Prophecies 

'Creatures shall be seen upon the earth who will always be fighting one with another, with very great losses and frequent deaths on either side. These shall set no bounds to their malice ... Earth! what delays thee to open and hurl them headlong into the deep fissures of thy huge abysses and caverns, and no longer to display in the sight of heaven so savage and ruthless a monster?' 

COMMON HABIT 

Some poor wretch will be flattered, and these same flatterers will always be to him deceivers, robbers and assassins. 

THE PERCUSSION OF THE SUN'S DISC 

Something will appear which will cover over the person who shall attempt to cover it. 

OF MONEY AND GOLD 

That shall come forth from hollow caves which shall cause all the nations of the world to toil and sweat with great agitation, anxiety and labour, in order to gain its aid. 

OF THE FEAR OF POVERTY 

The malevolent and terrifying thing shall of itself strike such terror into men that almost like madmen, while thinking to escape from it, they will rush in swift course upon its boundless forces. 

OF ADVICE 

He who shall be most necessary to whoever has need of him will be unknown, and if known will be held of less account. c.a. 37 v. c 

OF SNAKES CARRIED BY SWANS 

Serpents of huge size will be seen at an immense height in the air fighting with birds. 

OF CANNON WHICH COME FORTH OUT OF A PIT AND FROM A MOULD 

There shall come forth from beneath the ground that which by its terrific report shall stun all who are near it, and cause men to drop dead at its breath, and it shall devastate cities and castles. c.a. 129 v. a 

OF CHRISTIANS 

There are many who hold the faith of the Son and only build temples in the name of the Mother. 

OF FOOD WHICH HAS BEEN ALIVE 

A large part of the bodies which have had life will pass into the bodies of other animals, that is the houses no longer inhabited will pass piece-meal through those which are inhabited, ministering to their needs and bearing away with them what is waste; that is to say that the life of man is made by the things which he eats, and these carry with them that part of man which is dead. 

OF MEN WHO SLEEP UPON PLANKS MADE FROM 

TREES 

Men will sleep and eat and make their dwelling among trees grown 

in the forests and the fields. 

OF DREAMING 

It shall seem to men that they see new destructions in the sky, and 

the flames descending therefrom shall seem to have taken flight and to 

flee away in terror; they shall hear creatures of every kind speaking 

human language; they shall run in a moment, in person, to divers 

i ioo PROPHECIES 

parts of the world without movement; amidst the darkness they shall 

see the most radiant splendours. O marvel of mankind! What frenzy 

has thus impelled you! You shall hold converse with animals of every 

species, and they with you in human language. You shall behold your- 

selves falling from great heights without suffering any injury; the 

torrents will bear you with them as they mingle in their rapid course. 

OF ANTS 

Many communities there will be who will hide themselves and their 

young and their victuals within gloomy caverns, and there in dark 

places will sustain themselves and their families for many months 

without any light either artificial or natural. 

OF BEES 

And many others will be robbed of their store of provisions and 

their food, and by an insensate folk will be cruelly immersed and 

drowned. O justice of God! why dost thou not awake to behold thy 

creatures thus abused? 

OF SHEEP, COWS, GOATS AND THE LIKE 

From countless numbers will be stolen their little children, and the 

throats of these shall be cut, and they shall be quartered most 

barbarously. 

OF NUTS, OLIVES, ACORNS, CHESTNUTS, AND THE 

LIKE 

Many children shall be torn with pitiless beatings out of the very 

arms of their mothers, and flung upon the ground and then maimed. 

OF CHILDREN WHO ARE WRAPPED IN SWADDLING 

BANDS 

O cities of the sea, I behold in you your citizens, women as well a? 

men, tightly bound with stout bonds around their arms and legs by 

PROPHECIES nor 

folk who will have no understanding of our speech; and you will only 

be able to give vent to your griefs and sense of loss of liberty by mak- 

ing tearful complaints, and sighs, and lamentation one to another; for 

those who bind you will not have understanding of your speech nor 

will you understand them. 

OF CATS THAT EAT RATS 

In you, O cities of Africa! your own sons shall be seen torn to pieces 

within their own houses by most cruel and savage animals of your 

country. 

OF ASSES WHICH ARE BEATEN 

O neglectful Nature, wherefore art thou thus partial, becoming to 

some of thy children a tender and benignant mother, to others a most 

cruel and ruthless stepmother? I see thy children given into slavery to 

others without ever receiving any benefit, and in lieu of any reward for 

the services they have done for them they are repaid by the severest 

punishments, and they constantly spend their lives in the service of 

their oppressor. 

DIVISION OF THE PROPHECIES 

First of things which relate to the reasoning animals, second those 

which have not the power of reason, third of plants, fourth of cere- 

monies, fifth of customs, sixth of propositions, decrees or disputes, 

seventh of propositions contrary to Nature (as to speak of a substance 

which the more there is taken from it is the more increased), and 

reserve the weighty propositions until the end, and begin with those of 

less import, and show first the evils and then the punishments, eight 

of philosophical things. c.a. 145 r. a 

OF FUNERAL RITES AND PROCESSIONS AND 

LIGHTS AND BELLS AND FOLLOWERS 

The greatest honours and ceremonies shall be paid to men without 

their knowledge. c.a. 145 v. a 

All the astrologers will be castrated, that is the cockerels. 

c.a. 367 v. b 

"02 PROPHECIES 

CONJECTURE 

Arrange in order the months and the ceremonies which are per- 

formed, and do this for the day and for the night. 

OF REAPERS 

There will be many who will be moving one against another, hold- 

ing in their hands the sharp cutting iron. These will not do each other 

any hurt other than that caused by fatigue, for as one leans forward the 

other draws back an equal space; but woe to him who intervenes 

between them, for in the end he will be left cut in pieces. 

OF SILK-SPINNING 

There shall be heard mournful cries and loud shrieks, hoarse angry 

voices of those who are tortured and despoiled and at last left naked 

and motionless; and this shall be by reason of the motive power which 

turns the whole. 

OF PLACING BREAD WITHIN THE MOUTH OF THE 

OVEN AND DRAWING IT OUT AGAIN 

In all the cities and lands and castles, villages and houses, men will 

be seen who through desire of eating will draw the very food out of 

each other's mouths, without their being able to make any resistance. 

OF PLOUGHED LAND 

The earth will be seen turned upside down and facing the opposite 

hemispheres, and laying bare the holes where lurk the fiercest animals. 

OF SOWING 

Then a great part of the men who remain alive will throw out of 

their houses the victuals they have saved, as the free booty of the birds 

and beasts of the field, without taking any care of them. 

PROPHECIES 1 103 

OF THE RAINS WHICH CAUSE THE RIVERS TO 

BECOME MUDDY AND CARRY AWAY THE SOIL 

There will come from out the sky that which will transport a great 

part of Africa which lies beneath this sky 1 towards Europe, and that of 

Europe towards Africa; and those of the provinces will mingle to- 

gether in great revolution. 

OF BRICK-KILNS AND LIME-KILNS 

At the last the earth will become red after being exposed to fire for 

many days, and the stones will become changed to ashes. 

OF WOOD THAT IS BURNT 

The trees and shrubs of the vast forests shall be changed to ashes. 

OF BOILED FISH 

Creatures of the water will die in boiling water. 

THE OLIVES WHICH DROP FROM THE OLIVE-TREES 

GIVE US THE OIL WHICH MAKES LIGHT 

There shall descend with fury from the direction of the sky that 

which will give us nourishment and light. 

OF HORNED AND TAWNY OWLS WITH WHICH ONE 

GOES FOWLING WITH BIRD-LIME 

Many will perish by fracturing their skulls, and their eyes will 

almost start out of their heads on account of fearsome creatures which 

have come forth out of the darkness. 

OF FLAX WHEREBY PAPER IS MADE OUT OF RAGS 

That shall be revered and honoured and its precepts shall be listened 

to with reverence and love, which was at first despised and mangled 

and tortured with many different blows. 

1 MS., si mostra a esso cielo. 

1 104 PROPHECIES 

OF BOOKS WHICH INCULCATE PRECEPTS 

Bodies without souls shall by their sayings supply precepts which 

shall help us to die well. 

OF THOSE WHO ARE BEATEN AND SCOURGED 

Men will hide themselves within the bark of hollow trees, and there 

crying aloud they will make martyrs of themselves by beating their 

own limbs. 

OF WANTONNESS 

And they will go wild after the things that are most beautiful to 

seek after, to possess and make use of their vilest parts; and afterwards, 

having returned with loss and penitence to their understanding, they 

will be filled with great admiration for themselves. 

OF THE AVARICIOUS 

Many there will be who with the utmost zeal and solicitude will 

pursue furiously that which has always filled them with awe, not 

knowing its evil nature. 

OF MEN WHO AS THEY GROW OLDER BECOME MORE 

MISERLY, WHEREAS, HAVING BUT A SHORT TIME TO 

STAY, THEY OUGHT TO BE MORE GENEROUS 

You will see that those who are considered to be of most experience 

and judgment, in proportion as they come to have less need of things, 

seek and hoard them with more eagerness. 

OF A DITCH (GIVE THIS AS AN INSTANCE OF FRENZY 

OR CRAZINESS OR MADNESS OF THE BRAIN) 

There will be many busied in the practice of taking from that thing 

which increases the more the more they take from it. 

PROPHECIES 1 105 

OF WEIGHT PLACED ON A FEATHER-PILLOW 

And with many bodies it will be seen that as you raise your head 

from them they will increase perceptibly, and when the head that has 

been lifted up returns, their size will immediately diminish. 

OF CATCHING LICE 

There will be many hunters of animals who the more they catch 

the fewer they will have; and so conversely they will have more in 

proportion as they catch less. 

OF DRAWING WATER WITH TWO BUCKETS BY A 

SINGLE ROPE 

And many will be busying themselves with a thing which the more 

they draw it up will tend the more to escape in the contrary direction. 

OF SIEVES MADE OF THE SKIN OF ANIMALS 

We shall see the food of animals pass through their skins in every 

way except through the mouth, and penetrate through the opposite 

side until it reaches the level ground. 

OF THE LIGHTS THAT ARE CARRIED BEFORE THE 

DEAD 

They will make light for the dead. 

OF THE LANTERN 

The fierce horns of powerful bulls will protect the light used at 

night from the impetuous fury of the winds. 

OF FEATHERS IN BEDS 

Flying creatures will support men with their feathers. 

no6 PROPHECIES 

OF MEN WHO PASS ABOVE THE TREES WEARING 

WOODEN STILTS 

The swamps will be so great that the men will go above the trees 

of their countries. 

OF THE SOLES OF SHOES WHICH ARE OF LEATHER 

Over a great part of the country men shall be seen walking about 

on the skins of large animals. 

OF SAILING 

There will be great winds through which the eastern things will 

become western, and those of the south mingled together in great 

measure by the course of the winds will follow these through distant 

lands. 

OF THE WORSHIPPING OF PICTURES OF SAINTS 

Men shall speak with men who shall not hear them; their eyes shall 

be open and they shall not see; they will speak to them and there shall 

be no reply; they will ask pardon from one who has ears and does not 

hear; they will oflfer light to one who is blind, and to the deaf they 

will appeal with loud clamour. 1 

OF DREAMING 

Men shall walk without moving, they shall speak with those who are 

absent, they shall hear those who do not speak. 

OF THE SHADOW THAT MOVES WITH MAN 

There shall be seen shapes and figures of men and animals which 

shall pursue these men and animals wheresoever they flee; and the 

movements of the one shall be as those of the other, but it shall seem 

a thing to wonder at because of the different dimensions which the) 

assume. 

1 MS., faran lume a [chi] e orbo ]. . J sordi con gran [. . .] ore. 

PROPHECIES [107 

OF THE SHADOW CAST BY THE SUN AND OF THE 

REFLECTION IN THE WATER SEEN AT ONE AND 

THE SAME TIME 

Many times one man shall be seen to change into three and all shali 

proceed together, and often the one that is most real abandons him. 

OF WOODEN COFFERS WHICH ENCLOSE MANY 

TREASURES 

Within walnuts and other trees and plants there shall be found very 

great treasures which lie hidden there. 

OF EXTINGUISHING THE LIGHT WHEN ONE GOES 

TO BED 

Many by forcing their breath out too rapidly will lose the power of 

sight, and in a short time all power of sensation. 

OF THE BELLS OF MULES WHICH ARE CLOSE TO 

THEIR EARS 

There shall be heard in many parts of Europe instruments of various 

sizes making divers melodies, causing great weariness to those who 

hear them most closely. 

OF ASSES 

The many labours shall be repaid by hunger, thirst, wretchedness, 

blows and goadings. 

OF SOLDIERS ON HORSEBACK 

Many shall be seen carried by large animals with great speed, to the 

loss of their lives and to instant death. In the air and on the earth shall 

be seen animals of different colours, bearing men furiously to the 

destruction of their lives. 

OF STARS ON SPURS 

By reason of the stars you will see men moving as swiftly as any 

swift animal. 

no8 PROPHECIES 

OF A STICK WHICH IS A DEAD THING 

The movement of the dead shall cause many who are living to flee 

away with grief and lamentation and cries. 

OF TINDER 

With stone and iron things will be rendered visible which were not 

previous seen. 

OF OXEN WHICH ARE EATEN 

The masters of the estates will eat their own labourers. 

OF BEATING THE BED TO REMAKE IT 

To such a pitch of ingratitude shall men come that that which shall 

give them lodging without any price shall be loaded with blows, in 

such a way that great parts of the inside of it shall be detached from 

their place, and shall be turned over and over within it. 

OF THINGS WHICH ARE EATEN WHICH ARE FIRST 

PUT TO DEATH 

Those who nourish them will be slain by them and scourged by 

barbarous death. 

OF THE WALLS OF CITIES REFLECTED IN THE 

WATER OF THEIR TRENCHES 

The high walls of mighty cities shall be seen inverted, in their 

trenches. 

OF THE WATER WHICH FLOWS IN A TURBID STREAM 

MINGLED WITH EARTH, AND OF DUST AND MIST 

MINGLING WITH THE AIR, AND OF THE FIRE 

WHICH MINGLES ITS HEAT WITH EACH 

All the elements shall be seen confounded together, surging in huge 

rolling mass, now towards the centre of the earth, now towards the 

PROPHECIES 1109 

sky, at one time coursing in fury from the southern regions towards 

the icy north, at another time from the east to the west, and so again 

from this hemisphere to the other. 

AT ANY POINT ONE MAY MAKE THE DIVISION OF 

THE TWO HEMISPHERES 

All men will suddenly change their hemisphere. 

EVERY POINT FORMS A DIVISION BETWEEN THE 

EAST AND THE WEST 

All the animals will move from the east to the west, and so also 

from the north to the south. 

OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE WATERS WHICH CARRY 

LOGS THAT ARE DEAD 

Bodies without life will move of themselves and will carry with them 

innumerable generations of the dead, plundering the possessions of the 

living inhabitants. 

OF EGGS WHICH BEING EATEN CANNOT PRODUCE 

CHICKENS 

Oh! how many will those be who will never be born. 

OF FISHES WHICH ARE EATEN WITH THEIR ROES 

Endless generations will perish through the death of the pregnant. 

OF THE BEASTS FROM WHOM CHEESE IS MADE 

The milk will be taken from the tiny children. 

OF THE LAMENTATIONS MADE ON GOOD FRIDAY 

In all the parts of Europe there shall be lamentations by great nations 

for the death of one man. 

io PROPHECIES 

OF THE HAFTS OF KNIVES MADE OF RAMS' HORNS 

In the horns of animals shall be seen sharp irons, which shall take 

away the lives of many of their species. 

OF THE NIGHT WHEN ONE CANNOT DISTINGUISH 

ANY COLOUR 

It shall even come to pass that it will be impossible to tell the differ- 

ence between colours, for all will become black in hue. 

OF SWORDS AND SPEARS WHICH OF THEMSELVES 

NEVER DO ANY HARM TO ANYONE 

That which of itself is gentle and void of all oflence will become 

terrible and ferocious by reason of evil companionship, and will take 

the lives of many people with the utmost cruelty; and it would slay 

many more if it were not that these are protected by bodies which are 

themselves without life, which have come forth out of pits — that is by 

cuirasses of iron. 

OF GINS AND SNARES 

Many dead will move with fury, and will take and bind the living, 

and will set them before their enemies in order to compass their death 

and destruction. 

OF THE PRECIOUS METALS 

There shall come forth out of dark and gloomy caves that which 

shall cause the whole human race to undergo great afflictions, perils, 

and death. To many of those who follow it, after much tribulation it 

will yield delight; but whosoever pays it no homage will die in want 

and misery. It shall bring to pass an endless number of crimes; it shall 

prompt and incite wretched men to assassinate, to steal, and to enslave; 

it shall hold its own followers in suspicion; it shall deprive free cities 

of their rank: it shall take away life itself from many; it shall make 

men torment each other with many kinds of subterfuge, deceits, and 

treacheries. 

PROPHECIES mi 

O vile monster! How much better were it for men that thou shoultlst 

go hack to hell! For this the vast forests shall be stripped of their trees; 

for this an infinite number of creatures shall lose their lives. 

OF FIRE 

From small beginnings shall arise that which shall rapidly become 

great; and it shall have respect for no created thing, but its power shall 

be such as to enable it to transform almost everything from its natural 

condition. 

OF SHIPS THAT FOUNDER 

There shall be seen huge bodies devoid of life, carrying great num- 

bers of men with fierce speed to the destruction of their lives. 

c.a. 370 r. a 

OF WRITING LETTERS FROM ONE COUNTRY TO 

ANOTHER 

Men from the most remote countries shall speak one to another and 

shall reply. 

OF THE HEMISPHERES WHICH ARE INFINITE AND DIVIDED 

BY AN INFINITE NUMBER OF LINES, IN SUCH A WAY 

THAT EVERY MAN HAS ALWAYS ONE OF 

THESE LINES BETWEEN HIS FEET 

Men shall speak with and touch and embrace each other while 

standing each in different hemispheres, and shall understand each 

other's language. 

OF PRIESTS WHO SAY MASS 

Many shall there be who in order to practise their calling shall put 

on the richest vestments, and these shall seem to be made after the 

manner of aprons. 

OF FRIARS WHO HOLD CONFESSION 

The unhappy women of their own accord shall go to reveal to men 

?11 their wantonness and their shameful and most secret acts. 

iii2 PROPHECIES 

OF THE CHURCHES AND HABITATIONS OF FRIARS 

There will be many who will abandon work and labour and poverty 

of life and possessions, and will go to dwell among riches and in 

splendid buildings, pretending that this is a means of becoming accept- 

able to God. 

OF THE SELLING OF PARADISE 

A countless multitude will sell publicly and without hindrance 

things of the very greatest value, without licence from the Lord of 

these things, which were never theirs nor in their power; and human 

justice will take no account of this. 

OF THE DEAD WHO ARE TAKEN TO BE BURIED 

The simple folk will carry a great number of lights to light up the 

journeys of all those who have wholly lost the power of sight. O 

human folly! O madness of mankind! These two phrases stand for 

the commencement of the matter. 

OF THE DOWRIES OF MAIDENS 

And whereas at first young maidens could not be protected from the 

lust and violence of men, either by the watchfulness of parents or by 

the strength of walls, there will come a time when it will be necessary 

for the fathers and relatives of these maidens to pay a great price to 

whoever is willing to marry them, even although they may be rich and 

noble and exceedingly beautiful. Herein it seems certain that Nature 

desires to exterminate the human race, as a thing useless to the world 

and the destroyer of all created things. 

OF THE CRUELTY OF MAN 

Creatures shall be seen upon the earth who will always be fighting 

one with another, with very great losses and frequent deaths on either 

side. These shall set no bounds to their malice; by their fierce limbs a 

great number of the trees in the immense forests of the world shall be 

laid level with the ground; and when they have crammed themselves 

PROPHECIES iiij 

with food it shall gratify their desire to deal out death, affliction, 

labours, terrors and banishment to every living thing. And by reason 

of their boundless pride they shall wish to rise towards heaven, but the 

excessive weight of their limbs shall hold them down. There shall be 

nothing remaining on the earth or under the earth or in the waters 

that shall not be pursued and molested or destroyed, and that which 

is in one country taken away to another; and their own bodies shall 

be made the tomb and the means of transit of all the living bodies 

which they have slain. O Earth! what delays thee to open and hurl 

them headlong into the deep fissures of thy huge abysses and caverns, 

and no longer to display in the sight of heaven so savage and ruthless 

a monster? 

OF SAILING IN SHIPS 

The trees of the vast forests of Taurus and of Sinai, of the Apen- 

nines and of Atlas, shall be seen speeding by means of the air from 

east to west, and from north to south, and transporting by means of 

the air a great quantity of men. Oh, how many vows! How many 

deaths! What partings between friends and relatives shall there be! 

How many who shall nevermore behold their own lands or their 

native country, and shall die unsepulchred and their bones be scattered 

in divers parts of the world! 

OF REMOVING ON ALL SAINTS' DAY 

Many shall leave their own dwellings, and shall carry with them all 

their goods and go to dwell in other lands. 

OF ALL SOULS' DAY 

How many will there be who will mourn for their dead ancestors, 

carrying lights for them! 

OF FRIARS WHO BY SPENDING ONLY WORDS RECEIVE 

GREAT RICHES AND BESTOW PARADISE 

Invisible money will cause many who spend it to triumph. 

ni4 PROPHECIES 

OF BOWS MADE FROM THE HORNS OF OXEN 

Many there will be who by means of the horns of cattle will die 

a painful death. c.a. 370 v. a 

Behold a thing which is valued the less the more one has need of it. 

It is advice. c 19 v. 

And many have made a trade in deceits and feigned miracles, cozen- 

ing the foolish herd, and if no one showed himself cognizant of their 

deceits they would impose them upon all. f 5 v. 

FOR WELL-DOING 

By the branch of the nut-tree which is struck and beaten just when 

it has brought its fruit to perfection, is represented those who as the 

sequel of their illustrious works are struck by envy in divers ways. 

g 88 v. 

All these things which in the winter are concealed and hidden be- 

neath the snow, will be left bare and exposed in summer: — said of a 

lie which cannot remain hidden. 1 39 v. 

You will see the lion tribe tearing open the earth with hooked claws, 

and burying themselves in the holes that they have made, together 

with the other ammals which are in subjection to them. 

There shall come forth from the ground creatures clad in darkness 

who shall attack the human race with tremendous onslaughts, and it 

shall have the blood poisoned by their fierce bites even while it is 

devoured by them. 

There shall also hurtle through the air a tribe of dreadful winged 

creatures who shall attack both men and beasts, and feed upon them 

with loud cries: — They shall fill their bellies full of crimson blood. 

1 63 [15] r. 

You will see the blood streaming forth from the rent flesh of men 

and bedewing the surface parts. 

You will see men with so cruel a malady that they will tear their 

flesh with their own nails: — This will be the itch. 

PROPHECIKS in 

You will sec plants continuing without leaves, and rivers standing 

still in their courses. 

The water of the sea shall rise above the high summits of the moun- 

tains towards the sky, and it shall fall down again on to the dwellings 

of men: — That is as clouds. 

You will see the greatest trees of the forests borne by the fury of the 

winds, from the east to the west: — That is across the sea. 

Men shall cast away their own food: — That is in sowing. 

163 [15] v. 

The generation of men shall come to such a pass as not to under- 

stand one another's speech: — That is a German with a Turk. 

You will see fathers giving up their daughters to the sensuality of 

men, and rewarding them, and abandoning all their former care: — 

When the girls are married. 

Men shall come forth out of the graves changed to winged creatures, 

and they shall attack other men, taking away their food even from 

their hands and tables: — The flies. 

Many there will be who will flay their own mother and fold back 

her skin: — The tillers of the ground. 

Happy will be those who give ear to the words of the dead: — The 

reading of good works and the observing of their precepts. 

1 64 [16] r. 

Feathers shall raise men towards heaven even as they do birds: — 

That is by letters written with their quills. 

The works of men's hands will become the cause of their death: — 

Swords and spears. 

Men will pursue the thing they most fear: — That is they will be 

miserable lest they should fall into misery. 

Things severed shall be united and shall acquire of themselves such 

virtue that they shall restore to men their lost memory: — That is the 

papyrus sheets, which are formed out of severed strips and preserve the 

memory of the thoughts and deeds of men. 

iii6 PROPHECIES 

You shall behold the bones of the dead by their rapid movement 

directing the fortunes of their mover: — The dice. 

Oxen shall by their horns protect the fire from death : — The lantern. 

The forests will bring forth young who will become the cause of 

their death: — The handle of the hatchet. i 64 [16] v. 

Men will deal rude blows to that which is the cause of their life: — 

They will thrash the grain. 

The skins of animals will make men rouse from their silence with 

loud cries and oaths: — Balls for playing games. 

Many times the thing that is severed becomes the cause of great 

union: — That is the comb made up of split canes, which unites the 

threads in the silk. 

The wind which passes through the skins of animals will make men 

leap up: — That is the bagpipes, which cause men to dance. 

165 [17] r. 

OF NUT-TREES WHICH ARE BEATEN 

Those which have done best will be most beaten, and their children 

will be carried ofl and stripped or despoiled, and their bones broken 

and crushed. 

OF SCULPTURE 

Alas! whom do I see? The Saviour crucified again. 

OF THE MOUTH OF MAN WHICH IS A TOMB 

There shall come forth loud noises out of the tombs of those who 

have died by an evil and violent death. 

OF THE SKINS OF ANIMALS WHICH HAVE THE SENSE 

OF FEELING OF WHAT IS WRITTEN THERE 

The more you converse with skins covered over with sentiments, 

the more you will acquire wisdom. 

PROPHECIES 1117 

OF PRIESTS WHO BEAR THE HOST IN THEIR BODIES 

Then almost all the tabernacles where dwells the Corpus Domini 

will be plainly visible, walking about of themselves on the different 

roads of the world. 1 65 [17] v. 

And those who feed the air will turn night into day : — Tallow. 

And many creatures of the earth and of* the water will mount up 

among the stars: — The Planets. 

You shall see the dead carrying the living in divers parts of the 

world: — The chariots and ships. 

From many the food shall be taken away out of their mouths: — 

From ovens. 

And those who have their mouths filled by the hands of others, shall 

have the food taken away out of their mouths: — The oven. 

1 66 [18] r. 

OF CRUCIFIXES WHICH ARE SOLD 

I see Christ again sold and crucified, and his saints suffering martyr- 

dom. 

OF DOCTORS WHO LIVE UPON THE SICK 

Men will come to such a state of misery that they will be grateful 

that others should profit by their sufferings, or by the loss of their true 

riches, that is health. 

Of the religion of the Friars who live by means of the Saints, who 

have been dead for a long time: 

Those who are dead will after a thousand years be those who will 

make provision for many of the living. 

OF STONES CHANGED INTO LIME WITH WHICH 

PRISON WALLS ARE BUILT 

Many things which have previously been destroyed by fire will 

deprive many men of their liberty. 1 66 [18] v. 

iii8 PROPHECIES 

OF CHILDREN WHO TAKE THE BREAST 

Many Franciscans, Dominicans, and Benedictines will eat that which 

has recently been eaten by others, and they will remain many months 

before being able to speak. 

OF COCKLES AND SEA-SNAILS CAST UP BY THE SEA 

WHICH ROT WITHIN THEIR SHELLS 

How many shall there be who after they are dead will lie rotting in 

their own houses, filling all the air around with their foul stench! 

i 6y [19] r. 

PLANT WITH ROOTS UPWARDS 

For someone who would be on the point of coming to the end of all 

possessions and favour. 

OF JACKDAWS AND STARLINGS 

Those who trust themselves to inhabit near him, and these will be 

in great crowds, will almost all die a cruel death, and one will see 

fathers and mothers together with their families being devoured and 

slain by cruel animals. 1 138 [90] v. 

OF PEASANTS WHO WORK IN THEIR SHIRTS 

Shadows will come from the East which will tinge with much dark- 

ness the sky that covers Italy. 

OF THE BARBERS 

All men will take refuge in Africa. 1 139 [91] r. 

OF THE SHADOW CAST BY MAN AT NIGHT WITH A 

LIGHT 

There shall appear huge figures in human shape, and the nearer to 

you they approach the more will their immense size diminish. 

K SO [il V. 

PROPHECIES 1119 

OF MULES WHICH CARRY RICH BURDENS OF SILVER 

AND GOLD 

Many treasures and great riches will be laid upon four-footed ani- 

mals, which will carry them to divers places. l 91 r. 

Those will be drowned who give light for divine service: — 

The bees which make the wax of the candles. 

The dead will come forth from under the earth, and by their fierce 

movements will drive innumerable human creatures out of the 

world : — 

The iron which comes from under the earth is dead, and it makes 

the weapons wherewith so many men have been slain. 

The greatest mountains, even though they are remote from the sea 

borders, will drive the sea from its place: — 

That is by the rivers which carry down the soil they have taken 

from the mountains and deposit it upon the sea shores; and where 

the earth comes the sea retires. 

The water fallen from the clouds will so change its nature as to 

remain for a long space of time upon the slopes of the mountains 

without making any movement. And this will happen in many and 

divers regions: — 

The snow that falls in flakes which is water. 

The great rocks of the mountains will dart forth fire, such that they 

will burn up the timber of many vast forests and many beasts both 

wild and tame: — 

The flint of the tinder-box, which makes a fire that consumes all 

the loads of faggots of which the forests are cleared, and with this 

the flesh of beasts is cooked. 

Oh! how many great buildings will be ruined by reason of fire: — 

By the fire of the guns. 

The oxen will become in great part the cause of the destruction of 

cities; and so also will horses and buffaloes: — 

They draw the guns. 

ii20 PROPHECIES 

Many there will be who will wax great in their destruction: — 

The ball of snow rolling over the snow. 

There will be a great host who, forgetful of their existence and their 

name, will lie as though dead upon the spoils of other dead creatures: — 

By sleeping upon the feathers of birds. 

The east shall be seen to rush into the west, the south into the north, 

whirling themselves round about the universe with great noise, fury 

and trembling: — 

The wind from the east which will rush into the west. 

The rays of the sun will kindle fire on the earth, whereby that which 

is beneath the sky will be set alight; and, beaten back by that which 

impedes them, they will return downwards: — 

The burning-glass kindles the fire with which the oven is heated, 

and this has its base standing beneath its vaulted roof. 

A great part of the sea will fly towards the sky, and for a long time 

it will not return: — 

That is in clouds. b.m. 42 v. 

OF CORN AND OTHER SEEDS 

Men shall throw away out of their houses those victuals which were 

meant for the sustenance of their lives: — [That is by sowing.] 

OF TREES WHICH GIVE SAP TO GRAFTED SHOOTS 

Fathers and mothers shall be seen to bestow much more attention 

upon their step-children than upon their own children. 

OF THE THURIFER WITH INCENSE 

Some shall go about in white vestments with arrogant gestures 

threatening others with metal and fire, which yet have never done 

them any harm. b.m. 2I2 v - 

OF KIDS 

The time of Herod shall return; for the innocent children shall be 

torn away from their nurses and shall die of great wounds at the hands 

of cruel men. Forster B 9 v - 

PROPHECIES [121 

OF THE MOWING DOWN OF GRASS 

Innumerable lives will be extinguished, and innumerable vacant 

spaces created upon the earth. 

OF THE LIFE OF MEN WHO EVERY TEN YEARS ARE 

CHANGED IN BODILY SUBSTANCE 

Men will pass when dead through their own bowels. 

OF SKINS 

Many animals . . . Forster n 34 r. 

OF LEATHER BOTTLES 

The goats will carry wine to the cities. Forster 11 52 v. 

OF SHOEMAKERS 

Men will take a pleasure in seeing their own works worn out and 

destroyed. Forster 11 61 v. 

OF BEES 

They live together in communities. They are drowned in order that 

their honey may be seized. 

Many and very great communities will be drowned in their own 

dwellings. Windsor: Drawings 12587 r. 

Snow in summer shall be gathered on the high mountain peaks and 

carried to warm places, and there be let to fall down, when festival 

are held in the piazza in the time of summer. Sul Volo 14 [13] r.