Alchemy in Imagery: Rosicrucian Influence on Edward Taylor’s Poetry

Alchemy in Imagery: Rosicrucian Influence on Edward Taylor’s Poetry


As a Puritan preacher, it is expected that Edward Taylor would include theological imagery in his poetry. What is not expected is the use of Rosicrucian representation in this imagery. The use of alchemical symbolism is prevalent in many of Taylor’s meditations. The intent of this paper is to show the Rosicrucian influence on Taylor’s poetry and explain how a Puritan preacher came to use alchemical and mystical imagery in the representation of Christian beliefs. This will be accomplished by showing that Taylor had access to Rosicrucian literature, made references to alchemy in his poetry, and by explicating one of Taylor’s poems to determine the use of imagery related to alchemy.
At twenty-six years of age, Taylor, “armed with a few letters of introduction, presented himself to Increase Mather… Mather must have welcomed him warmly, for Taylor spent the next three nights at Mather’s home.”(Gra...