Chapter XXI: French

Au _Crustamin_ pres Mer _Adriatique_.
Apparoistra un horrible poisson,
De face humaine & de corps aquatique,
Qui se prendra dehors de l’Hamecon.

English.

In the _Crustamin_ near the _Adriatick_ Sea,
An horrid Fish shall appear,
Having a mans face, and a fishes body,
Which shall be taken without a hook.

ANNOT.

I suppose this _Crustamin_ to be some place so called, near the _Adriatick_ Sea.

As for Fishes with an humane face, we have several examples of them. _Ambrosius Paræus_ relateth divers, and in his works hath inserted the Pictures of them.

1. When _Mena_ was Governour of _Ægypt_, and walked by the _Nilus_ side, he saw a Sea-man rising out of the River, having an humane shape as far as the Navel, and with a grave look and fair hairs, intermixed with white ones, bony Breast, and distinct Arms, the rest of the body was like a Fish. Three days after in the Morning appeared another Sea-monster like a woman: those two Monsters appeared so long, that every body had time to consider them.

2. _Rondeletius_ saith, that in our age was taken a Fish in the Sea of _Norway_, which every body presently called a Monk, because of the resemblance.

3. In the year 1531. was seen a Sea-monster, covered with Scales, which for the resemblance was called a Bishop, _Rondeletius_ and _Gesuerus_ have the Picture of it.

4. In the year 1523. was seen in _Rome_ a Fish about the bigness of a Child of five years old, that had humane shape to the Navel, except the ears: So that all those things related of _Tritons_, _Nereides_ and _Sirens_ seem not altogether fabulous, and we may conclude with _Pliny_: _Vera est vulgi opinio, quicquià nascatur in parte naturæ ulla, & in Mariesse, præterque multa quæ nusquam alibi_, lib. 9. cap. 2.

XXII.

French.

Six jours lassaut devant Cité donné,
Livrée sera forte & aspre Bataille,
Trois la rendront, & a eux pardonné,
Le reste a feu & sang trauche taille.

English.

Six days shall the assault be given to the City,
A great and fierce Battle shall be fought,
Three shall surrender it and be pardoned,
The rest shall be put to fire and sword, cut and slasht.

ANNOT.

Some famous City must be here understood, which the Author hath not named. The same shall be assaulted for six days continually, and in conclusion shall be surrendred or betrayed by three men, who shall be pardoned, and all the rest put to Fire and Sword. Most men that have knowledge in History, interpret this of the City of _Magdebourg_ in _Germany_, that was destroyed with Fire and Sword by the Earl of _Tilly_, General for the Emperour against _Gustavus Adolphus_, King of _Swedeland_. For the like devastation and cruelty was never heard of in _Europe_.