Chapter LXVI: French

Quand l’Escriture D. M. trouvée,
Et Cave antique a Lampe descouverte,
Loy, Roy, & Prince _Vlpian_ esprouvée,
Pavillon, Royne & Duc soubs la couverte.

English.

When the writing D. M. shall be found,
And an ancient Cave discovered with a Lamp,
Law, King, and Prince _Ulpian_ tried,
Tent, Queen and Duke under the rugge.

ANNOT.

In the year 1555. _Ferdinand Alvaro_ of _Toledo_ Duke of _Alba_, being sent by _Charles_ the V. into _Italy_ to resist the _French_, arrived in _June_ at _Milan_, and having gathered together, all his Forces, Besieged the Town St. _Jago_, but _Henry_ II. King of _France_ sending some succours by the Duke of _Aumale_, he raised up his siege, and put his Army into Garrisons. The Duke of _Alba_ leaving the Field in this manner, the Duke of _Aumale_ besieged _Vulpian_, wherein were 1000. souldiers in Garrison, under the command of _Cæsar_ of _Naples_, besides the Inhabitants. Never was a place so furiously assaulted, and so manfully defended, so that the _French_ were many times beaten back; but at last after 24. days siege the Duke of _Aumale_ did gloriously take it.

The Author foretelling the time of this victory, said it was when the writing D. M. in big letters was found, that is to say, about the 11. of _September_ after the Equinox, because in the Ephemerides, the Meridional descension of the Planets, and chiefly of _Sol_, _Venus_, and _Mercury_ is marked with these two Letters D. M. which descension cometh to pass after the Equinox of _Autumn_ towards the end of _September_. At the same time was discovered an ancient Cave, wherein was found one of those Lamps, that cannot be put out, and burns continually without any addition of Oil, by an invention that is lost. Such another was found in the time of _Alexander_ the VI. and _Adrian_ the VI.

The Town of _Vulpian_ was at that time tried by a King and a Prince, _viz._ _Henry_ the II. and the Duke of _Aumale_ Prince of _Lorrain_, and Brother to the Cardinal of _Lorrain_, and to the Duke of _Guise_.

The Author addeth, that besides these three things, _viz._ the finding of the letters D. M. The Cave discovered the siege of _Vulpian_; there happened a fourth one, _viz._ that a Queen and a Duke should consult together in a Summer-house, about the important affairs of the Kingdom. To understand this, we must suppose that Pope _Paul_ the IV. willing to secure his own person and the Ecclesiastical State against the _Spanish_ faction, and that of the _Colonese_, did seize upon many places belonging to the said _Colonese_, and knowing besides that the _Spaniards_ being of the _Coloneses_ party, would not fail to come upon him, he disposed the King of _France_ to come to his succours, so that the Queen having a particular confidence in the Duke of _Guise_, did consult with him about this business in some Summer-house, which the _French_ call a _Pavillon_.