon the Knees; the bones of the Head were but thin, but very hard, and shining like Horn; the skin of the Head was hairy in many places; the head did hang so much upon the left arm, that the Ear, and part of the skull had given way to the Shoulder-bone; the Elbow was bent towards the Shoulder stretching only his hand, which was so close shut, and the fingers sticking so fast to the Palm of it, that although they did appear distinct one from another, nevertheless it was all but one and the same stone; the right arm did stretch its hand towards the Navel, which unadvisedly was broken by the wrist, and left in the Mothers Belly; the left Thigh, Knee and Leg were on the top of the right ones, with which they were so entangled, that the left heel, and the sole of the foot were planted upon the right foot,[18] who seemed to have given place to them, and were almost inseparably joyned; for all such hardness of the matter, the body was not less than that of other Children of the same age, but kept a perfect fulness and proportion all the internal parts, as the Brains, the Heart, the Liver, had their natural shape, and were not altogether so hard as the external parts, so that to this very day this little body defieth all kind of corruption.

This Child was kept in my time by one Mr. Michel a Chirurgion of Sens, who kindly shewed it to all the strangers that came far and near to see it. The Fame of it was so great, that Doctor Mayerne coming from Switzerland to England, took his way through Sens to see it, and would have perswaded King Charles I. to buy it, as himself told me; since that I hear it was fallen into the hands of the Venetians. In this History there is two observable wonders. One, that the Child dying in the Womb, did not corrupt, and so cause the death of its Mother. The other, by what vertue or power of the body this child was petrified, seeing that the Womb is a hot and moist place, and therefore more subject to putrifaction. Those that will satisfie themselves with the reasons of it, and the truth of the History, may read Johannes Alibosius Physician of Sens, who was an eye witness of it, and Sennertus in his book of Sympt. quam feminis in utero accidant.

Now this accident being so rare, and without parallel, our Author thought fit to foretel it, and to cover it in abscure tearms, that he might not appear ridiculous in so admirable an event. When therefore he saith, That which shall live and shall have no Sense, he meaneth this λιθοπαίδιον or child petrified, which had a Life while it was in the Mothers belly, being tied to it by the several Vessels and connexions, known to Anatomists, and yet was senseless in that it was petrified. When in the second verse he saith, The Iron shall destroy the art of it, he meaneth that it should be spoiled by the rasour, in the two last verses he saith, that the Towns of Autun, Chalons, Langres, and Sens the Town in which this did happen should that same year suffer much damage by Hail and Ice, which did come to pass, as many persons may justify in that Countrey, that are alive to this day.

This signifieth a particular accident, viz. that in the third Month, which is that of March, at the rising of the Sun, the Boar and the Leopard, that is, two persons of quality hidden under these names, shall go into the fields to fight a Duel. The Leopard one of them being weary, shall lift up his eyes to Heaven, calling upon God, and thereupon shall see an Eagle playing about the Sun, that is, shall get the Victory, of which the Eagle is the Emblem.

[19]

This name of new City is appropriated to several ones in every Countrey. The French have many Villeneufuas, the Germans many Newstads, the Italians and Spaniards many Villanovas, so that it is hard to guess which of them the Author meaneth. The missing of this dore makes the rest of the Prophecie so obscure, that I had rather leave it to the liberty of the Reader, than to pretend a true explication of it. I shall only say, that Cremona and Mantua are two famous Towns in Italy, which are here threatned.

The Prophecie is concerning the body of a famous Churchman, which was lost, and shall be found again, and worshiped as a Demy-God, but before the Moon hath run her great age, which is of 13 Months, it shall be vilified and dishonoured.

[20]

This is concerning some great man, who being premonished by a common Carrier not to travel upon a certain day, did slight the advice, and was strucken by Lightning in the day time, and another in the night; at the same time there was a fight at Rhemes, and the Plague at London and in Tuscany, which in Latin is called Etruria.

The sense of it is, that some body (who is named here Guyen) being under an Oak shall be strucken with the lightning, and that near that place there is a great Treasure, that hath been many years a gathering, and that he who shall find it shall die, being shot in the eye with a Fire-lock.

The Tower of Bouk is a strong place seated by the Rhosne, where it entereth into the Mediterranean Sea; it is said here that it shall be in fear of a Barbarian Fleet, and after that of a Spanish one, and that both the Spaniard and the French shall have great losses in Cattle, People and Goods, and this shall happen when the Sun shall be in the Signs of Taurus and Libra.

This signifieth no more but that after, a Fish, Terrestrial and Aquatick, that is which, liveth in Land and Water, called by the Greeks αμφίβιον, shall be cast upon the Sand by a storm, then a little while after, that Town which lieth near to that place where the Fish was cast, shall be Besieged by her Enemies, who shall come by Sea.

[22]

It is a Forrein Ship which by a storm shall be driven to an unknown Harbour, and notwithstanding the signs that shall be made to it with Branches, by those that are upon the Land to beware of the entrance of the Harbour, it shall be cast away, and plundered; thus a good advice shall come too late.

That is, the Wars shall last so long in France after the death of one King of Spain, till three great ones shall challenge an uncertain Victory, these three great ones are the Emperour designed by the Aigle, the King of France by the Cock, and the Turk by the Moon, and this shall happen when the Sun is in the sign of the Lion. I suppose that came to pass in the time of Charles the V. Henry the II. and Soliman. For the Turk had no great odds upon the Emperour, nor he upon the King of France.

This is concerning the same Charles the V. Emperour, who about three years before his death, being weary of the World, resigned his Dominions of Spain and of the[23] Low-Countries, to his Son Philip the II. and his Empire to his Brother Ferdinand, and retired himself into a Monastery of Castile, called l’Escurial, which after his death, was much enlarged and beautified by his Son Philip: and that is the meaning of our Author when he saith:

For this Escurial being seated in a Desert place of a County of Spain, called Castilia, which the Spanish vanity calleth a Kingdom, (whose Use, Fruit, or Revenues, the said Charles only reserved for his maintenance) is now by the Spaniards accounted to be the eighth wonder of the World.

The meaning of this is, that a great Captain, Commander of the Imperial Forces, shall cause a Bridge that was built near a spacious Plain to be thrown down. The City near the Bridge being terrified at it, shall shut up their Gates against him.

It is a Hawk which in presence of two Armies ready to give Battle, shall fly to a window and perch upon it, in the presence of them all, one of the Armies shall take[24] it for a good sign; and the other, for an ambiguous and sinister one. In Conclusion, the weaker party shall get the Victory.

This is one of the Prophecies that hath put our Author in credit, as well for the clearness as for the true event of it.

Cæsar Nostradamus our Authors son, in his History of Provence, writeth that by this Stanza his father intended to foretell the manner of Henry the second’s death.

The French Histories relate that this great Prince desiring to honour the Nuptial of his Daughter Elizabeth, married to Philip II. King of Spain, did appoint a Tournament to be kept in St. Anthony’s street in Paris, where himself would be one of the Defendants against all comers, and for that purpose chose for his companions and associates Don Alfonso d’Este Duke of Ferrara, and Francis of Lorrain, Duke of Guise.

The Tornament being almost ended, in which the King had shewed much Valour being mounted upon a Horse of the Duke of Savoy, Philibert’s, Emanuel his Brother in Law, this Duke intreated the King to leave off, because he had got the Victory; and the weather was hot, and the night drawing on: But this Martial King would need break one Launce more, and commanded the Captain Gabriel de Lorges to be called, a young and valiant Lord and Captain of the Scottish Guard. Being come, the King commanded him to run against him, which he refused a great while; but the King waxing angry, he obeyed, and set Spurs to his Horse, he did hit the King in the lower part of his Beaver, the Launce was broken into shivers, and the mean stump lifting up the Beaver, a splinter got in, and wounded the King a little above the right Eye, where finding the Bone too hard, it went very deep under the said Eye, and broke some Veins belonging to the Membrane, called Pia Mater.

The blow was so violent that the King bended his head towards the lists, and fell, into a Swound, being presently disarmed, they perceived the splinter of the Launce in his Eye, and his face all bloody. He lived ten days after, and died with great Convulsions, because the Sinews were offended, whereupon he suffered grievous Torment.

His death was also foretold by Luke Gaurick a great Astrologer, who being constrained by the Queen Catharine of Medicis, to tell her by what kind of death her Husband should end his days, told her it should be in a Duel, which made him to be hissed at, Kings being exempted of those accidents.

[25]

According to this Narrative the Author calleth the King an old Lion, and the Captain Lorges, since Earl of Montgomery, the young Lion; because both fought like Lions. The young Lion overcame the old one in Martial field, and in a fight of one against one, and consequently a Duel.

He overcame him by putting his Eye out in a Golden Cage, that is, in his Gilded Helmet.

Of which Wound there came another, because the blood of some broken Veins, creeping into the Brains by the vehement agitation of the head, caused an Impostume there, which could not be remedied: therefore the Author saith two Wounds from one, that is, one wound made two: and the King died of a cruel death, as we have said before.

The words of this are plain, though it be questionable whether the thing is come to pass already, or not.

The two first verses I believe are concerning the Battle of Saint Denis, which was fought in the Evening hard by Paris, and where the Constable of Montmorency[26] was kill’d, which made that great people of Paris to be doubtful.

The other two Verses I leave to the interpretation of the Reader.

This Stanza being full of Figures and Equivoques, I will not interpose my Judgement in it, lest I undertake too much, and perform too little.

The Author hath purposely obscured this Prophecie in the third Verse, to take away the Knowledge of it from the Reader; because the parties concerned were then alive, viz. Philip II. King of Spain, who caused his only son Don Carlo to be strangled in his bed, for suspicion of being too familiar with his wife Elizabeth of France, and Daughter to Henry II. The last Verse saith, that he was so implacable, that he would read neither Card nor Packet, that is, no requests.

[27]

There is two things in this Prognostication, the first that in Bizance, which is Constantinople, a Troop of tumultuous persons gathered together, and dissembling their folly, shall cause an alteration in the Laws.

The other, that some Bassa come out of Ægypt, shall perswade them at Constantinople to alter their Coin, and the allay of it.

After the taking of Vulpian, the French came to Montcalvo, and in the night surprized it by Scalado, and Paradin saith, that not a drop of Blood was shed on either side.

The Town being taken, the Citadel did hold out a good while, and at last did surrender, Don Arbre, who was in the place of the Marques of Pescaire, and of the Duke of d’Alva, knowing that the besieged had not made a sufficient resistance, caused the Captain, and eleven more of the chief ones to be hanged; because the place was of consequence, and those within had not made a sufficient resistance.

The Author saith in the first Verse, Siege was laid to a City, that is, it was resolved to besiege Montcalvo, as the Martial of Brissac had advised. In the execution it was assaulted by night, in the taking few escaped; for they were all taken,[28] and yielded to the Victorious. There were none killed or wounded, all were taken, except few who ran away, and carried the news to the Spaniards.

At the same time a fight not far from the Sea, that is, at the same time there was another Battle by the Sea, between the Spaniards and the Pope, as we shall shew hereafter.

The third and fourth Verses are concerning a particular accident, which happened presently after the taking of Montcalvo, which is, that a woman seeing her Son come back safe, fell in a swound, or died for joy, because knowing the danger wherein he was, she had lost all hopes of ever seeing him. This fellow had brought Poison in a Letter to give to one that had not rewarded him according to his desire. His wickedness being discovered, his Master put him in Prison, whence he escaped, and came back again to Montcalvo; the Author speaketh of the same in another place, which we shall set down in its order.

The tenth of the Calends of April is the 23. of March, Gothik account signifieth the old account of the Calendar, before the reformation of it by Pope Gregory the XIII. which old account is called here Gothik, because it is kept still by the Northern Nations, which do not acknowledge the Pope, as Sweden, Denmark, Holland, England, &c. at that time saith our Author, a Magician shall be raised up by malitious persons; which fire or tumult being put out, that Diabolical assembly will go about to seek the bones of two famous Magicians, viz. Damant and Psellin that were dead before.

This will not seem incredible to those that have read the English Chronicles, who relates that in a County of England (I think it is Herefordshire) there was an Earthquake, which transposed a large piece of ground in another place, with the Trees that were in it, and if I remember well, half a Chappel, those that have the Books may examine the truth of the History, and satisfie themselves better.

This is a true Prophecy of the miserable condition of the Church and Clergy in our Fore-fathers times, and chiefly of Henry the II. in France, and Henry the VIII. in England, when in the beginning of the Reformation there was such a confusion of opinions, and such unsettledness in Ecclesiastical Government, that sometimes the Popish party prevailed, and put to death the Opposers; at another time the Protestants, who drove away the Monks, Abbots and Novices, as is expressed here, and proved true in Henry the VIII. time. As for what he saith, that Honey shall be much dearer than Wax. It is to be understood of the downfal of the Romish Religion, who maketh use of Wax Candles and Tapers in their superstitious ceremonies, as if he would say, that the Romish Religion being down, Wax shall be cheap, and Honey dear.

The Author being a Papist, is probable that in this Prophecy he aimed at Luther, after whose coming the world hath been full of Sects and Schisms.

Auch, Lectoure and Miranda are three Towns in Guyenna, a Province of France, the chief City whereof is Bourdeaux. The rest is easie.

[31]

The Leman Lake, in Latin Lacus Lemanus, is the Lake of Geneva, therefore it is palpable, that by this Prophecy, the Author aimeth at Calvin, and his Successors, who began the Reformation in that Town. I leave the rest to the Readers Judgement, it is enough I have opened the door.

All this signifieth no more, but that the Authors Prophecies extend to the end of the world.

I desire Posterity to take special notice of this Stanza, that in case it should come to pass, our Author may be admired for the specification of the time, which is so punctually set down, here that it admitteth no ambiguity. The plain meaning is, that the Turks, which he calleth those of the East. By the virtue of the Moon, which is their Ensign and Badge, shall in the year 1700. carry away abundance of people, and shall subdue almost the whole Northern Countrey, which to them is Russia, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Denemark, &c.

[32]

The meaning is, that at that time, as such conjunction of Planets shall be, which he calleth here Aquatick triplicity, there shall be born upon a Thursday a famous man, such as he describeth here, who shall be a foe and a terrour to the Turks, signified here by the Orients.

This signifieth, that when Jupiter and Saturn shall be in conjunction in the head of Aries, that then shall be great commotions in France and Italy.

This third position of the Celestial bodies foretelleth the death of the great Turk, who should be murdered in his own Chamber, as happened to Sultan Osman, who was strangled in his Chamber, by the command of Daout Bassa great Vizeir, about the year 1622. vide the Turkish History.

The rest of the Prophecy is concerning a King, who being newly joyned to the Church, (I suppose of Rome) shall bring much mischief to it, and in his time Europe shall be brought very low, and in a manner confined to a corner of the North, which hath relation to the foregoing 49. Stanza, which see in its place.

This is a true Prophecy of the mischiefs that have happened in the World by the finding of the Mines in America; first to the Indians themselves, called here a great People, by the cruelty of the Spaniards, and then to all Christendom besides, by the evils that this Idol Mammon hath brought into it.

This obscure Stanza must be interpreted thus.

Two revolts shall be made by the wicked Link-carrier; that is, Paris which is the Link-carrier of France, and whose example the rest of the Towns follow, shall revolt twice, the first revolt was against Henry III. in the time of the Barricadoes, the second against Henry IV. his successor.

Which shall make a change of the Reign and the Age: This happened when the house of Valois was extinguished, and the house of Bourbon came in, and that is the change of the Reign. The change of the Age, was, because this did happen about the end of the year 1599. and the beginning 1600. which was a change of Age.

The moveable sign offers it self for it: That is, the position of the Heavens was such as to forward these accidents.

To the two equals in ambition: That is, to Henry III. and Henry IV. who both intended, and went about to reduce Paris to obedience.

There is nothing difficult here, but what Climat is that is opposite to the Babylonian, of which every body may satisfie himself by perusing the Globe.

I conceive there is some things omitted, and corrupted by the Press in this Stanza, which rendreth it so difficult, therefore I had rather leave it to the decision of the impartial Reader, than venture my opinion upon it.

The words and sence are plain, and I cannot believe that there is any great mystery hidden under these words.

[36]

In the first Verse the Author speaketh of a Monster that had two heads, and four Arms, and the Belly slit, that is to say, it was a female.

His Son Cæsar in his History of Provence, saith, that in the Town of Senan in Provence, a Child was born with two heads, and that it was foretold by some that were skilful in Astronomy, by which words I guess he spake of his Father, sith the Astrologers cannot foretel the birth of a particular Monster, and therefore Nostradamus only was able to do it in those days.

He saith in the same place, that it was born in February 1554. and was brought to Salon to be shewed to his Father, and thence was carried to Claudius Earl of Savoy Governour of Provence, who commonly had his residence at Salon.

He maketh no mention if he had four Arms, nor what Sex it was of, it may be that being in swadling cloths, nobody took notice of the Arms or Sex.

The Author Prophecieth that it should live some years, it may be two or three, and that is was preserved to see, whether in time it should have the use of its Senses, of the Tongue, and understanding of its two Heads, to see whether there were two Souls, or onely one, and to say the Truth. I think that in such an accident both Heads ought to be Baptized, that in case there should be two Souls, both should partake of the blood of Christ, for their Eternal Salvation.

I do not find in the same History how long it lived, it being a thing not much material to History. In the third Verse he marketh, The day that Aquilare shall celebrate his Festivals; and in the fourth he saith that Fossan, Thurin, chief Ferrare shall run away.

To understand this, one must suppose here that the Town of Cazal is called here the chief of Ferrare; because it is the chief City of Montserrat, and as Paradin saith, is called Cazal St. Bas, a handsom and strong place, honoured with many Nobles and antient Families, as of the Earls of St. George and of Biandratte.

Secondly, We must suppose that in the year 1554. the Lord Figuerol, Lieutenant to the Governour of Milan did command in that place. Of this Figuerol I find in the Author of the four Volumes of the States and Empires, (when he speaketh of Spain) that the House of Figueroas was the root of that of Aquilar, which hath several branches, out of which came the Duke of Feria, and the Marquess of Pliego, so that Figuerol and Aquilar is the same thing.

If it be objected that Figueroas and Figuerol are not the same, Paradin teacheth us, that this Figuerol was bred up amongst the Genoeses, and the corrupted Italian of Genoa may have named the Captain Figuerol in stead of Figueroas.

Thirdly, We must suppose here that Cazal was taken in the night that is between Shrove-Tuesday and Ash-Wednesday, and that from Shrove-Sunday to that day there were great rejoycings, because of a famous Marriage that was made between two persons of quality, where the Lord Figuerol was one of the chief persons invited.

Fourthly, That these rejoycings were the occasion of the taking of Cazal; because the Lord Salvaison Governour of Verrüe hearing of this Feast, resolved to be among them, though with a different intention. He had before hand made himself sure of one Fontarole, who under pretence to sell fruit, went up and down the Town to spie what was a doing.

Fifthly, The resolution of surprizing Cazal was agreed upon, and the time appointed to be the night between Shrove-Tuesday and Ash-Wednesday, when the Governour, Inhabitants and Souldiers should be buried in sleep, weary of debaucheries committed the day before.

Sixthly, This resolution was so happily put into execution, that Figuerol hearing[37] the noise of the French being in Town, came out of his house, having only his night Gown upon him, and a Halbert in his hand, to quiet those whom he only thought to be some drunken persons; but hearing the cry of France, France, he presently retired into the Castle, with all those that were come to the Nuptials.

Seventhly, The Marshal of Brissac coming about seven of the Clock in the Morning, caused the Tower of Cazal to be assaulted, which was taken with a considerable loss of the French, and after that the Castle which held out 12 days.

All this being supposed, mark what the Author saith in the third Verse.

The day that Aquilare shall celebrate his Festivals, that is, the day that Figuerol of the house of Aquilare shall celebrate his Festivals, not only one Festival, but his Festivals, that is of three days.

Fossen, Thurin, saith the fourth Verse, Chief Ferrare shall run away.

Fossen, Thurin, doth not signifie two Towns, but one onely; for although Fossen and Thurin be two Towns, of which Fossen in the time of the Wars in Italy under Henry II. belonged to the Spaniard, and Thurin to the French. These two Towns signifie but one, which is that of Fossen, to which to distinguish it from Marseilles, he giveth the Epithete of Thurin, so much as to say, that he speaketh of Fossen a Town of Piemont, the chief Town of which is Thurin, and not of Fossen, which the Author taketh often for Marseilles.

Which the Author maketh plain, when he saith in the singular number, that Fossen, Thurin, chief Ferrare shall run away, to shew that it is onely one Town of which he speaketh, otherwise if he had intended to speake of two, he would have put it in the plural number, which is more manifest by the History, wherein we learn that Fossen belonged to the Spaniards, and Thurin to the French, and consequently, being of contrary parties, they could neither follow, nor fly from a Town which belonged to one of them.

If any one should object, that the sense of the fourth Verse is, that the Chief Ferrare shall fly or follow these two Towns, the preceding reason is repugnant to that sense; because a Town that is of one party, cannot be friend to two Towns, one of which is of its party, and the other of the contrary.

The reading of this work shall convince every body, that the Author setteth down sometimes two Towns for one, to distinguish them from others, as he nameth Paul Mansol, to distinguish that Town of St. Paul, which is three Leagues from the Rhosne, over against Pont St. Esprit, from that St. Paul which is in Provence.

Now that Fossen in Piemont shall run from Cazal the chief City of Montserrat, because that being taken by the French, Fossen could not expect but perpetual damages from it.

But why? will you say, doth the Author speak rather of Fossen, than of other places that held for the Spaniards? I answer, because Fossen was the strongest place that the Spaniards had in Piemont and which could not be taken by the French, though her neighbour Saviliane was, as we shall shew hereafter.

In the Vulgar impression of this Stanza, there is two faults, one is, that in the first Verse it puts Aquileya, which is a Town that is not in Italy, truth it is, that there is Aquilee a little above Venice, but this hath no correspondency with Fossen, Thurin, nor the Chief of Ferrara.

In the fourth Verse the impression setteth down shall follow, which maketh nonsense, and therefore I put shall run away, which is a word in French near the other, and maketh a compleat sense, to which agreeth the birth of that Monster in February, and the taking of Cazal in the Month of March. In that year, John Statius setteth Shrove-Tuesday upon the 16 of February, and consequently we must say, that the Town was not taken that year 1554. for the Citadel was taken 12 days after, which should have been the 19 of February, and notwithstanding the History marks that it was taken upon the 14 of March.

[38]

Therefore we must conclude, that it was taken the year following 1555. and to say truth, in that year Ash-wednesday was the 27. of February; in that day the Town was taken, and two days after the Tower of Cazal; after which the Citadel was besieged the second of March, and the first Saturday of Lent, and was taken twelve days after, which was the 14. of March, which convinceth me that Cazal was taken in the year 1555. upon the 27. of February, and therefore that this Stanza is wholly Prophetical.

This is very plain, and signifieth no more, but that some persons that were banished into Islands, and could not hold their tongues; upon the coming of a Monarque, more cruel than his Predecessor, shall be murdered, and burnt.

This Prophecy is for the future; for since Nostradamus’s time till now, such an Emperour was not heard of, that was born near Italy, that cost the Empire so dear, and proved more a Butcher, than a Prince.

[39]

The two first Verses foretell what hath happened to England under the Government of a Common-wealth, and how their new Magistrate Cromwel made a havock of them. The third and fourth Verses, mention what great sums they exacted from those of the Kings party, and how for that cause Swedeland foresook their friendship.

Here the Author bemoaneth the loss of one eminent person in Learning, be like of Julius Scaliger, who lived in his time, and was once his intimate friend, the two last Verses that great miseries, as Fire and Flood shall happen by the ignorance of Princes.

This foretelleth a great tranquillity every where, and after that, Wars again:

This Stanza is full of prodigies that are to happen, and for that in the last Verse, it is no great wonder, for many brute beasts have spoken, speak now a days, and shall speak hereafter.

[41]

The meaning of all this is, that when a child shall be born without hands, there shall be fearful Lightning; a Royal child shall be hurt at Tennes, and by that Lightning some shall be bruised by a Well, and in a Mill, and three in the Field shall be killed.

This Stanza hath a connexion with the foregoing, for the two first Verses signifie, that he who shall carry the news of that fearful Lightning, and of the mischief done by it, shall have much ado to recover his breath.

In the last two Verses, the Towns are named which shall suffer most by that storm, and chiefly by the Hail and the Wind.

The words and sense of this are plain, and foretell a great famine, which being first in one Countrey and then in another, shall at last become general, and last so long, that people shall pluck the Roots from the Trees, and the children from the breast to feed upon.

[42]

This is very plain concerning three innocent persons, who shall be delivered up by their unfaithful keepers, and shall be put to great torments by drunken Executioners, which torments shall be suspected to come by poison.

A Stade cometh from the Greek word σταδιον, ἀπὸ τῆς στασεος, because Hercules did overrun so much ground at one breath; but what space of ground the Author meaneth by seven Stades, is unknown to me. The rest of the Prophecy may very well be appropriated to the last fearful eruption of Mount Ætna, which sunk so many Towns and Buildings, and the relation of which is so handsomly and truly made by the most honourable the Earl of Winchelsey, who was an eye witness to it, in his return from his Embassy at Constantinople.

[43]

The meaning of the two first Verses, is, that while the Rain, Famine, and War shall be in Persia, a Monarque shall be betrayed by his credulity. The third Verse signifieth that this Rain, Famine and War being ended in Persia, it shall begin in France. And the fourth Verse, that this shall be an Omen to a great Person of his approaching death.

It is hard to guess what this Sea Tower is, which was taken and retaken three times; first by the Spaniards, next by the Barbarians, and then by the Ligurians, that is, either the Genoeses, or those of Ligorne, unless he meaneth the Pignon de Velez in Africa, first taken by Charles the V. upon the Barbarians, then retaken again by them, taken again by the Spaniards, by the help of the Genoeses. In the third Verse Marseille, Aix, and Arles, are threatned by those of Pisa, that is the Florentines, of being ruinated by Fire and Sword, and to be plundered, as also Avignon by those of Piemont.

[44]

Marseilles is a Sea-Town in Provence, Narbon, and Tholoze are Cities of Languedoc, and Bourdeaux is the chief Town in Gascony, the rest is easie to be understood.

This Stanza is concerning as many Countreys, as there are Verses: the first is France, which by neglect and carelesness of her in Inhabitants, shall be assaulted on five several sides. The second is concerning Tunis and Argier, Cities of Barbary, which shall be stirred and moved (I suppose) to rebel. The third regardeth Leon, Sevil, Barselona, Cities in Spain, and the fourth the Venetians.

There is no difficulty in this, but in the last Verse, which I had rather leave to the judgment of the judicious Reader, than to offer any thing that might make me ridiculous.

For the explication of this Stanza, you must understand that Sienna is a City in Italy, now under the Dominion of the Duke of Tuscany, who shall occupy Savona, a City now under the Dominion of the Common-wealth of Genoa; the rest is plain enough.

[46]

By the three Sisters, he meaneth the three Destinies, viz. Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, which the Poets have fained to Spin every mans destiny, which he calleth here Fato, from the Latin word Fatum. The rest may be interpreted as well by the Reader, as by my self.

I could not find what he meaneth by Calpre, nor by Rocheval, which I suppose to be the proper names of places, when he saith, that proud Neptune shall fold the black Sail; he maketh an allusion to the History of Theseus, Son of Ægeus King of Athens, who being sent with other Children into Candia, to become a prey to the Minotaure, his Father sent the Ship with black Sails, as in a case of Mourning, charging Theseus, that if he came back again safe he should put on white Sails, but coming in sight of Athens, Theseus for joy forgot to put on the white Sails, so that his Father Ægeus thinking he had miscarried, cast himself from a Rock into the Sea, so that he saying that Neptune shall fold the black Sail, he meaneth, that there shall be joyful news.

[47]

The sense of this is so plain, that any body may make his interpretation of it.

This Key of the sense of this Stanza lieth in the last word Tauropole, which is compounded of the Latin word Taurus a Bull, and of the Greek word πολέω, that is, to sell; so that the meaning of it is, that those Cities mentioned shall rise in Rebellion against the Monopolites, and those that shall lay a Tax upon Cattle.

The first Verse is of a most dark and abstruse sense, in which I confess my ignorance, unless he meant from the sixth of the seven Planets, the rest is plain enough.

[48]

There is nothing difficult here, but what he meaneth by Kappa, Theta, Lambda, which are three Letters of the Greek Alphabet.

Auster, in Latin is the Southwind. Vienna is the chief City of Austria, belonging to the Emperour of Germany.

By the Tuscans are meant the people under the Dominion of the Duke of Florence; and by the Latines, those under the Pope.

This signifieth, that when the Moon shall be totally Eclipsed in the night, and that all the next day her Brother the Sun shall be seen of a ferrugineous, (that is an Iron like colour) then shall a great one that was hidden arise, and do great feats of Arms with the death of many men.

[50]

There is nothing difficult here, but the last Verse, which yet will be plain enough, if you make these three words anger, hatred, and envy not co-herent with the foremost, but subsisting by themselves; as if one should say, there shall be anger, hatred, and envy.

It is some great Queen, who seeing her self vanquished, shall swim naked on Horseback over a River, being followed by those that would have either killed or taken her, and after that shall forfeit her faith, but whether it be to her Husband, Friends, or Relations, is not expressed.

Ennosigee is a Greek word εννοσίγαιος, in Latin Terræ quassator, from ἔνίω moveo, and γαῖα Terra, and is an Epithete of Neptune. The meaning then of this Stanza is, that the Sea shall make the Earth quake, and fire come out of the Earth about Naples, which in Greek is called Neapolis, that is, a New City.

[51]

Arethusa is a Fountain in Sicily, which a little way from its Spring, groweth into a River. The rest is left to the interpretation of the Reader.

By the Divine sickness, he meaneth the falling sickness, called by the Greeks Epilepsia, and by the Latines Morbus Sacer. By the shaven head, he meaneth some Ecclesiastical person of the Romish Religion; the construction of the whole is easie.

By Illerde he meaneth the City of l’Isle in Flanders, the Mosel is a River that runneth through Lorrain, the Loire and Seine are two other Rivers of France, the first of which passeth at Orleans, and the second at Paris; the two last Verses are too hard for me to interpret.

[52]

Tramontana, in Italian, is the North-wind. Orgon, is the name of a Town in Gascony, the rest of the construction is not difficult.

He foretelleth here some Prodigies that shall be in the Air, as Swords and Lances after fair weather, which shall be forerunners of great Wars, and chiefly in those Countries that shall be situated on the left hand of these Prodigies.

The words and sense are plain.

By the Lion he understandeth the English, because of their Arms, and by the Cock the French, called in Latin Gallus, which signifieth a Cock; Catulon is the Spaniards, as if he should say Castilian; the Celtes are the Dutch of the Low-Countries.

[54]

By the Port Selyn, is meant Constantinople, because of several Emperours of the Turks that have been of that name, therefore the intention of this Prophecy, is, that one of the Turkish Emperours shall be put to death at Constantinople, which for all that, shall not recover her liberty. The new Mars, be like he is so called, that shall put him to death by vengeance without remorse. The Lady by excess of fear honoured, may be applied to the present great Sultaness, Mother to this present Emperour of the Turks, who hath hitherto made her self very considerable by a great party, which she hath raised against her Son, to prevent him from putting his Brothers to death, as is usually practised in that Court.

The meaning of the whole is, that a Twin shall be found before a Church, begot by a Monk, of Illustrious and Ancient Family, and shall become very famous, So that they shall say the Vopisk is much raised. Vopiscus in Latin, is, that one of the Twins, which cometh to perfect Birth.

[55]

As the words of this Stanza are plain, so is the sense most obscure, and so to be left to the Readers private Judgement.

The sense of this is plain, though the words be somthing untowardly expressed.

It is some great Commander that shall lead a multitude of people into a strange Countrey, far from their own; suppose Candia and Thessalia, where the said Commander shall be compelled to run away, and to save himself in a Barn by the Sea side.

This Stanza requireth no interpretation more, than what every one will be pleased to give himself.

Dola is a Town in Burgundy. The Tuscan Land, is that which belongeth to the Duke of Florence.

Three Prophecies are contained in this Stanza, the first that the English shall make an incursion in Gascony; the second, that there shall be a great dearth by Rains and Frosts; the third, that the Turks shall make great Incursion.

[58]

I did never find that word of Glue-head before in any Author, and I believe if Cotgrave were alive again, it would puzzle him to give the interpretation thereof.

The third and fourth signifie, that one shall be hanged on the Sails-yard, and another on a Tree, when a King shall be taken by his own Men, and shall say how much? that is, how much money shall I give you to set me free.

Negrepont is an Island of the Archipelago near Morea, anciently called Eubœa. Rhodes is another Island, and, Genoa a City in Italy, by the Seaside. The rest is plain.

Monaco is a Town seated by the Sea-side in Italy, between Provence and Genoa. This Prophecy hath been once already fulfilled, when the famous Pyrate Barbarossa, being sent by the grand Seignor, to help the French King against the Emperour Charles the V. in his return home, plundered all that Coast, and carried away an innumerable multitude of people into slavery.

The words and the sense are plain.

[60]

This needeth no Interpretation.

This is so plain, that it needeth no explication.

This Prophecy, is concerning the beginning of the Reformed Religion, when the Roman Church rejected it, yet nevertheless, for shame they left off many of their fopperies, for ever since they never appeared so great Worshippers of Saints as before.

[61]

It is a lean man that shall keep in Peace the Kingdom, for the space of nine years, and then shall become cruel; so that he shall put to death many people without Law, or regard of his promise.

All the difficulty of this consisteth in what he meaneth by the Visard and alone, for my part, I believe he aimeth at the Popish Clergy and Monks; the first by reason of their Hypocrisy, the other by reason of their solitariness. The rest is plain.

This is an Horoscope, for the Interpretation of which we are beholding to, Mr. Mannessier of Amiens, who saith that the Father of the Lords l’Aisniers writ to Nostradamus his friend, to know his childrens fortune, who sent him those four Verses for an answer, by which it is evident that the eldest should be an eminent Man, as it fell out, being one of the chiefest men in the Province of Anjou, and one of the chiefest instruments to make Peace between Louis the XIII. and his Mother Mary of Medicis, after the Battle of Pont de Cé.

The fourth Verse saith, that some of his other Children should be expelled the Kingdom, as it happened by reason of a false report raised against one of them, which compelled him to retire into Portugal till the truth was known, as it was afterwards to his great repute and honour.

I can fasten this upon no body, but upon some Monks, which are called here The alone, because of their solitary life, who shall be punished by a King, for having robbed the Church.

The first Verse seemed to Prophecy the Reformation of Religion, and the change of opinion concerning the Lords Supper, which should be no more a Sacrifice (as the Roman Church calleth the Mass) of a body without a soul, but only a commemoration of the Lords death, as the second Verse confirmeth, saying, The day of the death shall be put for the Birth-day, seeing, that by the commemoration of that death, we are renewed into a newness of life, and as it were born again. The last two Verse are easie.

Tours, Gien, and Gergeau are Cities upon the River of Loire, which is called here the great Syren, because of the length of its course, the meaning then is, that those Cities shall be watchful, and stand upon their guard, and shall fight against a King, which if it hath already come to pass in the Civil Wars, or shall happen hereafter, I cannot affirm.

The meaning of this is, that a little before a Monarck be killed, Castor and Pollux two Meteores so called, as also a Comet in that constellation of the Heavens, called the ship of Argos, and the Publick Brass, that is, the Canons by Land and Sea shall be emptied, and these Towns of Italy, viz. Pisa, Ast, Ferrare, Turin, shall be excommunicated by the Pope.

There is nothing difficult but the word Hecatomb, which is a Greek word, signifying a Sacrifice of an hundred Oxen.

[65]

There is so many faults in the impression of this, and so hard to be rectified, that I had rather leave it to the liberty of the judicious Reader, then make my self ridiculous in not giving him satisfaction.

The first two Verses signifie, that a sudden and impetuous Rain shall hinder two Armies from fighting.

The two last Verses foretell several Prodigies, the which happening, seven persons shall suddenly die upon the Sea and Land.

This is so plain, that it needeth no Interpretation.

[66]

This is obvious to the meanest capacity.

Bireme is a Galley that hath two ranges of Oares, Trireme is one that hath three ranges. The meaning then of this is, that an Embassadour shall be sent in a Galley with two ranges of Oares, and that he shall be met in his way by unknown men, that is, Pyrates; there shall come to his succours from the Salt, that is, from the French four Triremes, that is four Galleys, every one having three ranges of Oares, but they shall all be carried to Negrepont, an Island belonging to the Turk.

The Author hath darkned this Stanza with so many barbarous words, as Camp Ascop, drowned Island, D’Arton, Navel of the World, that it is very like either he did not understand himself, or would not be understood by others.

The meaning of this is, that many Courtiers (called here Palace Birds) shall be justled out of favour by another principal Bird, that is a great Courtier, as soon as the Prince shall come to his own.

The two last Verses seem to foretell that the said principal Courtier shall seize upon the Prince, notwithstanding that some succour shall come to his help, which shall be beaten back beyond the River.

Ister is a River, German is a proper name of some considerable person, whose Son shall not observe or take notice when that eminent person mentioned here, shall be drawn into an Iron Cage.

There is no difficulty but in the last Verse, where you must observe that Loire, Saone, Rhosne, and Gardon, which for the Verses sake is contracted into Gar; are Rivers of France, which are threatned here of overflowing, and causing the death of many people.

[69]

This is plain, if you observe that the Thesin is a River of Italy, and the Pau another, into the which the Thesin runneth.

By the Divine Word, you must not understand the second person of the Trinity, or else all this Stanza would be absurd; but you must understand a Divine or Theologian, called in Greek θεόλογος, which signifieth a Divine Word. The meaning therefore of it, is, that a Theologian shall be struck by Heaven; that is, shall die, so that he shall proceed no further in his work, which I suppose by the two last Verses, was the Philosophers stone; for in the two last Verses he saith, that the secret of the close Keeper, that is, of him that wrought secretly, shall (by his death) be so closed up, that people shall tread on, and before it.