Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/355

 opposes the ‘ethnic philosophy’ of Aristotle, and is equally opposed to all modern astronomy, for he denies the diurnal revolution of the earth. Holding with the neoplatonists that all things were ‘complicitly and ideally in God’ before they were made, he advances to a doctrine of the divine immanence which betrays a strong pantheistic tendency. In the dedication of one of his works (1617) he addresses the deity, ‘O natura naturans, infinita et gloriosa.’ St. Luke he calls his ‘physicall and theosophicall patron’ (Mosaicall Philos.)

Fludd died unmarried on 8 Sept. 1637 at his house in the parish of St. Catherine, Coleman Street; he had previously lived in Fenchurch Street. He was buried with some ceremony in the chancel of Bearsted Church, under a stone which he had laid for the purpose; it bears an English inscription. He left directions for a monument in the style of that of Camden at Westminster; this, with bust and long Latin epitaph, was erected 10 Aug. 1638 within the chancel rails at Bearsted, by his nephew, Thomas Fludd or Floyd of Gore Court, Otham, Kent. His portrait was engraved by Mathias Merran of Basle, and again by Cooper. It represents a man with bald head, high forehead, and good features. Granger mentions five different prints of him. A sister of Fludd married Sir Nicholas Gilbourne of Charing, Kent (Answer to Foster, p. 108).

In his printed works his name is given indifferently as Flud or Fludd; the former seems to represent his earlier usage, and it is that of the manuscript ‘Declaratio breuis’ (1617). The punning translation, ‘De Fluctibus,’ used by Fludd in his second publication, and adopted by Kepler and others, argues an ignorance of Welsh, as the rendering bears no relation either to ‘llwyd’ (grey), or ‘llwydd’ (luck). Once he employs (1617) the name Rudolf Otreb, an anagram for Robert Floud. He published also under the name of Joachim Frizius; and a posthumous work, which has been assigned to him, appeared under the name of Alitophilus.

His principal works are: 1. ‘Apologia Compendiaria, Fraternitatem de Rosea Cruce suspicionis … maculis aspersam, veritatis quasi Fluctibus abluens,’ &c., Leyden, 1616, 8vo. (the assailant of the rosicrucians was Andreas Libavius). 2. ‘Tractatus Apologeticus integritatem Societatis de Rosea Cruce defendens,’ &c., Leyden, 1617, 8vo (a revision of No. 1). 3. ‘Tractatus Theologo-philosophicus,’ &c., Oppenheim, 1617 [the date is given in a chronogram], 4to (this treatise ‘a Rudolfo Otreb Britanno’ is dedicated to the rosicrucian fraternity, and consists of three books, ‘De Vita,’ ‘De Morte,’ and ‘De Resurrectione;’ in the third book he contends that those filled with the spirit of Christ may rise before his second advent). 4. ‘Utriusque Cosmi … metaphysica, physica atque technica Historia,’ &c., Oppenheim and Frankfort, 1617–24, fol. (has two dedications, first to the Deity, secondly to James I; very curious copperplates; it was to have been in two volumes, the first containing two treatises, the second three; it was completed as far as the first section of the second treatise of the second volume). 5. ‘Veritatis Proscenium,’ &c., Frankfort, 1621, fol. (reply to Kepler, who had criticised him in appendix to ‘Harmonice Mundi,’ 1619, fol.). 6. ‘Monochordon Mundi Symphoniacum,’ &c., Frankfort, 1622, 4to (reply to Kepler's ‘Mathematice,’ 1622, fol.). 7. ‘Anatomiæ Amphitheatrum,’ &c., Frankfort, 1623, fol. (includes reprint of No. 6). 8. ‘Philosophia Sacra et vere Christiana,’ &c., Frankfort, 1626, fol. (portrait; dedicated to John Williams, bishop of Lincoln). 9. ‘Medicina Catholica,’ &c., Frankfort, 1629–31, fol. (in five parts; the plan included a second volume, not published). 10. ‘Sophiæ cum Moria Certamen,’ &c., Frankfort, 1629, fol. (reply to the ‘Quæstiones Celebres in Genesim,’ by Marin Mersenne). 11. ‘Summum Bonorum,’ &c. [Frankfort], 1629, fol. (‘per Joachim Frizium;’ further reply to Mersenne, who had accused Fludd of magic; Gassendi took up the controversy in an ‘Examen Philosophiæ Fluddanæ,’ 1630). 12. ‘Doctor Fludds Answer vnto M. Foster, or, The Sqvesing of Parson Fosters Sponge,’ &c., London, 1631, 4to (defence of weapon-salve, against the ‘Hoplocrisma-Spongus,’ 1631, 4to, of William Foster [q. v.], of Hedgerley, Buckinghamshire); an edition in Latin, ‘Responsum ad Hoplocrisma-Spongum,’ &c., Gouda, 1638, fol. Posthumous were: 13. ‘Philosophia Moysaica,’ &c., Gouda, 1638, fol.; an edition in English, ‘Mosaicall Philosophy,’ &c., London, 1659, 4to. 14. ‘Religio Exculpata,’ &c. [Ratisbon], 1684, 4to (‘Autore Alitophilo Religionis fluctibus dudum immerso, tandem … emerso;’ preface signed J. N. J.; though assigned to Fludd, this work wholly differs in character from his genuine productions). 15. ‘Tractatus de Geomantia,’ &c. (four books), included in ‘Fasciculus Geomanticus,’ &c., Verona, 1687, 8vo. 16. An unpublished manuscript, copied by an amanuensis, and headed ‘Declaratio breuis, &c.,’ is in the British Museum, Royal MSS., 12 C. ii.; the manuscript 12 B. viii., which seems to have been another copy of this, with a slightly different title, has perished by fire. Fludd's ‘Opera’ consist of his folios, not