CHAPTER XIV.

FLUDD, MERSENNE, AND GASSENDI.
Mersenne — History — Gassendi — History — Mersenne’s Commentary on Genesis — Attacks Fludd — Accuses him of Magic — Answers — Gas- sendi more favourable to Fludd — 1622 — The Sophise 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 Mem- bership— A Letter appended — Gassendi’s “ Exercitatio.”
MAEIN MERSENNE, a scholar of the Sorbonne, entered himself among the Minims, and received the habit of that order July 17, 1611. He was the chief literary friend of Descartes ; a man of universal learning, a prolific author, one who had a peculiar talent in curious questions. One of his more famous works is that entitled, “ Questiones Cele- berima3 in Genesim, cum accurata textus explicatione, in quo volumine Athei et Deisti impugnantur,” &c. ; Paris, 1622. Mersenne had to suppress two sheets of this work in which he “ gives a list of the atheists of his time,” specifying different works and opinions. He tells us there were 50,000 atheists in Paris alone ; but by this he probably meant the French Protestants. He is described as “ a bigotted and uncritical writer, who seems to have suffered from chronic atheism on the brain.” ^
1 Hunt, Skeptics of Italian Ren., 355.
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
131
Peter Gassendi, also a Frenchman, was born in 1592. From childhood he had a turn for astronomy, and became Professor of Mathematics at Paris in 1645. He wrote liv^es of Copernicus and others, but died through excess of study. His works were published in 1658, in six folio volumes. Gassendi was undoubtedly a man of “ sound judgment, extensive learning, and capacious memory.”
Mersenne, in his Commentary on Genesis, attacked the works of Fludd, whose severity in answer was the cause of the publication of a tract by Gassendi in defence of Mersenne. It was published at Paris in 1628, under the title — “ Epistolica exercitatio in qua prsecipuse principise philosophise Roberti Fludd deteguntur, et ad recentes illius libros adversus patrem Marinum Mersennum scriptos res- pond etur.” This tract was written in Holland. Mersenne, setting out for the Netherlands, had put Fludd’s book into his hands for that purpose.” ^ In the controversy with Foster, Fludd refers to these matters. Mersenne had accused him of magic. Fludd excused himself in his Booke,” entitled, “ Sophiae cum moria certamen.” He adds that his intention in the Historia ” “ was to write as well the naturall discoverie of the great world, and the little world, which we call man, as well as to touch by way of an Encyclophy or Epitome of all arts, as well lawful, which I did commend, as those which are esteemed unlawfull, which I did utterly condemne as superstitious, and of little or no probabilitie at all ; among the rest, where I came to speake of the Arts which belong unto the little world or man, I mention the Science of Genethlialogie, which treateth of the Judgement of Nativities, wherein I produce the great dispute between the two famous philosophers, Porphyrie and lamblicus, whereof the first did hold that a man mierlit come to the knowledge of his owne Genius or good Angell by the art of astrologie. . . . lamblicus his opinion
was that a man had neede of the assistance and knowledsfe of a higher spirit than was any of those which were
^ Chalmers’ Biog. Die., xxiii. 83.
132
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
Governours of Fatalitie. . . . I seemed there to consent
with lamblicus, averring with him, that without the reve- lation of that high and heavenly Spirit, which was granted unto the Elect, none could come to the familiartie or knowledge of his good Angell.” ^ The use of the word “ Encyclophy,” which also appears in Maier’s “ Arcana,” is undoubtedly the original of that much abused and rather deceitful term, “ Encylcopsedia.”
Hundreds of men — churchmen, doctors of physic, and others — “ averred that D. Fludd had answered Mersennus so fully, as well on that occasion [as to magic] as all other points layd by him unto his charge, that hee could not be able to reply against it.” Gassendi, though willing to attempt Mersenne’s defence, did not approve of the name magician as applied to Fludd. The atheism and heresy charged against Fludd by Mersenne are not alleged by Gassendi. Fludd says that he found Gassendi to be a “ good philosopher, and an honest and well-conditioned gentleman.” ^ As to Mersenne, he alleges that his aim was “ to have me change my Religion, and to gain me to that side, and for that intent he promiseth me, if I will leave my Heresie (as he termeth it), many rewards and courtesies.” ^ This is not improbable. Fludd’s immense learning, his freedom from insular prejudice in regard to religious matters, was undoubtedly disturbing. In a sense he marked a new era. A man, hated and attacked by the Jesuits, and who yet was so learned as to be chosen tutor to princes of the house of Guise, to relatives of the Pope, and to other Roman Catholic youths of high birth and promise, was no ordinary man. Culture, refinement, went along with learning and immense diligence. Fludd proved himself in all circumstances an ardent supporter of the church of his baptism. The Bishops of England were his chief friends, and King James his constant patron.
Some years elapsed before Fludd published his answer
^ Squeesing of Foster, 11, 12. “ Squeesing of Foster, 18.
® Squeesing of Foster, 23.
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
133
to Mersenne. The book on Genesis appeared in folio at Paris in 1622. Fludd’s answer was published at Frankfort in 1629. It is entitled — “ Sophije Cum Moria Certamen, In quo, Lapis Lydius a Falso Structore, Fr. Marino Mersenno> Monacho, Reprobatus, celeberriina Voluminis sui Baby- lonici (in Genesin) figmenta accurate examinat.” The motto is the 20th and 2 1st verses of Isaiah, chap, v., '' Woe unto them that call evil good,” &c. ; “ woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight.” Two Latin verses on the back of the title are addressed, “ Marino Mersenno Fratri fraterrimo, minimorum mini- missimo.” One is subscribed, “ J acobus Aretius Oxoniensis.” Mersenne is represented, “ dente Theonino,” tearing the brethren of the Rosy Cross to pieces. The other verse is signed