XXXVIII.

French.

La gent _Gauloise_ & Nation estrange, Outre les Monts, morts pris & profligez, Au mois contraire & proche de vendange, Par les Seigneurs en accord redigez.

English.

The _French_ Nation, and another Nation, Being over the Mountains, shall die, and be taken, In a month contrary to them, and near the vintage, By the Lords agreed together.

ANNOT.

Two kind of Nations were led into _Italy_ by the Duke of _Guise_ to succour the Pope, _viz._ _French_ and _Germans_, meaning by the _Germans_ all those that use the _German_ Tongue, as _Switzers_, &c.

The Author saith, these two Nations were led beyond the Mountains, because they went beyond the _Apennine Alpes_, to come down into the Champion Countrey of _Italy_, where some of them died by the Sword, others by famine and sickness; others lost their liberty, being made prisoners of War, others were exposed to the inconveniences that attend a ruined Army. He addeth, that these accidents shall befall them in a Month near the _Vintage_, that Month is _September_: He calleth it _Contrary_, because the Grapes being ripe, the starved Souldiers did eat abundance of them, and so fell into a bloody flux. The _Pope_’s Tenants made use of this Stratagem to ruine that Army.

The _Spaniard_ had his revenge the year following, for the Duke of _Guise_ having missed his design, and being stept before _Civitella_, and incensed that the _Pope_ did not keep his word with him, he resolved to go back again into _France_, and so the _Pope_ did by the means of the Common-wealth of _Venice_, and of the Duke of _Florence_, it was concluded and signed with the 23 of _September_.

This is the Authors meaning in the 4 Verse, that all the misfortune which befell the _French_, was by reason of that peace; for the _Pope_ disbanded his Troops, consisting most of _French_ and _Switzers_, the greatest part of whom fell into the hands of their enemies, and of the Countrey people, others died of sickness. It is true, that the Duke of _Guise_ brought his own Army back without much loss, but the Author speaketh here of the _Gascons_ and _Switzers_, that were in the _Pope_’s service, under the command of Marshal _Strozzy_, _Monluc_, Cardinal _Caraffa_, and others.

The time of this peace agreeth with the Prophesie, for it was concluded on the 23 of _September_, which is a Month near the _Vintage_.