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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ANNOT.

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

LXIX.

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.

LXX.

ANNOT.

This Prophecie is divided in two parts. The first two Verses foretel a great Innundation, that was to happen in England.

The last two speak of a league and insurrection, that shall be at Bordeaux, which is here called Ausone, from a famous Latine Poet, named Ausonius, who was born in that City.

As to the first part, after much seeking and enquiry: I found the truth of it in a Latine book, called Rerum in Gallia, Belgia, Hispania, Anglia, &c. gestarum anno 1607. Tomi septimi Liber secundus conscriptus a Nicolao Gotardo Artus Dantiscano, where the History is related thus.

About the end of January 1607 the Sea broke out so violently in England, that after the breaking of Fences and Dikes, it caused very great damages to the Inhabitants. The greatest mischief was done in Somersetshire, where the water did overflow, ten Leagues in length, and two in breadth, twelve foot high in the most eminent places. This sudden Innundation brought a fearful alarm to the Countrey people; some of them going to their Plough, were fained to run back to their houses, where they found their enemies at their doors, viz. Death and Water, who without distinction swept them away. In a little time, the Towns appeared like Islands, encompassed on all sides, and presently after were swallowed up, so that the tops of the Trees were scarce seen. This new Flood covered so the Towns of Hansfield, in the same County, those of Grantham, Kenhus, Kingston, and Briandon, with several Farms built in the Champion Countrey, that none of the Buildings could be seen. If you add to this the devastation of the places, the quantity of Corn, Fruit, and Grass that was lost, the misery shall be so great, as not to be expressed. During this fearful quarrel between the Water and the Land, an exceeding great number of people died of all Ages, and Sexes, it would avail them nothing to get into the upper Stories and Roofs of houses, nor upon the highest Trees; for the imperious Waters did so swell and rage, that the Foundations of the houses, and roots of the Trees were loosened, so that both fell to the Ground, or rather into the Water. The people seeing no way to escape, resolved to die patiently. No body could without great grief see the Oxen and Sheep drowning; for there was such a numerous quantity of them, that afar off one would have thought them to be Rocks in the Sea, but seeing them swiming, and hearing them bleating and bellowing, one would have thought them to be a storm and hissing of winds. A rich Farmer, and father of seven Children, being involved in the Flood, and much astonished at this accident, nevertheless thinking the danger less then it was, went about to save some of his best Goods; but seeing the Waters to increase, he forsook all, and went to save one of his Children, whom he loved best; but the Waters followed him so close, that all he could do, was to get upon the Roof of his house. Among the Children there was a little one sleeping in a Cradle, which being made of close boards, did swim upon the Waters about three Miles, and was taken up alive, and sound. The Hay-cocks did swim like Ships upon the Waves, the Pigeons and Pigs were upon the Sheaves that the Water carried away. The Coneys being driven out of their holes, had leapt upon the backs of the swiming Sheep. A certain Shepheard being about to gather his Sheep into their Fold, was followed by the Flood, ran for his life, and climbed upon a high Tree, where seeing his Sheep bleating in the water, he began to tear his hair, to smite his breast, to lift up his hands and his eyes to Heaven, and when his Sheep had all perished, and himself endured an extream cold and hunger, he was at last taken up in a Boat that was sent to save the distressed.

But here we must talk of Bristol, which is one of the chiefest Cities in England, by reason of the Haven, which bringeth thither abundance of Merchants, from several Nations. The same day of that Inundation, the Sea breaking into a great Channel, did presently overflow the Countrey with such quickness and violence, that it covered the Valleys, and the smaller Hills, in so much that nothing but an utter ruine was expected; many whole houses were turned upside down, and carried away with the Flood. The Barns full of Corn, Hay, and Straw, were overthrown, and the Cattle carried away, besides abundance of people of all sorts. The Merchants of London and Bristol, and the rest of the Inhabitants, besides the loss of Provisions, suffered an inestimable one in their Commodities, which they had provided for the Fair, that was then near hand, the most part of them being carryed away by the Flood, and the rest so spoiled, that the owners could not tell what to do with them. A Gentleman dwelling between Barnstable and Bristol, and two Leagues off from the Sea, being gone abroad in the Morning to oversee his grounds, did look towards the Sea, ran back again to his house, to bring this sad news to his Wife and Servants, while they were endeavouring to pack up the most precious of their Goods, the Water came about the house so fast, that they altered their resolution, and bethought themselves only to save their lives; the servants busied themselves about tying the Goods together, thinking the Water could not have carryed them away. As for the Gentleman, he went with his Wife and Children to the top of the house, and got upon the rafters of the Roof. Although nothing appeared to them but the Image of death; nevertheless some hope and desire of escaping, made the Gentleman come down to save a little Trunk, wherein his papers of greatest concernment were. Being come down from the Rafter, he laid hold of the Trunk, and fastened it to a Manger; while he was busie about it, the Waves of the Sea did so beat against that house, that it fell down to the Ground. The Wife, Children, and Servants were swallowed up in the ruine. The Gentleman laid hold on a Rafter, and was carryed away with it above half a League further, to a Mountain, where he set his foot upon dry Ground, being half dead with fear and grief, and bewailing the loss of his Wife, Children, and Servants, he spyed the little Trunk and the Manger, which he drew to Land, and that was all he saved, besides his Life.

Another Gentleman living thereabouts, and newly married, was resolved that day to go to the next Town, and make merry with some friends, whereupon he bid his man make his Horse ready, and himself went to put on his Boots; after he had put on one, and whilst he held the other in his hand, the Waters came so fiercely into that house, that they compelled the half Booted Gentleman to run away for his life, in an upper Chamber, but he was followed so close by that merciless Element, that he was fained to get upon the top of the Roof, to save his life, and to ride upon the upper Rafter, but the house and Roof melting by the violence of the Waves, this new Knight was carryed by the violence of them towards the Town where he intended to make merry, and there was saved with much adoe.

It happened at the same time near Markand, in the Dutchy of Norfolk, that two Thieves, going about to steal some Cattle, while they were driving of them, perceived in the Morning the Justice of God following them; it was the Water, which having overtopped the Dikes, threatned the takers of being taken, and compelled them to save themselves with all speed. From their wickedness did arise a great good; for to the next Town they went, and bid the Sexton to Ring the Bell, and to cry Water, Water: The Inhabitants being for the most part asleep, did not know what to do in such an Alarm: Some climbed into the Church’s Steeple; others thinking there were Thieves went about to fence and defend their houses; others hearing of a Flood, laughed at it, and said, that those who brought this News, deserved to be punished; but presently they altered their Languages, and their laughing was turned into a fearful mourning, every one flying to save himself, his Wife, and Children, and whatsoever they could pack up of their most precious Goods. Some thinking to have more wit than others, went about to divert the Current of the Water from their houses; but seeing there was no remedy, they went with their Wives and Children to the tops of their houses, in a lamentable fright.

But when the Water came to seize upon the houses, wherein there were some Playing, some Drinking, others already Drunken, a great part of them were drowned, others ran to a Hill near the Town, where they spent the rest of that night, and the day following with great lamentations.

The next day they saw their houses half under Water, and many people, who from the windows and Steeples cryed for help; others endeavoured to save themselves upon Boards and Rafters; the Horses tyed to the Manger were all suffocated. The Cattle in the fields, were by this time driven to the Mount called Truhill, and for all that, were not out of danger; for the Mountain was encompassed with Water to such a heighth and depth, that without Boats there was no access to it; chiefly because of the Thickets and Bushes. Thus so much Cattle was about to perish, had not some Shepherds brought Boats loaded with provisions for Men and Beasts, till the Waters retired again, and the Dikes were made good.

LXXI.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy came to pass when the Spaniards Besieged Leyden in Holland, for the Dutch broke the Dikes, whereby the water came upon them so fast, that they were more besieged and starved then those of the Town, and their Army wholly destroyed. Read Cardinal Bentivoglios his History of the Low-Countreys, as also Strada.

LXXII.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy is divided into two parts: the two first Verses are concerning an old man that shall be buried alive near a great River, upon a false suspition.

The latter two are concerning a young man, who shall assume unto himself the name of a noble Family, and so make himself noble by his riches, but being afterward taken prisoner, the money that was sent for his Ransom, shall be taken in the way.

LXXIII.

ANNOT.

The words and the sense are plain.

LXXIV.

ANNOT.

Naples, Florence, Fayenza, Imola and Nola are all Cities in Italy; the rest is plain.

LXXV.

ANNOT.

By Pau here are understood the Towns that are seated upon that River.

Verona, Vicenza, are two Cities in Italy, belonging to the Venetians. Saragossa is a City in Sicily.

LXXVI.

ANNOT.

The first and second Verses have been verified sufficiently.

By the two last Verses, he meaneth that the heart of everyone shall be in fear, so that they shall come to an agreement, which the true Tithes shall be paid, and every one come to his own again.

LXXVII.

ANNOT.

Here be three notable things to be observed: one is the plain and punctual specification of the time, in which the Prophecy shall come to pass, viz. the 7. of October in the year 1700. The second is, that the King of Persia shall be taken by those of Ægypt. The third is, the shame and confusion that the Christians shall suffer for the same.

LXXVIII.

ANNOT.

By the Calpre is understood the Capzor promontory, which is at the mouth of the Streights, by and beyond which these Prisoners will be carried into Persia for a present to the King, who then shall be some fearful person.

LXXIX.

ANNOT.

Paradin saith, that in the year 1558. the Lord of Bonnivet being dead, the King of France did chuse Francis of Vendosme, Vidame of Amiens, to succeed the said Bonnivet, in the Office of Colonel of the French Foot. This Vidame is noted by all Historians, for a rash proud man, that had a good opinion of himself, and found fault with all the commands of the Marshal of Brissac, then General of the Army.

The King in consideration of his Birth, and that he was a good Souldier, gave him the place of the Lord Bonnivet, according to what the Author saith, The great Bawler, &c. shall be elected Governour in the Army. If you ask in what Army he was elected Governour, the third Verse answereth, in the Army of his Competitor, that is, the Marshal of Brissac, who did chide him severely for disobeying his commands, and was like once to have killed him.

The fourth Verse proved true at the taking of Queiras, where the Bridge, through which the succours came to relieve the Town, being broken, the Town grew so fearful, that it surrendred it self to the Marshal of Brissac.

LXXX.

ANNOT.

Erins and Antibe are Towns of Provence, bordering upon Nice, which is a Town of Piemont, all that Coast is threatned here to be ruined by the Grashopers, that is, the Turks, which fell out about the year 1558. for the King of France having called the Turks to his succours against Charles V. Emperour, they came and took Nice in the behalf of the French, where they committed unheard cruelties, as also upon all that Coast.

LXXXI.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy regardeth onely the City of Marseilles, which is the most famous Port Town that the French have upon the Mediterranean Sea, and which was anciently a Greek Colony, peopled by the Phocen Seas. This City is threatned here to have the chain of her Port broken, and to be taken by her enemies, and the said enemies to be a little while after taken in it.

LXXXII.

ANNOT.

This is one of those Prophecies that concern the English Nation, and which by its event, hath made this Book and the Author thereof famous, for nothing can be more plain to the meanest capacity, then the sense and words of these four Verses.

By the first, is meant the Kings most excellent Majesty Charles II. now Reigning, who being the true Heir to the Kingdom, and most worthy to rule, was driven out of the Kingdom by a rebellious rout of his Subjects.

The second Verse expresseth, the punishment inflicted upon the Councellors and Abettors of so hainous a crime, who were most of them hanged, drawn and quartered, their entrals burnt.

The third Verse, signifieth the low estate of the Abettors of that pernicious Councel.

The fourth Verse, is understood that bastard Faction, which was like to supplant Cromwel, upon the division of the Army.

LXXXIII.

ANNOT.

The Celtan France is that part of France included between the River Loire, and that of Scheld in Flanders. they are called here the long hairs; because in antient time they used to wear long hairs.

LXXXIV.

ANNOT.

This is concerning the Town of St. Quentin, which was taken by the Spaniards in the year 1557. upon the 27 of August, and 17 days after the Battle of St. Laurence, it was taken by assault, and all the Inhabitants put to the Sword.

LXXXV.

ANNOT.

It is a City that shall be taken by the cheat and deceit of a young fair man, who himself shall be taken in his craft.

The difficulty lyeth in the third Verse, viz. what he meaneth by Raubine and Laude. I could find nothing by transposition of Letters: therefore I suppose the Author had a mind to reserve the exposition to himself, and to one that should be clearer sighted than I.

LXXXVI.

ANNOT.

Here is nothing obscure but the word Ausone, by which is meant the City of Bordeaux, so named by the Author every where, for having brought forth that famous Latine Poet, and Counsul of Rome, Ausonius.

LXXXVII.

ANNOT.

The Baron of la Garde coming from Rome, where he had carryed the Cardinals of Tournon and Lorrain, received order to go into Corsica, to relieve with ammunition the two Towns, that the French kept still in possession in that Island, Glasse and St. Boniface, which after the general peace made at Cambray, anno 1559. were restored to the Common-wealth of Genoa. When he was coming near the Island, there arose such a storm, that they were constrained to go as near land as they could, viz. in St. Florents, till the storm was over.

At the same time, by reason of the said storm, eleven Ships loaded with six thousand Spaniards, going for Italy, took shelter in the same place, a good way off from the said Baron.

At the first, the Spanish Ships did not spie the French Galleys, but the Baron de la Garde discovered the Spaniards, and bid his Galleys to set upon them. Two of the Spanish Ships were taken, in which were 1200. or 1500. Spaniards, part of which were drowned, and the rest made slaves.

The Baron chased the rest, but the storm so scattered them, that the nine escaped.

Before this encounter the Genoese Captain, Andrew d’Oria, took all the Island from the French, Anno 1553. and kept it ever since, by sending continual supplies. On the other side, the King of France sent supplies by the Lord of Termes, to those that were retired in the Island of Glasse.

One time among the rest, about the latter end of the year 1555. there was sent a notable supplie from the French, to which the Author speaketh now in these tearms.

French fleet do not come near unto Corsica, nor Sardinia, which is another Island near Corsica. The third Verse giveth the Reason of it; ye shall die, being frustrated of the help Greigne. Greigne is the Provencal Language, which was the Maternal one of our Author, signifieth a Galley: The sense therefore is this, you shall be frustrate of the help of the Galleys, that are under the command of the Baron de la Garde, who carryed unto you men, money, and ammunition; because he shall be then in pursute of the Spanish fleet, that were scattered by a storm.

In the mean time Blood shall swim in the fight of the Baron de la Garde, and thou, poor Prisoner in that Island, Thou shalt not believe me; those slaves were they, which went in the year 1555. And the Author saying, Thou shalt not believe me, sheweth, that being very famous in Provence, for his Prophecies, the General of the Army had asked him concerning the success of his Journey, and that he did warn him not to undertake it; but having an express command from the King, his Master, he would need go. Therefore he saith, Poor prisoner thou shalt not believe me. We find in this work many examples of those, who went to consult with the Author concerning the success of their undertakings, as did the Earl of Sommerive, before the besieging of Bagnole, to whom he answered, that he should leave the Trees loaded with a new kind of fruit, that is to say, of the Rebels, whom he caused to be hanged on Trees.

LXXXVIII.

ANNOT.

Barcelona is a Town in Spain, upon the Mediterranean Sea; Marseilles is another in France, upon the same Sea. The rest is easie.

LXXXIX.

ANNOT.

The two first Verses are plain, the two last have need of an Oedipus.

XC.