Letter

...to the world, he seems to proclaim his madness triumphantly in the manner of the braggart Thraso original: "Thrasonis gloriosi." Thraso is a stock character of a "braggart soldier" from Roman comedy, specifically Terence's play The Eunuch.; nay rather, he pursues me with many other insults and hisses. Indeed, just as this behavior is contrary to the custom of one enriched by the essential Spirit of music and true Wisdom, so it proves that this disposition of Mersenne original: "Marini." Referring to Marin Mersenne (1588–1648), the French polymath and Fludd's chief critic. is derived from evil—namely, from the spring of worldly wisdom and diabolical strife. The Apostle seems to support this thread of our opinion with these words:

James 3:17.

Wisdom (he says) that contradicts the truth does not descend from above from the Father of Lights, but is earthly, sensual, and diabolical, etc. He seems to explain the reason for this in this series of words: The wisdom (he says) which is from above is first pure, then peaceful, modest, easy to be entreated, not judging, without rivalry, etc. From these things you are able to discern more clearly than the midday light (most distinguished sirs) whether the spirit of that Monk Mersenne was a member of the Order of Minims, hence "that Monk." is a partaker of earthly wisdom, or at least of that which is heavenly and divine; for it was never, nor shall it ever be, my intention to speak reproaches against anyone, or to judge and condemn him (however guilty he may be).

But now, so that you are not seized by any wonder hereafter that I, in descending into this cause of mine and also of others, have used the authority of the Holy Scriptures alone—and not that of others, whether Theosophers, or Cabalists, or Philosophers—I would have you know first of all that I did so partly compelled by necessity, and partly by the admonition and instruction of the Holy Scriptures themselves.

Compelled by necessity (I say), because I realized that this adversary of ours, who regards the doctrine of almost all who philosophize and "theosophize" in a mystical and Cabalistic manner (both Christian and Heathen) as worth nothing, would certainly repudiate their authorities or testimonies if I alleged them. Nay, indeed, he is observed to deal so subtly with me and others (whom he has falsely afflicted with slanders), that he even attempts to forbid the text of the most holy page—offered by divine command to everyone in the whole world without exception—not only to me, but also to others under the pretext of heresy. These are his words:

"Let the heretics only take heed that no passage of Scripture can be understood as it ought to be, unless the authority of the Church be added, which is the judge of all controversies that can be moved concerning religion. Unless you recur to her, what will you answer me when I say that a passage of Scripture must be understood differently than you and others commonly understand it?" etc.

To this man, led by the truth, I respond: the true Church is not the assembly of Roman ecclesiastics, but the very rock or stone which the Patriarch called the House of God A reference to Jacob’s ladder and the stone he anointed at Bethel in Genesis 28. and consequently the Church, inasmuch as she is the truest spiritual rock and the catholic In the sense of "universal." mansion of Christ, who is himself God. Therefore, without asking the permission of Marin Mersenne, the use of the literal Scriptures is granted by God to me as much as to him, or to any other Christian—nay, even to the Gentile—so that the spiritual mystery or the secret of the spiritual stone may be gathered from them. For indeed, since this is the mystical wisdom of the Prophets and Apostles, or that catholic and universal rock, she has denied entrance and access to no one at this, her fountain, which overflows with all abundance.

This, therefore, is the reason why we follow the authority of the Holy Page through the whole thread of this our treatise, and why I have been forced to apply it to this our purpose, and not those testimonies of others, whether Philosophers, or Cabalists, or Theosophers; for these, or at least the greater part of them, have been repudiated and condemned by that Chattering Babbler of Trifles original: "Nugipolyloquide." A mocking compound word Fludd invented to describe Mersenne, combining "trifles" (nugae), "many" (poly), and "talker" (loquus)..

Finally, why I did not come forward sooner, and before this time, into the field against this public enemy of truth and true Wisdom—since he himself published that volume of his in the year 1623—I will show briefly and in a word.

On the 8th day of July, in the year 1626, I received these admonitory letters from a certain friend of mine, to whom I certainly confess I owe great thanks for his remarkable benevolence toward me and his diligence in defending and preserving my good reputation. You have here a copy of these letters, transcribed faithfully and word-for-word, just as they were truly written to me:

"Your Excellency (most learned Sir) will perhaps wonder why I have not written sooner, since permission to write was granted by your Excellency, or why I do so now at last. I should certainly have wished to write sooner, but until now, not experiencing that bright ray illuminating my darkness regarding the contemplation of Macrocosmic principles The "Macrocosm" refers to the universe as a whole, which Fludd believed mirrored the "Microcosm" of the human being.—I say, not experiencing it sufficiently abundantly in my mind—I preferred to remain silent rather than [write] against my will..."