Mysteries of the Rosie Cross

Romance; or Ch

book though not given out to the world until the above year, is said to have existed in manuscript for some time previously, as far back in fact as 1601, thus making it the old

the translation made in 1690, by E. Foxcroft of King's College, Cambridg

Firs

ter an unusual manner) touched me on the back; whereupon I was so highly terrified, that I durst hardly look about me; yet I shewed myself as cheerful as (in the like occurrences) human frailty would permit. Now the same thing still twitching me several times by the coat, I looked back, and behold it was a fair and glorious lady whose garments were all skye colour, and curiously (like Heaven) bespangled with golden stars. In her right hand she bare a trumpet of beaten gold, whereon a name was engraven (which I could well read in) but am as yet forbidden to reveal it. In her left hand she had a great bundle of letters of all languages, which she (as I afterwards understood) was to carry into all c

g contrary to my eternal happiness to befall me; whereupon with fear and trembling I went to the letter which was now so heavy, as had it been mere gold, it could hard

Seal was little acceptable, and much less useful to the Devil. Whereupon I tenderly opened the

this day,

al wedd

ereto by bi

joy of Go

hou to the m

e stately Te

ee all from

atch a

lf re

diligence

can't thee h

e have that

re, too ligh

tood Sponsus

d a more vertuous disciple, to whom to intrust her precious, though temporary and changeable treasures. I found also that my bodily behaviour, and outward good conversation, and brotherly love towards my neighbour, was not duly purged and cleansed; moreover, the tickling of the flesh manifested itself, whose affection was bent only to pomp and bravery, and worldly pride, and not to the good of mankind; and I was always contriving how by this art I might in short time abundantly increase my profit and advantage, rear up stately palaces, make myself an everlasting name in the world, and other the like carnal designs. But the obscure words concerning the Three Temples did particularly afflict me, which I was not able to make out by any after speculation, and perhaps should not yet, had they not been wonderfully revealed to me. Thus sticking betwixt hope and fear, examining myself again and again, and finding my own frailty and impotency, not being in any wise able to succour myself, and exceedingly amazed at the fore-mentioned threatening; at length I betook myself to my usual and most secure course; after I had finished my earnest and most fervent pra

most, neither did I myself linger, but with my weighty fetters slipped up from under the rest, and then heaved myself upon a stone, which I laid hold of; howbeit, I was several times caught at by others, from whom yet as well as I might, with hands and feet, I still guarded myself. For we imagined no other but that we should all

mankind wo

es so to

n them much

eous mot

he same wil

n care and

l in Pri

y dear mo

ollies

t gifts per

in th' Li

y rarely i

y still keep

would pass

in honour

day so

Grace may

eed she'

ord shall b

'er can ha

eely be

perhaps, might have held fast enough; nay, many an one was forcibly pulled off by another who yet could not himself get at it; mutually envious were we even in this our great misery. But they of all others most moved my compassion whose weight was so heavy that they tore their very hands from their bodies, and yet could not get up. Thus it came to pass that at these five times, very few were drawn up. For as soon as the sign was given, the servants were so nimble at the draught, that the most part tumbled one upon another, and the cord, this time especially, was drawn up very empty. Whereupon the greatest part, and even I myself, despaired of Redemption, and called upon God that he would have pity on us, and (if possible) deliver us out of this obscurity, who also then heard some of us: for when the cord came down the sixth time, some of them hung themselves fa

ildre

resen

now comple

before re

y mother of

oth sides he

miscontent

time is d

one shall

thy, none

ceiveth gre

nough to fi

h much hath

f he may sa

our lamenta

waite for s

d that through her, He had graciously and fatherly vouchsafed to bring me out of such darkness into the light: after me the rest did likewise, to the satisfaction of the matron. Lastly, to every one was given a piece of gold for a remembrance, and to spend by the way; on the one side whereof was stamped the rising sun, on the other (as I remember) these three letters, D. L. S., and therewith everyone had license to depart, and was sent to his own business, with this annexed intimation, that we to the glory of God should benefit our neighbours, and reserve in silence what we had been intrusted with, which we also promised to do, and so departed one from another. But in regard of the wounds which the fetters had caused me, I could not well go forward, but halted on both feet, which the matron presently espying, laughing at it, and calling me again to her, said thus to me, My son, let not this defect afflict thee, but call to mind thy infirmities, and therewith thank God who hath permitted thee even in this world, and in the state of thy imperfection to come into so high a light, and keep these wounds for my sake. Whereupon the trumpets began again to sound, which so affrighted me that I awoke, and then first perceived that it was only a dream, which yet was so strongly impressed upon my imagination, that I was still perpetually troubled about it, and methough

econd

all to me was, that I had left my bag and bread at the tree, and could never retrieve them again. At length upon a high hill afar off I espied a stately portal, to which not regarding how far it was distant, I hasted, because the sun had already hid himself under the hills, and I could elsewhere espy no abiding place, and this verily I ascribe only to God, who might well have permitted me to go forward in this way, and with-held my eyes that so I might have gazed beside this gate, to which I now made mighty haste, and reached it by so much daylight, as to take a very competent view of it. Now it was an exceeding Royal beautiful portal. As soon as I was come under it there stepped forth one in a sky coloured habit, whom I in friendly manner saluted, which though he thankfully returned it, yet he instantly demanded of me my letter of invitation. O how glad was I that I had then brought it with me. I quickly presented it, wherewith he was not only satisfied, but showed me abundance of respect, saying, come in, my brother, an acceptable guest you are to me; and withall intreated me not to with-hold my name from him. Now having replied that I was a brother of the Red-Rosie Cross, he both wondered and seemed to rejoice at it, and then proceeded thus, My brother, have you nothing about you wherewith to purchase a token? I answered my ability was small, but if he saw anything about me he had a mind to, it was at his service. Now he having requested of me my bottle of water, and I granted it, he gives me a golden token, whereon stood no more but these two letters, S. C., intreating me that when it stood me in good stead, I would remember him. After which I asked him, how many were got in before me, which he also told me, and lastly out of mere friendship, gave me a sealed letter to the second porter. Now having lingered some time with him, the night grew on, whereupon a great beacon upon the gate was immediately fired, that so if any were still upon the way, he might make haste thither. At length after sufficient information, and an advantageous instruction, I friendly departed from the first porter. On the way, though, I would gladly have known what was written in my letter, yet since I had no reason to mistrust the porter, I forbare my purpose, and so went on the way, until I came likewise to the second gate which although it was very like the other, yet was it adorned with images and mystic significations. Under this gate lay a terrible grim lion, chain'd, who as soon as he espied me arose and made at me with great roaring: whereupon the second porter, who lay upon a stone of marble, awaked, and wished me not to be troubled or affrighted, and then drove back

began to vaunt and brag of their abilities. One would prove this, another that, and commonly the most sorry idiots made the loudest noise. Ah, when I call to mind what preternatural and impossible enterprises I then heard, I am still ready to vomit at it. In fine they never kept in their order, but whenever one rascal here, another there, could insinuate himself in between the nobles; then pretended they the finishing of such adventures as neither Sampson nor yet Hercules with all their strength could ever have achieved. This would discharge Atlas of his burden; the other would again draw forth the three-headed Cerberus out of Hell. In brief, every man had his own prate, and yet the great lords were so simple that they believed their pretences, and the rogues so audacious, that although one or other of them was here and there rapped over the fingers with a knife, yet they flinched not at it, but when any one perchance had filched a gold chain, then would all hazard for the like. I saw one who heard the rustling of the heavens. The second could see Plato's ideas. A third could number Democritus's atoms. There were also not a few pretenders to perpetual motion. Many an one (in my opinion) had good understanding, but assumed too much to himself, to his own destruction. Lastly, there was one also who would needs out of hand persuade us that he saw the servitors who attended, and would still have pursued his contention, had not one of those invisible waiters reached him so handsome a cuff upon his lying muzzle, that not only he, but many who were by him became as mute as mice. But it best of all pleased me, that all those, of whom I had any esteem were very quiet in their business, and made no loud cry of it, but acknowledged themselves to be misunderstanding men, to whom the mysteries of nature were too high, and they themselves much too small. In this tumult I had almost cursed the day wherein I came hither, for I could not but with anguish behold that those lewd vain people were above at the board, but I in so sorry a place could not, however, rest in peace, one of those rascals scornfully reproaching me for a motley fool. Now I thought not that there was yet one gate behind, through which we must pass, but imagined I was during the whole wedding, to continue in th

n of so doing, were bound in their chambers with cords, in such a way that they co

Thir

h red velvet, and seven weights placed thereon. First of all stood a pretty great one, next four little ones, lastly, two great ones severally; and these weights in proportion to their bulk were so heavy that no man can believe or comprehend it. The Virgin having sprung up into her high throne, one of the pages commanded each one to place himself according to his order, and one after the other, step into the scales. One of the emperors made no scruple of it, but first of all bowed himself a little towards the Virgin, and afterwards in all his stately attire went up, whereupon each captain laid in his weight, which (to the wonder of all) he stood out. But the last was too heavy for him, so that forth he must, and that with such anguish that the Virgin herself had pity on him, yet was the good emperor bound and delivered over to the sixth band. Next came forth another emperor, who stepped haughtily into the scale and having a great thick book under his gown, he imagined not to fail; but being scarce able to abide the third weight, and being unmercifully slung down, and his book in that affrightment slipping from him, all the soldiers began to laugh, and he was delivered up bound to the third band. Thus it went with some others of the emperors. After these came forth a little short

who held out bravely, whereupon all, but especially the captain, applauded him, and the Virgin shewed him the usual respect. I was the eighth. Now as soon as (with trembling) I stepped up, my companion who already sat by in his velvet, looked friendly upon me, and the Virgin herself smiled a little. But for as much as I outstayed all the weights, the Virgin commanded them to draw me up by force, wherefore three men moreover hung on the other side of the beam, and yet could nothing prevail.

hen discussed and arranged, after which another banquet took place, when these captives were required to make confession of being cheats and vagabonds, which

stood so immoveably upon the fountain, that I took him to be of stone or brass, who immediately took the naked sword, which he bare in his Paw and break it in the middle in two, the pieces whereof to my thinking sunk into the fountain, after w

d it will be impossible to lay them before our readers. The writer proceeds to describe his rambles about the castle, the wonders which

rth

er with peril of body and life-assured by Atlas of the King's welcome-promised by

th

us, "that beauty which hath undone many a great man both in fortune, honour,

th

Ropes and Wings-the mysterious

nth

happened to the rest, too, till at last we all met again in the neathermost vault, and habits entirely yellow were given us, together with our golden fleeces. At that time the Virgin declared to us that we were Knights of the Golden Stone

their wonderment, and carried ourselves as if it seemed strange to us too. After Atlas's oration, out steps our old man making somewhat a larger reply, wherein he wished the King and Queen all happiness and increase, after which he delivered up a curious small casket, but what was in it I know not; only it was committed to Cupid, who hovered between them both, to keep. After the oration was finished, they again let off a joyful volley of shot, and so we sailed on a good time together, till at length we arrived at another shore. This was near the first gate at which I first entered. At this place again there attended a great multitude of the King's family together with some hundreds of horses. Our old lord and I most unworthy were to ride even with the King, each of us bearing a snow white ensign, with a red cross. I had fastened my tokens round my hat of which the young King soon took notice, and demanded if I were he, who could at the gate redeem those tokens? I answered in the most humble manner, Yes. But he laughed on me, saying, there henceforth needed no ceremony; I was his father. Then he asked wherewith I had redeemed them. I replied, with water and salt, whereupon he wondered who had made me so wise, upon which I grew somewhat more confident, and recounted unto him, how it had happened to

t no time ascribe your order either unto any devil, or spi

om, incontinency and uncleanness, and

will be ready to assist all that

mploy this honour to worldl

e willing to live longe

ngst other privileges set our ignorance, poverty and sickness; to handle them at our pleasure. And this was afterwards rati

entia nih

tianus Ro

aurei

o 1