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Thalamus
veneris
sepultae.
Thesaurus
Regis.
Descriptio
sepulcliri.
Aliud triclinium.
HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.
These I copied and set down in my
table-book. After this
door was opened, the Page lead me by the hand through
a very dark passage till we came to a little door now only
put too, for, as the Page informed me, it was first opened
yesterday when the coffins were taken out, and had not
since been shut. As soon as we stepped in I espied the
most pretious thing that Nature ever created, for this
vault had no other light but from certain huge carbuncles.
This was the King's Treasury, but the most glorious and
principal thing was a sepulchre in the middle,
so rich that
I wondered it was no better guarded, whereunto the Page
answered me, that I had good reason to be thankful to my
planet, by whose influence I had now seen certain pieces
which no humane eye (except those of the King's family)
had ever viewed. This sepulcher was triangular, and had in
the middle of it a kettle of polished copper, the rest was of
pure gold and pretious
stones. In the kettle stood an
angel, who held in his arms an unknown tree, whose fruit
continually falling into the kettle, turned into water
therein, and ran out into three small golden kettles stand-
This little altar was supported by an eagle, an ox,
ing by.
and a lion, which stood on an exceeding costly base. I
asked my Page what this might signifie.
"
Here," said he,
"lies buried Lady Venus, that beauty which hath undone
many a great man, both in fourtune, honour, blessing, and
prosperity "
door in
; after which he showed me a copper
the pavement, saying, " Here, if you please, we may go
further down." We descended the steps, where it was
exceeding dark, but the Page immediately opened a little
chest in which stood a small
ever-burning taper, wherefrom
he kindled one of the many torches that lay by. I was
mightily
terrified and asked how he durst do this. He