CHAPTER V.

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.
XpULLER, in his “ Worthies of England,” is perhaps the first biographer of Fludd, and he tells us that, after being at Oxford, he was “ bred ” “ beyond the seas.” ^
Wood says^ that, after taking “ his degree in Arts, he studied physic, travelled into France, Spain, Italy, and Germany for almost six years. In most of which countries he became acquainted with several of the nobility of them, some of whom he taught, and for their use made the first ruder draughts of several of his pieces now extant.” Wood’s information is derived from Fludd’s introductory note, “ Lectori Benevolo,” prefixed to his “ Tractatus Secundus de Natura Simia,” the second edition of which was issued at Frankfort in 1G24. He mentions as those for whom certain of his works were prepared, Charles of Loraine,
1 Edn. 1811, i. 503.
2 Athense (Bliss), ii. 618.
24
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
Duke of Guise/ ; Francis of Loraine, a knight of the Guise family ^ ; the Marquis de Orizon ; also a nobleman of the Pope’s family, Vice-Legatus Avineonense ; and in terms of deeper affection, Reinaud of Avignon, “ a most learned youth and his dearest friend.” In Chalmers’s Biographical Dictionary, it is said of this period of Fludd’s life — He then spent six years in travelling through France, Spain, Italy, and Germany, in most of ^vhich countries he not only became acquainted Avith several of the nobility, but read lectures to them.” ^ In the excellent and complete article in the “ Dictionary of National Biography ” it is put thus : — As a student of medical science he travelled for nearly six years on the Continent, visiting France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and teaching in noble families.” ^ This state- ment appears in a like, but more concise, form in Jennings and Waite.^ These last two writers, however, make no mention of Fludd having ‘‘ delivered lectures ” or taught in noble families.” Munk adds — It was probably during these peregrinations that he inbibed a taste for the Rosi- crucian philosophy, of which he was ever after a most strenuous supporter, and, indeed, almost the only one who became eminent for it in this kingdom.”® We are also told that he “ returned with considerable repute as a proficient in chemistry.” ^ From Fludd’s own works we will obtain a few glimpses of his adventures during these years of absence, presumably 1598-1604, or thereabouts. When at Paris “ our countryman. Dr Find, a person of much learn- ing and great sincerity,” was told the following story b}^-
the Lord of Menanton, living in that house at the same
time, from a certain Doctor of Physick, from the owner of the house, and many others.” A certain chemical operator,
by name La Pierre, near that place in Paris called Le
%
^ Son of Henry I. of Guise ; b. 1571, cl. 1640.
2 Francis, “ Chevalier de Guise,” his brother, was a knight of Malta ; b. 1589, d. 1614.
3 Art., Fludd, R., xiv. 418. ^ Art., Fludd, R., vol. xix. 348.
^ Jennings, 363 ; Waite, 286.
*■’ Roll of Roj^al Coll, of Physicians, i. 150,
7 Die. of Nat. Biog., xix. 348,
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
25
Temple, received blood from the hands of a certain Bishop to operate on.” Having “ operated ” according to the custom of the time, the chemist “ heard an horrible noise like unto the lowing of kine, or the roaring of a lion, and continuing quiet (in his bed), after the ceasing of the sound in the Laboratory, the moon being at the full, by shining, enlightening the chamber, he saw a little cloud, condensed into an oval form, which after, by little and little, did seem to put on the shape of a man, and making another and sharp clamour, did suddenly vanish.” Neighbours heard the strange noises. When afterwards the chemist broke his retort, he found in it “ the perfect representation of an human head, agreeable in face, eyes, nostrils, mouth, and hairs that were somewhat thin and of a golden colour.” The Bishop who had given the operator the blood, “ did admonish him that, if any of them from whom the blood was abstracted should die at the time of its putrification, his spirit was wont to appear.” ^
Fludd tells us a dog story — an adventure which hap- pened to him in France : — “ For as I rode post to Lions, and by the way had lost my vallise or male, in which my letters of exchange were, and seeking to return back again, I found my post horse of that quality, that he would by no means recoile and go back again. Then I was forced to send my dog [a water spannell] to look out, and after he had been absent half an houre, he brought the bouget in his mouth, which is strange, considering that I was on horse back and that he could not discern any footing of mine, yet never- theless he came to the bouget which I desired, and finding by it a sent of me, he brought it again.” This he also explains by a “ spirituall respect of sympathy betwixt creature and creature.” ^
Fludd, who had always a voracious appetite for the marvellous, tells us of some extraordinary methods of drawing most deadly “ venome” from “ red headed persons.”
^ J. Webster, The Displaying of Witchcraft, 319,
2 Mosaicall Philosophy, 227,
26 DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.'
This “ venome,” which may be attracted out of man, is such “ that there cannot be found a more pernicious or malignant one to mankind.” When at Leghorn he met a “ merchant newly come from Fess in Barbary,” who told him the story of a Jew who had persuaded a “ red headed English mariner,” for “ love of him,” and for “ 300 pound,” to sell himself as a slave to him, who was afterwards found with his back broken and a gagge in his mouth, stung by vipers, and a silver bason placed to his mouth to receive “ venome.” It was made into a^ most deadly and expensive poison. The “ Pope’s apothecary,” with whom Fludd became acquainted at Avignon, told him a similar tale. It referred to a Cardinal dwelling in Rome, “ who, immediately after he had got his red headed mistres with child, and nourish- ing her with all the delightful dainties that might be, till she was delivered, did in a secret Court in his Pallace bury her, armes and all, unto the paps, and so let loose unto her two hungry Asps, or, as a German heard it related, two deformed Todes, the which making immediately unto her dugs, sucked, and in sucking bit her, and impoysoned her duffs ; and when the Todes were full, that milk became, he said, so venomous and deadly, that it infected any one that touched it, it was so subtle and piercing. And besides (as the former story goeth), the woman was taken up, and after her back was broken, was hanged, her legs upwards, against the sun, to receive that venomous liquor that distilled from it into a silver vessel, wherewith he intended to have poisoned that Cardinall which stood as a block in the way between the Popedom and him.” He tells a similar story of the doings of a certain Hermit that lives not far from Aix in
o
Provence,” who ‘"did infect the whole city” with a desperate plague. “ By the like stratagem, a little before my coming into Provence, the plague was brought into Turin in Piedmont, by certain lewd persons, who suffered for it, their flesh being torn from them by hot, fieiy pincers.” ^
But it was at Rome that Fludd became acquainted with
^ Mosaicall Phily., 236-7.
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
27
the man who, more than any other at this time, exercised an influence upon him. This was the celebrated Gruterius, well known as the collector and publisher of the “ Collection of Ancient Inscriptions,” the editor of the works of Cicero, and the “ Florile^ium Magnum ” and other most useful and erudite works. Gruter was a native of Antwerp, born 1560. He took his doctor’s degree at Leyden. He after- wards lived at Wittenberg and at Padua, but finally settled at Heidleberg. His library was “ large and curious,” and cost him no less than 1200 gold crowns, but he lost it in the pillage of Heidleberg in 1622.
Gruter was a conscientious adherent of the Beformed Faith, most liberal to all, and in character true and ex- cellent. He always preferred a standing posture in his literar}^ labours.^ It was at Rome that Fludd and Gruter became acquainted.
“ I was,” Fludd says, “ whilest I did soiourne in Rome, acquainted with a very learned and skilful personage, called Master Gruther. Hee was by birth of Swisserland, and for his excellencv in the Mathematick, and in the Art of Motions and inuentions of Machines, he was much esteemed by the Cardinall of Saint George. This gentleman taught mee the best of my skill in those practices : and amongst the rest, hee delivered this magneticall experiment unto me, as a great secret, assuring me that it was tried in his Country, vpon many with good successe. When (said he) any one hath a withered and consumed member, as a dried arme,leg, foot, or such like, which physicians call an Atrophie of the lims, you must cut from that member, bee it foot or arme, the nailes, haire, or some part of the skin ; then you must pierce a willow tree with an Auger or wimble, and afterward put into the hole the pared nailes and skin, and with a peg made of the same wood, you must stoope it close : observing that in this action the Moone be increasing and the good Planets in such a powerful sign as in Gemini, &c., &c. . . . And (said he) it hath beene
^ Chalmers’ Biog. Die., 410-413,
28
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
tried, that as the tree daily growetli and flourisheth, so also, little by little, will the patient recover his health.” ^ We have here, probably, the origin of Flndd’s acquaint- ance in practice of the ointment and powder of sympathy, in reo;ard to which Foster’s attack was made.
O
When, alter his journeys and grand tour ” on the Continent, Fludd came back to England, he entered at Christ Church, Oxford, with the intention of taking his degree in medicine. On 16th May IGOo he received the degree of M.B. and M.D. ^
o
He came before the College of Ph3^sicians in the early part of 1606. His second examination, 7th February 1605-6, does not appear to have been altogether satis- factory to the censors, as is evident from the following memorandum : — “ Secundo exaniinatur, atque etiamsi plene examinationibus non satisfaceret, tamen judicio omnium visus est non indoctus, permissus est itaque illi medicinam facere.” With a large share of egotism and assurance, a strong leaning to chemistry, a contempt of Galenical medicine, and, let us hope, a sincere belief in the doctrines of the Rosie Cross, absurd as these are represented to have been, he seems to have startled the censors by his answers within the College, no less than by his conduct out of it, and was for some time in constant warfare with the collegiate authorities, and an object of deserved suspicion to his seniors in the profession.” On 2nd May 1606, there is the following entry in the Annals : — ‘‘ Delatum est ad Colleo-ium Dm. Fludd multa de se et medicamentis
o
suis chemicis pnedicasse, medicos autem Galenicos cum contemptu dejecisse ; censores itaque in hunc diem citari jusserunt. Interrogatus an id verum esset, quod objectum est, confidentissime omnia negabat, et accusatores re- quirebat ; qui quoniam non comparebant dismissus est cum admonitione, ut modeste de se et sentiret et loqueretur ; socios autem Collegii revereatur. Et cum persolvisset
* Squeesing of Parson Foster’s Sponge, 134, 135. 2 Munk, i. 150, &c.
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
29
pensionem a statntis prasscriptam, adinissus est in numerum Permissorum.”
In the latter part of 1607 he applied to be admitted a candidate, and was thrice examined, viz., 7th August, 9th October, and 22nd December. On the latter day, we read : — “ Dr FJudd, examinatus, censetur dignus qui fiat candi- datns.” His evil star, however, again prevailed, as we see from the following : — “ 21 Mar. 1607-8. Dr Fludd, qui jam in candidatorum numerum erat cooptandus, tarn insolenter se gessit, ut omnes ofl[enderentur ; rejectus est itaque a Do Prmsidente cum admitione, ut sibi si sine Licentia practicare pergeret, diligenter caveret.” On the 20th September 1609, he was admitted a Fellow of the College. He was Censor in 1618, 1627, 1633, 1634.^
Fludd at once took up practice as a doctor of medicine and physician in London, fixing his residence in Fen- church Street ; afterwards he seems to have lived in Coleman Street, where, indeed, he died. He “ kept a handsome establishment. His success in the healing art is ascribed by Fuller to his influence on the minds of his patients, producing a ' faith-natural,’ which aided the * well- working ’ of his drugs. He had his own apothecary under his roof, which was unusual, and he was always provided with an amanuensis, to whom he dictated, at untimely hours, his numerous and elaborate treatises on things divine and human.” ^
Munk remarks — “ He is said to have made a kind of sublime, unintelligible cant to his patients, which, by in- spiring them with greater faith in his skill, might in some cases contribute to their cure. There is no doubt, at least, that it would assist his reputation, and accordingly we find that he was eminent in his medical capacity.” ^
Dr Harney gives a sketch of this eccentric member of the faculty in the following words : — “ Dr Flud, Collegii
^ Munk, Roll of Royal College of Physieians, i. 150-153.
^ Die. Nat. Biog., voce, Fludd, R.
^ Munk, Royal Coll, of Physicians, in re.
30
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
Socius splendide satis vixit desiitque, Septemb. 8, 1637. Is, praeter morem Collegarum, amanuensem domi et phar- macopaeiim semper aluit ; hunc medicamentis interdiu componendis differendisque, ilium antelucanis cogitationi- bus excipiendis ; quorum altero invidiam sibi non parvam conflabat ; lucubrationibus autem, quas solebat edere profussissimas, semper visus est plus sumere laboris, quam populares nostri volebant fructum, qui hunc fere negligebant prae legendi taedio et prejudicio quodam oleum perdendi operamque, ob cabalam, quam scripta ejus dicebantur olere magis quam peripatum ; et ob ferventibus hominis ingenium in quo plerique requirebant judicium.”
Dr Harney, junior, the author of the above, was a distinguished physician, a great Royalist, and a munificent benefactor to the College of Physicians. He left in MS. a “ Series of Sketches of his Contemporaries,” from which the above is taken.^ He knew Fludd personally. Harney attended many of the great Cromwellians, and had to attend their religious services during the Great Rebellion, but he “ always took care that his servant should carry for him an Aldus edition of Virgil upon vellum, in binding and bulk resembling an octavo Bible, to entertain himself with, or a duodecimo edition of Aristophanes, canonically bound, too, in red Turke}'’ leather, with clasps, resembling a Greek Testament.” Harney presented to Charles IT. a great diamond ring, plundered from Charles I., which cost him £500, on which “ was curiously cut the arms of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland.” ^
As a physician, one of Fludd’s chief friends was his “ renowned fellow or colleague, D. William Gilbert,” famed ‘"for his magnetick skill and deep search, as well contem- plative as experimental!.” ^
Gilbert, a native of Colchester, was born there in the year 1540, and after receiving the degree of M.D., presented himself to the London College of Physicians, of which he
' ^ MS. in Liby. of Phyns., dating ah anno 1628.
^ Munk, i. 210, &c. ^ Mosaicall Phily., 203.
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
31
was elected a Fellow about 1573. He was appointed by Queen Elizabeth her physician - in - ordinary. After her death he became chief physician to King James I. Gilbert died in 1603. He was ‘‘ deeply skilled in Philosophy and Chemistry.” Gilbert s great work is entitled, “ De Magnete magneticisque Corporibus et de magno magnete Tellure, Physiologia nova.” It was printed A.D. 1600, and is fre- quently quoted by Fludd in his books. In regard to the loadstone, Gilbert “ discovered and established several qualities of it not observed before.” In his great work, Gilbert ‘‘ shews the use of the declination of the magnet.” A handsome monument stands over his grave in Trinity Church, Colchester, and his picture is preserved in the Bodleian. Like Fludd, Gilbert was never married. He left his collection and rarities, including his library, to the College of Physicians.^
The chemical researches of Fludd are not matter for the present work. They have most of them passed into the shades and are forgotten, though it must be remembered that from their seeds have germinated other results.
“ As a writer, Fludd is the chief English Representative of that school of medical mystics who laid claim to the possession of the Key to Universal Science. With less of original genius than Paracelsus, he has more method and takes greater pains to frame a consistent system. The common ideas of the school, that the biblical text contains a storehouse of hints for modern science, has lost interest, its potency expiring with the Hutchinsonians. And since Fludd did not make, like Paracelsus, any permanent addition to the Pharmacopoeia, or foreshadow, like Servetus, any later discoveries in chemistry or physiology, his lucu- brations have passed into oblivion.” ^
The intention of this work is to show Fludd’s con- nection with the Rosicrucian Society, and to bring into
^ Chalmers’ Biog. Dicty. , xv., 496-7. See drawings of tomb and of portrait in Ars. Q. Coronatorum, v. 152. Gilbert seems to have had the first hint of the electric telegraph system.
^ Die. of Nat. Biog., in voce Fludd, R.
32
DOCTOR ROBERT FLUDD.
notice his intense religious devotion and wonderful religious insight, the result of immense research and great “ personal sanctity.”