A strange manuscript, which mentions Rennes-le-Château Part 1: a new discovery

 

We were given this enigmatic document in 2003. In total, there are four sheets of an unusual format, 16.5 cm wide, 22.7 cm tall. The paper is very fine, resembling the paper used for the production of missals, breviaries or other works that attained a certain thickness. In those days, very thin paper was used in their production, to keep costs and size down.
Each sheet contains fine handwriting, written with attention, but where elegance of style is obviously not the first priority of the author. The style is rhythmic, using a type of Latin quatrain. This style is now extremely well-known as the style being used by the French mystic Nostradamus in the composition of his Centuries, believed to be prophecies. The rhythm of this text follows, two lines by two, on the phonetic termination of the Latin words. This rhythm is obviously applied to make for a harmonious reading, and not for any rhythm in a translation to another language.
It is therefore clear that the author indulged himself in an exercise which requires a detailed knowledge of Latin, and writing in general. Otherwise, he would not have succeeded in this exercise, made all the more difficult as he wanted to divide the entire body in 22 sections, following the alphabet. This observation therefore excludes any potential that this is an easy prank by uneducated con artist.

Each quatrain is preceded or announced by a word which is apparently derived from the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

At first sight, it is difficult to understand the direction and the goal of such a document. It would have been easier to establish a similar rhythm of rhyme while writing directly in modern French, or in another living language. The question is furthermore whether the Latin expression has a particular significance or is only a simple exercise in style… The question is extremely difficult to answer. Perhaps the most logical conclusion might be that, though a dead Latin, the author was still well-versed in it and used it as a main mode of communication – possibly suggesting the man was linked with the Church, the last modern users of Latin as a main means of communication.
Though the general appearance of the document is reminiscent of the Centuries of Nostradamus, Nostradamus did not write in Latin. Furthermore, the content of the verses is much less dramatic than the contents of Nostradamus’, suggesting the author did not want to imitate him.

A first, there seems nothing to indicate a connection between the document and Rennes-le-Château, but the 20th quatrain does open with the word “rheda (leoni dat viam” and another with Magdalene. Rheda is the ancient name of Rennes-le-Château and Mary Magdalene is not only the patron saint of Rennes-le-Château, most researchers have accorded her some central role in the mystery of the village. Though the above might be interpreted as a coincidence, the second quatrain clearly lists the name “Bugarach”, the name of a mountain in the immediate vicinity of Rennes-le-Château. Finally, the person who entrused us with a copy of this document is specifically involved with the affairs of Rennes-le-Château. That person was handed the document himself, suggesting that the original sender was also aware of the connections between the strange manuscript and Rennes-le-Chateau – but apparently was unable to draw any conclusions or interpretations from the document.

With very little information to go on, interpretations of the potential symbolism hidden in the document is dangerous. Nevertheless, we need to ask the question whether the presence of 22 entries and their Hebrew alphabet point us towards a Jewish enigma – or whether there is a meaningful coincidence between the number 22 and July 22, feast day of Mary Magdalene (and hence of the church of Rennes-le-Château, of which she is patron saint) or the number of cards in the Tarot.
The four pages were accompanied by a letter, intended for the recipient, giving additional information on the circumstances of the discovery of the four pages and the reasons why this strange transmission was opted for. Without going into too much detail, we can affirm that the letter comes from Spain and that the document itself was investigated and concluded to date “from the years 1830”.

Translation of the first page

Aleph	alabastrum reficitur a cyreneo traditur per manus primae columbae rapitur foras galilae	the alabaster vase is restored by the Cyrenean to whom it is given by the hands of the first dove one removes it far from Galilee
Beth	bonis supernis implevit Quos falce sua redimit Burgaragio videtur Diurne comburano robur	it filled the goods from on high those which it repurchased of its scythe from bugarach one can see it at midday consuming the oak
Gimel	gallinae voce prae gallo Antequam impleret cursum Aquam eduxit de ramo Et plasmavit florem merum	with the voice of hen exceeding the cock before achieving its course he made spout out the water from the branch and model a pure flower
Daleth	de rota septemtrionis urbe electa inter aquas fines circuli terminas quo nucleum concupiscis	delight of north city chosen among both you mark the limits of the circle where you covet the core
He	hedera hic radicavit Sed fructum suum non dadit Saltare didicit longe Sicut haedus in aethere	the ivy here took root but it did not give its fruit it learned how to jump far like the kid in the ether
Vav	vexillum bello dat signum Vespae ascendunt ab austro Acumen equitum fractum Sidus suspensus in caelo	the standard gives the signal for the war the wasps assemble in the south the broken dart of the riders is a star suspended from the sky

Translation of the second page

Zain	Zelatores arcanorum Ab oculis absconditem Non adspiciunt margaritam Quae occurrit ad figulum	Those which are jealous of the secrecies Do not see the pearl Which is hidden from sight And which is offered to the potter
Heth	Hemeridis ad radices In medio olte collies Revolvitur vernus lapis Ad conculcandum capites	At the roots of the oak In the middle of the hill of olive The stone of the spring is rolled To crush the heads
Teth	Terribilis domus ista Quo limen tangit tartara Ancilia custodit ostium Ferens coronam sanctorum	It is terrible, this house Whose threshold touches Hell The maidservant guards the entrance Carrying the crown of the saints
Jad	Janua noctis patitur Sera temporis frangitur Iter patet ad inventum Sed mane iterum clausum	The door of the night opens The bolt of time is broken The way opens for the discovery But the following day it is again closed
Caph	Cardine anni vespere Sub tutela turriculae Regina noctis exorta Scutum verberat lancea	On the evening of the summer solstice At the shade of the turret The queen of the night raised The lance strikes the shield
Lamed	Latere Fisso tumuli Rivulus manta lacrimas Statim silice voratas Donoc resurgent temport	From the side of the split hillock A brook full of tears At once devoured by the rock Until it re-appears in its time

Translation of the third page

Mem	Mutata vinum in aqua Per occultas subterrenas Emundat radices sacras Pergens rursus perlucidam	Water is changed into wine By hidden ways under ground It cleans the sacred roots Continuing its race having become transparent
Nun	Nive albescuntur saxa Lepra senescunt arbores Via sindone sepulta Praeter cruciformi fontes	The rocks are white with snow Even the trees are growing old All is buried in a shroud Except the springs in the shape of the cross
Samech	Soporatus sub tegmine Exspectat pastor oblitus Ut liquefactis ab luce Ovibus fiat proevinus	Recluse under cover The forgotten shepherd waits So that he is released from the frost by the light The ewes begin their return
Ain	Ait bodie cras negat Ut in foramina petrae Sub aeditua fodiat Conam passa luciferoe	It is said that it is great, the name So that in the hollow of the rock One digs under the guardian of the temple With the hair demolished by penitence
Phe	Pharetra jacta panditur Sagittae carent sepulcro Arcus intentus in fulgur Alitur jactu ignea	The thrown quiver is open The arrows miss the tomb The arc is split towards the flash It is nourished by a flash of fire
Sade	Seminarit in lacrimis Magdalena super montem Quo posit(?) in tenebris H (?) manet (?)sque ad finem	She was sowed among the tears Magdalene on the mountain Where deposited in darkness She remains here until the end

Translation of the fourth page

Qoph	Quadraginta septem annis Involutus regis pannis Sceptro ferreo imperat Draconem aeris conculcat	During forty seven years Wrapped in the clothes of the king He controls an iron sceptre He crushes the bronze dragon
Rech	Rheda leoni dat viam Plostrum majus junctum bovi Falco ruit super praedam Agnum extorquet homini	Rennes opens the way to the lion Quadriga harnessed with ox The falcon melts on the prey He removes the lamb from Man
Sin	Si speluncam ingressus est Jam luce non fulgidus est Neque sole neque luna Intus rorabunt oscula	If you enter the cave you will not radiate any more a light Nor the son or the moon Inside the kisses will distil the dew
Tav	Tabernacul (page déchirrée…)	Tabernacle (rest of page missing)

continued >>