Promantic Proof from the Number Four

there is no ambiguity: The FOURTH Beast, the FOURTH Kingdom on earth, which shall be greater than all Kingdoms, is founded upon the most firm Three foundations of the most August Emperors, the FERDINANDS. And the FOURTH foundation is the Emerald, FERDINAND THE FOURTH, KING OF HUNGARY AND BOHEMIA, etc., who by his most lovable humanity, or rather angelic pleasantness, ravishes the eyes of all toward himself like an emerald. For just as the appearance of no color is more pleasant, and more fully satisfies the sight, than the greenness of the emerald: so also none is more pleasing in the Kingdom of Hungary and Bohemia, nor does any satisfy and ravish the eyes of the Hungarians and Bohemians more abundantly, than the most sweet Face of their King, which is the delight of the Hungarians and Bohemians. In it, nothing is more lovely to behold than the way in which royal kindness, most benign gravity, and most serious courtesy vie with one another. And it is no wonder, for in this fourth Emerald foundation, three most precious stones are enclosed, the Chrysolite, the Onychinus, and the Beryl, all enclosed in gold according to their orders. By those three most excellent unions, the three thrice-best Caesars, the FERDINANDS, are understood to be more precious than any emerald, chrysolite, onychinus, beryl, and any most precious stone. They have enclosed and most firmly united themselves and all their own gifts—of Principal Virtues, Dignities, Honors, Graces, Fortunes, and their Royal Endowments—into one FERDINAND THE FOURTH, the most express Idea of Kings and Emperors, as if into an emerald ring, most skillfully worked and most exquisitely adorned with three unions. And since all these gifts, so great and so magnificent, and the rewards of the Emperor, are enclosed and concluded in this fourth Emerald foundation of FERDINAND, it is necessary that that most auspicious oracle of the Prophet Daniel be verified: THE FOURTH shall be enriched with excessive wealth above all. Just as the Queen of birds, the Eagle, flies highest with its young and spreads its wings over all. For he himself, the Son of the Imperial Eagle, FERDI-