I.
French.
Siecle nouveau, alliance nouvelle,
Un Marquisat mis dedans la Nacelle,
A qui plus fort des deux l’emportera,
D’un Duc, d’un Roy, Gallere de Florence,
Port de Marseille, Pucelle dans la France,
De Catherine Fort Chef on rasera.
English.
New Age, new Alliance,
A Markdom put into a Boat,
Who shall be the strongest of the two to carry it,
Of a Duke or of a King, Galley of Florence,
In the Port of Marseilles, a Maid in France,
Of the Fort Catherine the Head shall be demolished.
ANNOT.
By New Age is meant the Age 1600. to the end of the Century, each age containing a hundred years.
The new Alliance was the match between Henry the IV. and Catherine of Medicis, made and celebrated that year.
A Markdom put into a Boat, was the Markdom of Saluces in Italy, which the Duke of Savoy had surrepticiously taken from the Crown of France, in the time of the Civil Wars, and would not restore it, for which there was great Wars between the King of France and the Duke of Savoy, till at last they agreed that the Duke of Savoy should give in exchange of it the Countrey of Brescia; and this is the sense of the second, third, and half the fourth Verse.
Galley of Florence in the Port of Marseilles, a Maid in France, signifieth the arrival of Mary of Medicis in the Galleys of France, and her Landing in the Port of Marseilles.
Of the Fort Catherine the head shall be demolished; the Duke of Savoy to plague and bridle those of Geneva, upon whom he hath had always pretentions, had built a strong Fort two leagues from Geneva, called the Fort St Catherine, which did so annoy the Town, that they made their addresses to Henry the IV. who was then in War with the Duke of Savoy, representing to him that they were not able to relieve his Army with Victuals, because of the said Fort, whereupon Henry the IV. took it, and demolished it to the ground.