When Charles the IX. went a progress through his Kingdom, he came into Provence, and did fail not to go to Salon to visit our Author, who in the name of the Town went to salute him, and make a Speech, this was in the year 1564. the 17 of November.
The extraordinary satisfaction that the King and the Queen Mother received from him was such, that being both at Lion, they sent for him again, and the King gave him 200 Crowns in Gold, and the Queen almost as much, with the quality of Physician in Ordinary to the King, with the Salaries and profits thereunto appertaining. Being come back to Salon he lived about 16 Months longer, and died upon the 2 of July 1566. in his Climacterical year of 63. having all his senses about him: His Disease was a Gout at first, which turned into a Dropsie; the time of his death it seemeth was known to him; for a friend of his witnesseth, that at the end of June in the said year he had writen with his own hand upon the Ephemerides of John Stavius these Latine words, Hic prope mors est; that is, near here is my death, and the day before his death that friend of his having waited on him till very late took his leave, saying, I shall see you again to morrow morning, you shall not see me alive when the Sun riseth, which proved true. He died a Roman Catholick, having received all his Sacraments, and was solemnly buried in the Church of the Franciscan Friers at Salon, on the left hand of the Church door, where his Widow erected him a Marble Table fastened in the Wall with this Epitaph, with his Figure to the Life, and his Arms above it.
The Inscription of his EPITAPH is in imitation of that of Titus Livius, and is thus.
D. M.
Ossa clarissimi Michaelis Nostradami, unius omnium pene mortalium digni, cujus Divino calamo totius Orbis ex astrorum influxu futuri eventus conscriberentur. Vixit annos LXII. menses VI. dies X. Obiit. Salonæ CIↃ IↃLXVI. Anna Pontia Gemella, conjugi optimo. V. E.
Which may be rendred thus:
Here lies the Bones of the most famous Nostradamus, one who among Men hath deserved by the opinion of all, to set down in writting with a Quill almost Divine, the future Events of all the Universe, caused by the Cœlestial influences; he lived 62. years 6. Months and 10. days, he died at Salon, in the year 1566.
O Posterity do not grudge at his rest.
Anna Pontia Gemella wisheth to her most loving Husband the true Happiness.
He had a Brother named John Nostradamus, famous for several Works that he hath written, the Catalogue of which is in the Book of Mr. du Maine de la Croix, Intitled, the Library.