Chapter 6
CHAPTER V.
John Hey don and the Rosicrudans,
AS we have frequently to mention works of that " extraordinary
Royalist, mystic and geomancer," John Heydon, who wrote
80 much respecting the Rosie Crucian Mysteries, and so loudly ex-
tolled the praises of the disciples, it will be advisable to present a
sketch of his life as made by one Frederick Talbot, in the years
1662 and 1663, and attached to " Elhavareuna," or the "English
Physitian's Tutor." He says John Heydon is not basely, but nobly
descended. The Antiquaries derive them (his parents) from Julius
Heydon the King of Hungary and Westphalia, that were descended
from that Noble family of Csesar Heydon in Rome ; and since in
this Royal Race the line run down to the Honourable Sir Chris-
topher Heydon, and Sir William Heydon, his brother of
Heydon, neer Norwich; ^ho married into Devonshire. Here
the family flourished divers waies, to Sir John Heydon, late Lord
Lieutenant of the King's Tower of London. And this Sir William
Heydon had one sonne christened also William, and had two sons
William and Francis, both bom in Devon, at Poltimore House ;
Francis married one of the Noble Chandlers in Worcestershire of
the Mother's side, which line spread by Marriage into Devonshire,
among the Collins, Ducks, Drues aud Bears, he had one Sister
named Anne Heydon, who died two years since, his Father and
Mother being yet living. He was bom at his Father's house in
Green- Arbour, London (his father having bestowed j^l,500 upon
those houses) and was baptised at St. Sepulchre's, and so was his
Sister, and both in the fifth and seventh year of the Reign of King
Charles the First ; he was educated in Warwickshire among his
Digitized by
^OHN HEYDON AND THE BOSICRUCIAKa 61
mother's friends, and so careful were they to keep him and his
sister from danger, and to their books, that he had one continually
to wait upon him, both to school and at home, and so had his
sister.
He was commended by Mr. John Dennis^ his Tutor in Tardebick,
to Mr. George Linacre, Priest of Coughton, where he learned the
Latin and Greek Tongues ; the war at this time began to molest the
Universities of this Nation, he was articled to Mr. Mio. Petley, an
Attorney of Cliflford Inne, with eighty pounds, that at five years'
end he should be sworn an Attorney ; now being very young he
applied his mind to learning, and by his happy wit attained great
knowledge in all arts and sciences, afterwards also he followed the
Armies of the King, and for his valour commanded in the troops,
when he was by these means famous for learning and arms, he tra-
velled into Spain, Italy, Arabia, Egypt, and Persia, etc., and gave his
mind to writing, and composed about seventeen years since, the
Temple of Wisdom in three Books, The Holy Guide in six Books,
Elhavareuna in one Book, Ocia Imperialia in one Book, the Idea
of the Law, the Idea of Government, the Idea of Tyranny in three
parts, the Fundamental Elements of Moral Philosophy, Policy,
Government and War, etc.
These Books were written near seventeen years since, and pre-
served by the good hand of God in the custody of Mr. Thomas
Heydon, Sir John Hanner, Sir Ralph Freman, and Sir Richard
Temple ; during the tyrant's time first one had the Books, then
another, etc. And at last at the desire of these Noble, Learned
and valiant Knights, and in honour of his Highness the Duke of
Buckingham, they were printed.
He wrote many excellent things, and performed many rare ex-
pei-iments in the Arts of Astromancy and Geomancy, etc., but es-
pecially eighty one, the first upon the King's death, predicted in
Arabia by him to his friends, the second upon the losses of the
Digitized by
62 JOHN HEYDON AND THE R08ICRUCIANB.
King at Worcester, predicted at Thauris in Persia. Thirdly h6
predicted the death of Oliver Cromwell in Lambeth House to many
persons of honour mentioned in his books. Fourthly he wrote of
the overthrow of Lambert, and of the Duke of Albymarle, his
bringing again of the King to his happy countries, and gave it to
Major Christopher Berkenhead, a Goldsmith at the Anchor by Fet-
ter Lane end in Holbom ; the fifth precaution or prediction he
gave to his highness the Duke of Buckingham, two months before
the evil was practised, and his enemy Abraham Groodman lies now
in the Tower for attempting the death of the noble Prince. The
sixth for Count Gramont when he was banished into England by
the King of France, and he predicted by the Arts of Astromancy
and Geomancy, the King's receiving again into favour, and of his
marriage to the Lady Hamilton. The seventh for Duke Minulaus,
a peer of Germany, that the Emperor sent to him, when the Turk,
had an army against him, and of the death of the Pope ; the rest
are in his books, and therefore by these monuments the name of
Heydon for his variety of learning was famous not only in Eng-
land, but also in many other nations into which his books
are translated.
This John Heydon, fears none, contemneth none, is ignorant of
none, rejoyceth in none, grieves at none, laughs at none, is angry
with none, but being himself a Philosopher, he hath taught the
way to happiness, the way to long life, the way to health, the way
to wane young being old, and the way to resolve all manner of
Questions, Present and to Come, by the Rules of Astromancy and
Geomancy, and how to raise the Dead.
There be many John Heydons, one John Heydon the divine and
priest of Jesus Christ, this is a Philosopher and Lawyei*, stiled a
Servant of God and Secretary of Nature, and to this the Princes
and Peers not only of England, but of Spain, Italy, France and
Germany st^nd dayly to him, and upon every occasion he sheweth
Digitized by
JOHN HBTDON AND THB R081CRUCIANS. , 63
strong parts and a vigorous brain ; his wishes and aimes, and what
he pointeth at, speaketh him owner of a noble and generous heart ;
this gentleman's excellent books are admired by the world of let-
tered men, as the prodigy of these latter times (indeed his works
before mentioned, if I am able to judge anything) are full of the
profoundest learning I ever met withall : and I believe, who hath
well-read and digested them will perswade himself, there is no
truth too abstruse, nor hitherto conceived out of our reach, and if
any should question my judgement, they may read the commenda-
tions of both the Universities, Oxford and Cambridge, besides the
learned Thomas White and Thomas Revell, Esq., both famous in
Home and other parts beyond sea, that have highly honoured this
gentleman in their books ; yet he hath suffered many misfortunes,
his fathered was sequestered, imprisoned, and lost two thousand
pounds by Cromwell. This Oliver imprisoned this son also two
year and half, or thereabout, in Lambeth House, for he and his
father's family were always for the King, and endeavoured to the
utmost his restoration ; and indeed the tyrant was cruel to him,
but John Ifiurloe, his Secretary, was kind to him and pittied his
curious youth. And the messenger kept him (at his request) at
his own house, and gave him leave to go abroad, but yet being
zealous and active for the King, he was again taken and clapt up
in Lambeth House ; in these misfortunes it cost him aj^l,000and
upwards ; after this some envious villains forged actions of debt
against him, and put him in prison. It seems at the beginning of
these misfortunes, a certain harlot would have him to many her,
but denying her suit, for he had never spoken to her in his life
good or evil until then ; she devised now with her confederates
abundance of mischief against him. And many courted him to
marry, but he denyed. Now there was left (amongt a few old Al-
' manacks and scraps of other men's wit) collected and bequeathed
unto the world by Nic. Culpe (as his own admired experi^e) old
Digitized by
€4 JOHN HETDON AND THE ROSICRUCIANS.
Alice Culpeper, his widow. She hearing this gentleman (that he
was heir to a great estate after the death of his father, and after
1 he death of his .uncle, £1,000 a year, but whether this uncle be of
the father^s or the mother's side I know not, but the estate is sure
his at their death), courts him by letters of love, to no purpose ; the
next saint in order was she that calls herself the Qerman Princess.
But he flies high and scorns such fowl great beasts, the first of these
two blessed birds in her life time caused one Heath to arrest him,
and another laid actions against him that he never knew nor heard
of. In this perplexity was he imprisoned two years, for they did
desire nothing but to get money, or destroy him, for fear if ever he
got his liberty he might then punish them. He being of a noble
nature forgave them all their malice and devices against himi
and scorns to revenge himself such upon pittiful things. God
indeed hath done him the justice, for this Heath consumes to
worse than nothing, and indeed, if I can judge or predict any-
thing his baudy-houses will be pawned, and he will dye a miser-
able diseased beggar. His mistress, when he was very young and
a clerke, desired him to lay with her, but he like Jos€{)h refusingi
she hated him all her life. Crod preserved him from their malice,
although one of these three lewd women swore this gentleman prac-
tised the art of Magic ; she told Oliver Cromwell she saw familiar
spirits come and go to him in the shape of Conies, and her maid
swore she had often seen them in his chambers when he was abroad,
and sometimes walking upon the housetop in moonshine nights,
and sometimes to vanish away into a wall or A.ire, but when asked
she could not tell what manner of man he was. So these stories
were not credited, and for all these and many more afflictions and
false accusations, I never saw him angry, nor did he even arrest or
imprison any man or woman in all his life.
He was falsely accused but lately of writing a seditious book and
imprisoned in a messenger's custody, but his ^noble friend the Diike
Digitized
by Google
JOHN HEYDON AND THE ROSICBUCIANS. 65
of Buckingham finding him innooeut and alwaies for the king, he
was then discharged, and indeed this glorious Duke is a very good
and just judge and noble, for he forgave Abraham Godman that
came to kill him with his sword drawn, the Duke with his plate
and napkin (for he was at supper) takes away his sword, saying, I
can kill thee, but I scorn it, and a little after he pardoned him.
And so mercifull he is that afb^ he had taken the Quakers prison-
ers in Yorkshire, he used so many wise convincing argimients that
they submitted to the King ; of which the Duke was glad, and
saved all their lives ; he studies the way to preserve his king and
country in peace, plenty, and prosperity. It is a pity the King
hath not many more such brave men as he, a thousand such wise
Dukes as this (like marshell'd thunder, backed with flames of fire)
would make all the enemies of the King and Christendome qiiake,
and the Turk fly before such great generals, in all submission ; we
humbly pray for this great Prince, and leave him to his pleasure
and return to our subject.
John Heydon is not of that vain and presumptuous nature as
the Taylors that despised all Artists, even Appolonius, More, Vaug-
han, and Smith, etc. And yet they cannot read these, and many
other learned authors, they so impudently abuse, rob of their learn-
ing, and convert other men's parts to their own profit. He lent
one ten pounds gold, he in requital or return speaks ill of him, and
pretends to know many admirable rules of Geomancy, and imper-
tinently addes them to Nativities, and applyes them to all manner
of questions in Astromancy, but his books being written so long
since, viz., seventeen years by himself, their greediness of great
matters is discovered, and we now know them to be neither scholars
nor gentlemen, these hang up clouts with — here are Nativities cal-
culated, questions resolved, and all the parts of Astrology taught
by us. . . . In threepence, fourpenoe, sixpence, or higher if
you please — thus are young apprentices, old women, and wenches
Digitized by
^6 JOHK HEYDON AND THB BOSICRUCIANS.
abused, and that they may be found for money, tell us the twelve
houses of heaven in the sign of a coat of arms are to be let, when
they might indeed set bills upon their brazen foreheads, engraven
thus : Here are Rooms to be let unfurnished, but our Author re-
gards not these men ; all their scandals, forgeries, and villainous
devises they contrive against him, he slights and scorns, and hath
purposely forsaken Spittle Fields and his lodging there, to live a
private life, free from the concourse of multitudes of people that
daily followed after him, but if any desire to be advised, let them
by way of letter leave their business at his booksellers, and they
shall have answer and counsel without reward, for he is neither en-
vious, nor enemie to any man ; what I write is upon my own
knowledge.
He now writes from Hermenpolis, a place I was never at ; it
seems by the word to be the city of Mercury, and truly he hath
been in many strange places, among the Eosie Crucians, and at
their Castles, Holy Houses, Temples, Sepulchres, Sacrifices. This
gentleman hath suflfered much by his own discreet silence and soli-
tude. Every Nativity Hawker condemns the Kosie Crucians be-
cause they appear not to the world, and concludes there is no such
society because he is not a member of it, and Mr. Heydon will not
come upon the stage (let his enemies write or speak what they
will) when any fool cries enter, neither doth he regard every dog
that barks at him. All the world knows this gentleman studys
honourable and honest things, and faithfully communicates them
to others, yet if any traduce him hereafter, they must not expect
Lis vindication, he hath referred his quarrel to the God of Nature,
it is involved in the concernments of his Truths and he is satisfied
with the peace of a good conscience ; he hath been misinterpreted
in his writing, with studied calumnies, they disparage a person
whom they never saw, nor perhaps will see, he is resolved for the
future to sufler, for he says God condemns no man for his patience,
Digitized by
JOHN HBTDON AND THE ROSICRUCIANS. . 67
the world indeed may think the truth overthrown, because she is
attended with his pecwje for in the judgment of most men, there is
no victory, this he looks upon as no disadvantage, the estimate of
such censures will but lighten the scales, and I don't suppose them
very weak brains who conceive the truth sinks because it outweighs
them ; as for tempestuous outcrys when they want their motives
they discover an irreligious spirit, one that hath more of the
Hurrey-cano than of Christ Jesus, God was not in the wind that
rent the rocks in pieces, nor in the earthquake and fire at Horeb.
He was in Aura tenui, in the still small voice. His enemies are
forced to praise his vertues and his friends are sorry he hath not
10,000 poimds a year, he doth not resent the common spleen, who
writs the truth of God hath the same Patron with the truth itself,
and when the world shall submit to the general Tribunal, he will
find his Advocate where they shall find their Judge, there is
mutual testimony between God and his servants, or nature and
her Secretary ; if the Baptist did bear witness of Christ, Christ did
also much for the Baptist ; he was a burning and shiniug light ;
when I writ this gentleman's life God can bear me witness it was
unknown to him, and for no private ends, but I was forced to it
by a strong admiration of the Mistery and Majesty of Nature,
written by this servant of God and Secretary of Nature ; I began
his life some years since, and do set it down as I do finde it, if any
man oppose this, I shall answer, if you are for peace, peace be
with you, if you are for War, I have been so too (Mr. Heydon
doth resolve never to draw sword again in England, except the
King command him). Now let not him that puts on the Armour
boast like him that puts it off. ' Gaudet patientia duris ' is his
Motto, and thus I present myself a friend to all artists, and enemy
to no man.
FREDERICK TALBOT, Esq.
March 3, 1662.
f2
Digitized by
68 JOHN HBTDON AND THE BO8ICRU0IAN8.
What was thought of John Heydon and what he appeared to
think of himself may he learned &om the somewhat gushing testi-
monials he appended to several of his books.
At the commencement of the Axiomata we have the following : —
" To his most ingeniously aocomplish'd friend, Mr. John Heydon,
on his Rosie Crucian Infallible Axomata, the excellent and secret
use of Numbers."
" Now let the Pope no more pretend to bee.
The Father of Infallibility ;
Unless he can great Heyden's Numbers teach,
And nimbly to his Axiomata reach.
One learned Heydon, with his Art-like Pen,
Hath exercised so the Brains of Men ;
That how to answer him this very Age
Knows not [I'm sure] with all its Wit and Rage.
Our Author here, as Heir unto his skill,
Hath kept his name up (with a pregnant Quill)
So happily ! that Ages yet to come.
Shall sing his fame in this Eulogium ;
While Numbers sing the World's glad Harmony,
This worthy work shall teach Philosophy."
J. Gadbuby.
Again in the same work.
" To his much honoured friend the Author Mr. John Heydon
upon the Rosie Crucian Infallible Axiomata."
" Pythag'ras redivivus, go thy ways
Into the world : and number out thy praise ;
Laconian Lads esteem yourself no more,
Who Numbers rich is, who esteems is poor,
For they esteem themselves, because no more,
Moses in Miracles did exceed 'tis true
By Numbers done ; only found out by you
Digitized by
JOHN HEYDON AND THB ROSIOBaOIANS. 69
Therefore the greatest Miracle's your due.
Tria sunt omnia shall no more surpass,
Who's but for simple Numbers is an Asse,
Thy compound Numbers shew as clear as Qlass.
That the wide world this piece shall so extoll
As swears no soul, if not Harmonic all
For never was piece i' the world so exactly done,
In the time past, or present, what's to come.
Then teeming Soul give thy Pen intermission,
And breathe a while before the next Edition."
John Ftgb,
Minister' of the Gospell.
Again : —
** 0 Comprehensive Magus, praise attends
Thy worthy work, to that each number tends,
Sith to the Holy Cross thou art the Crown ;
And that, which Nature did at first set down
In Hieroglyphicks, that she might conceal
From Sons of earth, her Darling doth reveal
Unto the Sons of Art and doth unfold
' Those Tomes of Crypicks that before were rold ;
Axioms infallible, thou dost us shew.
Would Pyrrho make his doubting Trade forego ;
Philosophy may by thy Method be
Courted, and won by men of low degree,
When fancy tells me this cannot be done.
My Reason prompts me to believe a Son,
Inspired by the Rosie Crucian Spirit,
Is Heir to more, to whom I do refer it
Thomas Ftgb."
Digitized by
70 JOHN HEYDON AND THE ROSICRUCIANS.
" Hajl you (admired Heydon) whose great parta
Shine above envy ; and the common Arts,
You kin to Angels, and Superiour Lights,
(A spark of the first fire) whose Eagle flights
Trade not with Earth, and grossness, but do pass
To the pure Heavens, and make your God your Glass,
In whom you see all forms, and so do gi^e
These rare discov'ries, how things move and live,
Proceed to make your great designs compleat.
And let not this rude world our hopes defeat.
Oh let me but by this the dawning light
Which streams upon me through your three pil'd night.
Pass to the East of truth, 'till I may see
Man's first fair state ; when sage Simplicity
The Dove and Serpent, Innocent and Wise
Dwell in his brest, and he in Paradise.
These from the Tree of knowledge his best boughs
lie pluck a Garland from this Author's brows.
Which to succeeding times Fame shall bequeath.
With this most just Applause, Great Heyden's wreath.
Fbed. Talbot, Esquire.^^
In the opening pages of the " Holy Guide," we find the follow-
ing :—
" Renowned Eugenius ! Famous above all !
A Prince in Physiques ! Most Seraphicall !
The Art's Great Archer ! Never shooting wide ;
Yet Hitt'st the White best, in thy Holy Guide.
Good God ! What Pains have leam'd Physitians
For cleansing Physiques [strange perturbed] Brook %
But as their crooked labours did destroy
Our hopes. Thy Guide directs the Ready Way.
Hippocrates, Great Galen, and Senertus,
Digitized by
JOHN HEYDON AND THE ROSICRUGIANS. 71
Rhenvoleus, Paracelsus, and Albertus,
Gra^e Gerrard, and Ingenious Parkinson,
Dead Culpeper, and living Thomlinson,
Have all done welL But ah ! they miss the Road,
Thou Chalked out, Thou Dear Servant of God ;
And therefore 'tis no wonder, if they vary
From thee ; Great Nature (High bom) Secretary !
'Tis thou alone, hast taught the way to bliss :
'Tis thou alone, that knowest what it is :
'Tis thou hast raked fruitful Egypt o'er
For Medicines ; and Italy for more ;
And in Arabia thy collecting Braines,
To doe us good, hath taken wondrous Paines
This having done, if Critiques will not bow
To thy Great Learning Petra scandalou,
It shall unto them surely prove : And this
Essay of thy Sublin^er Misteryes,
Shall make them sure unto the Wise Minerva
Tet still be ignorant of thy Pantarva.
But hold ! Where am It Sure th' hast set a spell
On me, cause I can't praise thy doings well :
Release me. Good Eugenius ! and the Crowne
Shall stand on no browes but thy learned Owne.
Poets, no more lay Claime unto the Bayes !
Tis Heydon shines alone with splendid Rayes !
Follow his Guide, he teaches you most sure ;
Let any make the Wound ; 'Tis he must cure.
For he directs the Welgrowne ; Old, and Toung,
To live Rich, Happy, Healthy, Noble, Strong.
John Gadburt.
" To the Reader on the behalf of my much honoured Friend
the Author Mr. John Heydon."
Digitized by
72 JOHN HEYDON AND THE ROSICRUCIANS.
" A Labyrinth doth need a clew to find
The passage out, and a Dsedalian mind
May doe strange works, beyond the Vulgar's reach.
And in their understandings make a breach.
It's often seene, when men of pregnant parts
Study, Invent, and promulgate rare Arts,
Or unknown secrets, now they puzzle those
That understand them not ; their Yea's, their No's,
Are put to Non-plus ; Tutors then they lack
To drive them forward, or to bring them back.
How many learned men (in former ages)
In all the sciences were counted Sages ?
And yet are scarcely understood by men,
Who daily read them o're and o're again !
Some can recount things past, and present some.
And some would know of things that are to come.
Some study pleasure, some would faine live long ;
Some that are old, would faine again be young.
. This Man doth toyle, and moile, to purchase wealth,
That man gets sickness studying for his health ;
This man would happy bee, that Wisdom have ;
All are at loss, and every man doth crave ;
None is content. But each man wants a Guide
Them to direct when they do step aside.
Since this is thus. Our Author hath took paine
To lead us in, and bring us out again ;
Now who is pleas'd in him for to confide
In these Discoveries, Here's his Holy Guide.
Pray what can more improve the Commonwealth,
Than the discovery of the way to Health 1
The Paradox is made a certain truth.
An Ancient man may dye it 'h prime of *s youth.
Digitized by
JOHN HETDON AND THE R0SICRUCIAN8. 73
What wonder is it if he goe aside
The Path, which will not take the Holy Guide !
John Bookbr."
** To his Ingenuous Friend Mr. John Heydon, on his Book Inti-
tuled The Holy Guide."
" The Antient Magi, Druids, Cabbalists,
The Brachmans, Sybils, and Gymnosophists
With all that Occult Arts haberdash
- And make so many mancies, doe but trash
By retaile vend, and may for Pedlars goe :
Your richer merchandise doth make them soe.
The Stagarite must with his Mumival
Of Elements, Gklen of Humours call
In all their suit, or your new Art,
Without them, makes their good old cause to smart.
Vulgar Physitians cannot look for more
Patients, then such which doe need hellibore :
When Rosie Crucian Power can revive
The dead, and keep old men in youth alive.
Had you not caU'd your work the Holy Guide,
It would have puzzled all the world beside
To have Baptized it with a name so fit
And Adsequate to what's contained in it ;
Should it be styled the Encyclopsedy
Of Curious Arts, or term'd a Mystery
In folio, or be named the Vatican
Reduc'd unto an Enchiridion,
Or all the Hermie in a Senary,
The Urim and Thummim of Philosophy,
The Art of Hieroglyphicks so revealed
And like the Apooalyps they are conceal'd
Or th' Orthodoxall Parodox, or all
Digitized by
74 JOHN HBYDON AND THE ROSICRUCIANS.
Discovered, which men still a wonder call ;
Or th' Magna Charta of all Sciences,
And he that names it cannot call it less.
The Book and Title might have well agreed ;
Yet men have questioned if into their Creed
They should have put your Article, but Now
The name of ^ly none dare disallow
When so much learning doth in one exist
Heydon, not Hermes, shall be Trismegist.
And if the Right Reverend of Levi's Tribe
Do Hallow it, I cannot but subscribe.
Myself your Friend and Servant,
Thos. Fyge."
" Now there are," says John Heydon, " a kind of men as they
themselves report, named Rosie Crucians; a divine Fraternity
that inhabite the suburbs of Heaven, and these are the Officers of
the Generalissimo of the world, that are as the eyes and eares of
the great King, seeing and hearing all things ; they say these R.