ROBERT FLOOD. tance like four crows. 363 The distant wooded hills showed There was no wind. The air was warm faint to the eye. Robert Flood was a Brother of the Rosy-Cross. He is called the English Rosicrucian. To those who never heard his name, the titles of his books will suffice to prove the wonderful extent of his erudition, and the strange, mystical character of the man. We would warn every inquirer to place not the least reliance upon any account which they may meet of Robert Flood in any of the ordinary biographies, or in any Encyclopædia or other book professing to give an account of the Rosicrucians. We beg the curious not to believe one word-except dates, and scarcely these —that are to be found in accepted scientific treatises, or otherwise, purporting to speak of Flood, or of his compeers. These are all at fault-and ignorant-particularly and generally. Robert Flood was the second son of Sir Thomas Flood, Treasurer of War to Queen Elizabeth. The name was originally Lloyd, and the family came from Wales. Robert Flood was born at Milgate House, of which edifice one corner still remains built in the manor-house which was erected on its site when the old house fell to ruin. Milgate House is situated near Bersted. Flood was born in the year 1574. He was entered at St. John's College, Oxford, in 1591. He travelled for six years in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. He was a member of the College of Physicians, London. He was M.B., M.D., B.A., and M.A. The latter degree he took in 1605. He began to publish in 1616. He died at his house in Coleman Street, London, in the year 1637. Flood is also stated by Fuller to have lived in "Fanchurch" Street. The list of Flood's works comprise the following: 1. "Utriusque cosmi, majoris et minoris, Technica Historia." Oppenheim, 1617. In Two Volumes, Folio. 2. "Tractatus Apologeticus integritatem societatis de Rosea-Cruce defendens." Leyden, 1617. 3. "Monochordon mundi symphoniarum, seu replicatio ad apologiam Johannis Kepleri." Francfort, 1620. 4. "Anatomia Theatrum triplici effigie designatum." At the same place, 1623. 5. "Philosophia Sacra et vere Christiana, seu Meteorologia Cosmica." At the same place, 1626. 6. "Medicina Catholica, seu, Mysterium Artis Medicandi Sacrarium." The same, 1626. 66 7. Integrum Morborum Mysterium." The same, 1631. 8. "Clavis Philosophiæ et Alchymiæ." The same, 1633. 9. "Philosophia Mosaïca." Gondæ, 1638. IO. Pathologia Dæmoniaca." The same, 1640. The above account of Flood's Rosicrucian works is from "Fuller's Worthies." There are notices of Dr. Flood in the "Athenæ et Fasti Oxoniensis," in Chalmers' " Biographical Dictionary" under the names of "Flood," "Mersenne," and " Gassendi," in Granger's "Celebrated Characters," and in Renaudot "Conferences Publiques," tom. iv. page 87. Also in Brucker. Upon Flood's monument there are two marble-books bearing the following titles:-"Misterium Cabalisticum," and "Philosophia Sacra." There were originally eight books represented in all; "studding" the front of the tablet (as the look of it may be described). The inscription to his memory is as follows :— "viii. Die Mensis vii. A°.D., M.D.C.XXXVII." (8th September 1637). "Odoribus vrna vaporat crypta tegit cineres nec speciosa tvos ovod mortale minvs tibi. Te commitimus vnum ingenii vivent hic monumenta tui nam tibi qui similis scribit moritur-que sepulchrum pro tota eternum posteritate facit. Hoc monumentum Thomas Flood Gore Covrte in-oram apud Cantianos armiger infœlissimam in charissimi patrui sui memoriam erexit, die Mensis Augusti, M.D.C.XXXVII." In the life of the astronomer Gassendi will be found some mention of the career, and of the distinctions, of Robert Flood. A work of Gassendi's bearing the title-" Epistolica Exercitatio, in qua precipua principia philosophia Roberti Fluddi deteguntur, et ad recentes illius libris adversus patrem Marinum Mersennum scriptos respondetur,”—was printed at Paris in 1628. This piece was reprinted in the third volume of Gassendi's works published at Paris in 1658, under the title of "Examen Philosophiæ Fluddanæ," THE SOCIETY SECRET AND UNKNOWN. 365 &c. Flood wrote two books against Mersennus, who had assailed his philosophy. The title of the first book was-" Sophia cum moria certamen, in quo lapis Lydius a falso structore Patre Marino Mersenno, monacho reprobatus, voluminis sui Babylonici in Genesi figurata accurateexaminat." This work was published in Folio at Francfort in 1629. The name of the second book was "Summum bonorum, quod est verum magiæ, Cabalæ, Alchymiæ, Fratrum Rose-Crucis Virorum, subjectum indictarum scientiarum laudem, in insignis calumniatoris Fr. Mar. Mersenni dedecus publicatum, per Joachim Frizium, 1629. In this Book, which we now bring to a close in its Second Edition, we have traced and expounded the philosophy of the authentic Rosicrucians, as developed in the folios of the celebrated Dr. Flood-" Robertus de Fluctibus." We are the first Author who has brought forward Flood's name to the reading world, justified his claims, and made him known through the most laboured and long-studied translation with continual reference to hundreds of books in all languages, dead and living, which bore reference to Flood's sublimest philosophical speculations. All the world has heard of the Rosicrucians-few or none have ever taken the trouble to ascertain whether the stupendous and apparently audacious claims of these philosophers were rightly or wrongly estimated-that is, whether to be adjudged as founded on the rock of truth, or seeking steadiness and root only in the sands of delusion. The Author began his inquiries, in the year 1850, in a spirit of the utmost disbelief; thus taught by the world's assumptions and opinions. Much of this indoctrinated preoccupation the wise man has to unlearn in his progress through life. Fogs, and prejudices, and prepossessions cleared from the Author's mind as he advanced. After the very considerable space of twenty-eight years of study of the Rosicrucians, the author of this work ends: (as he ends.) Let the candid reader, himself, judge in what frame of mind the Author of the "Rosicrucians' concludes. How should any one complete an inquiry in regard to the Majestic Brothers of the Rosy Crossotherwise the Rosicrucians? The story of the Rosicrucians is of the widest interest. The proof of this fact lies in the accumulation of letters from persons in every condition of life addressed to the Authors of the present work since the publication of the First Edition from all parts of the world; anonymously, or with particulars of names, &c. The celebrated author of the "Confessions of an English Opium Eater" (Thomas de Quincey), in his "HistoricoCritical Inquiry into the Origin of the Rosicrucians and the Free-Masons," originally published in the London Magazine of January 1824, also continued in the succeeding number, has this remarkable passage: "Rosicrucianism is not Freemasonry. The exoterici, at whose head Bacon stood, and who afterwards composed the Royal Society of London, were the antagonist party of the Theosophists, Cabbalists, and Alchemists. At the head of whom stood Fludd; and from whom Freemasonry took its rise." Thus we leave the Rosicrucians-as men-(just as we ought to leave them)-in the same mystery as that state of really impenetrable mystery in which we find them. Let the mask and the "mystery" still remain before them, concealing them and their purposes in the world.-As it is enjoined ! The "Rosicrucian Cross on a 'Calvary.'" Pyramid. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. THE FIRST. NOTICE OF AN ANCIENT WORK. THE following extraordinary work-which is so rare and so valuable (see below) in its original edition, that we have reason to believe the Authors of the "Rosicrucians" can congratulate themselves in being the possessors, in all probability, of the only copy in existence-was suppressed, wherever found, on its appearance. The author, in reality, was never known. It is considered probable that this book had a paramount effect in bringing about, and in compassing the success of, the Reformation. esse. "Disputatio Nova contra Mulieres; Qua Probatur eas Homines non Anno, M.D.XCV. Theses de Mulieribus quod Homines non sint. Cum in Samaria, ut in campo omnis licentiæ, liberum sit credere et do cere, Jesum Christum, Filium Dei Salvatorem et Redeptorem animarum nostrarum, una cum Spiritu Sancto non esse Deum, licebit opinor etiam mihi credere, quod multo minus est, mulieres scilicet non esse Homines, et quod inde sequitur, - Christum ergo pro iis non esse passum, nec eas salvari. Si enim non solum in hoc regno tolerantur, sed etiam a magnatibus præmiis afficiuntur, qui blasphemant Creatorem, cur ego exilium aut supplicium timere debeo, qui simpliciter convicior creaturam? præsertim cum eo modo ex Sacris literis probare possim, mulierem non esse hominem, quo illi probant Christum non esse Deum." "Admonitio Theologica Facultatis in Academia Witebergensi, ad scholasticam juventutem, de libello famoso et blasphemo recens sparso, cujus titulus est :-'Disputatio Nova contra Mulieres, qua ostenditur, eas homines non esse.' Witenbergæ. Excudebat Vidua Matthæi Welaci, Anno M.D.XCV. (1595).” 66 'Defensio SEXUS MULIEBRIS, Opposita futilissimæ Disputationi recens editæ, qua suppresso Authores et Typographi nomine blaspheme contenditur. Mulieres Homines non Esse. Simon Gediccus |