part in the center of the sieling. In the midst, instead of

a tomb-stone, was a round altar, covered with a plate of
brass, and thereon this engraven : —

A. C. R C. Hoc universi compendium unius mihi

sepulchrum fed.
Round about the first circle or brim stood,

Jesus mihi omnia.

In the middle were four figures, inclosed in circles, whose
circumscription was,

1. Nequaquam Vacuum.

2. Legis Jugum.

3. Libertas Evangelii.

4. Dei Gloria Intacta.

This is all clear and bright, as also the seventh side and the
two heptagons. So we kneeled down altogether, and gave
thanks to the sole wise, sole mighty, and sole eternal God,
who hath taught us more than all men's wits could have
found out, praised be His holy name. This vault we parted
in three parts, the upper part or sieling, the wall or side,
the ground or floor. Of the upper part you shall under-
stand no more at this time but that it was divided accord-
ing to the seven sides in the triangle which was in the bright
center ; but what therein is contained you (that are desirous
of our Society) shall, God willing, behold the same with
your own eyes. Every side or wall is parted into ten
squares, every one with their several figures and sentences,

78 HISTORY OF THE ROS1CRUCIANS.

as they are truly shewed and set forth concentratum here in
our book. The bottom again is parted in the triangle, but
because therein is described the power and rule of the In-
ferior Governors, we leave to manifest the same, for fear of
the abuse by the evil and ungodly world. But those that are
provided and stored with the Heavenly Antidote, do without
fear or hurt, tread on and bruise the head of the old and evil
serpent, which this our age is well fitted for. Every side or
wall had a door for a chest, wherein there lay divers things,
especially all our books, which otherwise we had, besides
the Vocabulario of Theophrastus Paracelsus of Hohenheim,
and these which daily unfalsifieth we do participate. Here-
in also we found his Itinerarium and Vita, whence this
relation for the most part is taken. In another chest were
looking-glasses of divers virtues, as also in other places were
little bells, burning lamps, and chiefly wonderful artificial
songs — generally all was done to that end, that if it should
happen, after many hundred years, the Fraternity should come
to nothing, they might by this onely vault be restored again.
Now, as we had not yet seen the dead body of our care-
ful and wise Father, we therefore removed the altar aside ;
then we lifted up a strong plate of brass, and found a fair
and worthy body, whole and unconsumed, as the same is
here lively counterfeited,1 with all the ornaments and
attires. In his hand he held a parchment called T, 2 the

1 The illustration which is here referred to is, singularly enough,
not reproduced in the text of the translation, and it is also absent
from the Dutch version of 1617. As there are no other editions of
the " Fama Fraternitatis " in the Library of the British Museum,
I also am unable to gratify the curiosity of my readers by a copy of
the original engraving.

- In the English translation the letter I has been substituted by a
typographical error, or by an error of transcription for the T which
is found in all the German editions.

FAMA FRATERNITATIS. 79

which next unto the Bible is our greatest treasure, which
ought not to be delivered to the censure of the world. At
the end of this book standeth this following Elogium.

Granum pectori Jesu insitum.