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ROSICRUCIAN APOLOGISTS : JOHN HEYDON. 369
there is an hynme sung, varied according to the invention
of him that composeth it (for they have an excellent poasie),
but the subject is alwayes the praise of Adam, Noah, and
Abraham, whereof the two former peopled the world, and
the last was the father of the faithfull, concluding with a
thanksgiving for the nativity of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
in whose birth only the births of all are blessed. Dinner
being done, the K. Crucian, having withdrawne himself into
a place where he maketh some private prayers, commeth
forth the third time to give the blessing with all his de-
scendants, who stand about him as at first. He calls them
forth by one and by one as he pleaseth, though seldome the
order of age be inverted. The person called (the table
being before removed) kneeleth down before the chaire, and
the father layeth his hand upon his or her head, and giveth
the blessing in these words :
"
Son (or daughter) of the
Holy Island, thy father saith it ; the man by whom thou
hast breath and life speaketh the words ; the blessing of
the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the Holy
Spirit be upon thee, and make the dayes of thy pilgrimage
good and many." If there be any of his sons of eminent
merit and vertue (so they be not above two), he calleth for
them again, and saith, laying his arm over their shoulders,
they standing : "Sons, it is well ye are borne; give God
the praise, and persevere to the end !
" withall delivering
to either a jewel made in the figure of an eare of wheat,
which they ever after doe wear in the front of their turban,
or hat. This done, they fall to musick and dances, and
other recreations. This is the full order of that Feast of
the Rosie Cross.
By that time six or seven dayes were spent,
and I was
fallen into a straight acquaintance with a merchant of that