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

ANNOT.

Two notable Histories are contained in this Stanza, the first is of the Marshal of Biron; the second is of Nicolas, High Secretary to the Lord Villeroy, who himself was chief Secretary of State to Henry the IV. and because they are curious ones, and not to be met every where, we shall set them down:

The first four Verses are concerning the Duke of Biron, who by transposition of letters is called here Robin; this man by his Military Valour and experience, had from a private Gentleman ascended to the highest degrees of honour and preferment, that his condition was capable of, for though he were not forty years old, he had attained unto the greatest dignities of the Kingdom; being fourteen years old, he was made Colonel of the Switzers in Flanders; a little while after he was made Marshal of Camp, and after Marshal General: he was admitted Admiral of France in the Parliament of Tours, and then Mareshal of France in that of Paris; at the Siege of Amiens he was sole Lieutenant of his Majesty, though there were many Princes of the Blood in the Army, and to compleat his greatness, he was made Peer of France, and the Barony of Biron erected into a Dukedom, not contented with all that, he said, he would not go to the retaking of the rest of the Towns in Picardy, unless his Statue were erected in Brass before the Louvre; and in conclusion, that he had rather die upon a Scaffold, undertaking some great matters, then to live idle in his own House, and always among these Bravadoes, he did mix some bold and dangerous words, which he would have every body to approve of.

When he saw that after the Siege of Amiens the War was at an end, that Britany was reduced, and that all the Swords were sheathed for a good while, he thought that having no more occasion to exercise his valour, he should grow out of credit, and that he should have no more that power, by which he plaised the King and do without fear all what he did without Justice. The fire of that great courage finding no work without, began to work within, that burning desire of being always the first, did fill his head with flames and smoak of a great design, he complained of the King, and of the unequal reward of his deserts and services, did publish his discontents, adding threatnings to his complaints, and spoke of the King with little respect, that his most intimate friends did judge his words insolent and dangerous.

It is true it was the vice of his nature, but there were also some of Fortune, for finding himself filled with all the prosperities, that a moderate man might wish for in his condition, he found that men loose themselves by too much happiness. He began then to lend his Ears unto flatterers, and when they told him that he was the greatest Captain in France, he answered that he would die upon a scaffold, or he would go beyond the condition of a single Gentleman, that the goodness of his sword should give him what Fortune had denied; and the Astrologers to whom he gave great credit, had foretold him in ambiguous terms, that nothing could hinder him from being a Sovereign, but the blow of a sword given by a Burgundian, and though all his life time he had shewed but little Devotion and Zeal to Religion, yet from that time that he prepared his soul to the motion of his ambition, he fained himself very devout and zealous, and began to wear Beads, that the Baron of Lux had given him in a Tennis-Court, and to declare himself an irreconcilsable enemy to the Protestants, seeking every where some discontented Spirits, whom he did encourage with the hopes of a profitable change.

La Nocle Lord of la Fin was then for the troubles of Provence, and for the quarrel he had with l’Esdigvieres, retired into his House, threatened of ill usage by the King, enemy to some great ones, loaded with debts and Sutes in Law. The discontented meet always, either by design or by chance. The Duke of Biron who knew that he had been deeply engaged in the business of the late Duke of Alecon, that he had Negotiated with the Ministers of the King of Spain, and of the Duke of Savoy, during the Siege of Amiens, that he was full of discontents, thought that such a one was seeking for a Master. They spoke together and mixed their grievances, propounding to seek out of the Kingdom what they could not find within, and to contract an intelligence with the Duke of Savoy; thus after so many examples of unavoidable dangers, the Duke of Biron did venture upon a Journey full of Rocks and Shelves, under the conduct of one who was yet wet with the Shipwrack he had lately made.

The Duke went into Flanders, for the execution of the Treaty of Vervins, where one Picoté of Orleans spoke to him, and inspired into him strange desires of raising his Fortune, with those that knew and admired his defects. The Duke of Biron did hearken to him, and told him he would be glad to hear him some other time upon that subject. From that time forwards the Spaniards thought themselves sure of him, and grew confident, either to have him, or to destroy him: a French Gentleman, who because of the Civil Wars was retired into Flanders, and had some imployment in the Arch-Dukes Court, gave the first intelligence of it to the King, who took it kindly, but sent him word, that the Duke of Biron had too much courage and honesty to harbour such a wickedness; being come back again from Flanders the King wished him to Marry, but he shewed that his inclinations tended to some other party, then that which was offered unto him, and though he made shew to court the Daughter of my Lady Lucé, he nevertheless intended to have the natural Sister of the Duke of Savoy, of which the Knight Breton had spoken to him. La Fin had in charge from the Duke of Biron, to do all what he could for his satisfaction. Picoté had made a Journey into Spain, only to know and receive the propositions. Farges a Monk of the Order of Fisteaux, went into Savoy, and from thence to Milan to receive Orders how to pluck of this Plant out of France. Things went very slowly; for the Spaniards do not easily believe the words of the French, unless they be with great effects of rebellion and change; but the Duke of Savoy being at Paris, did wholly put out the Flower de Luces he had in his Heart, and did dispose him to disturb the King so much at home, that he should have but little time to dispute him the Markdom of Suluces, upon that hope the Duke of Savoy neglected the Execution of the treaty of Peace made at Paris, the War was proclaimed, and the Duke of Biron took the chief places in Bresse. Being at Pierre Chastet in the beginning of September, La Fin came to him, and by his order made two Journeys to St. Claude, where Roncas was. The King had notice of it, but thought it better to dissemble it than to surprise a man he loved in his infidelity, he thought enough to bid him come into Savoy, and to rid himself of La Fin. He did believe that what the King said to him out of his affection, proceeded from fear, and kept company still with La Fin, and never went to see the King, but with great many attendants, refusing to take his lodging near his, that he might have more liberty; he perswaded the King being at Annessy, that he did desire to discover some passages, and therefore desired to have some guides of the Countrey, but it was to send safely Renazé, La Fin’s Secretary to the Duke of Savoy, to give him intelligence in what state the Kings Army was, and to bid d’Albigny retreat, who otherwise had been defeated. This was about the time that the Duke of Biron did intreat the King to bestow the Government of the Citadel of Bourg on him, whom he should name. It is the Nature of the great ones that serve Princes to believe they deserve all, and to become more dangerous than Enemies if they are refused what they ask for. The King did declare, that he would bestow the place upon de Boisses. This denial did so trouble the mind of the Duke of Biron, and put him upon such a strange and diabolical resolutions, that he resolved one Morning, being yet in his Bed at Chamont, to kill the King, as it is expressed in the depositions of La Fin and Renazé, but this took no effect, himself afterwards did abhor the thought of it. La Fin also went from the Army to conclude the Bargain with the Duke of Savoy, and the Earl of Fuentes, he treated first with the Duke of the Spanish Embassador at Yurée, afterwards at Thurin with Roncas, where also came Picoté, bringing the answers of the Councel of Spain, upon the propositions of the Duke of Biron, with order to confer with La Fin, and to perswade him to make a Journey into Spain. He said plainly, that the King of Spain was resolved to have the Duke of Biron at any rate. The Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes appointed a day to be at Some with La Fin and Picoté; there the minds of every one were clearly expressed and understood.

La Fin, who was acquainted with all his secret Councels, told the King, that the Marriage of the third Daughter of the Duke of Savoy, was the fodder and cement of all the treaty, with a promise of five hundred thousand Crowns, and all the rights of Soveraignty in Burgundy.

While La Fin treated in Italy the capitulation of the Duke of Biron, the treaty of Peace was concluded at Lyons.

The Duke of Biron had been always against this Peace; when he saw that it was concluded, and that the King had heard something of his dealings with La Fin, he fained to be very penitent of it, and asked the King forgiveness in the Cloister of the Franciscan Friers at Lyons, and intreated him most humbly to forgive the evil intentions that the denial of the Citadel of Bourg had put into his mind. The King did forgive him, and told him, that he was glad he had trusted to his clemency, and in the affection he bore to him, of which he would always give him such tokens, that he should never have occasion to doubt of it. Leaving the King, he met with the Duke of Espernon, and told him, that he would impart unto him as unto his best friend, the best fortune that ever he had in his life, which was, that he had discharged his Conscience to the King, and that he had forgiven him all what was past. The Duke of Espernon told him, that he was glad of it, but that it was necessary he should have his pardon in writing; for such faults could not be so easily blotted out. What, said he, upon what can I rely better than upon the Kings word; if the Duke of Biron wanteth an abolition, what shall others do? So they parted, one thinking that his Lyons Courage ought not to be used so meanly; the other wiser, remembring that a Lyon is never so well tamed, but one time or another he will prove still a Lyon, and at last biteth the hand of him that hath wronged him so fiercely, that he is for ever avenged of him. The Duke of Espernon had reason to advise him to take an abolition in writing, and the Duke of Biron was not too blame to trust to the Kings Word, who certainly would have forgiven that fault, if he had done nothing since to renew the Memory of it. But here is once more to be observed a passage that containeth all the signs of an implacable Spirit. The Duke of Biron being sent for by the King to receive his commands, and the effects of his clemency, went from Bourg, and came to lie at Vimy. From thence he wrote a Letter to La Fin that was at Milan, and then went to Lyons, where he was received by the King as the prodigal Son, he stayed some time at Lyons, and went to Vimy again, from whence he wrote another Letter to La Fin by Farges. As soon as he came to Bourg, he sent to Bosco, cousin of Roncas to advance the business. This negotiation did continue at Some between the Duke of Savoy, the Earl of Fuentes, and La Fin. The Earl of Fuentes carryed La Fin to Milan, and being desirous to be better informed, upon some points, and finding La Fin not so firm in his answers, he thought it not good to trust him wholly with the secret, and resolved to rid himself of him, therefore he sent him back, and intreated him to see the Duke of Savoy in his way. He had the good fortune to go by the way of the Grisons, and so through Basle, Porentru, and Besancon, for Renazé his Secretary, that went through Savoy, was there Arrested and made Prisoner. The work nevertheless went on; Alphonsus, Casal, and Roncas, did continue it with the Baron of Lux, and in the mean time the Duke of Biron plaid his part, having sent an express into Spain, though he were then with the King, who loth to loose him, kept him near, carryed him to see the Frontier Towns, and sent him Embassador into England, where he saw the head of the Earl of Essex, a late example of justice upon those who will be feared by their Masters, and abuse their favour. At his return he made a Journey into Gascony, where he was visited and honoured by the Nobility of the Countrey, as a Prince; and being come to Dijon, he went into Switzerland, to make an end of the renewing of the Alliance between the King and the Switzers, where he continued still his practises with the Earl of Fuentes, to whom he sent his secretary, under pretence to send his Pages into the Garrisons of Palma, for the Venetians. Being come back from Switzerland, he came not to the King to give an account of his negotiation, excusing himself upon the convocation of the Estates in the Province. The King, that had some notice of these broils by Combelles, was infinitely desirous to speak with La Fin to know the truth of it. La Fin, who was highly incensed, that the Baron of Lux would have all the fruit of this negotiation, and that Renazée is kept Prisoner in Savoy, sent Cerezat to the Duke of Biron to let him know that he could be no longer his Servant, if his Secretary was not set at liberty, and that he could no longer defer to go to the King, desiring also to know what he should say upon the things that were past. He slighted the first of these propositions, and spoke of Renazée as of one that was not to be reckoned among the living; concerning the other, he told Cerezat that he was of opinion he might go to the Court with a small train, and that he should prepare himself at the first to receive ill language and contempt from the King, which he should sweeten by intreating him to believe, that the Journey he had made into Italy had no other design than to visit our Lady of Loretta: And that passing through Milan and Thurin he had been chared to propound the Marriage between him and the third Daughter of Savoy, to which he would not hearken, because the King would take care to provide for him. He did intreat and adjure Cerezat to tell La Fin, that he should rid himself of all those that travailed with him, and chiefly of a Curate, and that he should secure his Papers, if he had not rather to burn them. In a word, to consider, his life, his fortune, his honour, were in his Hands.