The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz

r^L^^^ We Indeed, though Separated, flood on the right Hand of the Kings^ but the Virgins on the left, except thofc, to whoip the Royal Enfignes were committed. To them was allotted a peculiar iftandtng at top of ,^11., But the rcH of the attendants were fain to fland below between the columns^ and therewith to be content. Now becaufe there are many remarkable PafTages in this Comedy, ^^J^^''^ I will not omit in brief to run it oy^r. ageb^ntur^' luMFirftofall came forth a very afjcjexzt ^^""'''.t' ^ng^ with fbme Servants ^ before ' whofcr/?rowe was brought a little chsft-y with lyiention. that iF was found upon ^^ die. Water, Now it being opcned,there appeared in it a lovely Bahs^ together ^Ath certain Jewel?, and a fmall Letter af .farchmcnt fealcd, and ftipcrfcribed to tjhc;King. Which the King therefore prefently opensdy^and having r^aid

it, iFTC^t'^ and then declared to his Sa^T vants how injurionfly the Kingof thi 9f^tMitt^ had deprived his Aunt of her Country, and had cxftinguiflied all the Royil Seed even to this lnf?nt,with the Daughter of wliich Country he fead now purpofed to have matched his Son Hereupon he Swore to maintain pcrpe tual enmity with the Mosrcy and his Ailies,and to revenge this upon him ; and therewith commanded that theChil! ftould be tenderly nurfed, and to mak: preparation againft the Mo9re. Nowth ; proviiion and thedifciplirie of the young Lady (who after the was a little growi up was committed to ail ancient Tutoi ) continued all the firll JUr, with mar very fine and laudable fports bcfidcs. Wiindi- , In the interlude a Lyo;? and Griffoaj ^ were fet at one another, to fight, anr^j the Lyon^ot the vidtory ; which wis aLc a prtt4:y fight. Aav$2. In the fecond yf^, tht Moere^ a vci^ black treacherous Fellow, carte for^i alio ; who having with vexation un derflood that his Murder was difo vcred, and that too a little Ladyw? craftily Hollen froqi him ; began theit Xipot to confulthowby ftratagem ■ inight be able to encounter fb )30werfut ah adverfary, whereof he was at length, advifed by certain f;/^/>/i/ej who by ccafon of Famine fled to him : S6 th^ young Lady contrary to all mens ex-, pedtation, fell again into his Hands : Whom, had he not been wondcrfuilydeceived by his own Servants, he had like to have caufed to be flain. Thus this j4Si too was concluded with a mcrt vcldus triumph of the Meore. ? r

In the third J^ a gredt jimy on the ^^^^* 3^ King^s^zrVf was raifed againfl: t\\zMo(yn\ and put under the condud of an anti> cnt valiant Knight, who fell into rhc A^QQres Country, till at length \\^ force* s^bly refcued the young Lfuly out of the Tower, and Ap^rrellcd her a nt w. After this in z trice they erected a glorious Scaffold, arid placed their young Lady upon it: p^efently came 'tv^^he Eoyal EmbafladoTS, amongft whom the fore-mentioned Knight made a Speech^ alledging that theKing his moil gracious Lord had not only heretofore delivered her from death, and even hitherto cau^ fed her to be royally brought vipf though fhe had not behaved her felf altogether as "became her^ But moreover Ms Rpyai Majefly bad, before others, cleftcd her, to be a Spoufe for the young Lord bis Son; and moll gratiouily defired that the faid efpoufals might be really executed in cafe they would be fwrorn. to his Majelly upon the following Articles. Hereupon cot of aPatcnt he caufed certain glorious conditions to be read, which if it were not too long, were well worthy to be here recounted. In brief, the ydnng Lady toqk an Oath inviolably to obferve the famf ; returning thanks withal in moK fcemly fort , for this fo high a Grac^. Whereupon they began to fing to the Praife of God, of the King, and the young Lady *, and ^ , ., fo for this time departed. • yj-.r^,

four Beads of SDatliet, as he faw thcq in the Vifion, and hath at large dcRribed them, w^re brought; in, all whidi had its certain fgmficmon. ,,i^ ^^^ *' in the fourth /^c? the young Lady was again re(lorcdtohtvlQiit Kingdom, and Crowned^ and for a fpace, in this arrays condudled about the place with extraordinary joy.- after this many 5c variolas Embalfadors prcfentcd themfelves, hq^ oiiiy towilh ter profperity, but aifo ^' •■ to to beliold Jier Glor5r. Yet it was not jongtliat fhe prefcrved her Integrity ^ put foon.began again to looj^ wantoni/ about her, and to'^wink at the EmbafTadors and Lords; wherein Jfhe^^trnly '^cd her part to the Life. ' .. ': - , ^ «-. ."Thefe her manners were foonlinowii *t6 the' Afoarc, who would by no means ^iicgl€(ft fuch an Q.pportunicy,a^id bccaufc her Steward hacTnot fajicient regard to her, ftie was eadly blinded with great promifes, fo that fhe had no good confidence in her King, but privily fubrnitted her felf to the intire difpofal of the Moore, Hereupon the Moore made jiaftc, and having (by her confeat)' gotten her into his Hands, he ga^vc; her . good words fo long till all her KingdQcn had' fubjcifted it felf tp him : After \vhith.lh the third Sc^ne of this ^f?, he caufcd her to he Ted forth, and fir It to be feiptftaik naked, and then upon a fcurvy wooden Scaffold to be bound to a Poft, and well fcourged, andatUlt fentehccd to Death. This was fo wcfiil ^^Jipeftaclc, that it made the Eyes of niiny. to run over. Hereupon thus na- ^e4|s''ibewas, (he was cafl into Pri Ton, ti^arctae^cpq&.her Death, w^icjjwas

tb fee procured by T^yfo^, which ^et kijled her not, but made her Lcprodk all 6Ver ; Thils this»-/0^ w^is for ^thc itttcriudium. i^o^ P^rt lamentable, '.'j '*^", / 'i.^.-r ^ Between, thsy brotighi forth 'j|j2efitt-. C|)atitie33ar'SIniage,which wasadbrn'd With ail manocirof Arms, oh.thc tfcad,' :^rcaft, Belly, Legs arid Feet,, ; and tit ilkfe ) of which top more fliall be fbbkcb iri the future.cxpticitibh. ;: '' t"r^ ' " A^. 5. ■ in the fifth J4i^ ^ihe^Ouiig'kirig iSvas "^cqu^iritcd with all that had pafTcd between the Meorc and his future Spoiire, who fifft interceeded with hia Fattier for bar, intrcatlng thatflie might nbt be left in that condition; Which his father having agreed to, EmbafTiciors' Were dirpatched to comfort her in her Sicknefs and Captivity, but ^^t withal to give her notice of her incicin'ifideratednefs. But 'flie would not yet receivfe ihciiiy but coilfented to be the Mdotc^s (^cncnh'we^ which was alfo done, and the young King v/as acquainted with it. ; . . .. After this comes a band of Fools, each 4CX.UU.UU). ^^ vyhich brought with him a Cudgel,' where with in a trice they made a great . Globaof the World, and as fobn undidl \ At again .Itwasa Sne.fpdttiV'cPhintfic.' ■ '

. Inthe (ixth >athe young King re- ^^'•*' folved to bid battle to the Moore^ which alfo was done. And albeit th^ Moore was difGomfitted^yet all held the young King too for dead. At length he came to himfelfagajn^ releafedhis Spoufe, and committed her to his Steward andChaplain* The firfl: whereof tormented her imightily, at lift the leaf turned oycri, and thePrieft was fainfolently;wicke^, that he woulfi aeeds be abpvcall, Until the fame was reported to the young king, who haftily difpatched one vyho broke the Neck of the Prieft's inightinefs, and adorned the Brides in fomc meafurc for the Nuptials. , /, , After the j4^ a vaft artificial Elepham mteriudiui^^ was brought forth. He carried a great Tower with Mufitians : which was alfo iven-l;)learingtoall. In thchft ^t"? the Bride- groom appeared in fuch pomp as is riot well to be believed, and I was amazed how it Aft. 7^ was brought to pais: The Bride n^et him in the like Solemnity. Whereupon all the People cried out /^//'^T^comatom SPdNSVS,nrJT SPONSji. SothateKcgem by this Comedy they did with all con- ^ ^^s^" gratulatc our King and Que^ m the H i moft rnofl: fldtely manner .; Which (aslwel

obferved) pkafed them mofl: extraordJ nary well. ' '^"''\.. ' ' ^ 'At length they Wadc fortie pard about the flagc in fach ProccITion, till; laft' they altogether began thus ' CantHicna. cT^fjli jfrtse firll of tcve ■ Dm mr :joy much improve BfC'twfi' of the King's NnftUliy ' "^Jj^nd. t^kyefore let^s Sif7g ' Th\itfrcm all parts V may rwg^ ^'BtcJ} he he that granted lis all. The BrUe mo ft- e^c'qHiftely faire : ^•^'/ ::'•:! ^''If^hQmvie attended with long care To him in troth'^s now flighted : ^ We fully haiie at length obtained ^ The fame for which we did contend : -^ITt'^hapfy^ that's foye^fghtcd oj[:v,: •• .. . .Ill - \ • :" ^ N6wthe -Tarents Kind and good By inifeaties are fubdu'd : Ler/g endMgh in hold w^ fjc meixPd \ In henoiir increafe^ Till -arijDUfi^n&g arifeAnd [pi in^from your own proper Blood. Epiiogus. -After this thanks^ were returned, and Llie Comedy was finilhed with joy, and l:he particular good liking of theRoylal Pcrfons wherefore (the Evening alfo 'being already hard by) they departed [together in their fore-mentioned order: Hofpitcsin^ Jut we were to attend the Royal Per- vitantur ad lions up the winding Stairs into the gisctue*. forcmentioned Hall, where the Tabled «"^^- were already ricbly furnidied, and this was the firft time that we were invited' to the Kings table. The little Altar was placed in the midfl of the Hall, and the fix fore-named Royal Enfignes were .laid on it.

At this time the young King j^^^* ^*^* behaved hirafclf very gratioufly towards us, but yet he could not be .heartily Merry •, But howbeit he now and the& difcoarfcd a little with us, yet he ofteii figbed, at which the little Cupid only mocked, and playd his waggifh tricks. The old King and Queen were very fe- ., Tious, only the Wife of one of the an- ^^^ dent Kings was gay enough, the caufe whereof I yet underftood not. During this,the Royal Perfons took tip the ordodiv firlt Table, at the fecond we only Sate. ^^'^""^ At the third, fdmc of the principal yirgins placed thcmfelves : The reft of the Virginj, and Men, were aU fain to H 4 wait

wait. This was performed with fu Hate and folemn flilnefs, tfeatlamafi; ^ fraid to make many words of it. Here vcft?u*i^ I cannot leave untouched how that ^S .r* the Royal Perfons, before Meat, ntu\ red themfelves in Smw-v/hitt glitter* ing Garments^ and To fate down to Table. 'O^rcr the Table hong the fore- <^^roai fncatione(i great Golden Crown, the s^iii^r ' ^retious Stones whereof, without any ^'"^'"'- other Light, would have fufficientiy Jlluminatcd the Hall. However all the Ligfets were kindled at thtfm^l Taper *^ ' ^Upoa the Altar ; what the reafon was I . didi ' not certainly know. But this f took very good notice of, that the youngr King frequently fent Meat to the white Serf em upon the little Altar, which, caufed me to mufe. Almoft all the cupJdo was Pi'attle at this Banquet was made by little Mcrricft tic Cupid, who could not leave us (and me indeed efpccially) untormentcd. He was perpetually producing fomc Strange matter. However, there was no confiderqble Mirth, all went fiiently onj from whence I, bymyfelf, could imagin fomc great imminent Peril*. For there was noMufickat all heard ;.^ but if we were demanded any thing, 7e were fain to give (hort round an- sermodw wers; and fo let it reft. In Ihort, all i?ings had fo llrangc a face, that the 'miiatkegdn to trickle down all over my kxiy V •'^fl<i I am apt to believe that the fcout-heartedft Man alive would then V€ loft his courage.

Supper being w almoft ended, the young King ommanded the Book to be reached him &-om the little Altan This he opened, q^^^j^ ^^^ fad can fed it once again by an old Man gis Adoief- :o be propounded to us, whether wc*^^"* *eroIved to abide with him in Fr§ffmty ind Adrcrfity ; which we having with irembiing confented to, he further afed us fadly to be demanded, whcerwe would give him our Hands oa it^ which, when we could find no cvafion, was fain fo to be- Hereupon one nicer another arofe, and with his own Hand writ hirafelf down in this Book^ When this alfo was performed, the tie Chriflal FoHntam^ together with a ry fmall Chriftal Glafs was brought a Health, ;-ar,out of which all the Royal Perf^s "One after another Dr/tnk^ afterwards it ♦yas reached to us too, and fo forward '•> all Perfons, and this was called, the Jranght of Silence: Hereupon all the J^"^;"

( 125 ) Royal Pcrfons prefented us .their Hands,dcclaring that in cafe We did not now (tick to them, wc fhotild now and fc-j • t *. ftf'ver more liereafter fee them ; which virg.Lucif- vcrily made oiir Eycs ruo over. But our prefidcnt engaged her felf and pro.w mifed very largely oi) our behalfywhieh guvc them Sati-sfadion. Mean timca Jittle Eell was tolled, at which all the Royal Pcrfons waxed fo mighty bleak,^ that we were ready latterly to dcfpaip; They quickly put off their white Q?i^ ments again, and pnt on intirely hlaoh ones ^ The whole Hall; like wife was Mors Re- \[x\v\g about w ith' black Yeivct, the Floor gu orum. ^^^ covered with black, Velvet, withj which alfo the Cieling above (all thia being before Prepared) was overJ fpread. After that the Tables wj alfa removed away, and all had feat4^ themfelves round about upon th« Form^ and wc alfo hnfl put on hU^ habits ; in comes cur Prefident agaifl who was before gone out, and brougji with her fix black Talfata Scarffs, wiij which (he bound the /.v Koyd Perfoij Eyes. Now when they could no longf fee, there were immediately brought by the Servants fix covered Coffins^ an<i

et doirn in the Hall, alfo a low black jeat placed in the midft. Finally,therc l:cpt In a very vole-hUck tall Man, who Dare in his hand a Iharp Ax. Now af- ^^ donatio ccr that the old King had been firft ^'^"'• brought to the Seat, his fJead was inlftantlywhiptofF,and wrapped uj)in a black Cloth, but the jB/oo<^ was received into a great ^o/^«6'ol?/cr, and placed ilfvith him in the Coffin that ft ood by^ ^hich being covered, was fet afide. Thus it went with the reft alfo, fo that I thought it would at length have rome to roe too, but it did not ^ For as loon 8s the fix Boyal Pcrfons were Beheaded, the black Man went out again ; after whom another followed, who Beheaded himtoo juft before the Door, and brought back his Head together with the Ax, which were laid in a ^^"^ ^'*' little Chcft. This indeed to me feemed a bloody Wedding , but becalife I could not tell what vvould yet be the event, I was fain for that time to captivate my underftanding until I were further refolved. For the Virgin too, ^^f^^^ feeingthat fome of us YYcrciamt-^hcarud and wept, bid us be content. For, faid Ihe to us, Th^ Life ofthefe fifindeth solatium

mw in your h^nds^and in foftyoufollm mel this Death P^all make mmy sUvt, Hcre;with ftic intimated wc ihbuld go llccp,& troii'^ blc our fcl vcsno fur thereon our part,foif they fliould befurc tdhavc their due right ; And fo fke bad us all good night^ cnra No- fay ing, Thatjhc mnfi voanh the dead Corps aurni mor- ^^-^ ^-^^ . y^^ ^jj^ ^ ^^ werccach tuorum. . <;> 1 rv i 1 V* of US conducted by our P^ges into our Hofpitw lodgings. My Page talked with me oif jantcubi- fundry and Yarious matters (which t ftill yery wcfll reracmbcr) and gave nit caufe enough to admire at his underftanding : But his intention was t© lullme aflecp, which at laft I well ob- ;fervcd, whereupon 1 made as though 1 was fall: afleep, but noflcep came into ray Eyes, and I could not put the Beheaded out of my mind. Now my Lodging was dire<ftly over againfc cubicuium the great Ldke, fo thiic I could w?ll look upon it, the Windows being nigh the Bed. About midnight, asfoonas it liad ftruck .twelve, on a fudden I vifionoaur-efpiedon the Lake a, grt'^t Fire ^ where- ^\ fore out of fear I quickly opened the

Window to fee what would become of it J Then from far I iaw fcvcn Ships making forward, which .were all ftiick full of Lights, >b6Vc 6h the ta]*) of each of them hpf fcrcd a F/^^e, that pafJcdto and ftd. ^nd tometimcs defcendfcd quite dbW^fl.'io that I could lightl/ ludge that it muft tieeds be the Spirit^ of ^he Beheaded^ JNiOW thefe Ships gentiy approached t:6 La'nd,aiid each of theiti . tad ho mbre^th^brie MiViner. As foon as they were no W gotten to Shore, I prefently efpied our Virgin with a Terch going tp wards tha Ships, after whom the fix covered Cofferis, together with the little Cheft, were carried ; and each of tlie^a ' privily laidm a Ship. Wherefore I awaked my Page too, who ^acfaver^^ hugely thank(?d me,for having run much tr^u<^ lipand.dowhifl the day, he might quite pave over.flept-this, tho' he well knew It. Now as foon as the CoiRns were laid in the Sh^s, all the Lights v^ere exftihguiihed, and ^ the fix Flames pafTed back together over the Lfike, . ib that there was ho more but one Light in each Ship for a Watch. There were alfo fome hundreds of Watch-men who had encamped thcri\felyes on the Shore, and fent the Virgin back again into the Ca- ^kj who cAicfully bolted all up again ^

( la^ ) ,i fbthat Icottld well judge that tl^r^ j was nothing more to be done this night, . but that we mull cxpcft the day ; fp t we-again betook our felvcs to reft. And 1 onlv of all my Company had a Chamber towards the Lake, and faw this, fp that now I was alfo cxtrcara weary^ani fo fellaflcepia my manifpld Specula^ THe tiiight wa^ ovcr,'^ and the deat wiihed for day broken, wli^^i haltily Igotmcout of ;fic TBcd; more defirdiis** to learn what might yet infill, than i^hat i hadfufHcicntlyflept; Navy after tl^fc Fhad put on nry Cloaths; and | according' to TTiy cullom was gone dp^n the Stairs, ic wasltill t6o tarly, and.I found no body elfe in the Hall, wherefore I intreated 'my Page to lead mc.a little abfe^ut in the Caftlc,- ahd ftiev\r iVie •fomewhat that was rare, who was now (as always) willing, and prcfently lead m« down certain fteps tinder gr6uitd,tOL a great Iron Door, on which the following Wprds in great Copper Letters, Vkiere fixed. This This I thus copied, and fet dbwn in ^^Qe^Heroy Table-Book. Now after this Door puk*. ■ vyasqpened, the Page ledjiic by tht hand throiagli.a very d^rk Paflage, tifl we came again to. a very^ little 0001"^ ^hatwas now only put too. For fas* the page informed me) it ' vfUi firft opened but ycfterday when the Coffins were taken out;, and had not beei,i fince ft'Jt.' Now as foon as we flapped in, I ^fpied the ihoft prctious thing that Nature ever created : ' For tliis Vault Had ho other light but from certain' " huge ^vtatCarhumlej ^ And this fas I Was in-? '''\ formed) w^s f he Ki"^''^,TyeafHryJ Bilt the moft glorious ^nd principal thing, that X here faw, vyas a SepUkhcrX}^'^Ach l,^,"^' flood in the midile) fo rich thatl wondred it was no better guarded ; where-

Hnto the Pageanfwered me, That I hd^ good reafott to ie thankful to tny TUnet^ ijjf whofe ipflnence it was^ that I h<td nov:> feen iertain peas which no humAUi Eye elfe (^ateept tbs K'w£s Family) had ever had 4 view of. This Scpulcher was triangHlar, and had in the middle of it ^ Rcttlc of polifhcd Copper, the rcll was of pure Gold and pretious Stones 5 In the Kettle ftood an Angel, who held in his Arms an unknown Tree, from which it continually dropped into the Kettle ? and as oft as the Fruit fell into the Kettle, it turned into ff^/cr too, and ran out from thence into three fmall Golden Kettles ftariding by. ' This little Altar was fupportcd by thefe three Ani^ mals, an £x^/e, an Oat and a Lyon,whicK flood on an Exceeding coflly Bafe. 'f asked my Page what this might figniSe; i^ere^ faid he, lies Buried Lady V^nus, that Beauty which hath nntione many agreift Many both, in FonrtHne^ HprnHYy Bitting and Profferity. Aftet which he fhe wed niea Copper Door on the Patrem^nt.^ Here (laid he J if yotf fkafe^ we fn ay go further down'yl ftill follow you( reply cd 1) fo I went down ihe flcps, where it was exceeding dark, but; the Page immedi«. / ' aiely '

diatelf opened a little Chcft, whereia ftood a fraali evcr-lfurniNg Tafgr^ at which he kindled one of the many Torches which lay by. I was mightily terrified, and ferioufly asked how he durft do this ? He gare me for anfwcr, As long as the Royal Ptrfons arc ftill/itrefiy J have nothing to fear. Herewith I efpied a rich Bed ready made, hung about with curious Curtains, one of which he drew, where I faw the Lady Ftmts fiark^nAhd(Jov he heaved up the Coverlets tooj lying there in fuch Dcfcnpn* Beauty, and a fafhion fo furprizing, that '^ofp^^* I was almoft befidcs my felf, neither ^S^' do I yet know whether it was a piece thus Carved , or an humane Corps that lay dead there \ For The was altogether immoveable, and yet I durft not touch her. So file was again covered, and the Curtain drawn before her, yecfhewas ftiH (asitwere)in my Eye. But I foon efpycd behind the Bed a Tab-, let, on which it was thus written* . xvjivoomjyo v'6 i^p »\ o •rt^h;' ^ ' l asM my Page , concerning this ««V' • :Wr.i:ing, .but he laughed, with pro- ^'^*:.' niife that I (houkl know it too. So he putting out the Torch:, we again afcend- . ,ed :_ Then I better viewed all the little Doors, and firft found, that on cyery corner there burned a fmall Taper of Tyrites^ oi which i had before taken no notice ; for the Fire was fo clear, tliat it looked much liker a Stone than a Taper. • From this heat the Tree was ' j^^^'^^;"'': ^3- forced, continually to melt ^ yet it Hill busf* ^'^' produced new Fruit. Now behoU (^{siid the Page J wh^ I heard revealed to the King by Atlas, Whe7J the Tree (fa id he) jlialL be tjnite melted down^ Thet7JJjall L^dy Venus anale^andhf the Another of a King.

Whilfl: he was thus Ipeaking, • iqi^pw the little Cupid, who at firll was fomcwhat abafhed at our prefence, but feeing us both look more like the- Dead j^^i^, fe. then the Living, he could not ^t length <^a hums refrain from Laughing, BemAndedwhAt °J*j. Spritb/td hr ought me f^?>^r,wIiom I with trembling anfwered, that I had lofl my way in the Caflie, and was by chance come hither, and that the rag,e like- 1 wife had been looking up and down for me, andatlaft lited upon mq i|^^,;;I ; hoped he would not.paike it amifs. \Nay. , then '^Hs well enough ya'y laid Cupi^yjW^y M bnfe Granflr^ but yon might lightly have ferved me a [curvy tricky had you. been a- ■ ftfArcof^this Door. Now I tnitjlkokbetr' ; terto it]^ and fo he put a ftrongLock on the Copper Door, where. we before defcended. I thtnked God that he lited wpon us no fooncr, my Page too was tftc more jocond, becaufe 1 had fo well helped him at this pinch. Tet ,can J • not (faid Cupid) let it -p.ifs unreve^ged^ : that yon wcrefo near flumbi'wg upon my dear Mother ^ with that he put the point of . his Dart into one of the little Ta|',ers, 5ind heating it a little, pricked mc with it on the hand, which at that time 1 lit-.

tic regarded, but was glad that it went' fo well with us, and that we came off, williout further dan'ger. Mean time my ' Coiiipanions were gottca our of Bed t66,^ ^nd were agaiA returned into the Halli* To* whom I alfo joyncd my fell,. making aj if r were then firfl: rifcn. After Cupid had carefully made all fall again, he came likcwife to us, and would ' needs have me Ihc w him my handy where he dill found a little drop di't Auwri?" of blood, at which he heartily laughed,, aiid baki^ the reft have a care of mcj I would fhortly end my days. We all wondred how Cupid could be fo merry, fi:msi«tftia. 2"^ ^^vc no fence at all of the yeftcrday's fad paffages. ^ But he' was no whit troubled. Now our Prcfident had in ^J.fif'^'.'^^ the mean time made her felf ready for gui»rL? "" the Journey, coming in all in bUck f^el- 'vet^yct file ftill bare her branch of Laurel, her Virgins too had their Branches.. Now all things being in readinefs, the Virgin' bid us firftdrink fomevvhat,and then prefently prepare for the proccflion v wherefore we made no long tarrying , but follovvcd her out of the Hall into the Court. In the Court flood fix Coffins,and my Companions thought no other but thatthc fix Royal Pcrfons

lay in them, but I well obfcrvf d the device. Yet I knew not what was to be <dbne with thefe other. By each CdfTin '"trerta^htTnHffleclMtn* Now as foon "as the Mufick went (it was fo mournful & dolcfoine a tunejthat I was aftoriifhed ^ it) -they took np the Coffins, and wc (asWevvere ordered) were fain to go rfter them into the formentioned Garden^ in the mid ft of which was crcftecl a wooden Edifice, having round about the Roof a glorious Grown, and (banding «p^ fevert Columns ^ within it were formed fix Sepulchers, and by each of thcm^ a ftone, but in the middle it had a round hollow rifmg ftoaciInthefeGravcs the Coffins were quietly and with many Cerimonies layed : The ftones were flipved over them, and they fliut fall. But thelittlc Cheft was to lie in the middle. Herewith were my Companions deceived, for they imagined no other bujt thatthcDead Corps were there. Upon tfie'tpp of all there was a great Flag, having a P^^w/.v f4wted onitj perhaps tjierewith the more to delude us. Here I had great occafion to thank God that I had fcen more than the reft. Now af- Hofpite^vo* ter the Funerals wea-c done, the Virgin,^tiTeTprol'i; I 3 havingtaRc^m.

virgmcs re nianen; in 4rcc. having x^^^<^^^ ^""^^ T^l^ upon the middle moft Stone, made, a Ihort Oration, Ths rue jhoidd be conflapt to oar wgAgemeT^ts^ and not repine at fhe pmns wc were heresfte to undergo^ hat \;e hdpfd in reftoring th frefent hnried Jloyal Perfons foLife ^g^in^ and therefore without delay to rife up wit her^ to make a Journey to the Tower of ply^ipus, to fetch from thence Medicines nfefnl and negeffAry for this furpofe. This yvc . foon agreed tp.^ and followed her through another little door quite to thp Shore^ There the feven fore-mentioned Ships Jtood all empty ^ on which all the VirginS; itiK;^:, up their Laurel Br/inchcs^ and afte^r they had diftributed us in the {\x Ships, they caufed- us in Gods name ^ thus to begin our Voyage, and looked upon usas long as thcy,^ould have us in fight, ' after which they with all the AVatch-mea, returned into the Caftte. Our Ships had each of thcra a peculiar device. Five of them indeed h^^lhthy^regHUr Bodies^ each a fever ralonc , but mine in which the Virgin too" fate, carried a, Globe. Thus we failed oh in a lingiilar order, and each had only two Mariners;, Foremofl went the Ship /fj,iaAj(jijch,,>^ I conccivc.thc ' , ;■ " "^ ; \ ^' Jlloor

Then let our Song fomdy- ^'^^ Till it's Eccho rebonnd,- - '^ - To Loves honour and fraife^ Which may ever encreafe - '■■ With our mbkFriticeT^theKing^fif' the^jieen^ The Soul if defarted^their Body^si^it^, ^^ ■ -J \- ■• And as tong"^^rxi^.e /ji'c,. ',", Cod grationjly give\j ~. .V/.^"l ... .. That 04 great Love anJJmity;l;^^^^;;; I;;. Xhey bear each other mightily : "'\ "; Spm Hhwifc^ by Loves ovc^ Flante'^. . may ' 'reconjoyn them once again,' Then this 4nfidy Into great Joy (^If many thoufand younglings deign) SMI change^ and ever fo nmain, Autoripcr. The/ having wkH raoft admira- p'a«"j^ ble concent and malody finifhcd this' «SuT. Song, I no more Wondrcd at Vltfcs for ftopping the Ears 'of his Com* paalons ; for I fecmed to my felf the moft unhappy man alive,- th^t Nature had not m^de me too fo trim a creature. But the f^trgin fooii difpatchcd them, and commanded to fetSail from thence v wherefore the TheNimphs^y^^P^^^^^^ after they had been pf ^v are reward- fcated with 3 long red Sp^rff iov ,^ grar ^' tuity *, went off, and difpcrfcd tbtr^V felves in the Sea. I was at thistim.q fenfiblev that Cnfid begeti] to work witt\

me too, which yet tci^dcd but very lit\ tic to my Credit, and, for as much as -"^qSuc ^y giddinefs is likely ti be nothing-bc- i»Jo. * ncficial to the 'Reader',* i dm refolvedYp let it rcll as it is. ^.BiJt'this was the Ve-f" ry wound that in the ^foit Book';l1rcT. ccired on the head' in a Dream \ arid let every bhc take "warrfing by mt qt .^ • ' ^ joitenng loitering about Vmi^ss Bcdy for Cupd prn by no means brook it. After fome Hours, having in friendly difcourfci piadc a good way, we came within Kctf of the Tower of 0/)'77;p;»^,w;hcrefore thcf Virgin commanded by the tiifcharge o£ fbmc Pieces to give the iignal of oun approach, which was alfo donc^ And immediately we efpycda great t9hita Flag thruft out, and a finall- gilded^f;^^^ Pinnace fcnt' forth to meet us. Now ' " asfoonas this was come to us,, weper^' oeived in it a very anciepct man, the Warden of the Tower,. with certaimcurios. Guards cloathed in white ^ of' whom wc were Friendly received, antii fb con-y ^.'" dueled ta the Tower. ' This' Toweti was Situated upon aa i^'*?^' cxadlyi- ^^^re, which was invironed With a f^^^^tm^bjim* io firm and thick, that I any . fdf coun^Tt ced two hundred and yZjcf^^palTes orer.iP^* Op the other'fide of the wa:ll was a fine' IVjeadow with certain little Gardens, iawhich grew fhrange, arid to me un^- kriowa. Fruits^ and then again am inner Wall round about, BhccTower-;! The Tower ,. of; it • felf vtBs.Jtift as ; if/ fe^vAn round. TovecKs hz<i b^cg:built onCii by another,: yet the raiddkmoft was:')

foracwhat the higher, and ^idiin they all cntrcd one into another, and had fevcn Storys one above another. Being thijs come to the Gates of the Tower, we were led- a littic afide on the Wall^, that fo, as I well obfcrved, the Coffins might be brought into the Tower without our taking notice ; of this the reft knew nothing. This being done, we ivtrc condu&cd into the Tower at the r.CoAcioave very bottom, which albeit it wcreci:- . ccllently painted, yet we had herelittil recreation, for this was nothing but .iK^AiCZLAbsratoryy where we were fain to beat ;ind wafh Plants, ^nd pretious Stones,' lofykum, *^4 all.Sorts of Things,; and extra^:' their Jiiici: and Eilence, and put up thefame in Gtaflcs, and deliver them to be' ,;..'. :4aid up. And truly our Virgin was. fo bufic with MS, and fo full of her dii* "'■"'t^^ionSr'that flic knew how to give each' of us employment enough, fo that ii^' this Iflahd'Jv^ were fain to be me^l Amdgss^uli wehad atcheived ail that wa$' necclTsry. far the reftoringof the Re J headed Bodies: Mean time (as I afccisl virgmum wards underftood) three Virgins wer^' in the firfb Apartment wafhing the Corps with all diligence. .Now having:

at length filmcfi done with this our pre* radon, nothing marc was brought us, . t fome broath with a little draught of pitui Wine, whereby I well obfcrvcd, that T* e were not here for our pleafure ; for when we had finiihcd our days work too, every one had only a Mattrefs laid on Leaus. the Ground for him, wherewith we ^''°"**' were to content our felves. For my part I was not very much troubled with: ^:ep, and therefore walked out into" c Garden, and at length came as far: the Wall ; and becaufe the Heaven r. as at that time ve-i-y clear,I-c6uld well ^"torsped.iive away the time in contemplating fum'proi^' V:\cSt4rs ^ By chance I came to a greaf^omoo. ' lir of Stone-Stairs, which led up to le top of the Wall. And becaufe the Moon fhone very bright, I was fo much * he more confident, and wtntup, and oked too a little upon the Sea, which as now exceeding calm •, and thus ha* inggood opportunity toconfidcr bet- •r of Aflrononty, I found that this prcfent Night there would happen fuch a conjundtion of the Planets, the like to .'vhich was not other wife fuddcnly to be jfci'ved. Now having looked a good ;/hile into the Sea, and it being juit a-

bout Midnight, as loon as it had ftruck Twelve, I beheld from hv the fezen _ r F//t>wcj pafling over Sea hitherward,and betakeing themfelvcsto the top of the Spire of the Tower. This made mc' fomewhat affraid ^ for as foon as the' -Flames had fetlcd themfelvcs , the Winds arofe, and began to make the Sea very Tcmpeftiiotis. The Moon al- £) was Covered with clouds, and my" }Qy. ended with fuch fear, that I ha4 fcarce time enough to hit upon the Starrs again, and betake my felf again to thc^ Tower. Now whether; the Flames' tarried any longer , or pafTed a- ' way again, I cannot fay: For in this" ohfcurity I durft no more venture abroad : So I laid me down upon my Mattrefs, and there being befidcs in the Laboratory a pleafant and gently purling Fountain, I fell n Sleep fo much the fooner. And thus this fifth day too was concludfd v/ith Wonders^ NExt morning, after we had awaked one afiorfier, we fate together ^^^^^''['^ a while to difcbiirfe what might yet be Jgafs.^^'" ' the event of tilings. For fome were of opinion that theyftiould all beinlivened again together; Others cohtradidcd it, becaufc the dcceafeof the ancients -was not only to tejiore life, but increafc ' too to the young ones. Some imagined \ that they were not put to death, but r that others were beheaded in their ftead.

I We having now talked together a prctt' ty while, in comes the Old Man to us, II and firfb fainting las, looks about him [I to fee if all things were ready, and the i proccfTcs enough done. We had herein lb behaved our felves, that he had no c^Qors. fault to find with our diligence, whereupon he placed all the Glafles together, gjf^j^^^^'''* and put them into a cafe. Prefently laudatur come certain youths bringing with them fome Ladders^ Eoafes^ and large Wings, Jy^'t«», which tiief laid down before us, and departed. Then the old Man began thus.^ My Dear Sons, one of thcfc three things rauft: each of you this day conftantly bear about with him. Now it is free for you either to ttiake a choice of one of them, or to call lots about it. We replied, we would choofc. Nay 9 faid he, let it rather gO by lot^ Hereupon he made three little Schedules, in one he writ Ladder^ on the fecond Rope, on the third Wirt^s ; Thefc he laid in an Hat, and each man mull dfaw, and whatever he happened upon, that was to be his. Thofe who got the I Kopesy imagined thcjnfelves to be in the I bell cafe, but I chanced on a Ladder. I jvhieh hugely afflidted me, for it wa?- 1 twcive-footlong, and pretty weighty,, I and I mull be forced to carry it, where- 1 ^s the others could handfomly coy lei their Ropes about them : and as foil the IVings.^ the old Man joyned them fci ' .neatly on to the third fort, as if theyl ^ iad grown upon them. Hereupon he/ ^i turned the Cock, and then the Foun^l ^i rain ran no longer, and we were fail/ ^^'^ to remove it, from the middle out ol ^^e the way. After all things were carrieJ ^'f off, he taking with him the Caskel p] wiU\:the Glalle^, took leave, andlocJ ^^n

cd the Door fail after him,fo that we im^ agincd no other but that we had been imprifo"'*d in this Tower. But it was ^^'^^^^^^'^ hardly t quarter of an Hour before a JLve. ""^ round Hole at the very top was uncovered, where we faw our Virgin, who called to us, and bad us good Morrow, deflring us to come up. They with the Wings were inftantly above through the hole. Only they with the Ropes were in evil plight. For as foon as cvei'one of us was up, he was commanded to draw up the Ladder to him. At lafleach mans Rope was hanged on an j^^^J^^'j^ Iron Hook, fo every one was fain to climb up by his Rope as well as he could, which indeed was not compalTed without Blifters . Now as foon as we were all well up, the hole was again covered, and we were friendly received by the Virgin. This Room v/as the whole breadth of the Tower it felf, having Six very ftately Vejlries a little raifed above the Room, and to be entrcd by the afcent of three Steps. In thcfe pef^^ip^f^ yrftries we were diftrihuted, there t0.2CoriC.au pray for the Life of the King and Queen, mean while the Virgin v/cnt in and out at the little Door /z^till we had done. For as foon as our procefs was abfolved, K there

there was brought in, and placed in the middle tlirough the little Door, by twelve pcrfons (which were formerly our Mufitians) a wonderful thing of a lorjgijh fhape, which my Companions took only to be a Fountain. But I well obferved that the Corps's lay in it, for tht inner Chell was of an oval Figure, ib large that fix Perfons might well lie in it one by another. After which they aga'm went forth, fetched their Inllruments, and conduced in our Virgin, together with her fhe-attcndants, with a moll delicate noife of Mufick. The Theiitd9 Virgin carried a little Casket, but the Casket. j-gj^ Qjjly Branches, and fmall Lamps, and fome too lighted Torches. The Torches were immediately given into our Hands, and we were to ftand about the Fountain in this order. Gi ic chori. ooooooooa ^'^^^ ^ood ther/r. 0 000 i^^ ^ w^^^ hcrat- 0 ^ tcndants in a Ring , coeooooo round about with ^ ^ /^ o o . the Lamps & bran2 t^ tl ^ chcsr,nextftoodwc 2 oc Ojdo 0 0 <a v/ith ourTorches ^, oooooood '"along rank, kft of all the reft of the Virgins dm another long rank too. Now whence the Virgins came, or whether they dwelt in the Caftle, or whether they were brought in by night, I know not, for all their IFaccs were covered with delicate white JLinnen, fo that I could not know any virgin« of them* Hereupon the Virgin open- "^^°' cd the Casket, in which there was a q^j^ round thing wrapped up in a piece of wis, green double Taf&ta.

This fhe laid in the uppermoll Kettle, and then covered it with the Jid, which was full of holes, and had befides a Rim, on which Ihe poured in fomc of the Water which we had the day before prepared, whence the Fountain began immediately to run, and through four fmall Pipes to drive into the little Kettle \ beneath the undermoll Kettle there were many (harp points,on which the Virgins ftuck their Lamps, that {o the heat might come to the Kettle, and make the Water Seeth. Now the Water beginning to Simper, by many little holes at ^, it fell in upon the Bodies, and was fo hot, that it dijfoivtd them all, and turned them into Liquor. But what the abovefaid round wrapt up thing was, my Companions knew not, but I undcrftood K ^ ' that

(i4S ) that it was thcMoor's Head,from which the Water conceived fo great heat. At b round about the great Kettle, there were again many holes, in which thev ftuck their Branches ; now whether this was done of ncceflity, or only for Ceremony, I know not ; However thcfc Branches were continually befprinkled by the Fountain, whence it afr^.rwardsdropt fomcwhatofa deeper lelioTP into the Kettle. This lailcd for near two Hours, that the Fountsiin ftiU conilantlyran of it fclf; but yet the longer , the fainter it was. Mean time the Mufitians went their way, and vvc walked up and down in the Room ^ and truly the Room w^as fomade, that we had opportunity enough to pafs away our time: There was, for Images, Paintings,Clock- woiks,Organs , Springs' Ing Fountains, and the like, nothing forgotten. Now it was near the time that the Fountain ccafed, and would Tun no longer : upon which the Virgin commanded a round Golden Globe to he Isrought. But at the bottom of the Fountain there was a Tap, by which fte let * out all the matter that was diffovled by thofchot Drops (whereof cer- Cain quarts were then very Red) into the Globe. The reft of the Water which remained aboye in the Kettle, was poured out. And fothis Fountaia (which was now become much lighter) v^as again carried forth. Now whether it was opened abroad, or whether jany thing of the Bodies that was further ufeful, yet remained^ 1 dare not certainly fay i But this 1 know, that the Water that was emptied into the Globe was nluch heavier thcnyTAr, or yet Gravity ihore of us were well able to bear, al^aqu*- beit for its bulk it fhould have fecmcd hot too heavy for one man.

Novv this Globe being with much ado gotten out of Doors, we again fate alone. But r perceiving a trampling over head; had an Eye to my Ladder, Hear one might take notice of the flrange opiniobns myCompanions had concerning this Fountain : For they not imagiiring but ^^^^^^ j:^y that the Bodies lay in the Garden of novi?rer^ theCaflk, knew not what to make oq^^^^^i^^ this kind of working, but I thanked God that I awaked in fo opportune a time, and faw that which helped me the better in all the Virgins bufmefs. After one quarter of an hour ihe cover K 4 abQVC

above was again lifted of, and wccont- ^cSciavi^ mandcd to come up, which was done as ^" "^ ' * before with Wings, Ladders , and Ropes. And it did not a little vex me, that whereas the Virgins could go rip another way, we were fain to f;ik? fo much toil', yet I could well «!! ige ihere muft be fomeypem/ reafon ir. It, and we muft leave fomevvhat , for I he Old Man to do too. For even rhorn'-vith the Wings had noadvan* tage l>v them but when they were to rnouni through the Hole. Now being gjtten up thither alfo, and the Hole i^cfcriptio fhut again, I faw the Globe hanging by Rooni. In this Room was nothing elfc but mecr Windows, and ftill between t tvo Windows there was a Door, which vvas covered with nothing but a great jxjlilhed Looking-GIafs *, and thefe Windows and Looking-Glafles were fo optically oppofcd one to another, that although the Sun f which now Ariif.optic fhined exceeding bright) beat only u'pon one Door, yet (after the Windows towards the Sun were opened, and the Doors before the Looking-GlalTes <iravvn afidc) iu all quaiicrs of the Room there was nothing but SufjSj which by artificial RefraUions beat upon the whole golden Globe hanging in the midft ^ and for as much as the fame (befides that brightncfs J was poliihed^ it gave fuch a Luftre, that none of us could open our Eyes, but were therefore forced to look out at Windows till .

^ , the Globe was well heated, and '^*^*p^ brought to the delired effcd. Here I may well avow that in thefe Mirrours 1 have feen the mofl wonderful Spectacle that ever Nature brought to light ; for there were Suns in all places,and the . Globe in the middle Ihined yet brighter, fo that, but for one twinkling of an £yc, we could no more indure it than the Sun it felf. At length the Virgiii Commanded to fhut up the LookingGlalTes again, and to make fall the Windows, and fo let the Globe cool again a Httle ; and this was done about fevcn of the Clock. Wherefore we thought good, fince we might isovv have leifure alittletorefrelhourfelVes' with a Breakfaft : This Treatment agaifi was right Philofophical, and vvep^j,^,.^^ had no need to be affraid of Intempe- phiiofoph.' ranee, yet vvehad no want. And the K 5 hop^

hope of the future joy (vrith which the Virgin continually comforted us) made us {o jocond that vvc regarded not any pains, or inconvenience. And this I can truly fay too concerning my Compaaions of high quality, that their minds never ran after their Kit chin or Tablcy but their pleafurc was only to attend upon this adventurous Phifick, and hence to contemplate the Creator's W ? [doir. and Omnipotency. After we iflaa i:kcn our Refe<^ion, we again fettled 01. r felves to work, for the Globe was fufficiently cooled ^ which with toil rind labour we were to lift off the Cnamand fct upon the Floor. Now the difpute was how to get the Globe in funder, for we were commanded to divide the fame in the midft. The conclufion was that a fharp pointed Diaciobi"'"' raond would bcfl: do it. Now when we had thus opened the Globe, there wa$ nothing of rcanefs more to be fecn, but aiovely great fnovv-vvhite Egg: It moft mightily rcjoyced us, that this was fo well brought to pafs. For the Vir* gin was in pevpetuall care, leaft the Shell might ftiii be too tender. We flood round abQULthis Egg as jocond as

if vVe our felvcs had laid it. But the Virgin made it prefently be carried 0^^,^^^^^^^. forth, and departed herfclf too from didum, us again, and (as all ways) locked the Door to. But vvhat (he did abroad with the Egg, or whether it were fome vyay privately handled, IknovT not, neither do I believe it. Yet wc were again to paufc together for one quartet of an hour, tilJ the third hole were opened, and we by means of our inftrumcnts were come upon the fcutth Stone or Floor. In this Room we'^^'^'^' *'^ found a great Copper Kettle filled with ytllow Sand^ which was warmed with a gentle Fire, afterwards the £gg vyas raked up in it, that it might therein come to perfed maturity. This Kettle was exadly fquare, upou one fide flood thefe twc^ verfes. Writ ioi great Letcfs. O. BLI. TO. BIT. MI. LI. KANT. I. VOLT. BIT. TO. GOLT. On the fcGond (idc vvece thefe three Words, The third had no more but this one JWord. F. I. A. t. But on the hindefmoffi part flood an intire Infcription running thiis. Ignis : Aer : Aqua ; Terra : SANCTIS REGUM ET REGiNARUM NOSTR:

Fidel is Chymicorurn Turba! Now whether the Sand or Egg were jhereby meant. Heave to the learned to difputCs yet do I my part, and omit nothing umicclarcd. Cur Egg being now ready was taken out ; But it need- >':d no cracking, for the Bird that was in kfoon freed himfelf, and (hewed himfelf very jocond, yet he looked very Bloody and unfhapcn .• Wc firft fet him puIIus im* upon the warln Sand, fo the Virgin p^"°^'*- commanded, that before wc gave him .my thing to eat, wc fhould be fure to make hinl faft^ other wife he would give ^.^ . ; iis all work enough. This being done too, food was brought him, which fureky was nothing clfe than the Blood 6f the Pafcitur. Beheaded^ deluted a^ain with prepared' j^^S"}"*- 1 1 • 1 1 °r^. 1 ^ r- r n decollator- water, by which the Bird grew fo faft um. jnder our eyes, that We well faw why ;:he Virgin gave us fuch warning of him» He bit and fcratcht fo devillifhly about him, that could he have had his will upon any of us, he would foon have difpatched him. Now he was wholly bUei^ ind wild , wherefore other meat wa5 brought himi perhaps the blood ofa-^j^ j^^ lotherof thi Royal ferf$ns^ whereupon alius Regis ill his black Feathers moulted again, p^^^'^^^^' ind inftead of them there grew out Snovf -white -^Feathers, He was fomewhac :amertoo, and fuffercd himfclf to be more tradl^ible, neverthelefs we did aot y€C trijft him. At th<J third feeding

ing his Feathers began to be fo curioufly coloured^ that in all my Life I .never favv' the like colours for Beauty.. Me was slU fo exceeding tame, and behaved himfelf fo friendly with lis, that (the Virgin confenting) we releafed him froth his Captivity. '*Tis mwreafon (^bcgari our Virgin ) fince by your diligence^ and :'ur old mar^s ccnfcnty th? Bird has attkirteJ hcth his tifCy and the highefi PerfecliofJj that he be alfo joyfully Confecrated by hs. Herewith flie commanded to bring in Dinner, and that we fhould again rcfrefh our felves, Jlnce the moft troublefcAie part of our Work was now over, and ic was fit we fhould begin to enjoy our p^fTcd Labours. We began to make our felves merry together. Hovvbeit we had Hill all our Mourning Cloaths on, which feemed fomewhat reproachful to our Mirth. Now the Virgin was perpetually inquifitive, perhaps td find to which of us her future purpofc might prove ferviceablc. But her difcourfc was for the moil part about melt" i»gj and it pleafed her well when any one feemed expert in fuch compendious Manuals, as do peculiar ly commend an Arti/t. This Dinner kited nor thowt three quart:crs of an hour, which wc yet for the moll part fpcm; with our Bird, whom vvc were fain conftantly ;:o feed with his meat : But he ftill continued much at the fame growth. Af-» ::cr Dinner vvc were not long fkfFercd *o digeft our Meat ^ but after that the Virgin together with the Bird was departed from us.

The fifth Room wass-'C^iare. fet open to us, whither we got too ^fcer the former manner, and tendred our Service. I n t h i s Room' a Bath w as pre- -^''^ ^*^* pared for our Bird, which was fo co- '''^''^* loured with a fine white Powder, that it had the appearance ©f meer Milk. Now it was at firft cool when the Bird! was fet into it : He was mighty well pleafed with it, drinking of it, and pleafantly fporting in ir. But after it began to heat by reafon of the Lamps that were placed under it, we had enough to do to keep him in the Bath* we therefore clapt a cover on the Kettle, and fuffered him tothrufl his head out through a hole, till he nad in this f®rt loft all his Feathers in this Bath, and was as fmooth as a new^borii Child, yet the heat did him no further haim,' ap which 1 much marvelled ; for

in this Bath the Feathers were quite confumed, and the Bath was thereby tinged into blew ; at length we gave the Bird air, who of hiipfclf fprung out of the Kettle, and was fo glittcringly fmooth, that it was a pleafarc to behold k. But becaufe he was (till fomewhat wild, we were fain to put a col- Vlttcii^f. lar,with a Chain,about his Neck, and fo led him up and down the Room. Meaa tinie a ilrong Fire was made under the Eaifi«um; -Kettle, a^d thc Bath fodden away till ^?ld«n/'° ^^^- .ametoai'/ew Stone, which we *" took out, and having firft pounded it, vv€ were aiiervf ards fain to grind it on a Stone, -^nd finally with this colour to paint the Bird's whole Skin over: Now he lookt much more fl:rangcly,for he was all blew, except the head, which remained white. Herewith our work on this Story too was performed ; And we (after the Virgin with her hkw Bird was departed from us) were called up through the hole to the fixth Story •, ^.Conclave, ^j^l^l^ was done too, there we were mightily troubled, for in the midll a little Altar, every >vay like that in the King's Hall above defer ibed, was placed Upon wliich ftood the fix fore-mention^

tdfArtkhlars^^ndht him fclf f the Bird) made the feverith. Firft of all the little Fountain was fct before him, out of which he drunk a good draught, afterwards he pecked upon the white Serfen$ until fhe bled mightily. This Blood we were to receive into a Golden Cup^ and pour it down the Birds Throat, who was mighty avcrfe from it, then we dipt the Serpents head in theFv«»- Mf'«, upon which fhe again revived, and crept into her Deaths- head, fo that I faw her no more for a long time after. Mcaa time the Sphere turn«d cor llantly on, j until it made the delired conjurdioHc ^ Immediately the watch Struck one,upoi; which there was a going another conjm" IHon. Then the Watch ftruck two. Finally,whilft we were obferving the third conjundion, and the fame was indicated by the Watch, the poor Bird of himfelf fubmiflively laid down his Neck upon the Book, and willingly fuffercd his Head (by one of us thereto chof-n . by lot) to be fmitten of Hovvbeic he f^";;*^^^> yielded not one drop of Bloody till he was opened on the Breaft, and then the Blood fpun out ^o frelh and clear as if it had been a Fountain^ of Rubies. His

Death went to the heart of us, md yet we might well judge, that a naked Bird would ftand us in little ftead, So we let it reft, and removed the little Altar Av^ cambu- away and affiftcd the Virgin to burn the pw- Body Ttogcthcr with the little Tablet banging by) to Aflies, with Fire kindled at the little Taper ; afterwards to clcanfc the fame fcvcral times, and to lay them in a Box of Cy prefs^ Wood. Joe- Here I cannot conceal what a trick I and three more were ferved 5 After we had thus diligently taken up the Afhcs, The V.'^in begjin to fpeak thus. My ^^ydsf we are here in thefixth Roovty and have only one more before HSy in which our trouble will be at an endy attd then we Jhall retHrn hom^ again to our Caflle, to awaken our moji gratioHS Lords and Ladies, Now albeit J conld heartily wijh^ that all of yoHy as yon dre here together^ had behaved your f elves in fitch fort ^ that I might have given you Commendations to qht moft renowned Xing and Queen^ and yon have obtained a f nit able Reward ^ yet becanfe^ contrary to my deftre^ J have fomd amougfl yon thefe four (herewith fhe pointed at me and three more) laz,y and jln^gijh Lahonrators^ andye^t according to my good- will to all and

tvny 9nc^ Am n%t wiltwg to acltver them uf to condign funifimsnt • However ^ that fnck Negligence may not remain wholly HnpHmfJitd^ I am vnrpofed thns concerning them^ that they jhaU only he excluded from the future fcvcnth and mofi Glerions action of all the rejl-^andfo too they jl:all insur no further blame from their Royal Majefiics. Iii wlitt a cafe wc no^v were at this Spcccb, I leave others to confidcr : For the Virgia fo well knew how to keep her countenance, that the Water foon ran over our Baskets^ andweeftc^med ourfclves the moft uhhapp7 of all men. After this the Virgin by one of her Maids (whereof there were many always at hand) caufed the Mulitians to be fctchr^ tvho where with Cornets to blow us out bf Doors with fuch fcorn and derifioii, that they thenifelves could hardly found for langhing' But it didfarticuLrly raiphtily afflid us that ihtf^irgin fo vehemently laughed at our mefwg^ anger & »wpfif;fcf,and that there might well perhaps befomeamong,ft our Companions who were glad of this our misfortune. But It proved other wife. For as foon as wc ^p,^^'* were come out at the Door, the Mufitians bid us be of good checrc jind folL lo^

low them up the winding Staircs*^ 8 . conclave. They led us up to the feventh Floor under the Roof, where wc found the 0/^ Man^ whom we had not hitherto feen. Handing upon a little round Furnace. Hvt received us friendly, and heartily congratulated us, that we were hereto chofen by the Virgin ^ but after he un* <icr flood the affright we had conceived, I is belly was ready to burft with Laugh* Lt^, that we had taken fuch good Fortune To hainoufly. Hence faid he. My Dear Sons learn, That Mm never knoxQ^ crh how ivcll God imendtth him. During this difcourfe the Virgin alfo with her iiuLlc -SoA came running in, who (after i\\z had fufficiently laughed at us ) emptied her Aflyes out into another Veflel, vjrw L-cir: and filled hers again with other matter, luJiLcvrc- faying, Ihc mull; now go caO: a Mill before the ether Artills Eyes, that we in the mean time fhould obey the old Lord in vvhatfoevcr he commanded us., and not remit cue former diligence. Herejxonciavc. with (he departed from us into the fc- . ^ venth Room whither fhe called our Companions. Now what fhe firfl did with them there, I cannot tell, for they were not only moil earncflly forbidden

to fpeak of it, but wc too by reafon of our bufmcfs, durft not peep on them through Che Cicling. But this was om^^^^^^ work, wc were to woiJ/?e«;kAfhcs with our fore-prepared W^ter till they became altogether like a very thin Dough. After which we fet the matter over the, Fire, till it was well bested^ then we cad it thus hot as it was into two little forms or moulds, and fo let it cool a iittle(here we had leifure to look a while j ib^rfpuupon. our Companions through certain ''"^^J^^,j^^ crevifcs made in the Floor) they were ^'^"^^^ now very bufie at a Furnace,&c each was himfelf fain to blow up the Fire with a pipe,and they flood thus blowing about it, as if they were ready to loofe their breath. Howbeit, they imagined they were herein wondroully preferred be- I fore us. And this blowing lailed fo long till pur old Man rouzed us to our work again j So that I cannot fay what was done afterwards^ We baving opened our little forms,there appeared two beautiful bright and almoIbrr^/^HomuncuB fdrt^vt little Images, the like to which ^""^^ Mans Eye never faw, a Male and a Female, each of them only fenr inches long ^ and that which moft mightily hz furprifed

turprifed mc, was, that they were not hard, but Umber and flefhy, as othet human Bodies^ yiet had they no Life : So that 1 do ttiofl: alTuredly believe that the Lady P^cnut^s Image was alfo midc after fomc fueh way: Thcfc Angelically fair' Babe$ we firft laid upon "^vo little Sattin CuQionct^, and beheld ^«ni a gbod while, till nc were almott fottcd upon foexqiiifite an objeft: \c old Lord warned us to forbiear^ and tinitally to inftill the Btiod of the ird (vYhich had been received iflto a JiCtlc Golden Cup) drop after drojp int6 i;he ^t6tlths of the little Images, {torn vVhence they . apparently to the Eye eticreafcd 5 and yrhcrea^ they were before very fmal!, thty \Verenow (according to prap6Ytioh) much more beautiful; fo that Worthily aR Limners ought tahave been here, and have been afhamcd of their Art in refped of thefc produdions of Nature. Now thcy^ began to grow fo %, that we lifted from the lirtleCunionets, and were fain to lay therrvupoil a long Table, which was covered with white VelYct. The , oM man atTo coramacdedus to cover fihem over up to the Bread, with a piece of fine whsti/hfAle Taffata, which bccaufe cf tb«ir unfpeakablc beau^y,almofl: .^ / went againft us •, bu^ ^hat 1 may be mus. *"^^^ brief, before wc had in this manner quite fpcnt the Blood, they were already in their pcrfeQ; fnlt growth, they had'Gold*yeUow curled Hair, and the above-mentioned figtire of rcfius was nothing to then?,.

But there was not yet any natural warmth, or fenfibility inihem, they were dead Figures, yc. of a Uvcly and natural colour .* and fincc care was to be taken that they gre; riot too great, the old Man would not permit apy thing more to be given them, but quite covered their Faces too with the Silk, and caufed the Table to be Jfi4ck round about with Torches. Here i mufl; warn the Reader that he imagine not thefe Lights to have been of ;;ecfjfJtf^,for the old Man's intent hereby, was only that we Hiould not obfcrve when the 5o«/entred into them, a» indeed we (hould not have taken notice of it, in cafe I had not twice before fecn the F/4wjf J j However, I permitted * the other three to remain in their belief, neither did the old Man know ttotl had fecn any t'.ungmorc, Herc- ■^ L 3,, upon

upon he bid us fit down on a Bench over againit the Table : prefcntly the Veftluntur. Virgin eame in toowith the Mufick and all furniture, -and carried two curious white Garments, the like to which I had never feen in the Caftle, neither can I defcribc them, for 1 thought no other but that they were meer Chnflal^ h\ii they were gentle, and not tranfpaf ^nt, fo that 1 cannot fpeak of them * Theie fhe laid down. upon a Table, and aftci' flic had difpofed her Virgins ipori .a Bench round about , fhe and the i6ld. jyian began m2iV[y Ltger-demain Uicks about the Tablc,which was done Pf^^n^ only to M'wd us. .This (as I told you) was managed under the roof, which Dcfcriptio was. wonclerfuUy fprnied, for on the in- "^* fide it rWas, arched Into fcven Hemifphei:e$, of which the raiddlcmoll was fomcwhatthe highell, ancl had at top a little rpuncj.hole, \yhich was neverthelefs ihut, fifti was obferVed by none dfe. Af^er'niany Ccreti\Qnies,(lept iny?;^ Virgins, ejich of which b^re a large Trumpet^'.which were rouled about with a green. ^^littcring . and l)urnrng material like a wreath, one of which the old Maa tpdi^, aad aft;er"lvs had removed

fomc ef the lights at top, and nncovered their Faces, he placed one of the Trumpets upon the Month of one of the Bodies in fuch manner, that the upper and wider part "of it was dire(fted juH againft the forementioned hole. Here my Companions always looked upon ufns tubathe Images ; but I had other thoughts*, ''""'' for asfoon as the foliagecr wreath about the fliank of the Trumpet was kindled^ I faw the hole at top open, and a bright fiream of Fire fhooting down the Tube, [.^ii^%^^. and pafTmg into the Body : whereupor en*); the hole was again covered, and the Trumpet removed. With this device my Companions were deluded, fa that they imagined that life came into the Image by means of the Fire of the foliage, for as foan as he received the Soul Homunc he twinckled with his Eyes, hovv beit JoTraniV hefcarce Hirred. The fecond time he t-ri^ntyr, placed another Tube upon its Mouth, and kindled it again, and the Soul was let down through the Tube This was repeated upon each of them three timts^ after which all the Lights were exftinguillied and carried away. The Velvet Carpets of the Table were call together o/er th^fn, and immcdi-ately a traL 4 villing

Villing Bed was unlocked and made ready, into which thus wrapped up they were born, and fo after the Carpets t^rerc taken off them, th<:y were neatly LM by each otber,where with the Curttiins drawn before them, they flept a good while. (Now wasit alfo time for the Virgin to fee how our other Artifls behaved thcmfelvcs,they were well plea^- ^f d, bj'caufe (as the Virgin afterwards informed me) they were to work mGoUy ^fiichis indeed a piece alfo of this art, bdt not the moit Prwcip/tl^ 'mod ncceffary, and bcfl : Ihey had indeed too a part of thcfe Jpcs^ fo that they imaagincd no' other, but that the whole Bird was provided for the fake of GoU^ and that life muft thereby be rcftored to the dcc^afed) during which we fate Yery ftill, attending vvhcnour marriedcouple would av/akc, thus about half an' hour Was fpcat. For then the wanton Cfipid prefented him felf again, and, af» tcr he had faluttd. us all, flew tothcnt behind thcCurt3in,tormcnting them fo long till they awaked. This happened to them with. very great amazement, for thev imagined no other but that they had hie her to llcpt from ihe very hour In which they were beheaded. CnpU^

^ after he had awaked them, and renews cd their acqaaintance one with another,, ^ ftepped a fide a little, and permitted them both fomewhat better to recrmt themftlves, mean time playing his tricks with us J and at length he would needs have the A/iM|/Fci^f€tcnt to befpmewhat themerrief.' Notlongafter the Virgin lier felf comes : And after flie had mofi: 'humbly fainted the young King and Q)ieen f \Vho found themfelves fomewhat faint) and kifled their hands, fhci'^nfogc* broaght them the two for emehtidncd ;"j;i;^^j, carious G^rmtn^s^ which' they put on, utfeeonfpiand fofleppcd forth. Now there were ^^'3^^°' ?'"=; already prepared two very curious Chains J wherein they pbced themfelves : and fo were by us with moft profound Reverence congratulated ; ' for which the King in his own Perfbn moft gratiouQy returned his thanks, and ' igain re-ajfured us of all Grace. It was already about five of Clock , wherefore they could make no longer ftay, but as foonasever the chiefefl of their p"i"g««^«' rurniture could be laden, we were to marc, ittend the young Royal Perfonsdowil -^the winding Stairs, through all Doors '■• and and watchesuntothcShip,in which they inbarqued themfclvcs, together with certain Virgins^ and Cupid, and failed fo mighty fwift that we foon ioft fight of thcQi, yet they were met (as 1 was informed; by certain ftately Ships ; Thus in four Hoars time they had made many Leagues out at" Sea. After »fv!vc< five of V.

lock the Mufitians were chare,fd 'C carry all things back again to the n; ., and to make themfelvcs ready .nr che Voyage* Butbecaufc this was ^binewhat long a doing, the old Lorci cuftosi''^'- ^nimanded forth a parry of his conTurmcuOo-'caled Soldicrs, who had hitherto been ciiaaituiiti^planted in the Wall, fo that we had taken no notice of any of them, whereby I obfervcd that this Tower was well provided againft oppolition. Now thefe Soldiers made qi:ick work with our fluff, fo that no more remained further to be done, but to go to Supper. Now the Table being complcatly far-

f ues'ck^' ^^^^^> ^^^ Virgin brings us again to e^s^conciJvi our Companions where we were to eomcflantur. carry our felves 35 if we had truly been in a Lamentable condition, and forbear laughing. But they were always liniling one upon another, hoyvbeit fomcef them too llmpatliized with us. At this Supper the old Lord was with us too, who was a moft iharp Infpcdor over us : For none could caftoseftin. propound any thing fo difcrectly, but*^*^^°'* that he knew how either to confute it, or amend it> or at leaft to give fome good document upon It. I learned mofl |f^^^^"^"^ by this Lordly and it were very good ^^^' chat each one would apply himlelfto !.ini, and take notice of his procedure^ ^or then things would not fo often, and 1.) untowardly Mifcarry. After we 1 ad taken owr nodurnal refedion, the .)ld Lord led us into his Clofets of Rarities, which were here and there difpcrfed amongft the Bui works, where jJ^^J^'^^r*, we faw fuch wonderful produdlons of iNTature, and other things too which nans wit in imitation of Nature had invented, that we needed a Year more fufficicntly to furveigh them : Thus wc fpent a good part of the Night by Candle-light. At lall, bccaufe. we were more inclined to Sleep than fee many Rarities, wc were lodged, in Rooms m ihc Wall, where wc had not oi;Iy coftly , good Betls,but alfo beHdes extvaordinaiy handfom Chambers, wh-ich made

ustfie more wonder why we were the day before forced to undergo fo many hardfhips. In this Chamber I had good reft •, and being for the rn6(^ part without care, and weary with continual Labour, the gentle rulhing of the Sea helped n^e'toa found andfweet Sleep, for I continued in one Dream from eleven setn^^un,, Qf tlock till eight in the morning. Fter eight of clock I awaked, and quickly made my fe\f ready, beirfg dcfirous to return again into the Tower, but the dark parages in tlKf Wall were'fo many, arid various, that I wandred a good while before I could find the way but. The fame happened Hofpitw to the reft too, till at lafl: wt all met a- ^lu^. gain in the neither moft Vault, and hibrc*. bits ihtirely^e/^oiP were given US, together with our golden Fleeces. At that time the Virgin declared to iis that wc , . ^ were Knights of the (BoIDtn ^tmt, 6f Eq^itcJ. which we were before ignorant. After wchad now thus made ourfclyes ready, and taken dur Btcakfafl", the' old Man prcfentcd each of us with a ^^!^' liicdal of Gold j on the oilc fide ftood thcfe Wbrds^ On the other thefe,

Exhorting us morcoTcr we fhonld entreprize nothing beyond and againlt this token of rcqiembrance. Hcre^iith we went forth to the Sea, where our Ships lay fo richly equipped, that \t was not well poCTiblc but that fuchbrarc things mufl firft have been brought thither. The Ships were ixxKlve in mm" ^«rr,rix of ours, and fix of the old Lord's^ who caufed his Ships to be freighted with well appointed Soldiers. But he betook himfclf, to us, into oUr Ship, j^^^j^^ where wc all were together; In the firft * thz Mufitians Seated themfelvcs, of which the old Lord had alfo a great number, they failed before Us to ihortca the time. Our Flags wer^ the twelvt ^^^^^^ C^kflUl Signs, and wc fate in Libra, ^ figpl * ^*\ bcllds other things, our Ship had alfo a j!j^j[ibra'^^ ^r^';>\t and cirrous Clock, whi^ Ihewr d Horoiog. us all the Minntes. The Sea too was fo calm, that it was a fingular pleafure to Sail. But that which furpaflcd all the Faajnda rcft^was the old Man's difcourfe, who fo laai. ^ell knew howr to pafs away our time with wonderful Hiftories, that I could have been content to Sail with him all

^. :'^^^!'' my Life long. Mean time the Ships t^ajQTcd on amain^ for before we had fail- ^ two hours the Mariner told us that he already faw the whole Lake almofl / covered with Ships, by which we could 'x>njttbire they were come out to meet zv.^ which alio proved true : For as loon, as we were gotten out of the Sea into the Lake by the forementioned River^ there prefently flood in to us five hundred Ships, one of which fparkled ^oo Naves with mere Gold and prctious Stones, in which fate the King and Queen, together with other Lords, Ladies, and Virgins of high Birth. As foon as they were well in Ken of us the pieces were difcharged on both fides, and there was fuch a din of Trumpets, A laufus. Shalms, and Kettle Drums that all the .Ships upon the Sea capered again.Finally, as foon as we came near they brought about our Ships together, and fo made a Hand, Immediately the old jitUf fteppcd forth on the King's belialf, making a fhort , but handfora oracion, wherein he wellcomed us, Atlas eraand demanded whether the Royal Pre- '^^, fents were in readinefs. The reft of my Companions were in an huge amazement, whence this Kingfhould arife, for they imagined no other buc that they muft again awahn him* We fuffered them to continue in their woncierment, and carried our felvesasif it feemed ftrangc to us too.

After Adas''' oration out fteps our old Man, mailing fomewhat a larger reply, wherein he At'anti wifhcd the King and Qiieen all happi- ^lenS? * nefs and iacreafe, after which he delivered up a curious fmuU Casket, but ?^^?/'^*'?"" what was m It, I know not; only itrumatfert was commited to Cupid, who hovered ^"p^^<»« between them both to keep. After the oration was finillicd, they again let ofFa joyful Voile of Shot, and fo we failed on a good time together, till ac length we arrived at another Shore. This was near the firlt Gate at which I firft entred : At this place again there attended a great Multitude ofthcKing's Family together with fome hundreds of

Horfcs. Now as foon as wc were come to fhorc, and difcrtibarqued, the King^ and Queen prefcnted their Hands to all of us one with another with fingu- lar kindncfs v and fo we were to get up on Horfeback. Here I defirc to have the Reader friendly intreatcd ndt to interpret the following Narration to any vain glory or pride of miile, but to credit me thus far, that if there had rci been a fpecial nccefllty in it J could v-:i y well- have utterly concealed this ?ooordc honour which was fhewed nte. We i'ui vr ce all one after another diftributed , ,. ,^ ..iiougft the Lords. But oiir o/V Lord, ^.uratjuT. and I molt unworthy, were to ride n r r. i. ^^^^ ^j^j^ ^^^ King, each of us bearing afnovv whitcEnilgriy With a ^e^Crofs ; I indeed was made nfe of becaufc of my Age, for we both had long ^rty Beards, and Hair. I had befidcs fafbencd my tokens roundabout nty Hat, of which the young Kiqg fooil took notice, and demanded if I rttre he, who cohU At the Cats redeem thtft tohns ? I anfwcrcd in ^cl?>ra^^oI moft humble manner. Yea. But he

morale cr jaughed en me, faying. There hefice^ forth needed no Ceremony ^ / X9^s H I S Partr. Fnther. Then he asked me, Wheremtfy ihad redeemed thetn ? I replied, with Wm^ l^^l'^^ ' ircr and Salt : whereupon he wondred \vho had made me fo wife ; upon which i grew fomewhat more confident, and recounted unto him how it had happened to me with my Bread^th^ Dove, and the Raven, and he was pleafed with itf and faid exprefly. That it mufi needs he^ that God hxd herein vouch fafed me afm^ gnlar happnefs. Herewith we came to the £rft gate where thePorter with the blevr Cloaths waited, who bare in his Hand i fupplicatiori. Now as Toon as he fpied tne even with the King,hc delivered mc t\^z[ufpll9Mien^ moft humbly befeeching mc CO mention his ingenuity towards me before the King .* Now in the firfb place I demanded of the King,what the ^'"^55^*^^^^ condition of this Porter was?who friend - 25. puis. ly anfWered me^That he woi a iieryfat^»0Hs ^]j,Jy[^ And rare h^xolo^tx^and always in high re- fa^«« p«»^ , gardvfiththe Lord his Father. Bnt having on 4 time committed a fault againft Venus, and beheld her in her BedofreJl'^Thisfunifhi mem was therefore imfofed yfon him^that he pjouldfo long wait at the fir fi Gate^ till feme one (hould releafc him from thence.l replicd,may he then be releafed?rej/aid the King, ifartyontcaniff found that hath Ai M highly

^^tiioi* ei«'. /j/^Wy tranfgrcffcd^i hlmfclf^he mtifijlanaf rcmprodi! inhts fit^d^and the Other ^^Ehc free. This n tur a porti- v7 ord wciitto my Heart,for my ConfcL- ■ *^^'^' cncc convinced me that I was the offend- ,€r jet I held my peace,& herewith deli= Vered the fupplication.As fbonas he had reaH it,hc was mightily tcrrified,fo that tlie Queen, who (with bnr Virgins,and that other Queen bcfides, of whom I itjade mention at the hanging of the v' 'eights)rid juft behind us obferved it, , therefore asked him,what this Letter .night fignifie. But he had no mind that he fhould take notice of it, but putting up the Paper,began to difcour fe of other matters, till thus in about three hours time we came quite to the Caftlc^whcrc Afius in ^^ alighted, and waited upon the King arc«. into his fcrementioned Hall. Immediately the Kng called for the old AtUs to come to him in a little Clofct,and fhews cd him the writing, who made no long tarrying, but rid out again to the Porter to take better Cognizance of the matter. After which the young King with his Spoufe, and other Lords, LaviVgLutlf. dies and Virgins fate down. Then began our Virgin highly to commend the diligence we had ufed, ^nd theV .. ' '* pains

'pnrns and labaur we had undergone, requcfling we might be royally rcwardded, and that fhe henceforward might be permitted to enjoy the benefit of her commiflTion. Then the old Lord flood up too, and attcftcd that all that the Virgin had fpoken was true, and that it was but equity that we fhould on both both parts be contented. Hereupon we were to ftcp out alittlc ; and it was concluded that each man fhould make fomc pofTible wifh, and accordingly obUinif,for it was not to be doubtedjbut that thofe of nnderft ending would alfo make the hsp wilh: So we were to confider of it till after Supper. Mcaniud-jsRctime the King and CLuecn for recrca-?'>cu^Rc* tions fake, began to fall to play toge-^"^** ther. It looked not unlike Chelle, only it had other Laws ^ for it was the Venues and Vices one againfl another, where it might ingenioully be obfervcd with what Plots the Vices lay in wair for the Vertues, and how to re-encoiinter them again. This was fo p^op^r-^rtlfic'ofi ly and artificially performed, that it were to be wilhed, that we had the like game too. During the game, in comes ^tUs again, and makes his reM 2 port

port in pnvjite, yet I blulhed all ov-n For my Confcience gave me no reft , after which the King prefentcd me the si'ppiicifio fiippiication to read , the Contents xvhercof were much to this purpofc : Firft he wifhed the King profperity, and increafe^ that his feed might be fpvead abroad far and wide: AfterwArdsT he remonftrated that the time V. as now accomplilhed, wherein accorc'nig to the Royal promife he ought to le reknfcd. Bccaufe Vetms was alrcaly uncovered by one of his Gucfts, for his obfervations could not lie to him. And that if his Majefty would plcafe to make a ftrid and diligent enquiry, he would lind that fhe had been uncovered, and in cafe this fbould not prove fo to be, he would be content to remain before the Gate all days of hisf life. Then he fued in the moft humble manner, that upon peril of Body and Life he might be permitted to be prcfent at this Nights fupper^ he was in good hopes to fpye out the very Offender, and obtain his wifhed freedom* This was exprcfly and handfomly indided, by which 1 Could well perceive his ingenuity, but it was too

jfharp for me, and 1 could well have endured never to have fecn It. Nosv I was calling in my minJ whciher he might perchance be helped through my wifh, fo I asked the King, whether he might not be releafed fome other way ? No,replyed the King, bccaufe there is a fpecial confideration in the bufinefs. However, for this Night, we may well v;ratifie him in his defire; fo he fcnt one forth to fetch him in. Mean time the Tables were prepared in a fpatious Room, in which w^e had never been before, which was fo compleat, and in TricimJum fuch manner contrived, that it is not 5''^'.' "''^'* pofTible for me only to begin to defcribe it. Into this we were conduded with fmgular Pomp, and Ceremony. Cupid ^"P'i^'^j'' was not at this time prefent. For fasnere^inLv.: I was informed ) the difgrace which had ^^ '^^'^''^*- bappened to his Moiher,had fomevvhnt angred him. In brief, my offence, and the Supplication which was delivered were an occafion of much fidnefs, for the King was in perplexity how to^-'j"'.^- make inquifition amcngft his Gueds,'^'' ^*'^' and the more bccaufe thus even they too, who weie yet ignorant of the matter, would come to the knowle.lge

M 3 of - of it. So he caufed the Pertcr himfclf^ who was already come, to make his ftrid fnrveigh, and fhewed hirrifclf as pleafant as he was able. Howbcit at length they began again to be merry, laetitiadi- and to bcfpeak one another with all icimiben- forts of rectcative and profitable dif - *'""^* courfes. Now how the treatment and other Ceremonies were then perform- '' e:\ it is notncceffary to declare, fmce' lis neither the Reader's concern, nor f:rviceable to my defign. But all ex- ■^teded more in art, and human invent'on, than that we were overcharged with drinking. And this was the hR^ and nobleft Meal at which I was prefent. After the Bancket the Tables were fuddainly taken away, and certain curious Chairs placed round about in circle, in which vvc together ivith the King, and QLueen, both their old Men, the Ladies and Virgins, were td fit. After which a very handfom Page opened the abovemcntioned glorious Pcfv coenam little Book, when A'las immediately e^!u.^Tie! pl:^cing himfclf in the midit, began to gibus fuis. 1 efpeak ns to the enfuing purpofe- That his Royal Majcfty had not yet committed to oblivion the fervice wc had done ' him;,

bim, and how carefully we had attended our duty, and therefore by way of retribution had eleded all and each of us Knights of the Golden Stone- That it was therefore further ncccfTary not only once again to oblige our felves to- . wards his Royal Majefty, but to vow too upon the following Articles, and then his Royal Maje/ty would likewife know how to behave himfclf towards » his liege People. Upon which he., caufcd the Page to read over the Articles ; which were thefe. T. You my Lords the Knights^ fhall, fwear, that you fhall at no time afcribe your order. cither unto any Dm/, or Spirit, but only to God your Cnaior^ and his hand-maid Nature. IF. That you will Abominate all Whoredom , Incontinency and Uncleanefs, and not defile your order with fuch Vices. III. That you through your Talents , will be ready to afllll all thaL are wor* r thy, and have need of them. IV. That you dcfire not to employ this honour to wordly Pride and high Authority* V. That you fhall not be willing to live longer than God ^will have you. At this laft Article we could not fhoofc but laugh fufficiently, and it may well have been placed after the reft, only for a conceit. Now being to. prmi«gia. vow to them all by the King's Scepter, vre were afterwards wjth the ufual Ceremonies inftallcd Knights , and amongft other Privilcdges fet over Ignorance^ Poverty ^and Siclnefs ^ to handle them at our pleafure. And this was afterwards ratified in a little Chappel (whither we were coududcd in all Proce.inon) and thanks returned to God for it; Where I alfo at that time to the honour of God hung up my Golden Fleece and Hat, and left them there for an eternal memorial. And becaufe every one was there to write liis Name. Iwritthusj

SitmnjA Sciema nihil Scire] rr,CHRISTIJNVS ROSENCREVTS. Ec^HCS Aurti Lapidu. Anno,, 1459, Others writ othcrwife, and truly each ^ am i^ofteasfccmed him good. After which wcianturdawere again brought into the Hall^J^iiOTuiS where being fate down, we were admoniflied quickly to bethink our felves what every one would wifh. But the King and his party retired into a little . Clofet, there to give audience to our willies. Now each man was called in feTerally, fo that I cannot fpeakof any man's proper wifh, I thought nothing could be more praife-worthy than in honour of my order to demonftrate fome laudable vertue, And found too that none at prefent could be more famous, and coft me more Trouble than CrAtitHcle, Wherefore not regarding Autor opthat I might well have wilhcd fome- ^.^f ^'^e^awhat more dear and agreeable to my litori^ T"^* felf, I vanquilhed my fclf, and conclud- g"»tudiac, ed,evcn with my own pcril,to free the Toner my Bencfaftor, Wherefore being ing now called in, I was firft of all demanded, whether, having read the lupplication, I had obferved, or fufl^eded nothing concerning the pf^cndoV-? ^on which i began undauntedly to relate how all the bufinefs had pafled. ri^w through Ignorance I felj into that miftake, and fo offered my felf to undergo all that I had thereby demerited. Th^ King, and th« reft of the Lords wondered mightily at fo un-hoped for confelTion, and fo wilhed me to ftep afidc a little.

Now as fooa as I was cjled for in again, JtUs declared to me, that although it were grievous to the King's Majefty, that I whom he loved above others, was fallen into fuch a mifchance, yet becaufe it was not poffible for him to Tranfgrcfs his ancient ufages, he knew not how elfe to abfolve me, but that the other mufb be at Liberty , and 1 placed in his Head, yet he would hope that fome other would foon be apprehended, that fo I might be able to go home again. However, no releafe was to be hoped for,till the Marriage Feaft of his future Son. This Sentence had near coft me

my life, and I firft hated my felf and my twatling Tongue, in that I could not hold my peace, yet at laft I took courage, and bccaufe I confidered there was no remedy, I related how this Porter had bellowed a token on mc, and commended mc to the other, by whofe affiflance 1 flood upon the Scale, and fo was made partaker of all tkehonour and joy already received. And d^i^rtho-* therefore now it was but equal that I ^»*' ihould fhew my felf grateful to my Benefador : and becaufe the fame coulu no way elfc be done, I returned thanks for the fentence^ahd was willing gladly to fuflain fome inconvenience for his ..fake, who had been helpful to me in coming to fo high place. But if by . my wiih any thing might be efFeded, i wilhcd my felf at home again, and that fo he by me, and 1 by my wifli might be at Liberty. Anfvvcr was made me,that"the wilhing llretched not io far. However I might well wifh him free. Yet it was very pleafing to his Royal Majelly, that I had behaved my felf fo generoufly herein, but he was afFraid I rnijht 9:i\\ be ignorant, into what amiferable condition I had plunged ray felf through this my cu-. riofity. Hereupon the good man was pronounced free, and i with a fad heart was fain to ftcp afidc. After me the reft were called for too, who came jocundly out again, which was ftill more to my fmart -, for I imagined na other, but that I muft finifh ray life pnder the Gate. I had alfo many penfive thoughts running up and down in

Uncboiiiat rijyHead, what 1 fhould yet undertake,, and wherewith to fpend the time, at length Iconfidered that I was now old, ^.^^. and according to thecourfeof nature, had few years more to live ; And that Metus- thisanguifh and melancholy Life would eafily difpatch mc, and then ray doorkeeping would be at an end : And that by a moft happy Sleep I might quickly bring my felf into the Grave. I had fundry of thefc thoughts. Sometimes. it vexed me that 1 had fcen fuch galant things, and mufl be robbed of them. Sometimes it rejoyced mc that yet before my end 1 had been accepted to. all joy, and fliould not be forced fd (hamcfully to depart. Thus this was '{ the laft and worfl fhock that I fuftained: * ^ During thefe my Cogitations the reft were ready. Wherefore after Chcy, had received a good night from the King and Lords,each one was conduced into his Lodging* But I moft wretched Man had no body to fhew me the way, and yet mufl moreover fofFer my fclf to be tormented, and that I might be certain of my future fundion, I was Autor acfain to put on the Ring, which the ^ipitAnnv:' other had before worn. Finally, the '''"*' King exhorted me, that fiflce this was now the iaft time I was like to fee him in this manner : 1 fhould however behave my felf according to my place, and hot againll the order : Upoa which he took me alfoin his Arms, and Ji-fed me, all which I fo underllood, as if in the morning I mull fit at my Gate. Now after they had all a while fpoken friendly to mc, and at lafl pre - fented their Hands, committing me to the divine protedion ; I was by both the old Men, the Lord of the Tower, and Adas conducted into a glorious ^utordw

\ *'• '- -^ } ..bdglng, in which Hood three Beds, and each of us lay in one of them, where v\re yet fpent almoft two, &s. . Here ire wamtJg ^bout two Leaves in qMrt9j and he (the Anthor hereof) whereas he imagined he mnft in the morning he Do^r^Keejer^ returned 4 3 4 I r