XXXIX.

French.

Qu’aura esté par Prince Bizantin,

Sera tollu par Prince de Tholose,

La foy de Foix, par le chef Tholentin,

Luy faillira ne refusant l’espouse.

English.

What shall have been by a Bizantin Prince,

Shall be taken away by the Prince of Tholose,

The faith of Foix by the chief Tholentin,

Shall fail him, not refusing the Spouse.

ANNOT.

I can understand nothing else by Prince Bizantin, but some Prince of the house of Gonzague, who derive their pedigree from that of the Palæologues, formerly Emperours of Constantinople, called in ancient time Bizantium. As for the Prince of Tholose, there having been none this two or three hundred years since that Country was devolved to the Crown of France; but the King himself, I suppose he must be understood here; so that the sense of this Prophecie, (if any be) is, that the King of France shall take something from the Duke of Mantua, who is the head of the Gonzagues, as he hath done formerly several times.

By the faith of Foix, is understood the late Duke of Rohan, who descended from the house of Foix, and who did war against the said Duke of Mantua at that time, when the King of France, Lewis XIII. would not suffer his Brother the Duke of Orleans to Marry the Princess Mary, Daughter of the Duke of Nevers, of the house of Gonzague, and lately Queen of Poland.