Esplanadian
A mediæval Spanish legend. It tells how Amadis of Gaul and his wife Oriana of the Firm Island had the wicked enchanter Archelous in their keeping, but set him free in answer to his wife's entreaties. Certain calamities happen which are attributed to Archelous, and Amadis' son Esplandian is carried off by the enchantress Urganda. The legend goes on to relate Esplandian's adventures, how he is given a magic sword, and kills a dragon. With this sword he succeeds in killing Archelous himself, and his nephew, and he then sets free a kinsman. His next opponent is Matroed, son of Arcobone, whom he also vanquishes; and finally the stronghold of Archelous is utterly destroyed, and the land freed from the pagan influence of Matroed. Etheric Double Essenes, The: A mystical Jewish sect, the tenets of which are only partly known. They first appeared in history about 150 years B.C. They were very exclusive and possessed an organisation peculiar to themselves. They exercised strict asceticism, and great benevolence. They had fixed rules for initiation, and a succession of strictly separate grades. Their system of thought deviated greatly from the normal development of Judaism, and was more in sympathy with Greek philosophy and oriental ideas. The tendency of the society was practical, and they regarded speculation on the universe as too lofty for the human intellect. So far as can be judged there was nothing occult in their beliefs.