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ROSICRUCIAN APOLOGISTS : JOHN HEYDON. 357
was in one of the boats one of the wise men of the Society
of the Rosie Crucians, whose house or colledge is the very
eye of this Kingdome, who, having awhile devoutly con-
templated this pillar and crosse, fell down upon his face,
then raised himself upon his knees, and, lifting up his
hands to Heaven, made his prayers in this manner :
" '
Lord God of Heaven and earth, Thou hast vouchsafed
of Thy grace to those of our order to know Thy
works of
creation and the secrets of them, and to discern (as far as
appertaineth to the generation of men)
between divine
miracles, works of Nature, works of art, and impostures
and illusions of all sorts. I do here acknowledge and
testifie before this people, that the thing which we now see
is Thy finger and a true miracle. And for as much as we
learn in our books that Thou never workest miracles but to
a divine and excellent end (for the laws of Nature are Thine
own laws, and Thou exceedest them not but upon great cause),
we most humbly beseech Thee to prosper this great signe, and
to give us the interpretation and use of it in mercy, which
Thou doest in some part promise by sending it unto us.'
" When he had made his prayer, he presently found the
boat he was in unbound, whereas the rest remained still
fast. Taking that for leave to approach, he caused the boat
to be softly rowed towards the pillar, but ere he came near
the pillar and crosse of light brake up, and cast itself abroad
into a firmament of many stars, which also soon vanished,
and there was nothing left but a small ark of cedar, not
wet at all with water, though it swam. In the fore-end of
it grew a small green branch of palme, and when the Rosie
Crucian had taken it with all reverence into his boat, it
opened of itself, and there were found a book and letter,
both written in fine parchment, and wrapped in suidons of