Chapter XII: French

Le Camp plus grand de route mis ensuite,
Gueres plus outre ne sera pourchassé,
Ost recampé & legion reduite,
Puis hors, des _Gaules_ du tout sera chassé.

English.

The greatest Camp being in disorder, shall be routed,
And shall be pursued not much after,
The Army shall incamp again, and the Troops set in order,
Then afterwards, they shall be wholly driven out of _France_.

ANNOT.

This Prophecie is concerning an out-landish Army that shall invade _France_, and though numerous, yet shall be put to flight, and shall not be much pursued: therefore it shall incamp again, and collect and gather again its Troops, and afterwards shall be wholly driven out of _France_.

I am much mistaken if this Prophecie came not to pass, when the Duke of _Parma_ at the head of a _Spanish_ numerous Army came into _France_ in favour of the League; for _Henry_ IV. met him at the siege of _Roven_, beat him off, and suffered him to retire quietly, and as the common saying is, made him a Golden Bridge, to retreat into the Low-Countries again.

XIII.

French.

De plus grand perte nouvelles rapportées,
Le rapport fait le camp festonnera,
Bandes unies encontre revoltées,
Double _Phalange_, grand abandonnera.

English.

News being brought of a great loss,
The report divulged, the Camp shall be astonished,
Troops being united and revolted,
The double _Phalange_ shall forsake the great one.

ANNOT.

This hath a connexion with the precedent; for while the Prince of _Parma_ was busied in _France_, news was brought to his Camp, that the _Hollanders_ had taken _Antwerp_, which discouraged his whole Host, and made him retire with all speed.

The Word _Phalange_ signifieth a Battailion or part of an Army, which being expressed here by the word _double Phalange_, signifieth, that both Horse and Foot deserted the Duke of _Parma_ upon the hearing of this news.

XIV.

French.

La mort subite du premier personage,
Aura changé & mis un autre au Regne,
Tost, tard venu a si haut & basage,
Que Terre & mer faudra que lon le craigne.

English.

The sudden death of the chief man,
Shall cause a change, and put another in the Raign,
Soon, late come to so high a degree, in a low age,
So that by Land and Sea he must be feared.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses are plain.

The two last signifie, that a youth shall come to the Kingdom, _soon_, that is, by reason of the sudden death of the _chief man_, and _late_; because being but young, he shall Reign so long, that he shall be famous, and feared by Sea and Land.

XV.

French.

D’ou pensera faire venir famine,
De la viendra le rassasiement,
L’œil de la Mer par avare canine,
Pour de l’un lautre donra Huile, Froment.

English.

Whence one thought to make famine to come,
Thence shall come the fulness,
The eye of the Sea through a doggish covetousness,
Shall give to both Oyl and Wheat.

ANNOT.

This Prophecie was fulfilled at the famous Siege of _Ostend_, which lasted three years and three Months; for the _Hollanders_ that brought relief to the Town, did for covetousness sell the ammunition to the _Spaniards_ that besieged it, for which complaint being made by the States to the Prince of _Orenge_, _Maurice_ of _Nassaw_, as also that they did the like to _Newport_, which he had besieged; he replyed smartly, do you not know that your Countrey men would Sail into Hell, were it not for fear to have their Sails burnt.