part I was not much troubled with sleep, and walking out

into the garden, at length came as far as the wall, where,
the heaven being very clear, I could well give away the
time in contemplating the stars. By chance I came to a
great pair of stone stairs leading to the top of the wall, and
because the moon shone very bright, I was so much the
more confident, and, going up, looked too a little upon the
sea, which was exceeding calm. Thus having good oppor-
tunity to consider better of astronomy, I found that this
night there would happen such a conjunction of the
planets, the like to which was not otherwise suddenly to be
observed. Having looked a good while into the sea, and
it being just about midnight, I beheld from far the seven
Flames passing over sea hitherward, and betakeing them-
selves to the top of the spire of the tower. This made me
somewhat affraid ; for as soon as the Flames had settled
themselves, the winds rose, and made the sea very tempes-
tuous. The moon also was covered with clouds, and my
joy ended with such fear that I had scarce time enough to
hit upon the stairs again, and betake myself to the Tower,
where I laid me down upon my mattress, and there being
in the laboratory a pleasant and gently purling fountain, I
fell asleep so much the sooner. And thus this fifth day
too was concluded with wonders.

MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 171

The Sixth Day.
Xext morning, after we had awaked another, we sate Define

, PI-

together to discourse what might be the wont or things,
Some were of opinion that the corps should all be in-
livened again together. Others contradicted this, because
the decease of the ancients was not only to restore life but
increase too to the young ones. Some imagined that they
were not put to death, but that others were beheaded in
their stead. Having talked a pretty while, in comes the Custos.
old man, and first saluting us, looks about to see if all
things were ready. We had herein so behaved ourselves pyrotecimia
that he had no fault to find with our diligence, whereupon laudatur.
he placed all the glasses together, and put them into a
case. Presently come certain youths, bringing ladders, Puen
roapes, and large wings, which they laid before us and
departed. Then the old man began thus : — " My dear
Sons, one of these three things must each of you this day
constantly bear about with him. It is free for you to
make choice of one of them, or to cast lots." We replied
that we would choose. " Nay," said he, " let it rather go
by lot. Hereupon he made three little schedules, writing Sors.
on one Ladder, on the second Rope, on the third Wings.
These he laid in an hat ; each man must draw, and what-
ever he happened on was to be his. Those who got ropes
imagined themselves in the best case ; but I chanced on a
ladder, which hugely afflicted me, for it was twelve-foot
long, pretty weighty, and I must be forced to carry it,
whereas the others could handsomely coyle their ropes
about them, and as for the wings, the old man joyned
them so neatly on to the third sort as if they had grown
upon them. Hereupon he turned the cock, and the

172

HISTORY OF THE ROS1CRUCIAAS.

Restis
dififtcultas.

fountain ran no longer, and we were fain to remove it out
of the way. After all things were carried off, he, taking
with him the casket and glasses, took leave, and locked
the door after him, so we imagined that we had been
Ascensusin imprisoned in this Tower: but it was hardly a quarter of

2 conclave.

an hour before a round hole above was uncovered, where
we saw our Virgin, who bad us good morrow, desiring us
to come up. They with the wings were instantly through
the hole ; only they with the ropes were in an evil plight,
for as soon as ever one of us was up, he was commanded to
draw up the ladder to him. At last each man's rope was
hanged on an iron hook, and he climbed up as well as he
could, which indeed was not compassed without blisters.
When we were all well up, the hole was again covered, and
we were friendly received by the Virgin. This room was
the whole breadth of the Tower itself, having six very
stately vestries a little raised and reached by three steps.
In these we were distributed to pray for the life of the
King and Queen. Meanwhile the Virgin went in and out
at the little door a till we had done. As soon as our
process was absolved, there was brought in through the
little door by twelve persons, which were formerly our
musitians, a wonderful thing of longish shape, which my
companions took to be a fountain, and which was placed in
the middle. I well observed that the corps lay in it, for
the inner chest was of an oval figure, so large that six
persons might well lie therein one by another. After this
they again went forth, fetched their instruments, and con-
ducted in our Virgin, with her she-attendants, to a most
delicate voice of musick. The Virgin carried a little
casket, the rest only branches, and small lamps or lighted

Descriptio
2 conclav

The little

casket.

MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 173

torches, which last were immediately given into our hands,
and we stood about the fountain in this order.

oooo oooo

o

o

o o

OOOO

°ooooooo

First stood the Virgin A, with her attendants in a ring Ordo chori
round about, with the lamps and branches c. Next stood
we with our torches b, then the musitians in a long rank ;
last of all, the rest of the Virgins d, in another long rank.
Whence the Virgins came, whether they dwelt in the ^d?nes
Castle, or were brought in by night, I know not, for their
faces were covered with delicate white linnen. The Quid in

arcula.

Virgin opened the casket, in which was a round thing
wrapped in a piece of green double taffata. This she laid
in the uppermost kettle, and covered it with the lid, which
was full of holes, and had besides a rim, on which she
poured in some of the water which we had the day before
prepared ; the fountain began immediately began to run,
and through four small pipes to drive into the little
kettle. Beneath the undermost kettle were many sharp

174 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

points, on which the Virgins stuck their lamps, that the
heat might come to the kettle and make the water seeth,
which, when it began to simper, by many little holes at a,
fell in upon the bodies, and was so hot that it dissolved
them all, and turned them into liquor. What the above-
said round wrapt-up thing was, my companions knew not,
but I understood that it was the Moor's head, from which
the water conceived so great heat. At b, round about the
Kami great kettle, there were again many holes, in which they

Isurcs.

stuck their branches, but whether this was done of neces-
sity or for ceremony I know not. However, these branches
were continually sprinkled by the fountain, whence it
afterwards dropt somewhat of a deeper yellow into the
kettle. This lasted for near two hours, the fountain still
running, but more faintly. Meantime the musitians went
their way, and we walked up and down in the room, which
Delict in truly was so made that we had opportunity enough to pass

conclavi. .

away our time. There were images, paintings, clock-works,
organs, springing fountains, and the like. When it was
near the time that the fountain ceased, the Virgin com-
manded a golden globe to be brought. At the bottom of
the fountain was a tap, by which she let out all the matter
dissolved by those hot drops (whereof certain quarts were
then very red) into the globe. The rest of the water above
in the kettle was poured out, and so this fountain was
again carried forth. Whether it was opened abroad, or
whether anything of the bodies that was useful yet re-
mained, I dare not certainly say, but the water emptied
Gravitas into the globe was much heavier than six or more of us
were able to bear, albeit for its bulk it should have seemed
not too heavy for one man. This globe being with much
ado gotten out of doors, we again sate alone, but I, per-

MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 175

ceiving a trampling over head, had an eye to my ladder.
After one quarter of an hour, the cover above was lifted, and
we commanded to come up, which we did as before, with
wines, ladders, and ropes, and it did not a little vex me that Ascensus in

3 conclave.

whereas the Virgins could go up another way, we were fain
to take so much toil ; yet I could judge there must be some
special reason for it, and we must leave somewhat for the old
man to do too. The hole being again shut fast, I saw the
globe hanging by a strong chain in the middle of the room, in
which there was nothing but windows, with a door between Descriptio

conclavis.

every two, which was covered with a great polished looking-
glass. These windows and looking-glasses were so optically
opposed that although the sun, which now shined exceeding
bright, beat only upon one door, yet (after the windows Artif- °Ptica-
towards the sun were opened, and the doors before the
looking-glasses drawn aside) in all quarters of the room
there was nothing but suns, which by artificial refractions
beat upon the whole golden globe hanging in the midst,
which, being polished, gave such a lustre that none of us
could open our eyes, but were forced to look out at
windows till the globe was well heated, and brought to the Mirac- sPec-
desired effect. In these mirrors I saw the most wonderful
spectacles that ever nature brought to light, for there were
suns in all places, and the globe in the middle shined
brighter yet. At length the virgin commanded to shut up
the looking-glasses and make fast the windows to let the
globe cool a little, wherefore we thought good, since we
might now have leisure, to refresh ourselves with a break-
fast. This treatment was again right philosophical, and

philosoph.

we had no need to be afraid of intemperance, though we
had no want, while the hope of the future joy, with which
the virgin continually comforted us, made us so jocond that

1 76 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

we regarded not any pains or inconvenience. I can truly
say concerning my Companions of high quality that their
minds never ran after their kitchen or table, but their
pleasure ^was only to attend on this adventurous physic, and
hence to contemplate the Creator's wisdom and omni-
potency. After our refection we settled ourselves to work,
for the globe was sufficiently cooled, which with toil and
labour we were to lift off the chain and set upon the floor.
The dispute then was how we were to get the globe in
sunder, for we were commanded to divide it in .the midst.
The conclusion was that a sharp-pointed diamond would be
best to do it, and when we had thus opened the globe,
there was no redness to be seen, but a lovely great snow-
white egg, and it mightily rejoyced us that this was so well
brought to pass, for the virgin was in perpetual care least
the shell might still be too tender. We stood around about
this egg as jocond as if we ourselves had laid it, but the
Virgin made it presently be carried forth, and departed
herself, locking the door behind her. What she did
abroad with the egg, or whether it were privately handled,
I know not, neither do I believe it. We were again to
pause for one quarter of an hour, till the third hole opened,
and we, by means of our instruments, came upon the fourth
stone or floor. In this room we found a great copper
kettle filled with silver sand, which was warmed with a
gentle fire, and afterwards the egg was raked up in it, that
it might therein come to perfect maturity. This kettle was
exactly square. Upon one side stood these two verses writ
in great letters—

O. BLI. TO. BIT. ML LI.

KANT. I.i VOLT. BIT. TO. GOLT.

1 This letter is omitted in one of the German editions.

MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 177

On the second side were these three words —

SANITAS. Nix. HASTA.
The third had but this one word —

F.I.A.T.

But on the hindmost part stood an entire inscription,
running thus —

QUOD

Tgnis : Aer : Aqua : Terra :

SANCTIS EEGUM BT KEGI-

NARUM NOSTR :

Cineribus

Eripere non potuerunt.

Fidelis Chymicorum Turba

IN HANC URNAM

Contulit.

Ao

Now, whether the sand or egg were hereby meant I leave
the learned to dispute. Our egg, being ready, was taken
out, but it needed no cracking, for the Bird soon freed him-
self, looking very jocond, though bloody and unshapen.
We first set him on the warm sand, the Virgin commanding Puiius

implumis.

that before we gave him anything to eat we should be sure
to make him fast, otherwise he would give us all work
enough. This being done, food was brought him, which vindtur.
surely was nothing but the blood of the beheaded deluted Pascitur

sanguine

with prepared water, by which the Bird grew so fast under decaiiatomm
our eye that we well saw why the Virgin gave such
warning of him. He bit and scratched so devilishly that,
could he have had his will upon any of us, he would soon

M

Sanguine
alias Regis
pascitur.

Iridescit.

Liberatur
vkiculis.

178 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

have dispatched him. Now he was wholly black and wild,
wherefore other meat was brought him, perhaps the blood
of another of the Eoyal Persons, whereupon all his black
feathers moulted and were replaced by snow-white ones.
He was somewhat tamer too, and more tractable, though
we did not yet trust him. At the third feeding his feathers
began to be so curiously coloured that I never saw the like
for beauty. He was also exceedingly tame, and behaved
himself so friendly with us that, the Virgin consenting, we
released him from captivity. " 'Tis now reason," she began,
" since by your diligence, and our old man's consent, the
Bird has attained with his life and the highest perfection,
that he be also joyfully consecrated by us." Herewith she
commanded to bring in dinner, since the most troublesome
part of our work was now over, and it was fit we should
begin to enjoy our passed labours. We began to make
merry together. Howbeit, we had still our mourning
cloaths on, which seemed somewhat reproachful to our
mirth. The Virgin was perpetually inquisitive, perhaps to
find to which of us her future purpose might prove service-
able, but her discourse was, for the most part, about
Melting, and it pleased her well when any one seemed
expert in such compendious manuals as do peculiarly
commend an artist. This dinner lasted not above three-
quarters of an hour, which we yet, for the most part, spent
with our Bird, whom we were fain constantly to feed with
his meat, though he continued much at the same growth.
After Dinner we were not long suffered to digest our food,
for the Virgin, together with the Bird, departed from us,
6. conclave* and the fifth room was opened, which we reached after
the former manner, and tendred our service. In this
Avis room a bath was prepared for our Bird, which was so

balneum.

Primus
usus ejus

Me0o5i'o.

MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 179

coloured with a fine white powder that it had the appear-
ance of milk. It was cool when the Bird was set into
it, and he was mighty well pleased with it, drinking of
it, and pleasantly sporting in it. But after it began to heat,
by reason of the lamps placed under it, we had enough to
do to keep him in the bath. We, therefore, clapt a
cover on the kettle, and suffered him to thrust out
his head through a hole, till he had lost all his feathers
in this bath, and was as smooth as a new-born babe,
yet the heat did him no further harm. In this bath the
feathers were quite consumed, and the bath was thereby
turned into blew. At length we gave the Bird air, who of
himself sprung out of the kettle, and was so glitteringly
smooth that it was a pleasure to behold him. But because
he was still somewhat wild, we were fain to put a collar,
with a chain, about his neck, and so led him up and down vincitur.
the room. Meantime a strong fire was made under the
kettle, and the bath sodden away till it all came to a blew
stone, which we took out, and, having pounded it, we Balneum

• m coquiturin

ground it on a stone, and finally with this colour painted

the Bird's whole skin over, who then looked much more
strangely, for he was all blew except the head, which
remained white. Herewith our work in this story was
performed, and we, after the Virgin with her blew Bird
was departed from us, were called up a hole to the sixth 6- Conclave.
story, where we were mightily troubled, for in the midst a
little altar, every way like that in the King's hall, was
placed. Upon it stood the six forementioned particulars,
and he himself (the Bird) made the seventh. First of all
the little fountain was set before him, out of which he
drunk a good draught j afterwards he pecked upon the
white serpent till she bled mightily. This blood we re-

i8o HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

ceived in a golden cup, and poured down the Bird's throat,
who was mighty averse from it ; then we dipt the serpent's
head in the fountain, upon which she again revived, and
crept into her death's head, so that I saw her no more for
a long time. Meanwhile the sphere turned constantly on
until it made the desired conjunction. Immediately the
watch struck one, upon which there was going another
conjunction. Then the watch struck two. Finally, whilst
we were observing the third conjunction, and the same
was indicated by the watch, the poor Bird of himself sub-
missively laid down his neck upon the book, and willingly
Avis suffered his head to be smitten off by one of us, thereto

decollatur.

chosen by lot. Howbeit he yielded not one drop of blood
till he was opened on the breast, and then the blood spun
out so fresh and clear as if it had been a fountain of rubies.
His death went to the heart of us, yet we might well judge
Avis that a naked bird would stand us in little stead. We

combursitur.

removed the little altar, and assisted the Virgin to burn
the body, together with the little tablet hanging by, to
ashes, with fire kindled at the little taper, afterwards to
cleanse the same several times, and to lay them in a box of
cypress wood. Here I cannot conceal what a trick I, with
three more, was served. After we had diligently taken up
the ashes, the Virgin began to speak thus : — " My Lords,
we are here in the sixth room, and have only one more
before us, in which our trouble will be at an end, and we
shall return home to our castle to awaken our most gratious
Lords and Ladies. Now albeit I could heartily wish that
all of you had behaved yourselves in such sort that I might
have given your commendations to our most renowned King
and Queen, and you have obtained a suitable reward, yet
because, contrary to my desire, I have found amongst you

MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 181

these four "• —pointing at me and three others— "lazy and
sluggish labourators, and yet according to my good-will to
all, I am not willing to deliver them to condign punish-
ment. However, that such negligence may not remain
wholly unpunished, I purpose that they shall be excluded
from the future seventh and most glorious action of all the
rest, and so they shall incur no further blame from their
Eoyal Majesties."

In what a case we now were I leave others to consider,
for the Virgin so well knew how to keep her countenance
that the water soon ran over our baskets, and we esteemed
ourselves the most unhappy of all men. The Virgin by one
of her maids, whereof there were many always at hand,
caused the musitians to be fetcht, who were with cornets to
blow us out of doors with such scorn and derision that they
themselves could hardly sound for laughing. But it did
particularly afflict us that the Virgin vehemently laughed
at our weeping, and that there might be some amongst our
companions who were glad of our misfortune. But it
proved otherwise, for as soon as we were come out at the co

ejoco.

door the .musitians bid us be of good cheere, and follow
them up the winding staires to the eighth floor under the 8- Conclave,
roof, where we found the old man standing upon a little
round furnace. He received us friendly, and heartily con-
gratulated us that we were hereto chosen by the Virgin ;
but after he had understood the fright we had conceived,
his belly was ready to burst with laughing that we had
taken such good fortune so hainously. " Hence," said he,
" my dear sons, learn that man never knoweth how well
God intendeth him." The Virgin also came running in,
who, after she had sufficiently laughed at us, emptied her
ashes into another vessel, filling hers again with other

182

HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

Virgo, lucif.

ludit

coeteros.

7. Conclave.

Verus labor
sub tecto.

Labor
spurius in
7 conclavi.

Homunculi
duo.

Pascuntur

sanguine

avis.

matter, saying, she must now cast a mist before the other
artist's eyes, that we in the mean time should obey the old
lord, and not remit our former diligence. Herewith she
departed from us into the seventh room, whither she called
our companions. What she first did with them I cannot
tell, for they were not only most earnestly forbidden to
speak of it, but we, by reason of our business, durst not
peep on them through the cieling. Our work was to
moisten the ashes with our fore-prepared water till they
became like a very thin dough, after which we set the
matter over the fire till it was well heated ; then we cast it
into two little forms or moulds, and [so let it cool a little,
when we had leisure to look on our companions through
certain crevises in the floor. They were busie at a furnace,
and each was himself fain to blow up the fire with a pipe,
till he was ready to lose his breath. They imagined they
were herein wonderfully preferred before us. This blowing
lasted till our old man rouzed us to work again. We
opened our little forms, and there appeared two bright and
almost transparent little images, a male and a female, the
like to which man's eye never saw, each being but four
inches long, and that which most mightily surprised me
was that they were not hard, but limber and fleshy as other
human bodies ; yet had they no life, so that I assuredly
believe that Lady Venus' image was made after some such
way. These angelically fair babes we laid upon two little
sattin cushonets, and beheld them till we were ^almost
besotted upon so exquisite an object. The old lord warned
us to forbear, and continually to instil the blood of the
bird, which had been received in a little golden cup, drop
after drop into the mouths of the little images, from whence
they apparently encreased, becoming according to propor-

MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 183

tion much more beautiful. They grew so big that we

lifted them from the little cushonets, and were fain to

lay them upon a long table covered with white velvet.

The old man commanded us to cover them up to the breast

with a piece of fine white double taffata, which, because of

their unspeakable beauty, almost went against us. Before

we had in this manner quite spent the blood, they were in

their perfect full growth, having gold-yellow ourled hair,

and the figure of Venus was nothing to them. But there

was not yet any natural warmth or sensibility in them ;

they were dead figures, yet of a lively and natural colour ;

and since care was to be taken that they grew not too

great, the old man would not permit anything more to be

given them, but covered their faces too with the silk, and

caused the table to be stuck round about with torches.

Let the reader imagine not these lights to have been of

necessity, for the old man's intent was that we should not

observe when the Soul entred into them, as indeed we

should not have taken notice of it, in case I had not twice

before seen the flames. However, I permitted the other

three to remain in their belief, neither did the old

man know that I had seen anything more. Here-

upon he bid us sit down on a bench over against

the table. The Virgin came in with the musick and all

furniture, and carried two curious white garments, the like

to which I had never seen in the Castle. I thought no vestiuntur.

other but that they were meer christal, but they were

gentle and not transparent. These she laid upon a table,

and after she had disposed her Virgins upon a bench round

about, she and the old man began many leger-de-main tricks

about the table, which were done only to blind. All this spectators

luduntur.

was managed under the roof, which was wonderfully

1 84 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

formed, for on the inside it was arched into seven hemi-
spheres, of which the middlemost was somewhat the highest,
and had at top a little round hole, which was shut and was
observed by none but myself. After many ceremonies
stept in six Virgins, each of which bare a large trumpet,
rouled about with a green, glittering, and burning material
like a wreath, one of which the old man took, and after he
had removed some of the lights at top, and uncovered their
faces, he placed one of the trumpets upon the mouth of one
of the bodies in such manner that the upper and wider part
Usus of it was directed towards the fore-mentioned hole. Here

tubarum.

my companions always looked upon the images, but as soon

as the foliage or wreath about the shank of the trumpet

Forti ex was kindled, I saw the hole at top open and a bright stream

ccelo °

veniens. of fire shoot down the tube and pass into the body, where-
upon the hole was again covered, and the trumpet removed.
With this device my companions were deluded into imagin-
ing that life came to the image by the fire of the foliage,
for as soon as he received his Soul he twinckled his eyes

Homuncuii though scarcely stirring. The second time he placed

transfer- ' ' another tube upon its mouth, kindled it again, and the
Soul was let down through the tube. This was repeated
upon each of them three times, after which all the lights
were extinguished and carried away. The velvet carpets
of the table were cast together over them, and immediately
a travelling bed was unlocked and made ready, into which,
thus wrapped up, they were born, and, after the carpets
were taken off them, neatly laid by each other, where, with
the curtains drawn before them, they slept a good while.