Chapter XXXVIII: French

L’Aisné Roial sur coursier voltigeant,
Picquer viendra si rudement courir,
Gueule lipée, pied dans l’Estrein pleignant,
Traine, tiré, horriblement mourir.

English.

The eldest Royal prancing upon a Horse,
Shall spur, and run very fiercely
Open mouth, the foot in the Stirrup, complaining,
Drawn, pulled, die horribly.

ANNOT.

This foretelleth of the eldest Son of a King, who prancing upon his Horse, shall Spur and run so fiercely, that his foot being intangled in the Stirrup he shall be dragged and pulled, and die a fearful death.

In the year 1555. upon the 25 of _May_, this came to pass in the person of _Henry_ of _Albret_, the second of that name, King of _Navarre_.

This Prince _Henry_ II. the eldest Royal riding upon a horse did spur him so hard, that he ran away with him, so that he perceiving the danger he was in, pulled the Bridle so hard that the horse’s mouth was broken; the pain did not stop the horse, but contrariwise, he grew the more untoward, that _Henry_ fell down, and in falling one of his feet hung in the stirrup, so that he was drawn, and died a horrid death. This I found in the History of _Naples_.

XXXIX.

French.

Le conducteur de l’Armée _Francoise_,
Cuidant perdre le principal Phalange,
Par sus pavé de l’_Avaigne_ & Ardoise,
Soy parfondra par _Gennes_ gent estrange.

English.

The leader of the _French_ Army,
Thinking to rout the chiefest Phalange,
Upon the Pavement of _Avaigne_, and Slate,
Shall sink in the ground by _Gennes_, a strange Nation.

ANNOT.

It seemeth that a _French_ General, thinking to rout and overcome the chiefest strength of his enemy, and going upon a brittle Pavement, made of Slate, shall sink in the ground not far from _Genoa_, which he calleth a strange Nation to the _French_.

XL.

French.

Dedans tonneaux hors oingts d’huile & graisse,
Seront vingt un devant le port fermez,
Au second guet feront par mort prouesses,
Gaigner les portes & du quet assommez.

English.

With Pipes annointed without with Oyl and Grease,
Before the harbour, one and twenty shall be shut,
At the second Watch, by death, they shall do great feats of Arms,
To win the Gates, and be killed by the Watch.

ANNOT.

The words and sense of this Stanza are plain.