Thomas Vaughan and the Rosicrucian Revival in England : : 1648–1666 / / Thomas Willard.

• Superior document: Aries Book Series
• VerfasserIn: Willard, Thomas,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden ;, Boston : : Brill,, 2022.
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Aries Book Series.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (358 pages)
• Notes: Thomas Vaughan’s challenging books on alchemy, magic, and other esoterica make better sense in the context of the Rosicrucian ideas he introduced to English readers in the seventeenth century. This is the first scholarly book on his life, sources, writings, and subsequent influence.

In the first book-length study of Thomas Vaughan (1621-1666), Thomas Willard builds on recent scholarship in Western esotericism to show that his curious books offer much more than the lively quotations extracted from them. Treating more than alchemy and the Hermetic tradition, they develop themes from the synthesis of alchemy, magic, and Christian cabala, associated associated with the Rosicrucian movement that Vaughan introduced to English readers. His books respond to a moment in history when the breakdown in book censorship during the English Civil War allowed books with radical ideas to circulate, while political upheaval in the universities created audiences for new ideas. This book will be of interest to students of early modern religion, philosophy, science, and culture as seen by an intelligent and eloquent outsider.

Table of Contents

Half Title -- Series Information -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- List of Figures -- Abbreviations -- A Note on Quotations -- Introduction: Double Obscurity -- Chapter 1 The Progress: A Life of Thomas Vaughan -- 1 Wales -- 2 Oxford -- 3 Civil War -- 4 London -- 5 Publishing -- 6 Profession -- 7 Marriage -- 8 Patronage -- Chapter 2 The Bookish Faith: Vaughan's Reading and Influences -- 1 The Biblical Tradition -- 2 The Platonic Philosophy -- 3 Magic -- 4 Cabala -- 5 Alchemy -- 6 The Rosy Cross -- 7 Tradition and the Individual -- Chapter 3 Not Easily Apprehended: Vaughan's Language and Writings -- Part One: The Alphabet of Nature -- 1 Magical Writing -- 2 Alchemical Rhetoric -- 3 Oracular and Vernacular -- 4 Center and Circumference -- Part Two: The Key to the Lock -- 5 Anthroposophia Theomagica -- 6 Anima Magica Abscondita -- 7 Magia Adamica -- 8 Coelum Terrae -- 9 Lumen de Lumine -- 10 Aula Lucis -- 11 Preface to The Fame and Confession -- 12 Euphrates -- 13 Preface to The Chymists Key -- 14 Flint, Fire, and Tears: Vaughan's English Poetry -- Chapter 4 Numbered amongst Ranters: Vaughan's Reputation -- 1 The Pamphlet Debate -- 2 The Stylist, Rival, and Source -- 3 The Satiric Butt -- 4 The Legendary Adept -- 5 The Research Subject -- Conclusion: Invisible History -- Appendix 1 Annotations in Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum -- Appendix 2 Preface to Humane Industry -- Appendix 3 Excerpts from The Ladies Champion -- Appendix 4 The Term "Spiritual Alchemy" -- Bibliography -- Thomas Vaughan's Works -- First editions (in order of publication) -- Translations and new editions (in order of publication) -- Primary and Secondary Sources -- Index of Names -- Index of Subjects -- Index of Bible Citations.