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.

by Nostradamus

LXXXVIII.

French.

Calais, Arras, secours a Theroanne,

Paix & semblant simulera l’escoute,

Soulde d’Allobrox descendra par Roane,

Destornay peuple qui defera la routte.

English.

Calais, Arras, shall give succours to Theroanne,

Peace or the like, shall dissemble the hearing,

Souldiers of Allobrox shall descend by Roane,

People perswaded, shall spoil the March.

ANNOT.

This Prophecy did happen in the time of Henry the II. King of France, about the year 1559.

The last Verse saith, that those two Towns Calais and Arras gave succours to Theroanne, that is to the Countrey where Therouenne was seated, which was destroyed by Charles the V. Emperour. This Countrey was called Ponthieu, of which Therouenne was the chief Town.

The second Verse doth determine the time whereabout this came to pass, when he saith, peace or the like shall dissemble the hearing; because in the year 1556. in the beginning of February there was a Truce for five years between the two Crowns of France and Spain, concerning the Low Countreys, and this Truce signified not much, nor was well cemented, so that the Author saith, Peace or the like shall dissemble the hearing; that is, shall fain not to hear that the Cardinal Caraffa did endeavour in France to have the Truce broken.

The third Verse is obscure, because of a fault in the Impression, wherein they have put Ronane instead of Noanne, that is Hannone by transposition of letters, but that being corrected, the Verse is clear, supposing that Philibertus Emanuel Duke of Savoy was General of the Army, against France in the Low-Countreis, and wandering about to do some notable exploit, he came down through the Province of Hainault, called in Latine Hannonia, and came to Mariembourg, as if he would have Besieged it, but after some light skirmishes he laid Siege to Rocroy, and this is the meaning of the third Verse, when he saith, Souldiers of Allobrox shall descend by Noanne, that is, Souldiers in the Army of the Duke of Savoy, which in Latine is Allobrox, came down to Mariembourg, and turned back again to Rocroy.

The fourth Verse mentioneth what did happen at the Siege of Rocroy; that place being not yet very well fortified; the King was unwilling to put any of his best Souldiers therein, but the Duke of Nevers undertook the defence of it, which he did really and gloriously perform, in so much, that the Duke of Savoy was compelled to raise up the Siege, and going back towards St. Quentin, he took Vervins by storm, and gave the booty of it to his Souldiers, who took heart upon it, having been much discouraged before by the resistance of the Duke of Nevers. This is the sense of the fourth Verse, People persuaded shall spoil the march; that is, the people of Rocroy persuaded to hold out by the courage and presence of the Duke of Nevers, spoiled the march that the Duke of Savoy had propounded to himself, insomuch, that raising the Siege he went to Vervins, and from thence to St. Quentin.