Nostradamus C10 Q40: Nostradamus links to Marguerite d'Angouleme and the French and English royal lines.
Copyright: Allan Webber, December 2015

This verse is central to Nostradamus' quest. It deals with his efforts to get his 16th century patrons to accept that a new ape would displace humans.

The anagram for patron and the tone of the text give this verse strong links to the previous quatrein C10 Q39. It also has an anagram for Leonardo who provides another link of possible patronage, through ties to the French king's domestic realm.

Marguerite's royal family were patrons of Leonardo da Vinci and he lived as a guest in their castles for many years until the end of his life.

During his thirties Nostradamus lived in Agen within walking distance of Nerac, the court of Queen Marguerite d'Anguleme. This woman is known to have been the patron of both John Calvin and Leonardo da Vinci. In addition Jules Scaliger, one of Nostradamus' patrons became official physician to Queen Marguerite and King Francis in the earl 1540s.

Marguerite owed a great debt to this local pastel magnate, Jean Bernuy, since it was he who offered the money for her brother Francis' ransom.

There is another tie to Marguerite's patronage. Anne Boleyn spent time in the service of Marguerite. Notably Annes daughter, Elizabeth,  wrote a complete copy of Marguerite's most infamous works long before she also became queen of England.

In this verse the anagram for Londoner fits very well with the text's reference to the British realm. There is another anagram for quadrumane and this term means an ape-like creature with effectively four hands.