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

An ornate typographical border consisting of repeating floral and scrollwork motifs surrounds the entire text block.

Julius III is not called impious because he was wicked, but because the name of Pius did not entirely suit him: for in that office he did not maintain the expectation which he had stirred up regarding his own prudence. He fought justly, however, and worthily on behalf of the Church.

We shall say that false prophets were expelled by this Pontiff, Marcellus, if we contemplate the many things which he had already prepared in his mind for the reformation of morals.

Through the prudence of certain Cardinals, Paul IV was inaugurated, although many of them took care that they themselves might attain that same dignity. He conducted himself with an outstanding spirit in the most serious matters; and as we know, after his death, he bore no small ignominy from the Romans.

In what way this prediction might suit Pius IV, let the diligent researcher see: I, for my part, do not see it fitting him at all, unless we wish to assert that mention was made of the Lilies because he was chosen into the order of the purple-clad fathers the college of cardinals.

Then Pius V died when the war against the Infidels unbelievers was burning, and he himself was ardently preparing for it, so that he might use the benefits of the victory given by God.

See the following Annotations.

Any man can be called an animal possessed of reason, but he will be called a beast incongruously, unless we add a word signifying something else. And since the Vaticinium Prophecy has spoken enigmatically, it did not strive to place distinctions, thinking it sufficient to demonstrate the Pontiff confusedly by showing that Urban VII would be from the City Rome. He, immediately adorned in the Pontifical habit, gave many things to the needy, and provided that his city should abound in all things.

Toward the North, when we observe the situation of Italy, we find Milan, and from here Gregory XIV had his birth. In the brief magistracy which he held, he performed not a few works, most worthy of both praise and commendation.

I am of the opinion that in the hydra many-headed water serpent, the dragon of Gregory XIII is suggested, whom Innocent IX always held as a patron, graciously aspiring toward his goals and most vigilant in advancing himself. Furthermore, it foretells the things to be done by him, and while it affirms that ten heads are to be explained, it is to be understood regarding every method and effort by which he will prudently perfect many things. For the number ten is universal, the dragon is a symbol of prudence, and the head is truly the symbol of discourse and reason, for in it the intellect flourishes.

ANNOTATIONS.

Even if each of these predictions ought to be examined abundantly and in more detail in the Second Part, and there one must discuss the choicest matters which are hidden and unseen by many; nevertheless, lest the reader of them remain entirely hungry, we have wished to add some points concerning those things which suit Gregory XIII and Sixtus V. The twenty-first prediction cannot easily hold the place of truth if we refer it to Gregory: unless we wish to understand that he himself was born in Bologna, which city, although it is not situated entirely to the west, nevertheless, when the Sun makes the equinox, it retains that position which is between the sunset and the south. When it calls him Malum Evil or Apple, it is to be referred to the skin or rather the shedding of the Serpent, because it is very often cited in a bad sense by Holy Scripture. Or we can assert that antiphrasis using a word to mean its opposite is used here, since the serpent is a symbol both of prudence and of vigilance, which virtues the name Gregory itself displays. The false prophets, in my opinion, were certain Germans, while the Archbishop Elector of Cologne, once enlarged with many honors by Gregory himself, embraced the errors of Calvin.