LXXXVII.
French.
Classe Gauloise naproche de Corsegne,
Moins de Sardaigne tu ten repentiras,
Tretous mourrez frustrez de laide Greigne,
Sang nagera, captif ne me croiras.
English.
French Fleet do not come near unto Corsica,
Much less to Sardinia, thou shalt repent of it,
All of you shall die frustrate of the help Greigne,
Blood shall swim, being Captive thou shalt not believe me.
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.