“Not that I will attribute to myself the name of a prophet, but as a mortal man, being no farther from heaven by my sense than I am from earth by my feet, _possum errare, falli, decipi_, I am the greatest sinner of the world, subject to all humane afflictions, but being surprised sometimes in the week by a prophetical humour, and by a long calculation, pleasing myself in my study, I have made books of prophecies, &c.” He speaks also of the mode of enlightenment, “by a long melancholy inspiration revealed,” and says it takes “its original from above, and such light and small flame is of all efficacy and sublimity, no less than the natural light makes the philosophers so secure.” All this justifies fully the distich, so far as motive goes:-- “Vera loquor, non falsa loquor sed munere cœli, Qui loquitur Deus est, non ego Nostradamus.” He opens the first “Century” with an announcement (by some called an incantation) of the methods by which he prepared himself for the reception of the knowledge of future things: “Estant assis, de nuit secrette estude, Seul, reposé sur la selle d’airain, Flambe exigue, sortant de solitude, Fait proferer qui n’est a croire vain.” “Sitting by night, in secret study alone, resting on a brazen seat, a slight flame arising out of the solitude makes me utter things not vain to be believed.” “La verge en main, mise au milieu des Branches, De l’onde je mouille et le Limb et le Pied, En peur j’escris fremissant par les manches; Splendeur Divine: le Divine prez s’assied.” “With wand in hand placed amidst the branches, I wet with water the limb and foot, and write in fear, trembling in my sleeves; “Splendour divine! the Divinity sits at hand.’”