chapter concerning the " Universal Reformation of the Whole Wide World,"

the name of Sir Francis Bacon is substituted for Boccalini's " Mazzoni," as the secretary and adviser of the learned men assembled in conference.
The " Universal Reformation " chapter was printed in Germany four years later than its appearance in that country in MS. — viz , 1614.
De Quincey stated that the Universal Reformation Manifesto and Fama Fraternitatis constituted a distinct proposal for the inauguration there of a secret society, having as objective the general welfare of mankind. The Fama contains interesting Rules as to secrecy, which was to be maintained for a hundred years. Another manifesto, The Confessio Fraternitatis, was printed in Germany in 1615. It bore witness that from the beginning of the world " there hath not been given to man a more excellent, admirable, and wholesome book than the Holy Bible." Further, that the Fraternity was more in earnest to attain to the knowledge of philosophy, and not to tempt excellent wits to the tincture of metals, sooner than to the observation of nature.
Mr. Waite states, at page 265 of his History, that by the year 1620 the Rosicrucian subject was completely exhausted in Germany.
It is uncertain whether Maier, who wrote on the subject in Germany, or Robert Fladd and Thomas Vaughan, who printed books about Rosi- crucianism in England, were ever in inside touch with the English Fraternity. There are important references to the Society in the Anatomy of Melancholy, 1621, and in Ben Jonson's Masques of the Fortunate Isles and News from the New World. We deal with the Anatomy of Melancholy in a special chapter
EEVELATIONS OF EOSICRUCIAN ARCANA 31
later. Bacon's New Atlantis, printed 1627, may be accepted as an allegorical account of the objects of the Fraternity.
Benevolently minded and learned men, such as Eawley, Wilkins (Warden of Wadham College, a founder of the Royal Society, and afterwards Bishop of Chester), Sir William Dugdale, Archbishop Tenison, Dr. Richard Mead, Henry Carey (Earl of Monmouth) Nicholas Rowe, Stephens, and Mallet, are found to have used the 287 Seal in books attributed to their names or exertions. The Earls Berkeley, Burlington, and Arundel, Lord Cherbury, John Milton, Selden, Richard Boyle, Joseph Glanvill, John Evelyn, Abraham Cowley, Dr. Sprat, Sir Thomas Meautys, Rev. George Herbert, Elias Ashmole, and Alexander Pope, may all be said to be more or less suspect as probable members. It is very possible that after the publication of Bacon's Works and the erection of the statue to Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey, the active labours of the Fraternity were brought to a close, and their archives secretly deposited in some safe place. This may have been in accordance with the Rules of the Fraternity, and the privily conveyed directions of their founder. If Bacon, then it may be that he desired the facts about his life and work to await the period of the discovery of his statements concealed in various forms in the books he wrote.
The play of Hamlet has two characters, Rosincranse and Guildensterne Compare Rosencrantz and Knight of the Golden Stone in the Rosicrucian pamphlets.
NOTANDA
" Wer't aught to me I bore the canopy. With my extern the outward honoring Or laid great bases for eternity."
Shakespeare's Sonnets, 1609, No. 125.
From Bacon's MS. Table Booh, 1608.
" Layeing for a place to command wytts and pennes. Westminster, Eton, Wynchester spee Trinity Coll., Cam. ..."
- " Qu. Of young schoUars in ye- universities. It must be the post nati. . . . Foundae: Of a college for inventors. Library Inginary."
" Qu. Of the order and disciphne, the rules and praescripts of their studyes and inquyries, allowances for travailing, intelligence, and correspond^ ence with ye universities abroad."
" Qu. Of the manner and praescripts touching secresy, traditions, and publication."
32 SECRET SHAKESPEAEEAN SEALS
From Illustrations of Masonry, Preston, 1796 (Ninth Edition).
" The art of finding arts must certainly be a most useful art. My Lord Bacon's Novum Organum is an attempt towards something of the same kind."
" The Emperor Carausius granted the Masons ' a charter, and commanded Albanus to preside over them as Grand Master.' ' Albanus was born at Verulam, now St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, of a noble family.' "
From Royal Masonic Gyclofcedia, 1877.
" Saint Alban, the proto-martyr of England, born at Verulam, or Saint Albans. ... He is the reputed legendary introducer of Freemasonry into England, but without much violence."
" Grand Masters of England before the Revival of Masonry in 1717.
This list has been collated from several authorities. It is, however, not given
as a fact but as tradition."
" The first Grand Master,
" A.D. 287, Saint Alban, etc."