Marco de Notradame was born in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in southern France. Born in 1500, he was two years older than his more famous cousin, Michel de Nostredame, and lived a mere three blocks away throughout his childhood.
Marco was a slightly built and sickly child. Despite being older than Michel, he was frequently bullied by his younger cousin. He described their relationship in his 1556 memoir Michel Me Battait Vers le Haut or "Michel Used to Beat Me Up." Published in part to capitalize on the success of Michel's 1555 work Les Propheties, it told the story of a childhood spent in torment. One story recounts a time the two were playing the children's game hide and seek.
Michel told me that I should start the game by hiding. I was suspicious. I thought Michel just the sort of prankster to allow me to hide, but never actually look for me. He assured me he would seek me. It would be fun for him to try to find me hiding on my papa's farm he said.
So I set to hiding. I found a good spot in a small thicket of greens by the donkey stable. After just a few minutes, I heard the barking of shepherd dogs. I peered out to see three dogs charging towards my location. I ran into the stable, and protected myself by climbing into an old goat cage.
I was delighted by my cleverness at avoiding harm from Michel's dogs, and I told him so with glee. Michel smiled and congratulated me. "Yes", he said, "you have proved your cleverness." Then he broke open a burning oil lamp on the cage, causing me to be severely burned.
It was about this time that Marco first discovered his gift for prophecy. One afternoon, he asked his father what they would dine on for the evening meal. His father replied that he intended to slaughter a pig for their evening meal. But Marco had a troubled vision. As he sat by the house he fell into a trance like sleep. In his mind he saw himself, his father, mother and sister seated at the dining table. In front of him was the leg of a chicken.
He was awakened by his mother's voice calling him to supper. He sat with astonishment as his mother placed various chicken parts on the serving plate. "Father!", he exclaimed, "Did you not say we would be having a pig for our meal?" His father shrugged and replied "I changed my mind. We'll slaughter the pig tomorrow. Does it matter?"
"I guess not", replied Marco. "I guess not."
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