The true prophecies or prognostications of Michael Nostradamus, physician to Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX. Kings of France, and one of the best astronomers that ever were. / A work full of curiosity and learning. Translated and commented by Theophilus de Garencieres, Doctor in Physick Colleg. Lond.

I.

ANNOT.

I find no mystical sence in this, unless by the red adversary he should understand the Pope, because clothed in Scarlet. Therefore I leave the explication to the judgement of every particular Reader.

II.

ANNOT.

I desire the judicious Reader, and chiefly if he be given to the Hermetick Philosophy, to take a special notice of this Stanza, for in it is contained the secret of the Elixir or Philosophers Stone, more clearly and plainly then in the Tabula Smaragdina of Hermes, which to make appearent, we shall expound it Verse by Verse.

The Divine Word shall give to the substance; by the Divine word you must not understand the second person of the Trinity, but a Doctor in Divinity or a Theologian, called in Greek θεόλογος or Divine word, who shall be an Adeptus, a Disciple of Hermes, and one that shall attain to the secret of the Philosophers stone.

That man shall give to the substance, that is, to Gold; Heaven and Earth, and gold hid in the mystical Milk. Heaven and Earth, that is all the Celestial and Terrestrial qualities, lurking in the Gold, which is hid in the mystical milk, that is in the Azoth, or Mercury of the Philosophers.

Body, Soul, Spirit, having all Power, that is, the three principles, of which the Philosophers say their stone is compounded, viz. Body, Soul, and Spirit.

Having all Power, that is, having the power to transmute all Mettals into its kind; as also having all the powers from above and below, as Hermes saith, Pater ejus est Sol, Mater vero Luna, & Terra nutrix ejus.

Which is confirmed by the last Verse, As well under his feet, as in the Heavenly Seat.

III.

ANNOT.

After the Author hath in the foregoing Stanza expressed the mistery of the Philosophers stone, he seemeth to give here a receit, though Sophistical, for the relief of the Inquisitors, and as it were a Viaticum, for them to subsist till they can attain to the perfection, as Basilius, Valentinus hath done since to his disciples.

He saith then, that with Mars, that is, Iron, Mercury and Silver joyned together, some thing may be done, if you beware of a drought in the South; that is, in the middle of the operation; and this is concerning the two first Verses. Those that shall desire to be better and further informed, may come to me, and they shall have all the satisfaction I can afford them.

The two last Verses have no relation to the first two, and foretel onely a great Earthquake in Asia, by which, those two Towns, Corinth and Ephesus, shall be in great perplexity.

IV.

ANNOT.

The word near, sheweth that the two Eclipses, one of the Sun and the other of the Moon, shall be near one another.

The Ephemerides of John Stadius, teach us, that in the year 1556 in the Month of November, these two Eclipses did meet. That of the Sun upon the first of November, at 17 hours (as the Astrologers reckon) and 53 Minutes. That of the Moon at 12 hours and 43 Scruples; and thus the two last Verses are plain.

Concerning the other two: Belleforest teacheth us two things; the first, that the same year was extraordinary dry, in so much that from April to October it did not rain, but only upon the Eve of St. John the Baptist, and that the Vintage was made in August, the Wine proving excellent. The second is, that in the Month of December began a horrid Frost, which lasted a great while. Thus there was Cold and drought.

Concerning the dangers towards the Frontiers, Belleforest saith, that towards Pickardy the Spaniard began to break the truce, making inrodes about Abbeville, St. Spirit of Rue, la Chapele, Rozoy, Thierasse, and Aubenton.

When complaints were made of it, they alledged their necessity and want of Victuals; which did oblige the Lord Admiral to permit the Souldiers retaliation; and in this manner, there was danger towards the Frontiers.

As for the Town where the Oracle (that is, our Author) had his beginning or birth, whether it be that of St. Remy or Salon de Craux. The dangers that were there, proceeded from the Civil Wars between the Protestants and the Roman Catholicks.

V.

ANNOT.

There shall happen two great Ecclipses between March and April, one of the Sun, and the other of the Moon; then shall be a great dearth, but the afflicted shall be relieved by the two powerful Princes of a good Nature.

VI.

ANNOT.

This is plain.

VII.

ANNOT.

The first Verse signifieth, that there shall be some Fugitives, upon whose Pikes the Lightning shall fall.

The second, that when a multitude of Ravens shall be sporting, a great fight shall be near hand.

The third, that there shall be a great exclamation and prayers, when the Souldiers shall come near the wall to give an assault.

VIII.

ANNOT.

The Cimbres and Teutons were a Northern people, viz: the Swedes and Danes, who came once out of their Countrey to sack Rome, and were overcome by Marius, near the Town of Orenge, in a place where his Triumphal Arch is seen to this day. The rest is easie.

IX.

ANNOT.

By mentioning Bourdeaux, Rouan, and Rochel, the Author understandeth the whole Naval forces of France, which (he saith) shall be defeated, by the English, Brittains, and Hollanders, and pursued as far as Rouane, which is a Town at the head of the River Loire, from whence it runneth down for the space of 500 Miles to Nantes, and a while after dischargeth it self into the Ocean.

X.

ANNOT.

Monech or Monaco is a Town and Principality belonging to the Family of the Grimaldi of Genua, and is seated by the Sea side, between Provence and Genoa; that place is threatned here with many afflictions, as is plain in this Stanza.

XI.

ANNOT.

The three first Verses contain several prodigies, that shall happen before the death of the Duke of Venice, or rather (because he is no Monarck) before the fall of that Monarchy or Common-wealth.

XII.

ANNOT.

Heb. is the River Hebrus in Thracia, Po, is the great River of Italy, Tag. is Tagus, the River of Lisbonne; the rest is plain.

XIII.

ANNOT.

The words and the sense are plain.

XIV.

ANNOT.

Every body may understand this as well as I do.

XV.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses seem to have foretold of the late Tyrant Cromwel.

The two last Verses may be applied to France, when the Infant of Spain Don Balthazar died, &c.

XVI.

ANNOT.

By this Stanza is promised to England a Martial Prince, who shall have his heart from Heaven, and with all endeavours follow his prosperous fortune, which is a remarkable and commendable part in a man.

By the last two Verses, it seemeth that this Prince shall have a Son, who shall fight two duels, for one of which his Father shall be angry and hate him, but his Mother shall love him for it.

XVII.

ANNOT.

Mount-Aventine is one of the seven Mountains in Rome. The rest is plain.

XVIII.

ANNOT.

Rhemes is a City in France. The rest is easie.

XIX.

ANNOT.

Luca at present is a strong Town, and a little Common-wealth by it self in Italy, governed by their own Magistrate: That Town is threatned here to see those prodigies mentioned, a little before the change of their Government, besides a great Plague and dearth; as also the death of their chief Magistrate, who shall die far off that Countrey.

As for the raining Milk and Blood, they are Prodigies that have appeared often before, and therefore not incredible, as those that are Versed in History may justifie: and although the reasons may be drawn from natural causes, yet would they be too tedious if I should insert them here.

XX.

ANNOT.

The great River, called in Latine Betis, and in Spanish Guadalquivir, is the River of Sevilia, the most famous Town in Spain for Trade. This River runneth through most of the Spanish Dominions, and dischargeth it self into the Ocean about the mouth of the Straights, over against Barbary, upon which Coast of Spain lyeth the Kingdom of Granada, the chief City of which is Corduba, in Spanish Cordua. This Kingdom was of time almost immemorial, occupied and inhabited by the Moores, till they were expelled and driven back into Barbary, by Ferdinand and Isabella, King and Queen of Castilia. The rest is easie.

XXI.

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.

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.

XXIII.

ANNOT.

This is concerning the miseries which the French were to suffer in the Island of Corsica, till the peace was concluded in the year 1559. The Author directeth his speech to the French Fleet that went to Corsica in the year 1555.

He saith in the first Verse, If France goeth beyond the Ligustik Sea; that is, if thou goest to Corsica, which is beyond the Ligustik Sea towards Africa. Thou shalt see thy self enclosed with Islands and Seas; that is, thou shalt be constrained to keep within those two Towns which thou hast there, without going out either by Land or Sea; not by Sea for want of Ships, nor by Land the Garrisons being weak, because the King had then so much business that he could not suffice all.

Moreover the Author addeth that Mahomet shall be contrary; not that he was an Enemy to France, but because he was then Master of the Adriatick Sea; so that the Venetians, which were then friends to the French, could not succour them.

And thus the news of the peace being brought, the French did eat their Horses and Asses, and there was never a peace so well come as to the French that were in Corsica.

XXIV.

ANNOT.

This is annexed and hath relation to the precedent, therefore needeth no other interpretation.

XXV.

ANNOT.

Bigorre is a Town in Gascony, the Landes is a desert Countrey about Bourdeaux wherein nothing groweth but Pine-Trees, Foix is a Country of Gascony, called the County, of Foix. The rest is easie.

XXVI.

ANNOT.

I can find nothing in this but a description of the Heathens sacrifices in ancient times, where they brought the Victim, that is, the beast that was to be sacrificed, trimmed in a gallant manner, having the Horns gilded, and set with Azure and Mother of Pearl, and after the Entrals were taken out, by the inspection of them they practised their Soothsaying. This inspection of Entrals was called by the Latines Extispicium, from the word Exta which signifieth Entrals, and specto which signifieth to look.

XXVII.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy is de Futuro, and is concerning a Libian Prince (now Libia is a Kingdom of Africa) who shall be a powerful man in the West, and being a lover of learning shall condescend to have the Arabian Language translated into French, because the French at that time shall be much in love with it.

XXVIII.

ANNOT.

The words are so plain, that every body may interpret them.

XXIX.

ANNOT.

This is concerning two Nephews, who shall be educated in divers places, and grow expert in Arms, their Fathers shall be killed, but those Nephews shall come, and having fought at Sea, shall revenge the injury done to them, overcoming their enemies.

XXX.

ANNOT.

Many attribute this to the Earl of Montgomery in France, who having run a tilt against Henry II. unfortunately killed him, for which, and for being of the Protestant party, he was afterwards beheaded, though quarter had been given him.

XXXI.

ANNOT.

This signifieth no more, but the loss of three famous Battles on the Turks side, against the Persians.

The first that I find after the coming out of these Prophesies, is the Battle of Sancazan, seven miles from Tauris, and hard by the River Araxes, where 20000 Turks were slain, without any considerable loss of the Persians; this was in the time of Amurath the III. Emperour of the Turks, and son to Selyman the second. The other two Battles I could not make good, because I want the supplement of the Turkish History, as also because they have not yet happened.

XXXII.

ANNOT.

The Lord of Thou saith in his History, that the Cardinal Caraffa got by the King of France’s permission, out of Corsica, several Troops of Gascons, and brought some with them, to the number of about 2000 which were quartered about Rome. Many of them were among the Troops of the Duke of Guise, being allured thither by the reputation of their Countreyman Captain Monluc.

The Author foretelleth, that they shall find their Graves near Tuscany, because the Territory of Rome joyneth to that Province.

Then in the 3 and 4 Verse he specifieth the time by two marks; one is, when Mars shall be near the German corner; the other, when he shall be in the Territory of the Mantuan people, and the War was then in that Territory; for the Duke of Ferrara to shew he would not stand still, sent his son Alphonso d’Este to make incursions there, and to take some places.

Moreover the War was then near the German corner, which is Lorrain, when Henry II. besieged Thionville in the year 1558. Paradin sheweth, that Mars was in the German corner two years before, sith about the end of the year 1555; the Duke of Nevers by an extraordinary endeavour in the middle of the Winter, did relieve Mariembourg: and the following years the French Garrisons kept the fields to avoid surprises. And in the year 1557. when the Duke of Guise fought in Italy, the Duke of Savoy brought his Army against Mariembourg; so it proved true that Mars, viz. the War was in the German corner; for that Town is in the borders of Germany, and was in that corner till the taking of Thionville.

XXXIII.