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Doctor Robert Fludd
(Robertus de Fluctibus)
Ibc jEnoUsb IRosicrucian
LIFE AND WRITINGS
BY
J. B. CRAVEN
BECTOR OP 8. CLAPP’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, KIRKWALL
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WILLIAM PEACE & SON
MDOCCOII
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Eyeing the lights on more than million thrones y
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Stoody eminent, whatever from our earth
Has to the skies return'd. How wide the leavesy
Extended to their utmosty of this ROSEy
Whose lowest step embosoms such a space
Of ample radiance!" — Dante.
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DEDICATED
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MY LIFE-LONG FRIEND AND COUSIN,
WALTER BROWN (glencairn)
TRIED, PROVED, REVERED.
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NOTE.
I HAVE to acknowledge much assistance from the Rev. John Scarth, Vicar of Bearsted and Canon of Rochester ; and from his daughter, Miss Scarth. The Bibliography, with the exception of three items, is an extract from the Catalogue of Printed Books in the Library of the Earl of Crawford (advance sheets). I owe this to Mr J. P. Edmond, Librarian, Haigh Hall. I have also to thank my friends, Mr R. S. Rait, Fellow of New College, Oxford ; and Mr A. Francis Steuart, Advocate, Edinburgh, for book searches and other kindnesses.
J. B. CRAVEN.
♦
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CONTENTS.
Chapter Fir.st. — Introductory.
John Scotus Erigena — His youth in semi -barbarous country — Ireland, Athens, patron, Charles the Bald — 824 — Emperor Michael sends to the West Works of Dionysius — Birth of School of the Mystics — Erigena’s Works — Division of Nature — Universe the extension of God — His Manifestation — Return of all Souls to God — The Logos — Neoplatonism — Home of Christian Philoso- phy in Alexandria — Works of Dionysius — The Divine Gloom — Description — The Silence — Similar Thought in India — Progress to Universal Light and Eternal Rest ... ... ... ... 1
Chapter Second.
Duns Scotus and the Schoolmen — Opinions of the Stoics — Plotinus — all held the same Doctrine of the Ascent to God — Augustine’s high opinion of Plotinus — Accordant with Christ’s Religion — Hugh, Richard St. Victor — “ Via interna ” — Soul, sublimated, ascending to God — Erigena regarded as a Martyr till 1583 — Trithemius, 1483, Abbot of Spanheim — A man of great learning — A great adept — Deplorable state of Monastic Life — Duties of Cellarer — Pupils — Agrippa and Paracelsus — Agrippa — of univer- sal learning — Advised by Trithemius to keep his opinions secret — His Works — Misfortunes and Death — Paracelsus — Born 1493 — A Physician — Love of Occultism — Professor at Basle — Death — Works and Opinions — Macrocosm and Microcosm really
Chapter Third.
Occult Studies in England — Friar Bacon — Impostors — Forman, Dee, and Lilly — their nostrums — Dr Richard Napier — Rector of Lynford — had all Forman’s Secrets — His Life and Devotion — Invocates Angels — Picture — Died praying, 1634 — Dr John Rainoldes — Great Rabbinical Scholar— Friend of Forman — His “ Censura Librorum ” — “The Third University” — Maier — History — born 1568 — Works, “ Atalanta Fugiens,” “Arcana Arcanissima,” “ Tractatus de Volucri Arborea,” &c. — Appear- ance— Connection with Fludd — Initiates him to Rosicrucian Society — More —a great Rabbinical Scholar — His History and Studies ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12
Chapter Fourth.
Robert Fludd born at Milgate, 1574 — Parish Church of Bearsted —
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CONTENTS.
Description of Localities — Ancestors — Monuments — Sir Thomas Fludd — Arms — Relations — Sir Nicholas Gilbourne — Other Friends — Boyhood — Mother’s Death — Entered at St. John’s, Oxford — History of that College — Opposed to Puritanism — Buckeridge — Laud — with Fludd at St. John’s — Life in Oxford at that time — Josephus Barbatus — an Eastern Scholar — Con- trast between the Work of Laud and Fludd — Story of an Oxford Scholar — Killed on Salisbury Plain... ... ... ... ... 16
Chapter Fifth.
Having Graduated, Fludd goes abroad — Travels into France — Spain — Italy and Germany — Becomes Tutor to Charles of Loraine, Duke of Guise ; Francis, Chevalier de Guise, Knight of Malta ; Marquis de Orizon, &c. — Pursues at same time Studies in Chemistry, &c. — Notes from his Works of his Journeys — Ghost Story in Paris — A Dog Story — -At Lyons — Story of a Jew who killed a red-headed English Mariner — to produce poison — A Cardinal buries his Mistress alive — Caused her to be bitten by Toads, and so produces poison — At Rome makes acquaintance of Gruterius — His History and Character — What Fludd learned from him — Returns home — Graduates at Christ Church, Oxford — 1605 — Quarrel with Censors of College of Physicians — 1609, admitted Fellow — ^Censor — Practises Medicine in London — Manner — Success — Harney’s Account — His History — Friendship with Gilbert — His History — Both unmarried — Opinions on Fludd — Objects of present work — Connection of Fludd with Rosicrucian Society, and his Devotion and Religious Life and Opinions... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 23
Chapter Sixth.
Secret Societies for Esoteric study — Existing from earliest times — among Egyptians, Greeks, and Latins — Two Schools — Christian and Arabic — Rosy Cross first mentioned, 1374 — Name of Rosaries — Symbol of Rose — Secret, also Ineffable Bliss — Secret Teaching handed on from time to time — Agrippa organises Secret Society at Paris, 1507 — Rosicrucians said to be re- organised by Paracelsus — but Society appears suddenly in public in 1616, “ Fama Fraternitas ” — History of C. R. C. — Rules — Death and Burial of C. R. C. — Tomb — Whole more like a Romance than a reality — House of the Holy Ghost — The “ Confessio,” 1615 — A Protestant Production — Followed by Publication of “ Chyinical Marriage” — A larger work — An “ Abstruse Alchemical Treatise ” — J. V. Andreas’ connection
His learning — Probably published these Tracts — Immense
Sensation caused by “ Fama ” 33
CONTENTS.
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Chapter Seventh.
Michael Maier — A Friend of Fludd — Visits England, 1616 — Friends there — Paddy and Anthony — “ Silentiuin Post Clamores ” — Why Applicants for Rosy Cross Order treated with silence —
“ Universal Reformation ” — Opposition by Andrew Libau — A Successful Chemist — His works — Fliidd’s Apology for the Rosi- crucians — First at Leyden, 1616 — Result of Maier’s Visit — Why Fludd’s works printed abroad — Fludd studied the Cabala since 1606 — Second Edition revised, 1617 — Described — Reprint at. Leipsic, 1782, by “ Adam Booz”... ... ... ... ... 40
Chapter Eighth.
The “ Tractatus Theologo-Philosophicus,” 1617, Title — Serpents in Skull — De Vita — Seventeen Chapters — God — the Word and Light — Origin of Universal Life — Devil of all Darkness — Service of Fire — Oblique Revolution — Government by the Elohim — The Opake Body — Pan — The Abyss of Cold — The coming forth of the Divine Word — Origin of Minerals, &c. — Fishes — Birds — Higher Developments — Earth first of all the Temple of God —
Man formed of dust, the material of that first Temple — The breath of life — Union with Father and Son — The Body of Adam — Site of Paradise — Twofold — Adam only a few hours free from sin — Advent of Christ — Mount Tabor’s Mystery — The Vision of Elias — Dwelling of Rosicrucians — The Key of David — De Morte — Michael and Satan — Adam destroyed by Eve —
The Imperfect — The Carnal — By the love of the body — De Resurrectione — Second Adam supernatural — Overcomes by obedience — Enoch and Elias — The earth to be renewed by fire ^God manifest in our flesh — What the resurrection body will be — Fludd’s view of his time — Dark — Rosicrucians possess the true Alchemy — The Sun in the Centre of the Vault — The Lion of the Tribe of Judah — The Carbuncle and the Ruby ... 46
Chapter Ninth.
The “ Utriusque Cosmi Historia ” begun, 1617 — Title — Svastika — a Sun Symbol — Macrocosm — Microcosm — Explained — Dedica- tions— “ 0 Natura Naturans” — Views of Fludd on the Divine Immanence — King James his patron — Interview — The “ His- toria ” never completed — Illustrations in the text — Described — Circular Motion in Creation — Boehme — The Triangle the emblem of God — Original Darkness — Illustrations — His ideas those of Paracelsus — The separation of the lighter or purer and the denser part of substance — “ Materia Confusa” — Chaos -^The three regions of the Macrocosm — The Habitation of God before Universe created — “Darkness His Secret Place” —
Xll
CONTENTS.
“ Fiat lux ” — Clearest light, purest heat — The Abyss — The Music of the Spheres — Aristotle — Plato — Distaff of Necessity — Paths of the Planets — The Cross Movement of Light — Daemons in Three Hierarchies — Composition of Daemons — Lucifer — “Anima quid?” — Anima Mundi — Jupiter — The Starry Heaven — The Sun — Fountain of all Life — Copernicus — Gilbert — Ptolemaic System — Mixed Bodies — Clouds, &c. ... ... 62
Chapter Tenth.
1618 — Second part of the “Historia” — Two Editions — Title Page — Fludd’s Personal History in the Dedication — Arithmetic — Music — Geomancy — This part when prepared — -Ideas of Letters — Temple of Music on Mount Parnassus — Illustrations— Fludd’s New Instrument of Music — Optics — and experiments — Painting — Mermaids — Geometry — Figures — Military Art — Fortifications — Plates — Motion — Machines — From the Four Elements — Time —Dialling — Cosmography — Maps — Geomancy — History of this — Fludd at Avignon— Uses of Geomantic Art — The Jesuits and the Youth — The Divine Message can be given through the body. 78
Chapter Eleventh.
The second Tome of the “Historia” — in three sections — 1619 — Title — Prefixed Thanksgiving to God — The Macrocosm— The Utter- ance of the Praise of God — The Picture of God — Microcosm, Picture of the Greater World— Three parts in each and corres- pondence of these — Body of man bears marks of the Triune — Numbers, their truth and vivific force — Point within the Circle — God’s form purely igneous — Temple of God the Universe — Septenary numbers — Fifth and tenth numbers — Divine Har- mony— Devil, Author of Discord — The Anima in the Microcosm — The “Round World” — The Centre in Man — The Organs of Reproduction — Why is Man the Image of God ? — Harmony of Man’s Interior — Man a Geometrical Figure — Different parts refer to Angelic Powers — East — External Harmony of Man — Zodiacal Signs — Result of the Divine Voice in Man — The Pyramid — Prophecy — Demons in Human Bodies — Vision — Sleep — Formation of Man — Passion — Paracelsian — The three parts of man governed by the Trinity in God 86
Chapter Twelfth.
Diagram — Prophecy — May be uttei-ed by any one attracted by the Magnet of God — Platonic Opinion — Cacod;emons — Dagon — Baal — Each man had a good and l>ad Diemon — God speaks to man in different ways — Effect of Vegetable Growths — Odd Prescrip- tions— Furor Divini — The Vision is Twofold — Pillar of Fire — A
CONTENTS.
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Light in a Mirror — Ethnicks have also this gift — Prophetic Sleep — Geomancy — Other kinds of Divination — Art of Memory — Vermiform Appliance in the Brain — Plate — Virtues and their Emblems — Letters and their Emblems — Nativities — Astrology — Dsemons — Seven Angels correspond to Seven Planets — Diflferent Ministries of iVngels — Psyche — Physiognomy — Char- acter by Colour — from walk — from stature — shape of the head — eyes — feet — Chiromancy — The Hand — Lines and Figures —
The Pyramid ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 103
Chapter Thirteenth.
1621 — Title of second tractate of second volume — Theosophical and Cabalistic studies of Fludd — Rainoldes — Cabala — its supposed History — Key to real meaning of Bible among Jews — City of Ezekiel — Zodiacal Signs in Canterbury Cathedral — Human body shaped in temples — Symbols in Hebrew letters — The Secret of the King — The word “ Principium ” — Letters of the Sacred Name — lod — the Upright includes all — The Ineffable Name — Sephiroths — Elements — Darkness, Water, Light — The Serpent Form — Circling itself — The wheel — Boehme — Water, the mother — Light — Shin — Numbers in the Sacred Name — Twenty- seven — The World an animal — Zoon — Kepler agrees with this — The Sephiroths in Man — Conclusion ... ... ... ... 117
Chapter Fourteenth.
FLUDD, MERSENNE, AND GASSENDI.
Mersenne — History — Gassendi — History — Mersenne’s Commentary on Genesis — Attacks Fludd — Accuses him of Magic — Answers — Gassendi more favourable to Fludd — 1622 — The Sophiae cum Moria Certamen, 1629 — Title — in four books — Fludd’s Prayer to the Eternal Wisdom — The Summum Bonum — The Cross and Rose on the title — A Defence of the Rosicrucians — The Spiritual Palace — Meaning of the Rose and Cross — The word “Magia” — Bacon and Trithemius — The Cabala — The Mystic Wisdom — Cabala true or spurious — Fludd’s Conclusions seven in number — The true Alchemy — Jehovah the Foundation and Christ the Corner Stone — Defence of the Rosicrucians — They dwell in the House of God — The House of the Holy Spirit — The “ Petra” — The Mystic Castle of Bethlehem — The Rose, why added to the Cross — Author acknowledges his Membership — A Letter appended — Gassendi’s “ Exercitatio ” ... ... ... 130
Chapter Fifteenth.
THE CHARGES AGAINST FLUDD BY GASSENDI, AND FLUDD’S REPLY IN HIS “ CL A VIS.”
1630 — Gassendi — Fludd charged with holding the Bible as an
XIV
CONTENTS.
Alchemical Work — The “Stone Catholic” — Soul of the World —Breath of Angels — 1633— The “ Clavis ’’—The Title— The Opponents dealt with — Alchemy really the division of the true from the false — in the Laboratory of Nature — ever going on — “ Tabernacle ” of God in the Sun — Fludd and Evolution — “Chemists” succeed “Alchemists” — Fludd and Kepler — Kepler’s “ Harmonices,” 1619 — Fludd criticises twenty-six passages — The Answer, and the “ Monochordum ” — Kepler’s Discoveries — Contrast — Cosmic Harmonies interest both — Music to us a Divine Refrain .. 145
Chapter Sixteenth.
THE “PHILOSOPHIA SACRA,” AND “ PHILOSOPHIA
MOYSAICA.”
1626 — The “ Philosophia Sacra,” Title — and Chart — Portrait of Fludd — Description — Dedicated to Bishop Williams — The “ Proe- mium ” — Christ the Centre of True Philosophy — Moses — Pan — Chart, “ Catoptron ” — Description — “ Meteors ” — What ? — Angelic existences — Four Archangels’ power over Four Winds — “ Philosophia Moysaica,” 1638 — Latin and English Editions — Contains Fludd’s Matured Opinions on Religion and Philosophy — Has same spirit of warm devotion — but less learned than the “ Historia ” — The opinions of four Authors on Fludd’s System and Works— Jennings — Waite — Hunt — Gordon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 154
Chapter Seventeenth.
THE MOSAICALL PHILOSOPHY.
The “ Mosaicall Philosophy” — Introductory Note — Tripartite measure of Jacob’s Ladder — Combat of Truth and Falsehood — The Weather Glass — Wisdom of Greeks Mundane — Twelve “ Mysteries,” beginning of all things — Greek opinions — The true “Sapience,” Essence of all in God from eternity — Rarefaction and Condensation — Central Divinity — God does not operate of necessity — Meteorological Impressions — Clouds and Rain — Winds — Peculiar ideas of Snow — Rivers — Sympathy — Attraction and Coition — Nonulty and Volunty — The Unity -Hyle or Chaos — All things ideally in God — Demigorgon — Soul of the World — “God, form and matter” — “Everything that existeth ” — The Essential Soul — The Ternary Number — The Cube — Sacred Numbers — World, image of God — Diastole — Systole — Light and Darkness — Names in the “ Sephoricall Tree ” — Ten — These comprehend all — Angelical Irridiations — Occult Radiations — Sympathy or Compassion — Attributes of Greater and Lesser Soul — Magnetical nature — Heaven, Mas- culine— Earth, Feininiiie — The Loadstone — Its wonderful.
CONTENTS.
XV
properties diseovered — The Pole Star and the Loadstone — Devil abuses natural things — Poisons — Charms — Claudia,
1581 — The Owl — Corporal Mummy — Four kinds — The Weapon Salve — Conclusion ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 168
Chapter Eighteenth.
FLUDD AND FOSTER.
1631 — Foster’s “ Hoplocrismaspongus ” — History and Life of Foster — The Weapon-Salve — Its origin — “ Man’s Mosse, blood and fat ” — Its results and application — List of those who “ allow the Unguent” — “ Eightly, Dr Fludd ” — Receipt for the “ Unguent” — Fludd’s method of use — Foster’s “Answer” — His choice of Titles — Armiger — All “ Caco-Magicians ” — Fludd’s explanations — Coldness of Devil’s body — Strange Ingredients then used in Medicine — man’s grease — earth-worms — snails — spawn of frogs — animals’ excrements — wood lice — vipers’ flesh — and broth — brick oil — up to 1795 — Magicians — What this charge meant — Weemse’ Treatise — One conversant with the Devil — He and the Devil “ wimpling” together — 1631 — Fludd’s answer appears in English — 1638, in Latin — Contents — Three “Members,” reason of his Title — Foster’s father a barber — Charge of being a Magician — its absurdity — Whether this curing be Witchcraft — Explanation of cure — Ad Distans — Ointment the Gift of God — Efiect of God’s Vivifying Spirit — Effect of the Four Winds — God’s Messengers — Sympathy between blood on the person and on the weapon — Histories of cures given — The Sponge Squeezed — God operateth radically on the blood — Conclusion — Style of the two writers, Foster’s clearer than
Fludd’s ...
... 198
Chapter Nineteenth.
FLUDD’S MEDICAL WORKS : MYSTICAL AND
PRACTICAL.
The Medical Works — Fuller’s opinion of Fludd — The “Anatomise Amphitheatrum,” 1623 — Dedicated to Bishop Thornburgh — His History and Researches — Bread — Cuts — Wheat, Wine, and Oil — Nature a Chemist — Copperplates — The Anatomy of the Body — The Eye — Table Illustrative — Mystic Anatomy — The four points have reference to different parts of the body — The Blood — The air of the Macrocosm — Eating of Blood — Heart, Tree of Life — Satan’s Power — The Human Sperm — The Generative Principle — A Cloud or Breath — Michael, the Power of God — The Brain — 1629 — “ Medicina Catholica ” dedicated to Paddy— His History — Connection with Maier — Cause of Disease
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CONTENTS.
— Preservation of Life — Plates — Nature of the Eternal Monad — The Super-C?elestial Life — Cabalistic influences- -Influence of the Stars — The True Light — Prayers for Health — Effect of Elements on Health — Rules, 1631 — “ Integrum Morborum Tractatus ” — Continuation of last book — Picture of Fludd in later life — Illustrations — Dedication to Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury — Laws of Rarity and Density — Experiments — Meteors — Kinds of Disease — Stellary influences — Four Com- plections — Geoman tia — Divination per Urinam — Diagrams — “The “Pulsus” — Contents, Plate ... ... ... ... 215
Chapter Twentieth.
Fludd’s last Portrait — shows failure in health — His method of writing — Orders for his Funeral — Dies, 1637 — Funeral — Buried at Bearsted — Grave — Slab in floor — His Monument — Description — Inscription — Translation — Milgate Chantry — Window Glass — Described — House of Milgate — Fludd and Boehme — Fuller’s Eulogy — Appreciation of Fludd’s life and works — Intensity of reverence — Cabalist — Intensity of thought — Society of Rosy Cross — Fludd and the Church of England — Sparrow’s Transla- tion of Boehme — Hutchinson’s Theories — The “ Religio Exculpata,” other issues — Jennings’ and Waite’s Works — The last Representative of Fludd — Conclusion ... ... ... ... 233
Appendices.