Nostradamus C4 Q81: Religious refugees in the mountains come under attack.
Copyright: Allan Webber, December 2015

In 1598 at Nantes King Henry IV set out an edict granting some rights and freedoms to the Waldensians, a sect believing in apostolic poverty.

Bbut at Easter / Paques in 1565 the Waldensians were massacred by troops embedded in their homes under orders from the Duke of Savoy.

Earlier in the year they had been compelled by the Duke to sell their lands and move to the mountains from whence they came.

Their slaughter was so horrific that it brought about a change in surrounding countries, where the survivors were then offered shelter. T

his tale would have been of interest to Nostradamus since it related to the religious turmoils that had started in his day and continued after his death but it would also have been of interest as an allusion for events he foresaw happening 500 years and more after his Prophecies were written. I

n that context it has consistencies with other of his stories where in the exodus of the populace to higher ground they come under attack from religious extremists.

# d'Estrees: Gabrielle d'Estrees, a Catholic was one of Henry IV mistresses and influenced the critcial change from his Protestant birthright. She was constantly seen with him and accompanied him when we went to war. She bore several children by him and their offspring therefore form part of the Bourbon lineage.
# Paques: French term for Easter.

This verse contains material related to that told in the four verses that precede it in Nostradamus' Prophecies.