V. That you shall not be willing to live longer than God

will have you.

At this last article we could not choose but laugh, and it
may well have been placed there for a conceit. Now, being
sworn them all by the. King's scepter, we were afterwards,
with the usual ceremonies, installed Knights, and, amongst
other privileges, set over ignorance, poverty, and sickness,

to handle them at our pleasure. This was afterwards ratified

•*• *

in a little chappel, whither we were conducted in proces-
sion, and thanks returned to God for it. There I also at
that time, to the honour of God, hung up my golden fleece

i94 HISTORY OF THE ROS1CRUCIANS.

and hat, and left them for an eternal memorial. And because
every one was to write his name there, I writ thus :—

Summa Scientia nihil Scire,
Fr. CHRISTIANUS ROSENCREUTZ.
Egues aurei Lapidis.
Anno. 1459.

Jam Others writ differently, each as seemed him good ; after

postulantur . . . , ,, , , .

depositiones which we were again brought into the hall, where, being

optionum. -11 •

sate down, we were admonished quickly to bethink our-
selves what every one would wish. The King and his
party retired into a little closet to give audience to our
wishes. Each man was called in severally, so that I can-
not speak of any man's proper wish ; but I thought
nothing could be more praiseworthy than, in honour of my
order, to demonstrate some laudable vertue, and found that
none at present could be more famous and cost me more
trouble than gratitude; wherefore, not regarding that I
Autor optat might well have wished somewhat more agreeable to my-

liberationem

portitoris Self I vanquished myself, and concluded, even with my

e gratitudme.

own peril, to free the porter, my benefactor. Being called
in, I was first demanded whether, having read the suppli-
cation, I had suspected nothing concerning the oifendor,
upon which I began undauntedly to relate how all the busi-
ness had passed, how, through ignorance, I fell into that
mistake, and so offered myself to undergo all that I had
Autor reus thereby demerited. The King and the rest of the Lords

confitefts. °

wondred mightily at so un-hoped for confession, and wished
me to step aside a little ; and as soon as I was called in
again> Atlas declared to me that, although it were grievous
to the King's Majesty that I, whom he loved above others,
was fallen into such a mischance, yet, because it was not

MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 195

possible for him to transgress his ancient usages, he knew
not how else to absolve me but that the other must be at
liberty and I placed in his stead ; yet he would hope that
some other would soon be apprehended, that so I might be
able to go home again. However, no release was to be
hoped for till the marriage feast of his future son. This Audit

sententiam.

sentence near cost me my life, and I first hated myself
and my twatling tongue in that I could not hold my
peace ; yet at last I took courage, and, because T con-
sidered there was no remedy, I related how this porter
had bestowed a token on me and commended me to the
other, by whose assistance I stood upon the scale, and so
was made partaker of all the honour and joy already re-
ceived. And therefore now it was equal that I should show Laus

benencn

myself grateful to my benefactor, and was willing gently poi>fcitOTis-
to sustain inconvenience for his sake, who had been helpful
to me in coming to so high place ; but if by my wish any-
thing might be effected, I wished myself at home again,
and that so he by me, as I by my wish, might be at liberty.
Answer was made me, that the wishing stretched not so far, Laudatur

' aRege

yet it was very pleasing to his Eoyal Majesty that I had
behaved myself so generously, but he was affraid I might
still be ignorant into what a miserable condition I had
plunged myself through this curiosity. Hereupon the
good man was pronounced free, and I, with a sad heart,
was fain to step aside. The rest were called for after me, Reiiqui

laeti evadunt

and came jocundly out again, which was still more to my
smart, for I imagined no other but that I must finish my
life under the gate. I had also many pensive thoughts
running in my head as to what I should yet undertake, and
wherewith to spend the time. At length I considered that Spes.

Metust

I was now old, and, according to the course of Nature, had

196 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUC1ANS.

few more years to live, that this anguish and melancholy
life would easily dispatch me, and then my doorkeeping
would be at an end, and that by a most happy sleep I

Solatium. might quickly bring myself into the grave. Sometimes it
vexed me that I had seen such gallant things, and must be
robbed of them ; sometimes it rejoyced me that before my
end I had been accepted to all joy, and should not be forced
so shamefully to depart. Thus this was the last and worst
shock that I sustained. During these my cogitations the
rest were ready, wherefore, after they had received a good
night from the King and Lords, each was conducted into
his lodging, but I, most wretched man, had nobody to show
me the way, and yet must suffer myself to be tormented.
That I might be certain of my future function, I was fain

Autor to Put on *^e Ring which the other had worn. Finally,

aSmm. tne King exhorted me that, since this was the last time I
was like to see him in this manner, I should behave myself
according to my place, and not against the Order, upon
which he took me in his arms and kissed me, all which I
understood as if in the morning I must sit at my gate.
After they had all spoken friendly to me, and at last pre-
sented their hands, committing me to the divine protection,
I was by both the old men — the Lord of the Tower and

Auteraormit Atlas — conducted into a glorious lodging, in which stood

cum atlante

& sene three beds, and each of us lay in one of them, where we yet

custode J J

Tunis. spent almost two, &c.

Here are wanting about two leaves in quarto, and he (the
author hereof), whereas he imagined he must in the morning
be door-keeper, returned home.