Vaticinia seu praedictiones illustrium virorum... Vaticini overo predittioni d' huomini illustri

Ornate floral and scrollwork border framing the text block.

The Moon in the arms of the Piccolomini shone, but for a short time; Pius III, who was of that family, having not survived in the Pontifical dignity for more than twenty-six days.

Julius II fought much for the goods of the Church, whose temporal dominion he increased, which had been occupied by many by force.

Leo X devoured the sheep because he was most liberal and prodigal; and he had the skin of a lamb, having been mild and pleasant.

Adrian VI was in Spain, thinking of anything other than the Papacy; and he was elected after much contention among the Cardinals.

We shall say the impious one was the Duke of Bourbon, who, attacking Rome, ransacked it and besieged Clement VII, who was reputed by men to be excessively avaricious.

These flowers are the Lilies of Paul III, who, to enrich his own kin, deprived the Church of two cities.

However, Julius III is not called impious as though he were wicked, but rather not pious, since he did not satisfy his duty as was believed. He waged war with a just cause and worthily for the Church.

That the false prophets were driven out by Marcellus, we shall say with truth, if we have regard for what he had determined to do for the reform of customs.

With the prudence of certain Cardinals, Paul IV was elected among many competitors. He showed himself courageous in many things, and was little loved by the Romans after his death, as everyone knows.

How this prediction conforms to Pius IV, let the curious man see, for I for my part do not find it fitting to him; unless we wish to say that mention is made of the Lilies because he was a Cardinal under Paul III.

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Pius V died at the time when the war against the Turk was at its height, and he was preparing with great daring to follow the enterprise, enjoying the benefit of the victory given to us by God.

See the following Annotations.

Every man can be called an animal, but with the addition of "rational"; however, he cannot absolutely be called a Beast without some term of other significance. But as the Vaticinio Prophecy speaks in enigmas, it deemed it unnecessary to set down these distinctions; and it was enough for it to hint confusedly that the Pontiff (that is, Urban VII) would be of Rome. Having been immediately assumed, he gave alms generously to the poor and provided for the abundance of that city of his.

Milan, in its site in Italy, is toward the North literally "the North Wind", from whence came Gregory XIV, who worked very worthily during the short time he sat on the throne.

It seems to me that in the Hydra, the Dragon of Gregory XIII is hinted at, of whom Innocent was most favored and promoted to various honors. For the rest, the things he must do are pronounced, and by affirming that ten heads must be untied, we shall understand the various ways with which he will operate healthily. The number ten signifies universality, the Dragon is a symbol of prudence, and the head is of discourse and reason, because in it resides the Intellect.

ANNOTATIONS.

In order that this prediction can be verified for Gregory, we shall understand that he was born in Bologna, which city, although it is not placed entirely to the west, at least between it and the south...