Chapter VI

OTHER PEIVY SEALS
In Letters from the Dead to the Dead (London: B. Quaritch), the writer who prints under the pen-name " Oliver Lector," very appropriately termed Francis Bacon a " Master Mystic."
His love of mystery and secrecy may have been due to a wish to prepare for the full revelation of his claims to Fame, at a time long subsequent to his death.
His openly expressed view of Fame was that which should come to a man after death rather than accompany him in life.
He had the boldness to bequeath his " Name and Memory to foreign nations and the next ages." Another account has, " To mine own country- men after some time be passed over." He repeatedly hinted at there being something to be found out. How, otherwise, are to be understood his reiterated references to a saying of King Solomon :
" Whereas of the sciences which regard nature, the Holy Philosopher declares that, ' It is the Glory of God to conceal a thing, but it is the glory of the King to find it out.' " — Novum Organum, 1620.
" The glory of God is to conceal a thing, but the glory of the King is to find it out; as if the Divine Nature, according to the innocent and sweet play of children, which hide themselves to the end they may be found, took delight to hide his works to the end they might be found out." — Advancement of Learning, 1640.
" For so he (King Solomon) saith expressly : ' The Glory of God is to conceale a thing, but the glory of the King is to find it out.' "— Idem, page 45.
It is unnecessary to refer to all the other places where Solomon's pro- nouncement here quoted is referred to by Francis Bacon, but we may
34 SECRET SHAKESPEAREAN SEALS
assume that it profoundly justified his own plans of concealment and schemes for the means whereby what he had concealed might afterwards be brought to light. We add quotations from Bacon's Works printed later than 1640:
" Nay, the same Solomon the King afltirmeth directly that the glory of God is to conceal a thing, but the glory of the King is to find it out; for in naming the King he meaneth man."- — Valerius Terminus.
"For concerning all other knowledge the Scripture pronounceth: ' That it is the glory of God to conceal, but it is the glory of man (or of the King, for the King is but the excellency of man) to invent ' ; and again : ' The spirit of man is as the lamp of God, wherewith he searcheth every secret.' " — Filum Labyrinthi.
This last passage has the character of an explanation Ad Filios, of the ethic of the practice of concealment.
The Manes Verulamiani is a collection of thirty-three Latin dirges by various literary men, in lament at the death of the Great Verulam, Francis Bacon. They were collected and published by W. Rawley in 1626. One of these writers, in reference to Bacon's writings, used the expression —
" Pars sepulta Jacet,"
which has been taken to mean that some of Bacon's writings had been deliberately hidden.
One may assume that they were intended to be eventually identified and proved as his work. Then only could his efforts for the benefit of the English race and language be reviewed as a whole, and in the calm of many years after his death. Those whom he seems to have banded together to carry on his beneficent work in secrecy were doubtless subjected to the pledge of the Rosy Cross rule of silence for a hundred years.
He may even have directed that his secrets should even then only be allowed to come to light by the usual processes of the mind of man — first, Doubt; second, Enquiry; third. Discovery — in short, by inductive methods of reasoning.
Discovery does not seem to have occurred in the order planned. Interior secrets seem to have been reached first. Yet the Seals were probably expected to be the premier discovery.
EEVELATIONS OF ROSICRUCIAN ARCANA 35
It would appear that the first glory of man was expected to be the finding of the 287 Impresa, " That Banner with the strange Device," so prominently and persistently offered to the earnest worker upon the problem.
" Numbers " are mentioned in important places in the Folio.
To the Great Variety of Readers :
" There ye are numbered Absolute in their numbers."
Love's Labour Lost.
Below the long word on page 136, Pedagogue implores : " What is the figure ? What is the figure ?"
Armado's letter, on page 124, counts 287.
Braggart (on next page at the top) : "A most fine Figure."
Boy: " To prove you a cipher."
Ben Jonson, in Discoveries, refers to Bacon as " he who hath filled up all numbers." He may have had a double meaning.
Scorn is poured on mere word-hunting :
Love's Labour Lost (Page 136).
Pedagogue: " I abhor . . ., such rack6rs of ortagriphie." Boy: " They have liv'd long on the almes-basket of words."
Hamlet (Page 261).
Polonius: " What do you read, my Lord ?" Hamlet: " Words, words, words."
But the editors went on discussing " words," and were unprepared for '■ numbers." Believing the Folio text to be most carelessly inaccurate, they concentrated upon putting it straight. Modern Shakespeare editions are thus of no value to those of the great variety of Readers, who otherwise might have applied some talent to the elucidation of the reasons for the seem- ing flaws in a book of evidently so much value and import. Had they sought the help of mathematicians, progress would have been faster.
Examination of the Folio and other books of the Elizabethan and seventeenth-century periods, from a mathematical point of view, may be- expected to unravel many matters of historical value.
The further Seals we have noticed are probably only on the threshold of inquiry.
31 SECEET SHAKESPEAREAN SEALS
These Seals are numerical references to " Bacon "—namely, the numbers 33, 66, 100, and 111. This is probably by no means an exhaustive list.
Number 33 is the total j&gure value of the name Bacon in letters of the alphabet of that day, A being represented by the figure 1, B by the figure 2, and so on-B, 2; A, 1; C, 3; 0, 14; N, 13. Total 33.
Number 66 is the same simple total of the figures representing the letters in the Latin signature " Era. Baconi."
Number 100 is the simple count of the letters in " Francis Bacon " viz., Francis 67, Bacon 33.
Number 111, which also frequently appears, is the Kaye cipher count of the name " Bacon"— viz., B, 28; A, 27; C, 29; 0, 14, and N, 13. Total 111.
Number 287, as already mentioned, is the Kaye count of the letters in " Fra. Rosicrosse."
Even as late as the fifth edition (1707) of Bishop Wilkins' Mathematical Magick, page 136 is so arranged that, after 150 roman words, the word " Francis," in " Francis Rosicrosse," is the 151st. Total 287.
A possible corroboration of the interpretation of Number 66 is that the last word of the Manes pages. Advancement of Learning, 1640, is " Baconi," and the first three letters overleaf " Fra." Of course, until some direction be found for connecting the word with the letters overleaf the conjunction is not evidence, more particularly as another print of the Advancement of Learning spells the word " Baconis."
" Francisci Baconi " is, however, printed on the title-page of De Sapienta Veterum, 1609, the first work of Bacon published in Latin.
" B. Fra." is the signature on some letters to Burleigh in 1580.
The name " Francisci Baconi " is also on Bacon's Latin Opera, published by Rawley in 1638, and on the Ofuscula Varia Posthuma, 1658.
As to the illustrations below, we have looked mostly at the openings and endings of the books for the particular Seal Numbers 33 and 66. Numbers 100 and 111 may also have been frequently given together with other numerical Seals we have not had time to trouble with. Experience satisfies us that these particular numerical Seals are in most of the books exa,mined, though we cannot confidently affirm that we have always hit upon the correct group of words and letters placed for discovery.
Nevertheless, the results obtained and here set out are offered as cumulative circumstantial evidence of the intentional insertion of the numerical signatures or privy Seals in question.
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I I I I I I I I I
PLATE XXXIV.
REFERENCE PLATE,
OLLOWS P. 36
REVELATIONS OF ROSICRUCIAN ARCANA
37
Illustrations A Choice of Emblems, 1586
Epistle Dedicatorie (last paragraph) : Italic words
Last line but one. Italic letters Last line. Italic letters Add figures in the date 1585 . .
To the Reader :
Words in last line Add all the figures . . Geffrey Whitney
.
. 66
.
. 33
14
1 Q
ly
33
. 7
,
. 24
.
. 2
38
King John, 1591 Printer's name has 33 letters.
Ditto (Part 2)
Printer's name has 33 letters. Words in last four lines, 33 letters.
Venus and Adonis, 1593 The two Latin lines have 66 letters.
Lucrece, 1594
-Second page. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines together, 66 letters.
First four lines of poem and two lines of heading contain 33 words.
Contention, 1594 (Part 1) Fourth line on title-page, 33 letters. Last Scene, 33 lines. Last line, 33 letter.-.
Taming of a Shrew, 1594
Title-page. Words . . Figures in date 1594 total
Last page, 33 italic letters.
47 19
66
38 SECRET SHAKESPEAREAN SEALS
True Tragedie, 1595 Title-page, 33 words.
(Millington being part roman and part italic, not counted.)
Last five lines, 33 words.
Last line, 33 letters.
Romeo and Juliet, 1597
Title-page, 33 words (counting L).
Prologue, 66 italic words (omitting those in brackets and counting " starre-crost " as two).
Page 11 . Portion on this page of letter contains 33 italic words. Attention drawn by word " Countie."
Last five lines, 33 roman words.
Richard II., 1597 Title-page. First four lines, 33 letters. First page. First four lines, 66 letters. All the headings, each 33 letters.
Richard III., 1597 Title-page, 66 words, omitting two lines of capital letter size type. Last four lines :
Roman words . . . . . . . . . , 34
Less italic word . . . . . . . . . . 1
33
Love's Labour Lost, 1598 Title-page. 6th line, 33 letters.
Herhry IV., 1598 (Part 1) Title-page. 4th and 5th fines contain 33 letters. Seventh and 8th lines contain 33 letters. Last eight lines, words in roman, 66. Last four, words in roman, 33.
Famous Victories, 1598 Title-page. First four fines, 33 letters. Top line of last page, 33 letters. Last eight fines of play, 33 words.
KEVELATIONS OF ROSICEUCIAN AECANA 39
Romeo and Juliet (No date)
Title-page. First line in italics, 33 letters.
Page 13. The Nurse's long speech has 287 italic words. The next line 33 roman letters.
Page 86. First four lines of Friar's speech, 33 words, the 5th of 33 letters.
Last four lines of play :
Words 32
Add "Finis" .. .. .. .. ..1
33
Passionate Pilgrime, 1599 No sigil found.
Much Ado About Nothing, 1600
Title-page. 1st line of itahcs, 33 letters.
"London" and "Printed by, etc.," together, 33 letters.
Last two Hnes of play :
Roman letters . . . . . . . . . . 75
Less italic letters . . . . . . . . . . 9
66
Merchant of Venice, 1600
Title-page. 9th and 10th lines, 33 letters. " Printed by J. Roberts," 17 letters. Date 1600 = 16 = 33. First line of play (omitting large ornamental A), 33 letters. Last two hnes of play, 66 roman letters.
Last Hne . . . . . . . . . . 32 letters
Add letters in " Exeunt " . . . . . . 6
38 Deduct " Finis " .. .. .. ..5
33
Merchant of Venice (Second Edition)
Title page. 4th hne, 33 roman letters. 6th hne, 33 roman and itahc letters. 11th hne, 33 roman and itahc letters.
First page of play. Actors' names line and first hne have 33 roman letters.
Last two lines of play, 66 roman and italic letters.
Last line (same as previous edition).
40 SECRET SHAKESPEAREAN SEALS
Titus and Andronicus, 1600
Title-page. First two lines of printer's footnote have 33 letters. Last page. Last line 33 letters.
Henry IV., 1600 (Part 2)
Title-page. 5tli and 6th lines, 33 roman letters.
Third, italic line, 33 letters.
First two lines of printer's footnote, 33 letters.
Page 83 (which gives the 287 sigil), has on its first three lines:
Roman letters . . . . . . . . . . 71
Deduct itahc letters . . . . . . . . 5
66
Shakespeare's Sonnets, 1609
Second page. After " By our ever-hving Poet," the 8th, 9th, and 10th lines contain 33 letters. Last pages of Sonnets :
All words in Sonnet 153 . . . . . , . . Ill
All words on last page of Sonnets .. , . . . Ill
A Lover's Corn-plaint (Bound up with the Sonnets). Last page but one. Bottom Ime, 33 letters. Last page :
Verses 45 and 46 . . . . . . . . . . 91
Add letters in The Lovers . . . . . . . . 9
100 Last verse number . . . . . , . . 47
Words in last verse . . . . . . . . 53
100
Henry V., 1600 Title-page. 4th hne contains 33 letters. 5th and 6th Unes contam 33 letters. Last two lines of play each has 33 letters.
REVELATIONS OF ROSICRUCIAN ARCANA 41
Richard III., 1602 Title-page. Last line but one, 33 letters.
Omitting tlie first two lines in very large type, there remain 48 roman words. Add the figures in the date — as 16 and 2:
Total .. .. ..18
48
66 Last page. Bottom line, 33 letters.
Last four lines of play :
Roman words . . . . . . . . . . 34
Deduct italic word . . . . . . . . . . 1
33 Merry Wives of Windsor, 1602
Title-page. Roman and italic letters, 66. The fijst five lines of the play have 66 roman and italic words. Last page. Last eight lines, 66 roman and italic words. Omit the symbol but include " Exit Omnes."
Hamlet, 1603 Title-page :
Roman words . . . . . . . . . . 47
Figures in date, added as 16 + 3 = . . . . . . 19
66 Last line. 38 roman, less 5 itahc, in " Finis " = 33.
Hamlet, 1604 Title-page :
Printer's footnote. Roman letters . . . . . . 86
Deduct the date 16 + 4 as . . . . . . . . 20
66 Last nine hues and " Finis," comprise roman and itahc words, 66.
King Lear, 1608 *
Title-page. 3rd and 7th lines, 33 letters each.
Last two hnes of play :
Roman letters . . • • ■ • • • . . 67
Deduct for " Finis " . . . . • • • • • • I
66
42 SECRET SHAKESPEAREAN SEALS
Same (Second Edition) Title-page. 6th and Tth lines, 66 letters.
Last seven lines :
Words .. .. •• •• •■ ..65 Add "Finis" 1
66
Henry V., 1608
Title-page. First four lines have 66 letters. Last four lines of play, 33 words.
Richard II., 1608
Title-page. First three lines, 33 letters. Last line but two, 33 letters. First page of play. First four lines, 66 letters. Last page, 66 italic letters.
Pericles, 1609 Nothing found (but see Appendix).
Troylus and Cressida, 1609
There are two title-pages. The real reason for the second title-page is probably that young Watley, the printer, had not followed his instructions.
The j&rst title-page gives no sigil which could be relied upon.
Second title-page (" The Famous"), has 33 itahc letters in the 4th line, and 66 roman words in all.
Last line :
Roman letters . . . . . . . . . . 71
Deduct letters in " Finis " . . . . . . . . 5
66
The Whole Contention (Part 1 ; no Date)
Title-page. First Hne of italics, 33 letters. Last line of play, 33 letters.
REVELATIONS OP ROSICRUCIAN ARCANA 43
The Whole Contention (Part 2)
Last four lines of the play :
Words .. .. .. .. .. ..31
Add " Exeunt Omnes " . . . . . . . . 2
33
Richurd III., 1622 Title-page. 7th line :
Italic letters . . . . . . . . . . 41
Less roman . . . . . . . . . . 8
Second line of printer's footnote. Roman letters, 33. Last line of play, 33 letters.
33
Othello, 1622 Title-page. 2nd and 3rd lines, 33 letters.
Roman and italic words . . . . . . . . 55
Add figures in date . . . . . . . . 11
66 First line of play, 33 letters (omitting the large ornamental letter which never seems to be counted).
The last line sigil is very doubtful, so is not recorded here.
Richard II., 1634 This edition does not appear to be sealed.