IX.

French.

De l’Orient viendra le cœur punique,

Fascher Adrie, & les hoirs Romulides,

Accompagné de la classe Libique,

Trembler Melites, & proches Isles vuides.

English.

From the East shall come the African heart,

To vex Adria, and the Heirs of Romulus,

Accompanied with the Libian fleet

Melites shall tremble, and the Neighbouring Islands be empty.

ANNOT.

This was a clear and true Prognostication of that famous Invasion made upon Maltha, by the grand Signor Solyman the magnificent, in the year of our Lord 1565. and just ten years after the writing of this Prophecy, wherein that Island, and some of the Neighbouring ones were wholly depopulated by the Turks, to the terror of Venice, called here Adria, and of all the Islands of the Adriatick Sea. For the better understanding of this, the Reader must observe, that Punicus in Latin signifieth Africa, so that the African heart signifieth the help the Turk had from Tunis, Tripoly, and Algier, Cities seated in Africa, and under the Turkish Dominion; by which not only Maltha (which in Latin is Melita) but Venice and Rome were put into a great fright; the conclusion of this Siege was, that after six weeks time, and the loss of 26000. Men, the Turks were constrained shamefully to retire. Vide the Turkish History.