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CHAPTER V.
THE CHYMICAL MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ.
THE whole Rosicrucian controversy centres in this publica-
tion, which Buhle describes as "a comic romance of extra-
ordinary talent." It was first published at Strasbourg in
the year 1616, but, as will be seen in the seventh chapter,
it is supposed to have existed in manuscript as early as
1601-2, thus antedating by a long period
the other Rosi-
crucian books. Two editions of the German original are
preserved in the Library of the British Museum, both bear-
ing
the date 1616. 1
It was translated into English for the
first time in 1690, under the title of "The Hermetic
Romance: or The Chymical Wedding. Written in High
Dutch by Christian Rosencreutz. Translated by E. Fox-
croft, late Fellow of King's Colledge in Cambridge.
Licensed and entered according to Order. Printed by A.
Sowle, at the Crooked Billet in Holloway-Lane, Shoreditch ;
and Sold at the Three-Keys in Nags-Head-Court, Grace-
church-street." It is this translation in substance, that
is, compressed by the omission of all irrelevant matter and
dispensable prolixities, which I now offer to the r reader.
1 " Chymische Hochzeit : Christian! Rosencreutz. Anno 1459.
Erstlick Gedrucktzor Strasbourg. Anno M.DC.XVI." The second
edition was printed by Conrad Echer.