_Nostradamus_ having found by experience that the perfect knowledge of Physick dependeth from that of Astrology, he addicted himself to it, and as this Science wanteth no allurement, and that besides his Genius he had a peculiar disposition and inclination to it; he made such a progress in it, that he hath deserved the Title of the most illustrious one in _France_, insomuch that making some Almanacks for recreation sake, he did so admirably hit the conjuncture of events, that he was sought for far and near. This success was the cause of an extraordinary diminution of his fame; for the Printers and Booksellers seeing his fame, did print and vent abundance of false Almanacks under his name for lucre sake, whence it came that his reputation suffered by it, and was the cause that the Lord _Pavillon_ wrote against him, and that the Poet _Jodele_ made this bitter Distichon. _~Nostra damus~ cum falsa damus, nam fallere nostrum est,_ _Et cum falsa damus, nil nisi ~Nostra damus~._ To which may be answered. _~Nostra damus~ cum verba damus quæ ~Nostradamus~ dat,_ _Nam quæcunque dedit nil nisi vera dedit._ Or thus _Vera damus cum verba damus quæ ~Nostradamus~ dat,_ _Sed cum ~Nostra damus~, nil nisi falsa damus._ Nevertheless the Beams of Truth did shine through the Clouds of Calumny; for he was singularly esteemed of by the Grandees, Queen _Katharine_ of _Medicis_, who had a natural inclination to know future things. And _Henry_ the II. King of _France_, who sent for him to come to the Court in the year 1556. and having had private conference with him about things of great concernment, sent him honourably back again with many gifts. He went from _Salon_ to the Court upon the 14 of _July_ in the year 1555. and came to _Paris_ upon the 15 of _August_. As soon as he was come to Town, the Lord Constable of _Montmorency_ went to see him at his Inn, and presented him to the King, who received him with much satisfaction, and commanded that his lodging should be at the Palace of the Cardinal of _Bourbon_ Archbishop of _Sens_. There he was taken with the Gout for ten or twelve days, after which his Majesty sent him one hundred Crowns in Gold in a Velvet Purse, and the Queen as much. Their Majesties desired him to go to _Blois_ to see the Princes their Children, and to tell them his opinion of them. It is certain that he did not tell them what he thought, considering the Tragical end of those three Princes, _viz._ _Francis_ the II. _Charles_ the IX. and _Henry_ the III. Having been so much honoured at Court, he went back again to _Salon_, where he made an end of his last Centuries, two years after he dedicated them to the King _Henry_ the II. in the year 1557. and in his Luminary Epistle discovereth unto him the future events that shall happen from the Birth of _Lewis_ the XIV. now Reigning, till the coming of Antichrist.