Mensis Mysticus Sabbaticus (Cracow), part 1 of 5 (10–12 Apr. 1584)

MENSIS MYSTICUS SAOBATICUS, Pars prima ejusdem.

Tuesday morning, Anno 1584. Aprilis 10. stilo novo Gregoriano. CRACOVIAE.

AFter our divers prayers and contestation of our humility, obedience, and credit in these Actions: and being come now to Cracovia, the place sanctified, whereunto we were willed to make hast, &c. At lenth appeared Nalvage.

E K. He hath a Gown of white silk, with a Cape with three pendants with tassels on the ends of them all green: it is fur, white and seemeth to shine, with a wavering glittering. On his head is nothing, he hath no berd. His physiognomy is like the picture of King Edward the sixth; his hair hangeth down a quarter of the length of the Cap, somewhat curling, yellow. He hath a rod or wand in his hand, almost as big as my little finger: it is of Gold, and divided into three equal parts, with a brighter Gold than the rest. He standeth upon his round table of Christal, or rather Mother of Pearl: There appear an infinite number of letters on the same, as thick as one can stand by another. the table is somewhat inclined on one side: he standeth in the very middle; his garment covereth his feet: his breast seemeth smooth as the down remaining of a Swan, when all the feathers be off, so is his neck, &c. He is lean and longvisaged.

Δ. The infinite mercies of God be on us: and the light of his countenance shine on us; and his favourable countenance be on us.

Nal....... Amen, unto him that is, and was, and liveth for ever.

E. K. He looketh earnestly on his table, and turneth him to view it.

Nal....... All things are in order. Thus saith the Messenger of him which is the God of Wisdom. Is your worthinesse such, as you can merit so great mercy? or are your […] cleansed, and made apt to receive and hold the sweet liquor, pure understanding it self?

Δ.

Hath the Sun entred into your bowels, or have you tasted of the night-dew? Where are your wedding Garments; or after what sort do you provide for your marriage? Unseasoned you are and withered flesh, partakers of those things which make you holy: through which partaking and the secret providence of him that is the Highest, you became dignified to the end, and are sufficiently washed for the time of entrance. O stiff-necked people you deserve nothing, and yet you have the hire of such as labour. But, what, can corruption be partaker of those things that are incorruptible? or man, which savoureth in himself, can you savour also of the Almighty.

O you weaklings, O you of no faith, O you Cankers of the earth; Where is the shame you have; Where are the tears you let fall; Where is the humility you are taught to? Nay you are such as say in your hearts; if the Spring be fair, the Harvest is like to be good: If these thing come to passe, it is the finger of the Lord. But such is your imperfection, such are the fruits of the flesh, and the vanity of mortality.

Notwithstanding, consider that you are servants: Do therefore the will of your Master. You are become free: Be faithful and thankful to him that is the giver of liberty: Nay you are become children: partakers of the counsel of him that sitteth and seeth, and saith I am. Therefore be sober, faithful, and waver not, for the inheritance of your Father is great: your freedom is without recompence, and your Master the King of Justice.

Where are the people, or in what generation did they dwell, that hath been thus acquainted and drawn into familiarity with the true Servants and Angels of God? Unto whom have those mysteries been opened. Is it not said, of those that are sanctified, The Lord appeared unto them in a vision: But he cometh to you when you are awake: Unto them he came unlooked for, unto you he cometh requested. Arise up therefore, and be not forgetful what the Lord hath done for you; for the things of this World are not, until they be done, neither is there any thing assured, but by the end.

It was said unto Abraham, And I will destroy them. He believed it; but he asked not, when. Great is the reward of Faith; for it giveth strength: But those that are faithful are not of this world. Notwithstanding, you have said, (as it was said by the Disciples to Christ, when they were yet unpure, and blind) When shall these things come to passe? Lord, what is meant by this, or that? Simple Faith excelleth all Science. For, Heaven and Earth shall perish in their corruption: But the voices of the Lord, much more his promises, are become Angels for ever: For as the Sun begetteth in the earth, and is father of many things that live in corruption and have end: So is the God of Heaven, the bringer forth and begetter of things celestial with life and for ever. For why, Dixit & factum est, Every Idea in eternity is become for ever, and what is thought, is become a living creature. I teach you a mystery.

As the tree in sappy life, watering her self throughly, bringeth forth the ornaments of her own beauty: So the spiritual part of man being good and dignified, burnisheth himself, with his sound and faithful thought: I mean the glory and shew of his own beauty; for the soul of man groweth, either with beauty to salvation, or with dishonour and filthinesse, to damnation.

I have done my Commandment. I have as a Schoolmaster warned you, and as a friend counselled you: I will also teach you.

[E. K. He speaketh in a thin small voice.]

Δ. He used a great pause, and silence.

E. K. He standeth and pointeth with his rod to the letters of his Table, as if he made some account or reckoning. He went out of the middle, and measured how may steps it is about.

Nal....... Pater, Filius, Spiritus Sanctus: Fundamentum, substantia, & principium omnium.

[E. K. Thought in his minde, rerum, and he answered his thought, saying, What need I say rerum? The Grammarians will be on my side. Omnium, is more than to say omnium rerum.]

E. K. This seemeth to be spoken by some other, in my imagination.

Nal....... Omnium, is the thing that is my charge.

E. K. He still conferreth place to place, &c. So. E. K. Now he standeth still.

Corpus omnium.... E. K. He pointeth to the whole or round table which he standeth on.

1. The substance is attributed to God the Father.

2. The first circular mover, the circumference, God the Son, The finger of the Father, and mover of all things.

3. The order and knitting together of the parts in their due and perfect proportion, God the Holy Ghost. Lo, the beginning and end of all things.

E. K. He still counteth and conferreth places and letters together.

Nal....... Lo, it is divided into 4 parts: whereof two are dignified: one not yet dignified, but shall be: the other without glory or dignification.

E. K. He seemeth to point to some divisions.

Nal....... Understand God, as the substance of the whole, (as above said.)

E. K. He counteth again.

Nal....... The substance of this part is called Vita.

E. K. He pointeth to the uppermost part.

Nal....... Called Vita Suprema. See here three small lines.

[E. K. Those three small lines appear in the uppermost parcel.]

Say... Gaudium, [pointing to the uppermost line.

Say... Praesentia [pointing to the second.]

...... Laudantes or Triumphantes [pointing to the third.]

E. K. Now he beginneth to account in the second portion,

Nal....... The Continent, Vita. [He counteth again.

E. K. The four portions are of equal widenesse, but not of equal clearnesse; and that about the center is of fuskish or leadish colour.

E. K. Now he sheweth three small lines in the second portion. He seemeth to speak to himself somewhat.

Nal....... Say...... Potestas.... to the first line pointing. Motus...... to the second; Ministrantes..... to the third.

E. K. Now he proceedeth to the third circular portion.

Nal....... This Continent is also Vita [pointing to the third portion] non dignificata, sed dignificanda.

Nal..... See.... E. K. There are also three lines, Actio..... in the first line. Factum..... in the second. Confirmantes..... in the third. Sirha, this is true Logick.

[Δ. He said so to E. K. who now gave himself to study Logick diligently.]

E. K. Now he standeth trembling.

Nal....... Oh qualis est Justitia inter miseros?

Δ..... Sed, mors est quae peperit hanc vitam.

Vita est etiam haec, sed quae peperit mors.

• Say..... Luctus..... Here seem three lines also.
• Discordia..... Here seem three lines also.
• Confundantes..... Here seem three lines also.

Those that do their duty shall receive their reward. Let my diligence teach you diligence.

Be not angry, because you do not understand: These be means to understand. E. K. confessed that he was very angry.

Nal...... Pray unto God, for I am resisted.

Δ. Deus in adjutorium nostrum intende, &c.

Say.... Vita Suprema. [pointing to the uppermost line of all.] I find it (by addition) in this Language, I ad, but written thus, toward the left hand, in three angles

Say..... Gaudium..... Mox. I find it is a name ascending and answereth to the two extremes of I ad in this manner.

Δ. I pray you, is Mozod, a word of three letters, or of five?

Nal...... In wrote three, it is larger extended. [Δ. z extended is zod.]

Δ. Will you pardon me if I ask you another question of this extension?

Nal...... Say on: Moz in it self signifieth Joy; but Mozod extended, signifieth the Joy […] God.

Δ. No word in his radical form is extended.

Nal...... These doubts will at length grow easie.

Praesentia..... I find it called Zir.

So.....

This Lesson is greater than any that was learned in Cracovia this day.

Nal....... Potentia..... But say, Vita secunda. I ad but thus.

I will teach you here after the distinction of them.

Δ. You mean of I ad diversly fignifying.

Say...... Potestas..... I find it Bab. It doth ascend from the right hand to the left.

Motio..... I find it Zna.

They will not fall out so, but they will fall out well enough.

Nal....... Vita tertia....... I ad.

Δ. I pray you, what is of Ministrantes?

Nal...... Look you to your Charge.

• Actio..... Sor
• Factum..... Gru

..... Vita, quae etiam est mors.

• Luctus..... Ser
• Discordia..... Off

If the order of the Table be ex spiritu Sancto,

The substance of the Father; How shall we gather the Circumference, which is the Son?

The Son is the Image of his Father: Therefore, in his death, he must be the Image of his father also.

If substantia be in forma Crucis, then the Son is the Image of his Father.

............. Laudantes....... Luach.

Δ. The rest I pray you to deliver us.

Nal....... Bear with me, for it is easie for you, but hard for me.

• Ministrantes...... Lang.
• Confirmantes..... Sach.

Δ. Now.

Nal...... When I know, you shall.

Δ. As Sach.

God be merciful to man.

It is so terrible, that I tremble to gather it.

Confundantes..... Urch.

Thus I have made plain this body generally: The particulars are long, hard, and tedious.

Thy name be blessed, O God, which canst open a means, whereby thy powers immediate may be opened unto man. Power, glory, and honour, be unto thee, for thou art the true body of all things, and art life eternal.

E. K. Now he is suddenly vanished away with the Table.

Deo nostro sit omnis laus & gratiarum actio nunc & in sempiterna seculorum secula.

Amen.

Thursday, Mane, Aprilis 12. 1584. […].

Δ. Some delay upon our prayers made, at length appeared Nalvage in shape and […] as last before: He standeth still.

Nal....... Benedictum sit nomen Domini in aeternum.

Δ. Amen.

Nal....... Audite mei fratres patienter.

The Godhead in his secret judgement keeping in his Almighty bosom, the image and form of all things, universally, looked down upon the Earth; for he said, Let us now go down among the sons of men: He saw that all things grew contrary to their creation and nature; either keeping their dignities and secret vertues shut up in obscurity, or else riotously perishing, through the imbecility and frowardnesse of ignorance: So that it was said, Behold, I delight not in the World: The Elements are defiled, the sons of men wicked, their bodies become dunghills, and the inward parts (the secret chambers of their hearts) the dens and dungeons of the damned: Therefore I will draw my spirit from amongst them, and they shall become more drunken, and their ignorance such as never was: No, not since the fall of he avens.

For, lo, the time is come, And he that is the Son of Unrighteousnesse, is and liveth: Unto him therefore shall be given strength and power: and the Kings of the Earth shall become mad: yea, even raging mad; yea even in the third madnesse, and that in the depth of their own imaginations; and I will build my Temple in the Woods, yea even in the Desert places; and I will become a Serpent in the wildernesse: for I have tucked up my garments and am fled away, and She shall mourn on the Mountains without comfort.

Lo, the Thunder spake, and the earth became misty, and full of fogge, that the Soul of man might sleep in his own confusion. The second Thunder spake, and there arose spirits, such as are for Sooth-sayers, Witches, Charmers, and Seducers: and they are entred into the holy places, and have taken up their seats in man. Woe be unto the earth therefore: For, it is corrupted. Woe be unto the earth, for she is surrendred to her adversary: Woe be unto the earth, she is delivered into the hands of her enemy: Yea, Woe be unto the sons of men, for their vessels are poysoned. But even then said the Lord, Lo, I will be known in the wildernesse, and will Triumph in my weaknesse.

And lo, he called you, and you became drunken, and foolish with the spirit of God: And it was said Descend, for he calleth, and hath called: and Raphael that brought up the prayers descended: and he was full with the power, & spirit of God: and it became a Doctrine, such was never from the beginning: Not painted, or carved: filed, or imagined by man, or according to their imaginations, which are of flesh: but simple, plain, full of strength, and the power of the holy Ghost: which Doctrine began, as man did, nakedly from the earth: but yet, the image of perfection. This selfsame Art is it, which is delivered unto you an infallible Doctrine, containing in it the waters, which runne through many Gates: even above the Gate of Innocency, wherein you are taught to finde out the Dignity and Corruption of nature: also made partakers of the secret Judgements of the Almighty to be made manifest, and to be put in execution. Which knowledge in you is to be made perfect: two wayes, by power, mediate, and immediate. Immediately from God, in respect of his will, and secret Judgements, as unto the Apostles. By means and tradition, as from us, opening the substance and body of nature, according to our own image, which is the thing I have now in hand. I am therefore to instruct and inform you, according to your Doctrine delivered, which is contained in 49 Tables. In 49 voyces, or callings: which are the Natural Keyes, to open those, not 49. but 48. (for One is not to be opened) Gates of understanding, whereby you shall have knowledge to move every Gate, and to call out as many as you please, or shall be thought necessary, which can very well, righteously, and wisely, open unto you the secrets of their Cities, & make you understand perfectly the contained in the Tables. Through which knowledge you shall easily be able to judge, not as the world doth, but perfectly of the world, and of all things contained within the Compasse of Nature, and of all things which are subject to an end.

But behold, this charge of mine is tied unto time: Therefore be diligent to learn, diligent to hear, and that with patience: For it is neither a free School, nor a School of continuance. For as power is not given unto me beyond the first day of August next, so have you no strength to learn after, because I am the staff of your Doctrine.

Note. Take time while time is, for time will away. August next.

Nal...... I am for the comfort of the world; and not for the hindrance: Thus sayeth the Lord. To them that have Harvest let them reap, and unto such as have labour let them work. As for me, I am tied to time, and am ready at all times: For I measure not your night, nor day.

Δ. Thanks be unto the highest.

Nal...... Cease now with me, for no more descendeth.

Soli Deo Honor & Gloria.

After-noon, the same Thursday...... After some short Ejaculations of prayers to God, there appeared a great black masty Dogge: with whom I would have nothing to do, but expect Nalvage. He said, that he was Nalvage. We rebuked him as an Hell-hound. At length he departed, and Nalvage appeared; but brighter then to day.

Nal...... Have you those things I told yout to day?

Δ. We have them in record and minde.

Nal...... Read them......

Δ. I did read them.

E. K. He laugheth, ha, ha, ha, &c. a great laughter: He hath also a Table, but seemeth not to be like the former Table of Nalvage. There are ten, or eleven divisions in this Table, as was not in the former Table.

Δ. If thou art Nalvage, proceed in the Doctrine of wisdom, if thou are not Nalvage, depart in the name of Jesus.

...... I have free will, and therefore I will be here.

Δ. Now I doubt nothing, but thou art a deceiver. [Audite:] The ignorance of the wicked becometh dust: which shewing it self is swept out of doors, and thrown on the Dung-hills.

E. K. Now appeareth one like true Nalvage.

Nal...... Even so is it of the [] for thou hast opened thy blasphemy: and being discovered, art become more accursed: Therefore because thou art accursed, thou art not dignified; but become a Vessel of iniquity: And therefore hast no free-will. For, free-will either is, or is in state to be dignified. Therefore, as dust I sweep thee out: and cast thee into that Dunghill; which is the place of the greatest woe: the Dunghill, and the reward of the unrighteous. And, because thou hast thrust thy self into the Judgements of the Lord: and hast heard the secrets of the Almighty: Therefore I seal thee tanquam truncus in Infernum.

E. K. He striketh him with an yern, like a pair of tongs; in form of a Mould to cast Pellets in: griping his brain and underchaps, and so he fell down and disappeared: and in his place came Nalvage.

E. K. Nalvage maketh cursie toward the four quarters of the vvorld. Nal....... My Us is as good as thy Um.

E. K. In his heart thought that it might be, that now one Devil mastered another, and thereupon said Um.

E. K. He is now accounting again on his Table as he did before.

Nal...... Vnto this Doctrine belongeth the perfect knowledge, and remembrance of the mysticall Creatures. How therefore shall I inform you, which know them not?

Δ. Mean you as Babyon Boboyel, &c.

Nal....... The Characters, or Letters of the Tables.

Δ. You mean the mystical Letters, wherein the holy book is promised to be written: and if the book be so written and laid open before us, and then you will from Letter to Letter point, and we to record your instructions: Then I trust we shall sufficiently understand, and learn your instructions.

Nal...... Also in receiving of the calls, this is to be noted: that they are to be uttered of me, backward: and of you, in practise, forward.

Δ. I understand it, for the efficacity of them; else, all things called would appear: and so hinder our proceeding in learning.

Nal....... D P C E T E I R S M S S S

E S A I I M M N S E S.

E. K. All this was in one line; in the lowermost portion: and lowermost line thereof.

Nal...... I E E E E T N O E D M E T M M M

M M D M A E T S E A M.

E. K Now he standeth still.

Nal...... A E R T I S A N S S E A S D M M S E A O A

V I I I I A O A O I I V I T S E I T T

S D A I N.

E. K. These seemed to be taken out of divers lines, in the three lovver portions; but none out of the uppermost, or fourth.

Nal...... R S H D D S R R E S O L S N R E R E E

S F R H E I E E E E I E E O E T I S O E

R T T H D E O I S E O E S M E T F E D E

T S E E E E E R S E S E O R S M E T

D. R. F E D E T S E E E R S E

(E E R)

S I S E H E N O E S M E F S F E E D I [I / E] O E

S S S I S E O E S H E

D S D F T E I E O R S O E D H T E T

O E S H E O T R T E R E O E H S E R

E E I R E S R I S O E H E E D E I E H E

D T R N D D H D N.

The rest of this Lesson, the next morning.

Δ. After the correcting of certain places before in the Letters he said. I feel no more.

Δ. Thanks and honour be to the highest for ever.

Amen.