Chapter XC: French

Le grand _Satyre_ & _Tygre_ d’_Hircanie_,
Don presenté a ceux de l’Occean,
Un chef de Classe istra de _Carmanie_,
Qui prendra Terre au _Thyrren Phocean_.

English.

The great _Satyr_ and _Tyger_ of _Hircania_,
Shall be a gift presented to those of the Ocean,
An Admiral of a fleet shall come out of _Carmania_,
Who shall Land in the _Thyrren Phocean_.

ANNOT.

_By the great Satyr and Tyger of Hircania_, is meant, the King of _Persia_, who is also King of _Hircania_, abounding with _Tygers_.

That King of _Persia_ shall be made a gift to those of the Ocean; that is, shall be either drowned in it, or do some wonderful things upon it.

_Carmania_ is a Province in _Asia_, belonging to the _Turk_.

The _Thyrren Phocean_ is the City of _Marseilles_ in _France_, so called by the Author in this Book; because it was a Colony of the _Phocenses_ in _Greece_; it is also called _Thyrren_, because it is seated upon the _Tyrrhenean_ Sea, as _Virgil_ saith,

————_Thyrrenum navigat Æquor_.

XCI.

French.

L’Arbre qu’estoit par long temps mort seiché,
Dans une nuit viendra a reverdir,
Son Roy malade, Prince pied attaché,
Craint d’ennemis fera Voiles bondir.

English.

The Tree that had been long dead and withered,
In one night shall grow green again,
His King shall be sick, his Prince shall have his foot tied,
Being feared by his enemies, he shall make his Sails to rebound.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses are Metaphorical, and are to be understood of a considerable person, who having been for a long time despised and under a cloud, shall on a sudden rise again and be in repute. The two last Verses are intelligible enough.

XCII.

French.

Le monde proche du dernier periode,
_Saturn_ encor sera tard de retour,
Translat Empire devers Nations brode,
L’œil arraché a _Narbon_ par Autour.

English.

The world being near its last period,
_Saturn_ shall come yet late to his return,
The Empire shall be translated into _brode_ Nations,
_Narbon_ shall have her eye pickt out by a Hawk.

ANNOT.

The meaning of the first and second Verses is, that the world shall be at an end, before _Saturn_ hath performed his whole course, which (if I do not mistake) is thought by the Astronomers to be of 36000. years.

The third Verse signifieth, that before the end of the world, the Empire shall be translated or possessed by a black Nation, for _brode_ in old _French_ signifieth black, whence it cometh that to this day they call a handsom black woman, _une belle Brode_, that is a fair black woman.

_Narbon_ is a famous City in _Languedoc_, and the seat of an Archbishop.

XCIII.

French.

Dans _Avignon_ tout le Chef de l’Empire,
Fera arrest, pour _Paris_ desole,
_Tricast_ tiendra l’_Annibalique_ ire,
_Lion_ par change sera mal consolé.

English.

In _Avignon_ all the Chief of the Empire,
Shall stay, by reason of _Paris_ being desolate,
_Tricast_ shall stop the _Annibalik_ anger,
_Lion_ by change shall be ill comforted.

ANNOT.

The first and second Verse signifie, that the Pope once more shall keep his seat in _Avignon_, which is a Town in _France_ belonging to the Pope, and where formerly they kept their See, for the space of above an hundred years. As for the word _Tricast_, there must be a foul errour in the impression or else; I must confess I understand it not. By the _Annibilik_ anger, is meant those of _Barbary_, where _Annibal_ was born. _Lion_ is a famous Town in _France_, where is kept the greatest trading for Bills of Exchange.

XCIV.

French.

De cinq cens ans plus compte l’on tiendra,
Celuy qu’estoit l’ornement de son temps,
Puis a un coup grande clarté donra,
Que pour ce Siecle les rendra tres-contens.

English.

For five hundred years no account shall be made,
Of him who was the ornament of his time:
Then on a sudden he shall give so great a light,
That for that age he shall make them to be most contented.

ANNOT.

The words and the sense are plain.

XCV.

French.

Lu Loy _Morique_ on verra defaillir,
Apres un autre beaucoup plus seductive,
_Boristhenes_ premier viendra faillir,
Par dons & langue une plus attractive.

English.

We shall see the _Morish_ Law to decline,
After which, another more seducing shall arise,
_Boristhenes_ shall be the first that shall fall,
By gifts and tongue that Law shall be most seducing.

ANNOT.

This foretelleth the declining of the _Mahometan_ Religion, after which another Religion shall be set up worse then the _Mahometan_. The first decay of it shall begin in _Scythia_, a Kingdom belonging to the King of _Persia_, through which runneth the River _Boristhenes_.

XCVI.

French.

Chef de _Fossan_ aura gorge coupée,
Par le Ducteur du Limier & L’curier,
Le fait patré par ceux du Mont _Tarpée_,
_Saturne_ en _Leo_ 13. de _February_.

English.

The Chief of _Fossan_ shall have his throat cut,
By the Leader of the Hunt and Greyhond,
The fact committed by those of the _Tarpeian_ Mountain,
_Saturn_ being in _Leo_ the 13. of _February_.

ANNOT.

_Fossan_ is a City in _Piemont_, belonging to the Duke of _Savoy_, the Chief man or Governour of which is threatned here to have his throat cut by some Souldiers, either of _Rome_, or belonging to _Rome_, signified here by the _Tarpeian_ Mountain, upon which the Capitol was built, and this fact to be committed by one that shall be a famous Huntsman; upon the 13 of _February_, _Saturn_ being then in the Sign of _Leo_.

XCVII.

French.

Nouvelle Loy, Terre neuve occuper,
Vers la _Syrie_, _Judée_ & _Palestine_,
Le grand Empire, _Barbare_ corruer,
Avant que _Phebe_ son Siecle determine.

English.

A new Law shall occupy a new Countrey,
Towards _Syria_, _Judea_ and _Palestina_,
The great _Barbarian_ Empire shall fall down,
Before _Phœbe_ maketh an end of her course.

ANNOT.

The words and sense are plain.

XCVIII.

French.

Deux Royal Freres si fort guerroieront,
Qu’entreux sera la guerre si mortelle,
Qu’un chacun places fortes occuperont,
De Regne & vie sera leur grand querelle.

English.

Two Royal Brothers shall War so much one against the other,
That the War between them shall be mortal,
Each of them shall seize upon strong places,
Their quarrel shall be concerning Kingdom and Life.

ANNOT.

This needeth no interpretation.

XCIX.

French.

Aux Champs Herbus d’_Alein_ & du _Varneigre_,
Du Mont _Lebron_ proche de la _Durance_,
Camps des deux parts conflict sera si aigre,
_Mesopotamie_ defaillira en _France_.

English.

In the Meadow Fields of _Alein_ and _Varneigre_,
Of the Mountain _Lebron_ near the _Durance_,
Armies on both sides, the fight shall be so sharp,
That _Mesopotamia_ shall be wanting in _France_.

ANNOT.

_Alain_ and _Varnaigre_ are two small Towns in _France_, seated by the Mountain _Lebron_, near the River called _Durance_, where the Author saith there shall be such a sharp fight, that _Mesopotamia_ shall be wanting in _France_, to understand this you must know, that _Mesopotamia_ is a Countrey between two Rivers from the Greek words μεσος, which signifieth middle, and ποταμὸς which signifieth a River, the meaning then of the Author is, that the Battle so sharp, the ground shall be wanting to bury the dead.

C.

French.

Entre _Gaulois_ le dernier honoré,
D’homme ennemy sera victorieux,
Force & terreur en moment exploré,
D’Un coup de trait quand mourra l’envieux.

English.

He that is the least honoured among the _French_,
Shall be Conqueror of the man that was his Enemy,
Strength and terrour shall in a moment be tried,
When the envious shall be killed with an Arrow.

ANNOT.

This is plain.

THE PROPHECIES OF Michael Nostradamus.

_CENTURY_ IV.

I.

French.

Sera du reste de sang non espandu,
_Venice_ quiert secours estre donné,
Apres avoir bien lon temps attendu,
Cité livrée au premier Cor sonné.

English.

There shall be a remnant of blood unspilt,
_Venice_ shall seek for succours,
After having long waited for it,
The City shall be surrendred at the first sound of the Trumpet.

ANNOT.

This to my judgement is concerning the Siege of _Candia_, in which the _Venetians_ for the space of about twenty years desired and expected succours from the Christian Princes, which came so slowly, that the City was fained to surrender upon honorable terms, which is the meaning of the first Verse, _There shall be a remnant of blood unspilt_.

II.

French.

Par mort la _France_ prendra voiage a faire,
Classe par Mer, marcher Monts _Pyrenées_,
_Espagne_ en trouble marcher gent militaire,
Des plus grands Dames en _France_ emmenées.

English.

By reason of a death, _France_ shall undertake a Journey,
They shall have a Fleet at Sea, and march towards the _Pyrenes_,
_Spain_ shall be in trouble by an Army,
Some of the greatest Ladies in _France_ carried away

ANNOT.

The whole sense of this is, that by reason of some bodies death, _France_ shall make war against _Spain_ by Sea and Land, and put _Spain_ in great trouble.

The fourth Verse saith, that some of the greatest Ladies in _France_ shall be carried away, but the question is, whether by the _Spaniards_, or (which is more probable) by their own Husbands going to war against _Spain_.

III.

French.

D’_Arras_ & _Bourges_ de Brodes grands enseignes,
Un plus grand nombre de _Gascons_ battre a pied,
Ceux long du _Rhosne_ saigneront les _Espagnes_,
Proche du Mont ou _Sagunte_ sassied.

English.

From _Arras_ and _Bourges_ many colours of black men shall come,
A greater number of _Gascons_ shall go on foot,
Those along the _Rhosne_ shall let _Spain_ blood,
Near the Mountain where _Saguntus_ is seated.

ANNOT.

_Arras_ and _Bourges_ are Cities of _France_. As for _brodes_, we have said before that it signifie brown men, such as are the _Gascoins_, inhabiting the Province of _Aquitania_ near _Spain_.

_Saguntus_ is a City in _Spain_, that was destroyed by the _Romans_.

IV.

French.

L’Important Prince fasché, plaint & querelle,
De rapts & pillé par Coqs & par Libiques,
Grand & par Terre, par Mer infinis Voiles,
Seule _Italie_ sera chassant _Celtiques_.

English.

The considerable Prince vexed, complaineth and quarelleth,
Concerning rapes and plunderings done by the Cocks and Libiques
Great trouble by Land, by Sea infinite Sails,
_Italy_ alone shall drive away the _French_.

ANNOT.

This considerable Prince was _Philip_ the II. King of _Spain_, who was vexed to see the Cocks, that is the _French_, and Libiques that is the _Turks_ joyned together, under _Barbarossa_ to commit so many Rapes and violences upon his Subjects.

V.

French.

Croix Paix, soubs un accomply Divin Verbe,
L’_Espagne_ & _Gaules_ seront unis ensemble,
Grand clade proche & combat tresacerbe,
Cœur si hardy ne sera qui ne tremble.

English.

The Cross shall have peace, under an accomplished Divine Word,
_Spain_ and _France_ shall be united together,
A great Battle near hand, and a most sharp fight,
No heart so stout but shall tremble.

ANNOT.

We have said before that by _Divine Word_, we must not understand the second person of the Trinity, but a Divine or Theologian, called in Greek θεόλογος, which also signifieth _Divine Word_. Therefore the meaning of the first Verse is, that under the Goverment of some eminent Divine, (be like a good Pope) the Cross shall have peace, that is, the Christian Religion shall be in Peace, and persecution shall cease. The last three Verses are plain.

VI.

French.

D’Habits nouveaux apres faite la treuve,
Malice, trame, & machination,
Premier mourra qui en fera la preuve,
Couleur _Venise_, insidiation.

English.

After the new Cloaths shall be found out,
There shall be malice, plotting and machination,
He shall die the first that shall make trial of it,
Under colour of _Venice_, shall be a conspiracy.

ANNOT.

Everybody may be as wise as I in the interpretation of this.

VII.

French.

Le fils mineur du grand & hay Prince,
De Lepre aura a vingt ans grande tache,
De dueil mourra triste & mince,
Et il mourra la ou tombe chair lache.

English.

The younger Son of the great and hated Prince,
Being twenty years, old shall have a great touch of Leprosie,
His mother shall die for grief, very sad and lean,
And he shall die of the disease loose flesh.

ANNOT.

This is easie to be understood, if we remember that _Charles_ IX. King of _France_, younger son to _Henry_ II. died of a foul disease, and his Mother _Catharine_ of _Medicis_ died of grief.

VIII.

French.

La grand Cité dassaut prompt repentin
Surpris de nuit, gardes interrompus,
Les Excubies & veilles Saint _Quentin_,
Trucidez gardes, & les Portails rompus.

English.

The great City shall be taken by a sudden assault,
Being surprised by night, the Watch being beaten,
The Court of Guard and Watch of Saint _Quentin_
Shall be killed, and the Gates broken.

ANNOT.

This great City was the City of St. _Quentin_ in _Picardy_, taken by assault by _Philip_ the II. _Anno_ 1557.

IX.

French.

Le Chef du Camp au milieu de la presse,
D’un coup de flesche sera blessé aux cuisses,
Lors que _Geneve_ en larmes & destresse,
Sera trahie par _Lozanne_ & _Souisses_.

English.

The Chief of the Camp in the middle of the crowd,
Shall be wounded with an Arrow through both his thighs,
When _Geneva_ being in tears and distress,
Shall be betrayed by _Lozane_ and the _Switzers_.

ANNOT.

The words and sense are plain.

X.

French.

Le jeune Prince accusé faucement,
Mettra le camp en trouble & en querelles,
Meurtry le chef par le souslevement,
Sceptre appaiser, puis guerir escroüelles.

English.

The young Prince being falsely accused,
Shall put the Camp in trouble, and in quarrele,
The chief shall be murdered by the tumult,
The Scepter shall be appeased, and after cure the Kings-evil.

ANNOT.

This Prophecie must needs be concerning _England_ or _France_; for there is but those two Kings that challenge the cure of the Kings-evil.

XI.

French.

Celuy quaura couvert de la grand Cappe,
Sera induit a quelque cas patrer,
Les douze rouges viendront soüiller la nappe,
Soubs meurtre, meurtre se viendra perpetrer.

English.

He that shall be covered with a great Cloak,
Shall be induced to commit some great fact,
The twelve red ones shall Soil the Table-cloth,
Under murder, murder shall be committed.

ANNOT.

Every one may interpret this as well as I, provided that by the _twelve red ones_, he understandeth twelve Cardinals.