IX. Patientia, nat. 1632, 25 Octob. ; obiit 1632; 6

Decemb.

NUMBER VI. (p. 388).

In the first volume of his "Philosophical Dictionary"
Voltaire, however, recounts what he considered to be the
best exploit ever performed in alchemy, and which was
that of a Rosicrucian, who, as early as the year 1620, paid
a visit to Henri I., due de Bouillon, of the house of Turenne,
and the sovereign prince of Sedan, with the object of in-
forming him that his power and dominion were in no way
proportioned to his valour, and that he, the stranger in
question, was fired with the disinterested design of making
him as wealthy as an Emperor. " I can remain no longer

ADDITIONAL NOTES. 439

than two days on your estate," said the impostor ; " I must
then proceed to Venice and be present at the grand assembly
of my brethren. In the first place, you must keep my
secret inviolable ; in the second, send to the first apothe-
cary in the town and purchase a quantity of litharge ; cast
but one grain of this red powder therein, and in less than
a quarter of an hour it will be transformed into gold."

The prince performed the operation, and repeated it
three times in the presence of the virtuoso. This personage
had previously purchased all the litharge which was to be
found at the apothecaries in Sedan, and had resold it to
them, tinctured with several ounces of gold. The adept on
departing presented all his powder of projection to the due
de Bouillon, who did not doubt for a moment that, having
manufactured three ounces of gold with three grains, he
would make one hundred thousand ounces with a propor-
tionate quantity of this priceless and mysterious powder.
The philosopher was in haste to quit the town ; he declared
that he had given all his powder to the prince, and that he
needed some coin of the realm to repair to Venice for the
inauguration of the assembly of Hermetics. A man of mode-
rate tastes, he asked simply for twenty thousand crowns,
but was forced by his princely disciple to accept twice that
sum ; but when the unfortunate duke had exhausted all the
litharge in Sedan he could no longer manufacture gold, nor
could he anywhere discover his philosopher.

APPENDIX OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS.

By an error of transcription the preface to the " Fama
Fraternitatis " was omitted from the text of the present
revised version. It is addressed to " the wise and under-
standing reader."

Wisdome (sayeth Solomon) is a treasure unto men that
never faileth, for she is the breth of the power of God and
an inherence flowing from the glory of the Almighty ; she
is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted
mirror of the power of God, and the image of His goodness.
She teacheth civility with righteousness and strength, she
knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to
come ; she knoweth the subtleties of speaches and can
expound darke sentences ; she foreseeth signes and wonders,
with the advent of seasons and times. With this treasure
was our first father Adam before his fall fully indued ; hence
it doth appear that after God had brought before him all
the creatures of the field and the fowls under the heavens,
he gave to everyone of them theyr proper name, accordinge
to their Nature.

Although now, through the sorrowfull fall into sinn, this
excellent Jewell wisdome hath bene lost, and mere darkness
and ignorance is come into the world, yet, notwithstanding,
the Lord God hath sometimes hetherto bestowed and
made manifest the same to some of his friends ; the wise
Kinge Solomon doth testifie of himself that he upon his

APPENDIX OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. 441

earnest prayer and desire obtained such wisdome of God
that thereby he knew how the world was made, understood
the operation of the elements, the beginninge, endinge, and
middest of the times,- the alterations, the dayes of the turn-
ing of the sunne, the change of seasons, the circuits of yeres
and the positions of stars, the natures of livinge creatures and
the furies of wild beasts, the violence of winds, the reason-
ings of men, the diversities of plants, the vertues of roots,
and all such things as are either secret or manifest, them he
knewe.

Now, I doe not think that there can be found anyone
whoe would not wish and desire with all his heart to be
partaker of this noble treasure, but seinge the same felicity
canne happen to none except God Himself give wisdome
and send His Holy Spirit from above, we have sett forth in
print this little treaty, to wit, the Famam and Confessionem
of the Laudable Fraternity of the Rosy Cross, to be read
by every one, because in them is clearly shewn and dis-
covered what concerning it the world hath hereafter to
expect. Although now these things may seem somewhat
strange, and many might esteme it to be a philosophical
showe and no true historic which is published and spoken
of the Fraternity of the Rosy Cross, it shall therefore
sufficiently appear by our Confession that there is more in
recessu then may be imagined, and it shall also be easily
understood and observed by everyone, (yf he be not
altogether void of understandinge) what now adayes is
meant thereby.

Those who are true disciples of wisdome and true followers
of the spirituall arte will consider better of these things,
and have them in greater estimation, as also judge farr
otherwise of them, as hath been done of some principall

442 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

persons but espetially of Adam Haselmeyer, Notarius Publicus
to the Archduke Maximilian, whoe likewise hath made an
extract ex scriptis Theologids Theophrasti, and written a
treatise under the title Jesuits, wherein he willeth that
every Christian should be a true Jesuite, that is, should
walke, live, and be in Jesus. He was but ill rewarded of
the Jesuites, because in his answer written upon the Famam
he did name those of the Fraternity of the Eosy Cross,
" the highly illuminated men and undeceiving Jesuites,"
for they, not able to brook this, layde hands on him and
put him into the gallies, for which they likewise are to
expect theyr reward.

Blessed Aurora will now begin to appeare, whoe (after
the passing away of the darke night of Saturne) with her
brightness altogether extinguished the shinninge of the
moon, or the small sparkles of the heavenly wisdome which
yet remaines with men, and is a fore runner of pleasant
Phoebus, whoe, with her cleare and fiery glisteninge beam.es,
brings forth that blessed day, long wished for of many true-
hearted, by which daylight then shall truely be knowne and
scene, all heavenly treasures of godly wisdome, as also the
secrets of all hidden and invisible things in the world,
according to the doctrine of our forefathers and auncient
wise men.

This will be the right Kingly Rubie, most excellent
shining Carbuncle, of the which it is sayd that he doth shine
and give light in darkenes, and is a perfect medecine of all
imperfect metaline bodyes, to change them into the best
gould and to cure all diseases of men, easing them of theyr
paynes and miseries.

Be therefore gentle reader admonished, that with me you
doe earnestly pray to God, that it may please Him to open

APPENDIX OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. 443

the harts and eares of all ill-hearing people, and to grant
unto them His blessing, that they may be able to know
Him in His omnipotency, with admiring contemplation of
Nature, to His honor and praise, and to the love, helpe,
comfort, and strengthening of our neighbours, and to the
restoring of health of all the diseased. Amen.

A EOSICRUCIAN ALLEGORY.1

There is a mountain situated in the midst of the earth or
centre of the world, which is both small and great. It is soft
also above measure, hard and strong. It is far off and near
at hand ; but, by the Providence of God, it is invisible.
In it are hidden most ample treasures, which the world is
not able to value. This mountain, by the envy of the
devil, is compassed about with very cruel beasts and raven-
ous birds, which make the way thither both difficult and
dangerous ; and, therefore, hitherto, because the time is
not yet come, the way thither could not be sought after by
all, but only by the worthy man's self-labour and investiga-
tion.

To this mountain you shall go in a certain night, when it
comes most long and dark, and see that you. prepare yourself
by prayer. Insist upon the way that leads to the mountain,
but ask not of any man where it lies ; only follow your
guide, who will offer himself to you, and will meet you in
the way.

This guide will bring you to the mountain at midnight,
when all things are silent and dark. It is necessary that
you arm yourself with a resolute, heroic courage, lest you

1 See the preface to Heydon's " Holy Guide " ; also " A Suggestive
Inquiry concerning the Rosicrucian Mystery."

444 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

fear those things that will happen, and fall back. You need
no sword or other bodily weapon, only call upon your God,
sincerely and heartily seeking Him.

When you have discovered the mountain, the first
miracle that will appear is this — a most vehement and very
great wind will shake the whole mountain and shatter
the rocks to pieces. You will be encountered by lions,
dragons, and other terrible wild beasts ; but fear not
any of these things. Be resolute and take heed that you
return not, for your guide who brought you thither will
not suffer any evil to befall you. As for the treasure, it is
not yet discovered, but it is very near. After this wind
will come an earthquake, which will overthrow those things
which the wind had left. Be sure you fall not off. The
earthquake being passed, there shall follow a fire that will
consume the earthly rubbish and discover the treasure, but
as yet you cannot see it. After all these things, and near
daybreak, there shall be a great calm, and you shall see the
day-star arise, and the darkness will disappear. You will
conceive a great treasure ; the chiefest thing and the most
perfect is a certain exalted tincture, with which the world,
if it served God and were worthy of such gifts, might be
tinged and turned into most pure gold.

THE ROSIE CRUCIAN PRAYER TO GOD.

Jesus Mihi Omnia.

Oh Thou everywhere and good of all, whatsoever I do
remember, I beseech Thee, that I am but dust, but as a
vapour sprung from earth, which even Thy smallest breath
can scatter. Thou hast given me a soul and laws to govern
it ; let that fraternal rule which Thou didst first appoint

APPENDIX OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. 445

to sway man order me ; make me careful to point at Thy
glory in all my wayes, and where I cannot rightly know
Thee, that not only my understanding but my ignorance
may honour Thee. Thou art all that can be perfect ; Thy
revelation hath made me happy. Be not angry, 0 Divine
One, O God the most high Creator ! If it please Thee,
suffer these revealed secrets, Thy gifts alone, not for my
praise but to Thy glory, to manifest themselves. I beseech
Thee, most gracious God, they may not fall into the hands
of ignorant envious persons that cloud these truths to Thy
disgrace, saying they are not lawful to be published because
what God reveals is to be kept secret. But Eosie Crucian
philosophers lay up this secret into the bosome of God
which I have presumed to manifest clearly and plainly. I
beseech the Trinity it may be printed as I have written it
that the truth may no more be darkened with ambiguous
language.1 Good God, besides Thee nothing is ! 0 stream
Thyself into my soul, and flow it with Thy grace, illumina-
tion and revelation ! Make me to depend on Thee. Thou
delightest that man should account Thee as his King, and
not hide what honey of knowledge he hath revealed. I
cast myself as an honourer of Thee at Thy feet, and because
I cannot be defended by Thee unless I believe after Thy
laws, keep me, 0 my. soul's Soveraign, in the obedience of
Thy will, and that I wound not my conscience with vice
and hiding Thy gifts and graces bestowed upon me, for
this, I know, will destroy me within, and make Thy illum-
inating Spirit leave me. I am afraid I have already
infinitely swerved from the revelations of that Divine
Guide which Thou hast commanded to direct me to the
truth, and for this I am a sad prostrate and penitent at the
1 The speaker is John Hey don, in " The Holy Guide."

446 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

foot of Thy throne. I appeal only to the abundance of
Thy remissions, 0 God, my God. I know it is a mysterie
beyond the vast soul's apprehension, and therefore deep
enough for man to rest in safety in ! 0 Thou Being of all
beings, cause me to work myself to Thee, and into the
receiving arms of Thy paternal mercies throw myself. For
outward things I thank Thee, and such as I have I give
unto others, in the name of the Trinity, freely and faith-
fully, without hiding anything of what was revealed to
me and experienced to be no diabolical delusion or dream,
but the Adjectamenta of Thy richer graces — the mines and
deprivation are both in Thy hands. In what Thou hast
given me I am content. Good God, ray Thyself into my
soul ! Give me but a heart to please Thee, I beg no more-
then Thou hast given, and that to continue me uncon-
temnedly and unpittiedly honest. Save me from the devil,
lusts, and men, and from those fond dotages of mortality
which would weigh down my soul to lowness and debauch -
ment. Let it be my glory (planting myself in a noble
height above them) to contemn them. Take me from
myself and fill me but with Thee. Sum up Thy blessings
in these two, that I may be rightly good and wise, and
these, for Thy eternal truth's sake, grant and make grateful.

THE END.

TURNBUI.L ASP SPEAKS, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH,