Chapter LVII: French

Sept fois changer verrez gens _Britanique_,
Teints en sang en deux cens nonante an,
_France_ non point par appuy _Germanique_,
_Aries_ double son Pope _Bistarnan_.

English.

Seven times you shall see the _English_ to change,
Died in blood, in two hundred ninety year,
Not _France_, by the _German_ support,
_Aries_ doubleth his _Bastarnan_ Pole.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses concern _England_; the third _France_; the fourth marketh the time by the motion of the Sign of _Aries_, which shall be favourable to _France_.

We shall leave the two first Verses to be interpreted by the _English_ Nation, which is most concerned in it, and come to the last two, which concern _France_.

The third Verse saith that _France_ shall not change as _England_, by reason of the help it shall have from _Germany_, which hath been made good already for these hundred years, notwithstanding the Wars between _Henry_ II. and the _Spaniard_; the Conspiracy of the Protestant party against _Francis_ the II. at _Amboise_; the civil Wars under _Charles_ the IX. the League under _Henry_ III. and _Henry_ IV. the Forrain Wars under _Lewis_ XIII. and _Lewis_ XIV. now Reigning.

The Authors meaning by these words, _but France not_, is, you shall not see _France_ change seven times in two hundred ninety years, as the _Brittish_ nation, and then he giveth the reason of it, _by German help_, that is to say, that _France_ shall have help from _Germany_.

The fourth Verse saith, that during those two hundred ninety years, _Aries doubleth his Bastarnan Pole_, to understand this, we must suppose first that the Sign of _Aries_ ruleth over _France_, _Palestine_, _Bastarnia_, &c.

Secondly, we must learn from _Ptolomy_ and other Geographers, that _Bastarnia_ containeth the people that are towards _Sarmatia_ or _Poland_, which were called by the Ancients, the people of _Admone_, _Sidane_, _Roxolane_, and by others _Peucins_, from the Island _Peuce_, which is in _Istria_.

Thirdly, we must suppose, that the Sign of _Aries_ hath two Poles, the first is that of the Æquinoctial Line, and the second, that of the _Eccliptick_, because the Sign of _Aries_ beginneth just in the Line of the _Equator_, and afterwards stretcheth towards the North. Now it is so that the place where its extension endeth in the Eccliptical Line of the Sun, is called by the Author the _Bastarnan Pole_.

It is a _Pole_ sith in the constellations of Heaven, we call _Poles_, the two ends or extremities of them, and in the constellations of the Zodiack, we call the first Pole that which is next to the Equator, and the second Pole that which stretcheth towards the North, or towards the South in the Eccliptical Line.

In this sense, the first Pole of the Sign of _Aries_, is that which hath its first degree in the Equator; the second is, that which stretcheth towards the North in the Eccliptick, and this last Pole is called _Bastarnan_, because it is Vertical to _Bastarnia_, as the Astrologers set down their Climates, Kingdoms, Provinces and Towns under the twelve Signs.

Fourthly, We must suppose that this word _to double_, may signifie three things. 1. In Sea-mens tearms; it signifieth to go beyond some place, as to double the Cape of _bona Speranza_, which is called in _Italian_, _Tramontare_; that is, to go beyond. 2. It signifieth to do twice the same thing, as _Jacob_ did double his service for _Rachel_, &c. 3. In matter of traveling; it signifieth to go twice as far as is requisite.

_To double_, in this place cannot be understood in the first sense; because the constellations never stretcht out of their compasses, though the Stars of which they are compounded, have their peculiar motions.

To understand this, we must know that the Stars of the Firmament have their peculiar motions from West to East, upon the Pole of the Eccliptick, and that they go that way a matter of one Degree, in the space of about 100 years, and consequently the Stars do retrograde every year in the Eccliptick from West to East 52 Seconds. _Ptolomeus_ holdeth this opinion, but other renowned Astrologers give them more: For my part I am of _Tychobrahe_’s opinion, who allowed them one Degree of retrogradation in 70 years and 7 Months, and consequently 51 Seconds every year.

According to this Doctrine the Star that is in the Horn of _Aries_, was observed by _Tymocharis_ in 2d Degree; 150 years after, _Hipparchus_ observed it in the first; 265 years after, _Ptolomeus_ saw it in the 6 Degree; 740 years after, _Albathognius_ observed it in the 18 Degree; 304 years after, _Alphonsus_ King of _Spain_, found it in the 6 Degree; 265 years after, _Copernicus_ did observe it to be in the 27 Degree and two Minutes; 61 years after, _Tychobrahe_ saw it in the 27 Degree, and above 37 Minutes; so that in the space of 61 years it had gone 35 Minutes.

By this Doctrine we see that the whole constellations do not go beyond their Poles, though the Stars that Compound them change their Poles every year of 51 Seconds.

To double, then here cannot be taken in the first sense, nor in the third sense, for the first reason, it must then be in the second sense; and thus _Aries doubleth his Bastarnan Pole_; that is, _Aries_ maketh twice his Pole, which answereth to _Bastarnia_.

If you ask how it cometh to pass that _Aries_ doubleth this Pole, and in what place of Heaven we set this _Bastarnan Pole_. I answer to the first, that _Aries_ doubleth his Pole, when one of those 13 Stars cometh to that point, which is a Northern or Western Pole to that sign in the Eccliptick. As to the second: I answer, that the place ought to be its last Degree, _viz._ the end of the 30 Degree.

Why? (will you say) did the Author mark that difference of the Sign of _Aries_, rather than that of _Taurus_, or of another?

I answer, that it was in favour of _France_; because _Aries_ doth govern in _France_, and if it hath been favourable to it, when it came first to the _Bastarnan Pole_, it will be so too when it doubleth the same Pole, seeing that it will have the same position and Aspect. Now we see, that in the space of these 100 years, _France_ was not overcome, much less shall it be hereafter, seeing that the Stars do promise its exaltation for a long continuance.

If I were a great Astrologer, I should observe exactly by this, that within the space of 290 years, _Aries shall double his Cape Bastarnan_, and consequently _Aries_ should come to that Pole just in the year 1845. which is according to that we have said.

LVIII.

French.

Aupres du _Rhin_ des Montagnes _Noriques_,
Naistra un grand de gens trop tard venu,
Qui defendra _Sarmates_ & _Pannoniques_,
Qu’on ne scaura quil sera devenu.

English.

Near the _Rhine_, out of the _Norick_ Mountains,
Shall be born a great one, though too late come,
Who shall defend the _Polonians_ and _Hungarians_,
So that it shall not be known what is become of him.

ANNOT.

This is plain.

LIX.

French.

_Barbare_ Empire par le tiers usurpé,
La plus grand part de son sang mettre amort,
Par mort senicle par luy quart frappé,
Pour peur que sang par le sang ne soit mort.

English.

A _Barbarian_ Empire shall be usurped by a third person,
Who shall put to death the greatest part of his Kindred,
By death of old age, the fourth shall be stricken by him,
For fear that blood should not die by blood.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses are plain, I acknowledge my Ignorance in the last two.

LX.

French.

Par toute _Asia_ grande proscription,
Mesme en _Mysie_, _Lydie_, & _Pamphilie_,
Sang versera par dissolution,
D’un jeune noir remply de felonie.

English.

Through all _Asia_ shall be a great proscription,
Yea in _Mysia_, _Lydia_, and _Pamphilia_,
Blood shall be spilled by the debauchness
Of a young black man, full of felony.

ANNOT.

_Mysia_, _Lydia_, and _Pamphilia_, are Countreys of _Asia_.

LXI.

French.

La grande bande & secte Crucigere,
Se dressera en _Mesopotamie_,
Du proche Fleuve compagnie legere,
Qui telle Loy tiendra pour ennemie.

English.

The great troop and sect wearing a Cross,
Shall rise up in _Mesopotamia_,
Near the next River shall be a light company,
Which shall hold that law for enemy.

ANNOT.

It is an Army of Christians (be like _Armenians_) that shall rise in _Mesopotamia_ against whom shall an Army of Turkish Horseman come, who did live by the next River.

LXII.

French.

Proche del _Duero_ par Mer _Cyrene_ close,
Viendra percer les grands Monts _Pyrenees_,
La main plus courte & sa percée gloses
A _Carcasonne_ conduira ses menées.

English.

Near the _Duero_ closed by the _Cyrenian_ Sea,
Shall come to pierce the great _Pyrenean_ Mountains,
The shorter hand and his pierced glose,
Shall in _Carcassone_ lead his plot.

ANNOT.

The _Cyrenian_ Sea, is that Sea which is by the Province of _Cyrene_. The _Pyrenean_ Mountains part _Spain_ from _France_. _Carcassonne_ is a Town in _France_ near unto _Spain_. The rest passeth my understanding.

LXIII.

French.

_Romain_ pouvoir sera du tout a bas,
Son grand Voisin imiter les vestiges,
Occultes haines civiles, & debats,
Retarderont aux boufons leur folies.

English.

The _Roman_ power shall be quite put down,
His great Neighbour shall follow his steps,
Secret and civil hatreds and quarrels,
Shall stop the Buffons folly.

ANNOT.

The first Verse signifieth, that the _Pope_’s Authority shall be put down.

The second, that his great neighbour, that is the Empire shall follow his steps, that is, be put down too. The two last Verses are plain.

LXIV.

French.

Le Chef de _Perse_ remplira grand _Olchade_,
Classe trireme contre gent _Mahometique_,
De _Parthe_ & _Mede_ & piller les _Cyclades_,
Repos long temps au grand Port _Jonique_.

English.

The Head of _Persia_ shall fill a great _Olchade_,
A Fleet of Galleys against the _Mahometan_ Nation,
From _Parthia_ and _Media_ they shall come to plunder the _Cyclades_,
A long rest shall be on the _Jonique_ Port.

ANNOT.

I could not find what he meaneth by _Olchade_. The second Verse is plain.

_Parthia_ and _Media_ are two Kingdoms depending from that of _Persia_. The Islands of _Cyclades_ are in the _Ægean_ Sea, and are so called because they are like a Garment about the City of _Delos_, for κυκλας in Greek signifieth a round garment of a woman.

The _Jonique_ Sea is that Sea in _Grecia_, which is about _Athens_ and _Corinth_, &c.

LXV.

French.

Quand le Sepulchre du grand _Romain_ trouvé,
Le jour apres sera esleu Pontife,
Du Senat gueres il ne sera prouvé,
Empoisonné, son sang au Sacre _Scyphe_.

English.

When the Sepulcher of the great _Roman_ shall be found,
The next day after a Pope shall be elected,
Who shall not be much approved by the Senate,
Poisoned, his blood in the Sacred _Scyphe_.

ANNOT.

This seemeth to foretel the finding out of the Sepulcher of some famous _Roman_, and that the next day after a _Pope_ shall be Elected, who being not well approved of by the Conclave, shall be poisoned in the Chalice, which is the Communion Cup that the Roman Catholicks use at _Mass_, signified here by the Latine word _Scyphus_.

LXVI.

French.

Le grand Baillif d’_Orleans_ mis a mort.
Sera par un de sang vindicatif,
De mort merite ne mourra, ne par sort,
Des pieds & mains mal, le faisoit captif.

English.

The great Bailif of _Orleans_ shall be put to death,
By one of a revengeful blood,
He shall not die of a deserved death, nor by chance,
But the disease of being tied hand and foot, hath made him prisoner.

ANNOT.

The Bailif of _Orleans_ is a great Officer, for he is there Lord Chief Justice, and of all the precincts. It seemeth that this man shall be put to death, by one of a revengeful blood, not that he had deserved it, or come to it by chance, but because he shall be tied hand and foot, and die in prison.

LXVII.

French.

Une nouvelle Secte de Philosophes,
Mesprisant mort, or, honneurs & richesses,
Des Monts _Germains_ seront fort limitrophes,
A les ensuivre auront appuy & presses.

English.

A new Sect of Philosophers shall rise,
Despising Death, Gold, Honours and Riches,
They shall be near the Mountains of _Germany_,
They shall have abundance of others to support and follow them.

ANNOT.

This is properly said of the Anabaptists in _Germany_, in the time of _John de Leyden_, and now of the Quakers in _England_, and elsewhere.

LXVIII.

French.

Peuple sans Chef d’_Espagne_ & d’_Italie_,
Morts, profligez dedans le _Cheronese_,
Leur dict trahy par legere folie,
Le sang nager per tout a la traverse.

English.

A people of _Spain_ and _Italy_ without a Head,
Shall die, being overcome in the _Cheronese_,
Their saying shall be betrayed by a light folly,
The blood shall swim all over at random.

ANNOT.

_Cheronese_ is a Land or ground unmanured; the rest is plain.

LXIX.

French.

Grand exercite conduit par jouvenceau,
Se viendra rendre aux mains des ennemis,
Mais le vieillard nay au demy pourceau,
Fera _Chalon_ & _Mascon_ estre amis.

English.

A great Army led by a young man,
Shall yield it self in the hands of the enemies,
But the old man born at the sign of the halfe-Hog,
Shall cause _Chalon_ and _Mascon_ to be friends.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses are plain; as for the third Verse, I could not find who that _Old man_ should be, that shall be born at the sign of the _half-Hog_.

_Chalon_ and _Mascon_ are two Cities in _France_, the first in _Champagne_, the last in _Burgundy_.