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HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.
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gentry, the learned, and unlearned, in each condition one,
it may be, two, but mostly none, being found perfect, it
came to those vagabond cheaters and rascally Lapidem
Spitalanftcum makers, who were set upon the scale with such
scorn, that for all my grief I was ready to burst my belly
with laughing, neither could the prisoners themselves
refrain, for the most part could not abide that severe trial,
but with whips and scourges were jerked out of the scale.
Thus of so pert a throng so few remained that I am
ashamed to discover their number. Howbeit, there were
persons of quality also amongst them who, notwithstanding?
were also honoured with velvet robes and wreaths of
The inquisition being finished, and none but we poor
coupled hounds standing aside, one of the captains stept
forth, and said : "Gratious madam, if it please your lady-
ship, let these poor men, who acknowledged their mis-
understanding, be set upon the scale also without danger of
penalty, and only for recreation's sake, if perchance any-
Humilium. .
thing right be found among them. At this 1 was in great
perplexity, for in my anguish this was my only comfort,
that I was not to stand in such ignominy, or be lashed out
of the scale. Yet since the Virgin consented, so it must
be, and we being untied were one after another set up.
Now, although the most part miscarried, they were neither
laughed at nor scourged, but peaceably placed on one side.
Socius My companion was the fifth, who held out bravely, where-
upon all, but especially the captain who made the request
for us, applauded him, and the Virgin showed him the
usual respect. After him two more were despatched in an
Autor. instant. But I was the eighth, and as soon as (with
trembling) I stepped up, my companion, who already sat