the places, times and prefixed terms, that men coming after, may see and know that those accidents are certainly come to pass, as we have marked in other places, speaking more clearly, although the explication be involved in obscurity, _sed quando submovenda erit ignorantia_, the case shall be made more clear; making an end here, my Son, accept of this Gift of thy Father _Michael Nostradamus_, hoping to expound to thee every Prophecy of these Stanza’s, praying to the Immortal God, that he would grant thee a long Life in Felicity. _From ~Salon~ this 1. of ~March~ 1555._ THE TRUE PROPHECIES OR PROGNOSTICATIONS OF Michael Nostradamus, Physician to _HENRY_ II. _FRANCIS_ II. And _CHARLES_ IX. Kings of FRANCE, and one of the most excellent _Astronomers_ that ever were. _CENTURY_ I. I. French. Estant assis, de nuit secrette estude, Seul, reposé sur la selle d’airain, Flambe exigüe, sortant de solitude, Fait proferer qui n’est a croire vain. English. Sitting by Night in my secret Study Alone, resting upon the Brazen Stool, A slight flame breaking forth out of that solitude, Makes me utter what is not in vain to believe. ANNOTATION. In this _Stanza_, _Nostradamus_ expresseth those Humane dispositions which he made use of to be favoured of God, for the knowledge of future things, to the benefit of the Publick. The first Disposition, was the tranquility of Mind, when he saith, _Sitting by night_; Because a troubled Mind cannot see clearly the Things it is busie about, no more than tossed Waters can distinctly represent the Objects that are opposed to them. Thus we read in the Scripture, that the Prophet _Elishah_, being transported with Zeal against _Joram_ King of _Israel_; and nevertheless willing to consult God concerning the event of the Warr against the _Moabites_, called for a Minstrel, that the Harmony of the Instrument might quiet his Mind, as it did happen. _And it came to pass when the Minstrel played, that the Hand of the Lord came upon him_, 2 Kings _chap. 3. ver. 15._ The Author in his _Dedicatory Epistle_ to his Son _Cæsar_, calleth this Tranquility of Mind, _A long Melancholick Inspiration_; because the Melancholick Humour and Mind sequestreth a Man from the concerns of worldly things, and maketh him present to himself, so that his Understanding is not darkned by a multitude of _Species_ that troubles its Operation.