Christian Valour ENCOURAGED: OR THE Turk's Downfall: And, Probably, (Out of many PROPHECIES) By WHOM. Turca cadat, Gallus Lunaria Cornua rumpat, Ac Orientalem (Divina dote) Coronam Constantinopoli (Sacratus rite) resumat. Down Turk! May Great French Lewis break thy Horn; And let Constantine's Crown his Head adorn. LONDON, Printed by John Leake; and are to be sold by Randal Taylor, near Stationers-Hall, 1684. THE Turks Downfall: And probably (out of many Prophecies) by Whom. EVery Historian knows the Pretensions of the French to the Empire: And as to the Low-Countries, there was a Book Printed in the Savoy 1667. Translated out of French; whose Title was, A Dialogue concerning the Rights of Her most Christian Majesty. To which I shall only add, That at that very Time when Robert Earl of Flanders died sans Issue, whereby the said Earldom, according to Tenure, fell into the French King's Hands; he by Consent of the Lords of the Country, was put into Peaceable Possession thereof. But if this King had no Title, yet some think he does not amiss, to make himself some Amends for the Surprisal of Navarre. And if Navarre, his Grand-Father's Native Kingdom, and Paternal Inheritance, were restored, and Flanders then suffered to be quiet, it would be well for the Kings and People of those Countries. King David made choice of Pestilence, rather than War. Quicquid delirant Reges, plectuntur Achivi. When Kings self-willed Designs pursue, Th'unhappy Vassals must it rue. As to the Pretensions to the Empire: The Designs and Actions succeeding, and pursuant to them, have made a great Noise and Stir: But the Raising the Siege of Vienna, evidently shows, That God, per quem Reges regunt, Prov. 8.16. has Established it where it is. And if in the Time of Charles the Simple, the Francones and saxons were distasted with the French, and chose an Emperor of their own Blood, (Henricus Auceps) certainly the Germane Nation, after so long an Establishment, will be very loath to change their accustomed and usual Succession. Romanum Imperium Germana corona tenebit; Transferri Gallis non voluere Dii. The Roman Rule with Germans shall remain; The Gods deny the French it to attain. We read in Holy Writ, of a Time and Season when Kings go out to Battle. This Great Lovis goes not to War upon such Customary Account: His Inclination to Arms is Sidereal and Natural. Chaucer, in his Tale of the Wife of Bath, says, I followed ay mine Inclination, By virtue of my Constellation. If then he must be doing, (for so it is) What Happiness would redound to Europe, if he turned his Inclination, Endeavour and Arms against the Turk? No Prince fit or abler to cope with him, than he. Pieter van den Broeck, in his Voyages and Travels, compares the King of Spain, and the Great Turk together: Says he; In matched zyn dese Malcanderen seer gelyck. In Power these Two are very much alike. But as the Roman Empire, (according to the Prophecy of the Druids) Transalpinis Gentibus portenditur, is transferred to the Transalpine Nations; so the Potentia Hispanica, Pyreneos transivit Montes, & Gallis transfertur; the Spanish Greatness is got over the Pyrenean Hills, and resides in the French Tents. But to return: He hath in this kind the Precedent of his Predecessors; Philip the First, Lewis the Seventh, that went to the Holy-Land in Person against the Saracens and Turks; Philip the Second, Lewis the Ninth. I have mentioned before, this Great King hath asserted his Title to Flanders: He may be pleased then to remember, That Baldwin Earl of Flanders, (his Predecessor as to that Province) was Anno 1194. chosen Emperor of Constantinople; and that Charles the Eighth had that Title conferred upon him by Pope Alexander the Sixth. An Empire certainly easier to be attained, than that of Germany; being so strongly guarded with so many Princely Satellites, for Interest sake. On the contrary, the Other must stand per se, having so many Enemies round about, (the Curse and Maledictions of so many oppressed Vassals); and no Christian Prince, though lying remote, but would contribute Men and Money to so Universal a Good, were it set on foot. If this Empire be not attainable in Toto; yet certainly in Part, and some goodly Limbs thereof, it is attainable and atchievable. 1. There is Cyprus; a wonderful Ancient Kingdom, even as old as the Destruction of Troy; and was in the French Hands Two hundred thirty and odd Years: An Island commodious for Shipping. See Heylin; and Favine, in his Theatre of Honour, speaking of the House of Lusignan, and the Military Order of the Sword in that Island. 2. Crete or Candy; a brave Island, and also commodious for Shipping: which was in the Power of the Emperor Baldwin aforesaid, who gave it to Boniface of Montferrat: It hath one Haven, called Suda, capable of One thousand Ships. This Great Prince, being Master of This, or Cyprus, (being so Potent in Shipping as he is of late become) What might he not be able to do in the Levant, (having already Marseilles and Thoulon, famous Retraicts for a Navy) against the Barbarous Turks? Heylin tells us, The Florentine Duke, with a Fleet of Six Sail, overawed the Turk in the Mediterranean. 3. There is also Morea, or Peloponnesus; Six hundred Miles in compass: The most pleasant Country of all Greece, abounding in all things necessary for the Life of Man, and in such also as do serve for Delicacy and Content; adorned with many goodly Plains, swelled with Fruitful Hills; well stored with Ports and Havens, on all Sides thereof: A Place easy to be fortified into the Quality and Circumstances of an Island, by Immuring the Isthmus, being but Six Miles in length, done by the Venetians in Fifteen Days. Historians tell us, That Demetrius King of Macedon, Julius Caesar, and Caligula attempted to cut through the Isthmus, and make it a perfect Island: By none more eagerly pursued, than by the Emperor Nero; who took Spade in hand, to hearten on his Soldiers: Yet, at last, the Soldiers being frighted with the Blood which abundantly broke forth, with the Groans and Roar which they continually heard, and with the Spirits and Furies always in their Sights, persuaded the Emperor to desist. Who knows, but that Great Lewis, that hath not long since cut a Navigable River quite through his Famous Kingdom, à Mari usque ad Mare, from Sea to Sea, may be the Man that shall effect what Heaven denied to the forenamed Princes? Faxit Deus. 4. Mount Athos in Greece, standing in a Peninsula: The Isthmus of which being once cut through by Xerxes, (but since closed again) gives a Probability of what I mention, as to Morea. The Hill many Miles in Circuit; Three Days Journey long, as says Heylin. 5. The foresaid Morea, and also Achaia, have been in the Hands of Princes of the House of France: So also Athens, as we find it confirmed to us by Saint Marthe's Genealogick History of France, pag. 1162, 1167, etc. Memento, and Encouragement enough, to stir up this Great Prince of whom we speak, to set this treated-of Design afoot, from such just Pretensions. 6. I will not speak of Armenia, held as a Kingdom Two hundred ninety and six Years; and by the forerecited House of Lusignan, Five Descents: And lies near to Cyprus. See Favine. If any object, The French Monarch came off but somewhat flatly, in his Design upon Sicily: I confess it. When most Unchristianly he broke the Tenth Commandment, by Coveting and unjustly entering upon his Brother and Neighbor's Propriety; what could any Man expect else? He that perhaps hath said, I will give him the Heathenish Turks for his Inheritance, Psal. 2.8. I am sure, never commanded him to disturb the Catholic King in Sicily; in whose, and his Predecessor's Hands, it hath been Two hundred and fifty Years: And the French having no Pretensions, but (first) from an unjust Donation of urban the Fourth, and (secondly) a pettish wayward, inconstant Bequeathment of Joan Queen of Naples; who had first settled it upon the House of Arragon, whose Descendants now enjoy it at this Day. The Frenth have always been the Grand Undertakers against the Saracens and Turks, in the Holy-Land, as I have said before: And Theophilus Garenciers, in his Comment upon Nostredamus, p. 391. says, The Turks themselves have a Prophecy from among themselves, their Monarchy shall be subverted by a King of France. Bartholomeus Georgenitz recites a Turkish Prophecy concerning the taking of Constantinople; which is styled, Rubrum Pomum, the Red Apple: And it hints, That Post duodecimum Annum, after the Twelfth Year shall appear the Sword of the Christians, which shall every where put the Turk to Flight. My Author observes, The Exposition made by the said Bartholomeus, (who wrote of the Original and Manners of the said Turks) fell not out well: For, says he, 'Tis not only Twelve Years, but an Hundred Years, since their Winning of the said Constantinople. Now, for my part, my Opinion is: It is not meant of Twelve simple or singular Years, but of Twelve certain Numbers of Years; as Twenty Years is a complete Number in a Man's Age, (Aetas Perfectionis) when the Corporal Strength, and Mental Intellect come to a Perfection. Now Twelve times Twenty is Two hundred and forty. Constantinople was taken One thousand four hundred fifty and two; take that from One thousand six hundred eighty and four, and there remains Two hundred thirty and two; which wants Eight Years of Two hundred and forty. Suppose then Great Lovis should now set Hand to Sword; probably, in so many Years, he might do the Work; Turcam quaqua versum in fugam agere, (as the Prophecy has it): Having first beat him out of the Pourlieus , at the end of the said Term, he might become Master of the Red Apple, possessed Sixty Years by Baldwin, and his Successors. Notredamus says; Dans le Danube & le Rhin, viendra Boire Le Grand Chameau, ne sen repentira Trembler le Rhone, & plus fort ceux de Loire Et pres des Alpes le Coq le Ruinera. Danubius and Rhine shall Drink afford To the Grand Camel, who shall them aboard: The Rhone and Loire great Terror shall annoy; But near the Alps the Cock shall him destroy. Danubius, and the Rhine, Two eminent and principal Rivers, are put for the Country where they run, viz. Germany; so the Rhone and Loire for France: A figurative manner of Speech, common among Poets. I could give several Instances; but let one (out of Martial) suffice, Lib. 10. Ep. 26. to Varus, that Eminent Roman Commander; Spargere non licuit frigentia fletibus ora, Pinguia, nec maestis addere Thura Rogis; Sed datur aeterno victurum carmine Nomen; Nunquid & hoc fallax Nile negare potes? Thus Translated by Weaver. We could not dew with Tears thy dying Face, Nor thy sad Funeral Flames with Odours grace: Yet in my Verse Eternised thou shalt be; Of That false Egypt cannot cousin Thee. [Martial has it Nilus; Weaver, Egypt.] The Great Turk is meant by the Great Camel; an Animal abounding in his Dominions, and which he makes great use of in his Armies for Carriage. We read of Three hundred of them, that swum over the Danubius, (at the late Siege of Vienna) to the Christians. By the Cock is meant the French King, Gallus in Latin. Here is a plain Prediction; The French King is the Prince ordained by God, for the Destruction of the Turk. The same Author has Another. Dans Foix entre, Roy cerulée Turban, Et Regnera moins evolu Saturn, Roy Turban Blanc Bizance coeur ban, Sol, Mars, Mercury prez la Hurne. I will give you Garenciere's Exposition, pag. 391. as follows. Though I am not of his Mind, in Translating Moins evolu Saturn, viz. less than an Age; that is, One hundred Years. Now, Saturn runs his Course in Thirty Years, or thereabout: But let's hear him. Foix is a Country of France near Gascony; where (the Author says) a King, with a Blue Turban, shall come, and shall Govern less than an Age; that is, One hundred Years: After which, another King shall come with a White Turban, and shall Conquer Bizance; that is, Constantinople. The Blue or Green Turban is attributed to the Great Turk; and the White one to the King of France. Thus Garencieres. For my part, I should think Foix should be Foy Fides, the Land of Christendom: For what the Great Turk should do in the little Country of Foix, I cannot imagine: But he hath held a Part of Hungary many Years, etc. Or, it may be, by Foix he means France, (Pars pro Toto); for an Eminent Country it was. Heylin doth tell us, The Earls of it lived in a Condition equal to most Kings in Christendom; That at one Time there were Four Queens of the Family; and, That the latter Kings of Navarre, and present Kings of France descend from it. Be it as it will, still the Rex Gallus must be the Cock of the Game, that must do the Work. If Notredamus be but as effectual in these Fore-telling, as he was in the Firing of London, and another Tragical Effect, Horresco ruminans, omitto lubens, they will assuredly come to pass. You shall hear his Stanza. Le Sang du Juste, a Londres fera faute, Brulez par foudre de vint trois le Six: Lafoy Dame Antique cheorra de place haute, De mesme Secte plusieurs seront Occis. Thus Translated: LONDON gets Gild by Blood of one most Just; In Sixty-six by Lightning is combust. The Ancient Lady tumble shall full low, And many of her Sect be slain, all Woe! By the Ancient Lady is meant the Cathedral of St. Paul; and the many other subordinate Parochial Churches, destroyed, are those of her Sect; her Dominellae or Ancille, her Handmaids. The Prophecies of Joachim say thus. The Turk shall be destroyed by Three Nations: By the French, Propter bonos Equites, for their excellent Cavalry; by the English, Propter bonos Marinarios, for their excellent Seamen; and by the Venetians, Propter bonum Consilium, for their prudent Counsels. This Prophecy is worthy of Remark; and still the French in the Van. The Venetians very lately, Speremus influente, favente Deo, with their Confederates, have begun to dare the Turk. No doubt, they proceeded upon good Ground and Advisement: And they made good Preparations. But where's the French Cavalry, and the English Mariners, to make up Joachim's Ternary? I heard an honest Divine say, when the French made the great Inroads into Belgia; That certainly, this was the Man should, in a due Time, ruin the Turk: But he was first to do wonderful things elsewhere, to give Proof of his Conduct, Management and Success. una dies Lotharos, Burgundos Hebdomas una, una domat Batavos Luna; quid Annus aget? Lorraine a Day, Burgoigne a Week does gain, Holland a Month; what may a Year obtain? And that, if he did not in time endeavour such a Thing, (being a Great Second Cyrus, see Isa. 45. Ver. 1, 2, 3.) he must expect ill Success, if not something worse. I know a certain Person (curious in Astrology, that, notwithstanding all these wonderful Acts already gloriously performed, fears exceedingly, he will make an End, though not so violent and bloody as Great Cyrus the First; yet lugubrious and untimely enough. For my part, I cannot (like the Cloak Party) furiously decry Astrology, being a singular and innocent Science, befitting any Man of Parts above the Vulgar: But I love to join Divinity with it. And therefore, I firmly believe, that as the Sun and Moon (those great Lights) stood still in favour of worthy Joshua, (Chap. 10.) and that the First of these went Ten Degrees backward, for a Sign to Hezekiah, (2 King. 20.11. Isa. 38.8.) that all Malevolent Influences are averted from this Great French Prince, for the Good of Christendom, and Downfall of the Turk. Ad Christianissimum Regem. Baldwini solium, Caroli Titulumque memento: Haec moveant animum Rex Lodovice tuum: Christicolas placidae mandato * Isa. 45.1, 2, 3. Cyre quieti, In Turcam validas vertito, Magne, manus. Let Baldwin's Throne, and Charles his Title heat; Thy Thoughts, by aim at These, become more Great Great Cyrus, deign to give the Christians Ease, And let thy Force the Turks alone debrize. I have already mentioned, the French Monarch is become Potent in Shipping: But he is not King of the English Mariners; which must make up the Ternary, according to Joachim. Strange Revolutions have happened in England, since the Year 1678. That Generous Maximus Marinus, (mentioned in Day-Fatality, pag. 7.) once Great Admiral of Arragon, and till the Year 1673. Lord High Admiral of England, is now again, at length, Re-invested in all his Honours; and that, in spite of that Crew, mentioned by Introductio ad Latinam Blasoniam, pag. 165. with strange Prophetic Reflection. He, I say, is Restored, influenced by a Divine Power and Favor, and the Benevolent Rays of Fraternal Love; the Love of the Greatest Sea-Prince in the World, Charles le Bon, & le Grand; One born for the Good of Christendom, to make Amends for his Miraculous Restorement. Pray God incline the Heart of the Great French Cyrus, the Heart of the Great Charles of Great Britain; and then the French Cavalry, and the English Mariners, (influenced by the Auspicious Genius and Success of Prince Maximus Marinus, his Royal Highness) will be assistant to the Venetian Counsels and Undertake, already upon the Wheels. To satisfy the Curious, I have added Geornitz Prophecy verbatim, as I find it in Latin, Translated out of Persian: Imperator noster veniet. Ethnici Principis Regnum capiet, Rubrum quoque pomum capiet, & in suam potestatem rediget: Quod si septimum usque Annum Christianorum gladius non insurrexerit; usque ad duodecimum Annum eis dominabitur, domos aedificabit, Vineas plantabit, Hortos sepibus muniet, liberos procreabit, & post duodecimum Annum, apparebit Christianorum gladius, qui Turcam quaquaversum in fugam aget. Our Emperor shall come. He shall get the Kingdom of the Gentiles Prince: Also, he shall take the Red Apple, and shall bring it under his Subjection: And if the Sword of the Christians shall not rise after the Seventh Year, he shall have Dominion over them unto the Twelfth Year. He shall build Houses, plant Vineyards: Shall hedge about his Orchards, shall get Children. And after the Twelfth Year, shall appear the Sword of the Christians, which shall put the Turk to Flight every where. It is to be noted, That the Sword of the Christians is principally understood of the French; because he is commonly styled, the Most Christian King. To Conclude, and shut up All: It is confessed, that in all Ages have been Prophecies of Future Events; yet many times so obscure, as not to be understood, or if understood, not to be believed. But truly, what is here produced seems obvious to every Man's Understanding: And as to the Qualification and Possibility of the Person, nothing can be objected; and who, besides Him, can lay Claim to such Pretensions and Encouragements? Prov. 21.1. God rules the Heart of Kings. Let all Christendom pray, That God would incline the Heart of the Most Christian King, to so Pious an Enterprise. Rex Lodovice tuam subito quam suscipe Spartam; Debellare Scythas operum mihi crede tuorum. Good Lewis, with all speed, begin thy Work; Thy Work it is to subjugate the Turk. FINIS. — Qui quondam Fata Dierum, Signaque Cygnorum; scripsit hunc atque Libellum.