Mysteriorum Pragensium Confirmatorum Liber; Mysteria Stephanica (Cracow), part 3 of 4

1585. ✚ Cracoviae.

Aprilis 24. in Easter-week.

Wednesday morning, […] horam 8.

Orationibus factis ad Deum, tam oratione Dominica, quamaliis particularitur respectu Ministerii […], qui regnis president obtinendi, ut nobis praescriptum […], & dum conarer particulariter nominare aliquem, statim incipit E.K. & […]—

E. K. There appeareth afar off a woman comming, and she is here now, she is all covered in green, as with a cloud: I may through it discern her fair face, and her hairs dispersed abroad.

The place about her seemeth to be concave, replenished with light of the Sunne: she standeth as in a hollow shell, or Oval figure concave.

..... Stephen, lift up thy head amongst the stars of Heaven; for the Spirit of God is with thee, and thou art become the Darling of the Highest, but the Lord will reprehend thee for thy sins.

Behold, thou shalt stand, and thy sword shall be made holy: See therefore that you honour him, labour for him and obey him, as the anointed and […] of the Lord.

For why, his spirit shall be plentiful amongst […], and he shall put the pillow of rest under your heads.

E. K. The more she speaketh, the more the place is bright.

..... The Prince of Darknesse shall lie as a stumbling block in his way, but he shall stride over him without offence.

The earthly Creatures have not to do in this receptacle:

Therefore take heed thou defile it not.

If thou follow the rules of calling them, thou shalt see that the air is their habitation.

Other wayes irregularly they appear in such vessels: But such as are prepared for them.

Take heed (therefor) thou defile not the place of the Justified, with the presence of those that are accursed.

But as they are of two sorts; so let their appearing places be divers.

Thy servant is conducted, and shall not stumble, but shall return, that the name of God may be blessed.

Now cease thy voice for our presence, until the Lord hath rebuked Stephen, in the consideration whereof consisteth the seal of his Election.

Verbum shall be the first word wherein the Lord shall shew himself unto him.

Behold, I am full of the light of heaven, and I shut up and go.

E. K. She is gone

Δ Note, all those things I intended or desired to be satisfied in, are answered me without my asking.

Misericordia, Pax, & Lux Dei nobis semper adsint omnis autem laus, honor, & gloria sit Deo nostro,

Amen.

Notae […].

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

May 6, & 7, 8. E. K. was very unquiet in mind, and so expressed to me in words: for that A. L. had not paid him his money, long since due: and chiefly for that he doubted very much of A. L. his turning to the Lord with […] his heart, and constantly. So much did A. L. his former life and ungodly living and dealing offend him, and so void was he of any hope, that he became in a great […] of mind to find us coupled with so […] a man. I shewed A. L. his last Letters, how he was in a […] of his own, belonging to the […] Rithwyan, (vvhich he had now by a stratagem won from the unjust delaying of his adversary) and what penance and contrition he was in, what meditations, and what godly purposes, &c. But E. K. would not hope of conversion, and thereupon utterly and […] intended with all speed to be gone from hence toward Prage, and willed me (if I would) to prepare my Letters He became very blasphemous against God to my great grief and terrour: what the issue thereof would be, so great was the […] and […] against God and his holy purposes in us, that almost greater could not be uttered. I used as quiet words as I could, assuring him of Gods mercies alwayes ready, and his helping hand for all such as put their trust in him, and call upon him in their […] and times of need, and so did betake him to God for that Tuesday night, being past 9 of the clock.

* Δ What should I then think or both them.

Wednesday morning, as I was at my prayers in my study over his Chamber, and had made declaration of this cause, and of the perplexity most grievous that I was in to see my friend and partner (E. K.) thus carried away with so grievous a temptation, so manifold and […].

E. K. yet lying in his bed, did call his brother Thomas to him, and willed him to callme to him: Thomas came (when I had in manner ended my devotions and prayers) for me, I went to him, yet lying in his bed: And after I had wished a good morrow, and sate by him on the Bench at his beds head, he began and said such matter as followeth,

E. K. A Spirit appeared to me this morning by my Bed-side, and bid me be quiet.

Bad me will you to go to morrow with both your servants to my Lord, as secretly as you could.

Bad you comfort him.

Bad you bring him with you.

Bad you to go to the King as you came homeward.

Bad me to board in the mean space with the Italian Doctor at Perins house.

Bad me lie here every night.

Hereupon I was most glad and joyful, and praised God for his marvellous mercies, loving kindnesse and goodnesse toward us, and declared my self assured that God had put out his term, and setled the degree: For the performance of his purposes and promises made to us, for his own honour and glory: And so with joy and thanks given E. K. for his courteous imparting these good news to me, I went about my businesse intended, which was to go to the Table of the Lord: as I was prepared for it, and so went to the Barnardines Church.

Soli Deo nostro sit omnis laus, honor, gloria, & gratiarum actio, nunc & semper, Amen.

Note, I had in my prayers alledged to God, that albeit I was in great perplexity and agony of mind, yet since I was willed to cease my voice for having at any angelical presence, I said he of his divine clemency and care over us, in these great desires might counsel us and direct us, though we did not urge our request as we were wont. The conclusion and shame which many wayes would follow, if this intended purpose of E. K. should go forward and take place) was so great, that we might seem to the world, to have been led to that evil end, by a manifold digression, rather then otherwise led in mercy and verity, wherein I requested God to regard his own honour and glory, &c.

✚ Cracovia,

Maij 20.

Monday à meridie horam circiter 6. in mansio meo.

NOTE Δ.

Δ

E. K. sitting with me in my study, told me, that after my going to Rithian to the Lord Lasky, he had very many apparitions, and divers matters declared unto him, of the state of Christendom, &c.

He said (moreover) fault was found with my manner of standing before Stephen, I should have made some more ample declaration of my Calling and knowledge in these our actions. Secondly, that I did mistake the phrase spoken unto me at Prage of the rod binding up: For he said, that Michael Dee should die, that I should thereby be afflicted, and divers such things he told me, and among other that he was willed to be ready to leave me, when he should be called: for, he said, our actions shall be cut off, for some of our unworthinesse, &c. All which things were so grievous unto me, as I was (in manner) ready to sound; and my distresse was the greater, because (after a sort) I was barred from requiring the presence of any of our spiritual friends, till Stephen had been rebuked by the Lord, and I had vowed to obey their commandments and instructions, whereby I was driven to beseech God to consider my cause and grief, who unfainedly desired to be his true Servant: And being desirous to obey them, staying of my voice for the presence of his good Ministers, I was contented to offer up my obedience herein for a sacrifice; and ready to receive this distresse and affliction, as a punishment for my […], awaiting his will and pleasure.

1585. Aprilis. Our actions to be cut off for our […].

E. K. said, It shall not be amisse to bring forth the Shew-stone, and assay what the good will of God would be herein.

Δ I fetcht the Shew-stone, and after it had been set about a quarter of an hour. E. K. Espied in it a little naked boy, with a white cloth scarf, from under his Navel hanging down unto his knees; The hair of his head is short as of an young child: [and about that time came the Lord A. L. unto us, who sat down by us:] He had a little Circle of aire in his hand: There is a light in the stone as if there were the shining of the Sunne in it.

Puer..... Creavit Deus omnia Spirituoris sui qui etiam Spiritus, defendit & defendet suos, & in nomine […] sperantes.

E. K. He throweth up his Circlet, and catcheth it againe, three times; He standeth still, and saith nothing more yet.

Puer..... Perforatus à Domino, loquor.

E. K. Now he is turned into a water which goeth round about, and in the midst of it is bloud.

Now he is returned to his former shape again.

Puer..... The end of all flesh is at hand.

And the sickle of the Highest shall reap down the Mountaines; The Valleys shall be without fruit: And the seed of man shall be accursed.

E. K. Now he turneth his face to you [Δ.]

Puer..... Who is he that the Lord rejoyceth in, or on whom the Heavens look with merry countenance, whose feet are not a burden to the earth, and in whom is the force of the soul comforted? Who is he that shall rejoice in the Lord? Even he it is that goeth out of himself, and beholdeth himself, saying, O thou Carcase thou art a Sepulchre for me; Neither am I placed in thee, for thine own beauty, but that the Lord may be magnified, and his Creatures dignified; He it is that shaketh off himself, and putteth on the Armour of Affliction, praising and extolling the Garland of the God of Hosts, before that great Whore, and in despite of her Congregation; He it is that forsaketh his own will, to do the will of him that created him; Whosoever (therefor) doth his own will, is the servant of Perdition; But he that expecteth the will of God is […].

Behold, therefore, because you do so, and have beheld your selves, not in your selves, have acknowledged the power of God, and the truth of his Message, your Honour shall be great: Therefore fear not, For, lo, This Garland is prepared for you: and rest is sealed unto you, of the Highest, unto you, your wives, children and servants.

Δ Blessed be thy Name for ever, O eternal, almighty, and most merciful, our God and King of Glory.

Puer..... If the Sunne shine not in vain, if the Stars move not, but by variation and discourse, moving things, alternatim, to an end, if the Earth stand still, because she is so created: Much lesse ought man to despaire in the mercies and promises of God, which are not without a cause, neither any time spoken without effect.

I remember thee (Lasky) saith the Lord; And I will chasten thee for thy sinnes, and behold, I swear unto thee, as I have done; But humble thy self. This body of thine shall turn into dust. Take beed therefore that it defile not the greater part; For unto him that dieth a sinner, vengeance is judgment. But if thou live according unto my Lawes, and graft thy self within my will, if thou forsake the World for my sake, and do the works of righteousnesse; Because I have called thee before me, I will adde unto thy yeares, and will not blot out thy Name out of my remembrance.

Be not therefore a Man, but the sealed servant of the Highest. Rejoyce in him that created thee, and when I command thee to strike, follow me, for I will make the way very broad for thee.

Behold, I am mindful of my Covenant made unto thee, the seventh day of September, in the year four score and three.

I will establish unto thee, that fortitude, both in true Wisdome and Victory: And I will make thee mighty as a Corner Stone […] Angle of my Temple: if thou turn, if thou do the will of him that speaketh unto thee: if thou become a marble stone, speaking Justice and Verity; The mysteries of thy Crosse light upon thee, and let thy sonnes be blessed in thee.

I greatly thirst after Steven, for the course of things are at hand,

Behold, I will blesse him, that he may leave blessing unto thee.

Behold, I will place thee unto him, as his right leg, and he shall stand.

But his wicked Garments I will cut in sunder, yea I will send in the fire of wrath and dissention: And I will take away the buttons from his brest.

I have given unto him three wicked Nations, that they may grinde under him as slavish Captives.

When I come in one Week, Behold, I strike, and those that are proud, become poor and desolace.

The outward face of things shall be changed; And the whole World shall say, Lo here, is the finger of the highest.

Rise Therefore, and with speed go before Steven; But the League Table thou shalt leave behind thee. I will reveal my self in thy proper Shew […].

Dixi: quaerite victoriam.

Δ Deo nostro Omnipotenti, Patri totus consolationis & misericordiarum plenissimo, sit omnis Honor. Laus, Benedictio, Gloria & Imperium, nunc & semper Amen, Amen, Amen.

Δ I did communicate, and this was the third time, within Easter receiving. Primo cum Humbate, & bis cum Raphaeli confessus, &c. That all manner of wayes I might have a clean and a quiet Conscience.

✚

Maii 22.

Wednesday, Nyepolonicze, in Aula Regia, circa horam 1½ à meridie.

Note, after dinner as we sat together, A. L. E. K. and I discoursing of some of our matters; There appeared over A. L. his head (to the sight of E. K.) a little Child half, the upper part holding over the head of A.L. a white Crown, and a finger out of it pointing toward Δ, and withal he said,

Puer..... Audivi te victores estis.

Δ Hereupon we sat out the Shew-stone, as being ready and desirous to be instructed, according as the cause chiefly required.

As I began to pray and study, Domino non sumus digni ut nos exaudias, suddenly E. K. said he saw as followeth.

E. K. I see a great Hill of fire, a very great Mountain, and it is as if it did hang in the aire: for I see the aire under it, and I see the Sun shine on it the Mountain fire flameth not.

Now the little boy that appeared last day, standeth on the top of this Mountain.

Puer..... God hath spoken unto you, and hath gathered you together, and lo, you are become a strong sword, with the which the Nations shall be cut down, and the God of Hosts shall stretch forth his hands; And behold, you are come, and now is the time you Satan shall reap But Satan […] sore against you; Behold, Lasky thou art become rich; But have faith: For it overcometh riches, and shall beautifie and strengthen thee, that thou shalt be able to receive reward for thy labour: For it is not a small labour to contend against sinne, I have brought thee unto Steven, And I will give him thee into thy hands: And because thou shalt see that God is not barren, I am of power; Hear me therefore saith the Lord, wilt thou that before thy face I shall destroy Steven for his wickednesse? wilt thou that I shall strike him with a perpetual Leprosie, or wilt thou that I shall correct him and leave him to do good unto thee? Now thou shalt see that I am not weak; Neither that my words are barren or without fruit: Ask therefore of the Lord, and before thou move it shall be given thee For thou dealest with him that is a flame of fire, and a two edged sword to the wicked, out of the Dunghil I chose him, out of nothing I can stirre thee up, and exalt thee, but thou must first be poor before thou be exalted, read the Scriptures and judge Now speak. E. K. He is gone.

Infinitae & incomprehensibiles sunt misericordiae tuae, O Deus, & Judicia tua sunt inperscrutabilia, […].

A. L. Domine Deus misericors, quanta est tua misericordia, quod me summum peccatorem tanta gratia prosequeris? […] sum Domine ante faciem tuam: Itaque Domine, quaeso, ne illum propter me deleas neque Lepra percutias: sed potius inspires in illum, ut mihi propterte, & à te, per illum bene fiat. Non quaero Domine divitias, sed gloriam tuam. Non nobis Domine, non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam. Et fiatmihi secundum voluntatem tuam Domine. Tu scis Domine, an hypocritice ago.

[…] mei […], miserere mei, sitque misericordia tua supra me & fiat voluntas tua, sicut in […], sic […] & in […], Atque nomen tuum sit benedictum in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

E. K. He is here againe.

Puer..... Saptens es tu, [A. L.] & plenus spiritu Dei: Non quaerens sanguine fratris tui igitur ben dictum, sis inter potentes hujus saeculi, & ab hac die spiritus meus nunquam à te discedet; & haec quia te humiliasti nam non […] sine causa

Puer..... And lo, I will correct him sharply: Ask therefore in what Language thou wilt have me correct him (for he is scarce worthy to hear that he may understand.)

E. K. He is gone.

A. L. Hungarice peto, ut ipse audiat ea quae illi sunt dicenda sic ita Divinae tuae placcuerit Majestati.

Puer..... Hungarie is hateful unto me; For it is full of iniquity; Neither will I speak unto him my self that he shall (yet) hear me. I will open my mouth in Latin for thy sake: and if he become obedient, I will also appear unto him my self and unto you all, in the spirit and presence of my Angel: But to overcome him by Miracles it needeth not, for by him the people are not edified, But by my words he shall understand, that I touch him, although Satan stand by him: unlesse it were for thy sake I would not withdraw my word and curse from him, for why, I am sufficiently advised, And I do but keep back the fire from him.

But go thou [A. L.] unto him, and speak unto him liberally, when he hath heard me, if he receive me, my blessing is upon him of necessity.

If he hear me not, I can easily unlock for I have the Key ready.

God the Father, God the Sonne, (unto whom all power is given in Heaven and Earth) with the fire of eternal comfort, which is the privy science and knowledge of the faithful; The Holy Ghost, be upon thee, and with thee for this day, thy [A. L) sinnes are blotted out of Gods remembrance.

I have no more to say.

Omnipotenti, tromendo & Solis Adorando Deo, & Domino nostro sit omnis gratiarum actio, Laus & Jubilatio, nunc & in omne aevium.

Amen.

✚ Nyepolonicze in Aula Regis Polonie.

Anno 1585.

Maii. 23. A meridie hora Circiter 6.

The King sent for the Lord Lasky and me, by his Vice-Chamberlaine, whom we came unto in a Chamber, within the Chamber or roome where he useth to give audience, or to eat with his Palatines and other: He sat by the Window which is toward the South, and by which his Prospect is into his new Garden, which is in making: He began thus, (the Lord Albert Lasky being by, and thereto willed by the King,) and said unto me very near as those words import.

St. Egit mecum Dominus Palatinus, ut vos audirem de rebus istis magnis & raris loquente: Quod libentur feci: & tamen hoc considerari debet, quod Prophetae omnes & revelationes jam diu & in tempore Christi cessaverunt. Tamen si […] in istis, contra Dei sit honorem, eo lubentius sunt audienda: Et ego quidem haud dubito quin Deus nunc possit multis modis secreta quaedam hominibus deligere, ad hac usque tempora, mandatis & inusitatis.

Hereupon I answered to this sence, although I cannot expresse the same words.

Δ Considero in ordine vestrae regia tria quasi capitala, in quibus totus ordinis vestrae est medulla. Primum de Prophetiaris, & revelationem cessatione, secundum; an aliquid in nostris actionibus, vel exercitiis insit contra Dei honorem: & tertium (quod animo meo est valde gratium) quod, Deo non praescribatis certos aliquos modos vel tempora quibus sua hominibus velit aut debeat secreta detegere. De primo, hoc possimus vestrae Majestati Reginae asserere, quod ille Scripturae locus haud recte à plurimis intelligeter: & ab […] pessime, qui velint omni modae. Dei potentiae & misericordiae & sapientiae praescribere certos modos, & tempora certa: asserendo nullorum hiis temporibus esse Prophetiam, vel post Christum fore: quia omnes in Christo cessavere: hoc est, quia omnes de illo quae erant Prophetiae felicet. De Dei filio in carne venturo & Messia vero, & redemptore generis humani futuro, (& de tota illa quam nos agnovimus & confitemur Christiani, completum & consummatum esse Christi historia) jam cessavere: adeo quod illa neque jam futura sunt ut putant Judaei, neque repetenda sunt, cum jam sunt consummata & peracta que madmodum Prophetae praenuntiabant nam ob hac causa cum Christus Jesus in cruce pendens scinisset, quod omnia de co Prophetia completa fuissent, & praecepimus scilicet omnium Prophetiarum (ante Christiano) scopus jam esset Collinatus, & Juxta praesentiam & propositum Dei redemptoris humane conscientiam esset mysterium ipse dixit consummatum est: Nam & Paulus dixit ad Judaeos, (namque […] omnia quae de co scripta erant, deponentes eum, de Ligno posuerunt eum in monumento. Et post Resurrectionem suam ipsammet Christus suis discipulis (pergentibus versus Castellum Emaus, & de illius morte & resurrectione disserentibus & […]) dixit, O stulti & tardi corde ad […] in omnibus quae […] sunt Prophetae: Nonne haec oportuit pati Christus, & ita intrare in gloriam suam, & incipiente a Moyse & omnibus Prophetis interpraetabitur illis in omnibus scripturis, quae […] ipsoerant, &c. & paulò post iterum ad eosdem vobiscum: Quoriam necesse impleriomnia quae scripta sunt in lege Moysi & Prophetis, & Psalmis de me.

Sed quantum ad alium sensum quod post Christum mille essent Prophetae vel relationes ipsam Scripturae planissime contrarium docent. Nam quod descendum erit de revelatione fine notabile illa Beati Joanni Apocalypsi quae post Christum […]? quae & ab eodem Joanne Propheta vocatur, dicendo Beatus qui legit & audit verba […]. hujus & servat ea qui in ea scripta sunt, & in ultimo Capite ejusdem Apocalypseos sine revelationes, ter, […] vocat Prophetiae librum. Quare manitestum est post Christum esse Revelationes & Prophetas. Praeteria que erat illa Paulo facta revelatio in ejus Vocatione & Conversione per ipsum Jesum Christum, ut in Apostolicorum apparet Actum libro, Cap. 9. quid de illa decennes Cornelio Centuriano?

Quid de illa Petro de animalibus mundis & immundis. Et Paulus ipsam dicet si Δ gloriari oportet (non expedit quidem) veniam ante ad visiones & revelationes Domini, &c. & paulò post: & de Magnitudo revelationem extollit me, datus est mihi stimulis carnis meae, Angelus Satanae qui me colophizet es, notum mihi factum est sacramentum, sicut supra scripsi: prout potestis legentes intelligere prudentiam meam in mysterio Christi, quod aliis generationibus non est agnitum filiis homini, sicut nunc revelatum est sanctis Apostolis ejus & Prophetis in spiritu, &c, ubi etiā Prophetas post Christū esse apparet: & cap. 4. Et ipse dedit quosdam quidem Apostolos […] autem Prophetas, alios vero Evaugelistis, alios autem Pastores & Doctores ad consnmmationem […], in opus ministerii, in aedificationē Corporis Christi, Donec occurramus omnes in unitate fidei in mensuram aetate plenitudinis Christi, &c. ubi tam diu Prophetas fore in Ecclesia Christi post Christū apparet. Donec occurramus omnes in unitate fidei, &c. quod nondum post Christum factum fuisse bene simus & jam haec aetate nostra maxime sumus circa negotium fidei discordes maxime videntur esse necessariae non Prophetae solum sed etiam Revelationes valde expresse de Mysteriis Divinus. Et de locotione Angelica ad Philippum, & ejus de loco in locum invisibile quasi translatione per Spirirituum Domini, quod putendum est. Et de Prophetis post Christum tempora testificatur Actum undecimum caput, ubi legimus quod eodem […] quo primum discipuli Christi Antiochiae cognominarentur Christiani, […] ab Jerisolymis Prophetae Antiochiam, & surgens unus ex eis nomine Agabus, sign si abat per spiritum, famem magnam futuram universo […] terrarum, quae […], ad secundum autem vestrae Majestatis Regiae Capitulum, sic […] coram Deo & beatis ejus Angelis, assere quod conscientia mea nihil […], Notivit, vel dijudicare potuit, neque possit in omnibus nostris actionibus, vel illarum aliqua, quod sit contra Dei, honorem, vel gloriam, Immo, quod ad […] & gloriam valde spectent, possimus.

Acts cap. 8. Philippi cor à loco in locum per Spiritum Dei.

Denique tertio in loco quod cum magna & verae pia Regiaque & discretione existitis, me Deum Omnipotentem iis temporibus posse modis suis variis, […] quibusdam sua […] mysteria & secreta. Valde letor: & eo magis, quod tam ex nostris praeteritis id constare potuerit multis Actionibus; quam ex futuris: quibus inter esse & adesse praesens (si ita illi visum fuerit) vestra possit Majestus Regia. Et praeteritarum nostrorum Actionum libros 24, paratus sum ([…] vestrae serenissimae Majestati placuerit tempore,) videndos exhibere; quorum quaedam Latina lingua, Graeca aliae, aliae Anglica lingua, sed ex maxime […] Anglica sunt Conscriprae ipsae actiones Angelorum, viz. […] bonotum Instructiones, admonitiones, exhottationes, […], […], & […] ealio sunt. […] nobis factae Revelationes, reales vel verbales, & per spatium jam trium fere annorum à nobis receptae & […], &c.