Section 1

>,\'ff^r;. 'SLvur.'. f Ji./ j
THEMIS AVKEA.
THE y./r'/f-o-z
LAWS
OF THE
TRATERNITY
OF THE
RO
Written in Latin by Count Michael Maierus,
And now in Englifti for the Infor- mation of thoie who feek after the knowledge of that Honourable and myfterioiis Society of wile and renowned Philofophcrs.
^tnon fcamus ipfi
V:x ea mflra voco
Whereto is annexed an Epiftle to
the Fraternity in Latine^froni (bme
here m EtJQ LAND.
' LONDON, '
Printed for N.Brook^ at the Angel in
Cornhill; 1^5^,
Xo the moft excellently
Accomplifli't,
TheonelyPhilofopher i|i
the prefentagey - ♦ The Honoured, N651e,
Learned^ Elias Ashmol t^Bfq.
'^^^^0 few and precious is ^^ S ^^ that number of the fons ^^^^^^^of mfdomy which tlit Creator (^0 fb many Jewels J hatb laid up in hk Treafnry from the beginning , for the a- d4>matian of the World ^ as that tHore th^n one cannot be forded t&fiand as a Golden Candlejlick^ A 2 for
The Epiftic for the holding forth that Lu- cerna Dei to thefonr ofmettyby the light whereof the mojl fe clnfed Myfieries , both naturah and di'vine^may in fome mea fur^ ( fnch as is fit form tc k^orp while we remain in theft earthly tabernacles)be difcofve* red to thofe diligent dN humbl feekers who mal{c it their bn finefi to fearch after the hjtow ledge oftheCreator in the work^ his hands ha^e madc^
T^hat this was the princi^ai end and defign of the divin goodnejiin bejiowing yonrfelf upon the worldy we are full con'vinced by thofe Scintilla tions which our eyes ^^im c they are)havefeen darted fro9
tin
Dedicatory. that uxor folis which hath its hayitationinyowr breafi : and although n^e jhould bs frnjirate of our ends in the prefent de-^ fign^tkan happinejigreat enough that we have lived at fuch a timeydnd in fuch a place as hath given us the opportunity to kjtow and be ac^iuainted with a man in whofe bofome God hathfo abundantly Jiored up the treafures of all forts ofwifdom and kpovpledge. The main of our wijhes are that we may fo ac^ quit ourfelves as that you may hav0 no caufe to repent of thofe kindnejfes and refpeSis where-^ with you have orjhall honour Your fervants,
T. S.S"'
The Preface.
THe Goddefs 7he/^js after the Deluge be\ng asked of Deu- calion and Vyrrha^ how Man- kind fwept away with the over* flowing of the Waters^fhould again be reftored and multiplied , com- manded them to throw over their heads the Bones of their Great Mother : the which Oracle they rightly interpreted concerning the ftonesof the Earth , and thereby attained their delired end 5 For which caufe 'ihemis was afterwards accounted the firfi Promulgatrix of Laws. But without doubt Her anfwer was not thus underftood by the ancient Poet^^ who fuppofed that (he rather meant that Man- kind was generated by two ftones^ the Male, and the Female, whence proceeds the wonderful! multipli- cation
The Preface.
«atioii of that Golden Medicine • For the Man Denea ion , and ^ ^ Wife Fyrrha are the GabrifiyT and tria^ the Sun and the Mcun ., v/hich two by projeftion of thdr Speci- fick ftones can multiply evta to ?. thoufand, Tyrrha within h luddy^ not unlike the colour of Ficlh , al- though Her outward garmento zz': white 3 and fome have named Her according to her cloathing : Den- calion h a Lyon, not in body^ but fpiritually, notinfliape^ butope^. ration , becaufe He is fo cruel! ro his Wife that he kils her^ and thca bewraps her with hib bloody man- tle. But very few have attained the true knowledge of the Cracle^ fincemoft men apprehend it to be only an Hiftory , and thence draw fooie wholfome Morals^ which 'hz\t have no place , neither were they ever intended.
And now this Title is vindicative] X//&. why we call it lYitGolden ih
which I Dedicate to the Courteous Header.
For feeing it is as much the Pro- perty of a man toreafon, andjudi- cioufly to determine^as it eflentially belongs to a bird to fly, or an horle to run and tra verfe the Fields 5 we would not impofe on any, or feem to deprive them of their native freedome by captivating any ones Judgement.
Itisfaid of the whetftone, that being it felfe blunt, yet itftiarpens other things^ and though the Steele and flint have not aftually fire in them, yet being (truck again ft each other, they mutually fend forth fparkes ^ give me leave ( I pray thee) to apply. For if thou reapeft any profit hereby, I fliall think my felf to have been ferviceable.
Be Candid and Farevpell^
Viris clarifsimis^fapientiC-
fimis & vere Philolophis, ■*
Fratribufq^ 'conjunftifiimis " li. C. S. P. D. Theod. Verax,
Theophil. C::elnatus.
CVm oculi nojiri Hnmum ^ 7errena qu£libet defpicicntes^ in Altnm "fauto fuhlati effem^ aciem coUeSis una radiis'^xerunt . ut Celum & Mihcra (in mintis fcnerrare^ ad ilia tdmen Jinc piacnlo collimare pojjint 5 etenim apud nos hand leve hahebaturfolatium^ intueri raptihs^d^ tnirari ea qu^ caper t nop licuit ; fane ^mulatio tantum pa erat^eo non nijl impetn ferri , quo confultiUs ire met him us : penna nofira dnm bumilis prte pnlverem tnto exchaffet^ fed am-
bitiofo
iiiiofe admodum volatH ruindm ve^ reatnr^ caddt tamen w aqHiK ^ ut AU' dacf£ crimen eluat'-^immo cadat in a* ^uaf qtM folum longe Juftremintnt 5 adebut aHqnalis fucrit gloria lahi^ €^ quodam deficerimus Trinrnpho : fie meteor A cajk accenfa micant & ter- rorem drrfi iftcHtiuntpr£crptio. Vtrifm nos turn rietate , turn candors vefiro ianquam alio Hirinq\ expdnjts fuffnlti^ ^fi/pra Livorem fordid^ reptantem^ t^fupralnfcitidm inerti ponder e de - gravantenfy facile erigemns*
gluidni igitnr ipfo in veftibulo fdU vam ejje rent auguremur ^ qnodcunqx^ enim judicium dc nobis ferdtis y idem emoUimcnto erit ^ fi hlandum 9 tnox facilcm gratnldhimHr Favorem^fi modo feverinr^qnanto magis miferi indite- mus^ tdnto amplior Benevolentix anfx conceditur.
Etvobisnimium molejii y C^ nobis ingrati effemnsy (f ) capite ad c ale em hfidiern£ caufam quercU enarraremus^ ntcHtq-j tamen chn tuciturnitas aut
fiultiti^
fiultitU fit judex ^autfuperbU^i^dmqh vitahjmus^ ne in Scyllam ineidantus antCharibdifn.Juvat igiiur(?ace ve" y?ri) totam ntiUria feriem hreviter percnrrere^ut inde quietem d^folanten fferefffUi jjiquidem aliquod inferivnii kvamcn eji £rumnas effutire.
N^bis ferio fenfitantibus Philojo* fhiam a Scholis corruftam ejfe^ & qnotidie magis horrenda quam ipfa Africa parturire monjira^ illico terreri cdpimus 5 d^ illam dehinc traSare perhffrruifHUf 5 ecqais znim fni com^ pos pe3eri ferpentem admovehit , ut vivaciori pungat aculeo ^ ecquis ^pe^ ritnri inflar natatoris ) fallaci undi dttoli 0ptdbit ut celerim imum pet At ^ nt profundins immergatur?
•irifiotelts^ uti & c facing ^ Tbilofophiam nofiram impO' tentifus gloria fludio ancillare eot" gerunt^d^ nulla hodie Veritas ejje cre^ ditHT^ nifi quam illi invenerunt : fie nobis placita obtrudunt 5 d^fcientis avidos adunco ferviiHti hdmo inefcare
foknti
foknt'jfed ingraft ingefiuh^ji non iur^ fes habentur imli quos alitna Hits infcribit ignominia. ^ nee laude dignum eft ^ per quomndam ruinas , qmfi tot gradus^CHhlimia, amhire,
"Non eft nojirum tot ferifta fecretis luxuriantia igni tradita hie deplorare^ quorum Spletidor.fatis emicutt ^ dum cremarentur^ npc omnino incredibile efi feint ilia s wulto licet cinere depref-- fas^ aliqHando c!irijjint!i ernpfHrnras face. ^ y. -...,
l^efcit profe&o Veritas ullas fallendi tcchnas^ qii£ larvata non incedit ^ fed fttida^ut fine ndevis d^ errore fefpe&a^ torihm exhibeat 3 unica h£c fibt con- Jiat^d^ quanquam pJurimi ejus nomine Htantur^ut tuto n/hil co;^itantes deci- yiant^iUa tandem falicre prorfus ncfcia 'mend^cf^s detcc^ct ^ qjtJ interim earn offciofc infctantur ^ non folum ipfi ftdiuUm attingcnt metam^fed vefti- gia pftfe linqucntquif alios pari fe^ ticjtate ad eundcm literature api* cem dncent,
Nos
Nos etiam frofferum 77ohis fpcfidc- rcmus exilum ^ fi ncglcOis lupjlihct phrlofophajiri amhagilus (quod per^ qucpi difficile cji) paucorum pajj'ns^ li^ cet fJon square ochIo^ iamen cemcmi^ tarj zalerewus : miferi adhnc in /«- minehdcrewuf^ & nifi aliquis quaji }t C^lo nobis viam Cdlcardam indigitet^ commune pariter nas mamt Fatuw^ fines erimus Elewentarii . Thdtt^ hen pudet ! nos cantiknis refcio quihus allici^ qu£ demulcent^ juxta ac confo^ pjunt^pro ecn/pcrto hahemus pUifqudm milh hominum mira conjenticrdi ig- navia periijfe 5 pro/it interim^ rcbis edcSa aliorum peri cutis cur a , & fi Imodo daretur optio^ nos coUvHatione ntori qu^m defpcratione fupina ah for - heri nt/iluintus,
Vos 7t/jq^ (viri Trudentijfiwi ) vota nofirafollicite peiunt^ ptnes quos efl opcm ferre t) tCKuitatis ncftr^ fat confcii fumus^^ 7 del rcMcdikm qua- rimus: telkati nondnm^uti fperare eft) i^orbo Ubdramns^quippc qui P2ale nos
habere
habere probe adhuc fentimufi, ^ ille calamitatem prope videtur evafijje^qui finporem excujjii^^ adfe rediit.
LangHcntes ferffpes nojir as fieri -- lefq'-y vos mitiore humanitatis jubare ^ animafiis^ & in vindemiam canefcere T jujjifiij 3 adeo ut libera jam certe erw L ditionis pateat 'jarma : rema impofie^' rum Artibusnon Vltrafigat^vos enim exorji eftifubi aliiomnes Finem fia- tuertmt C^ columxtam^ Veluti etiam enarrahiles funt vefiri qudvkFacultafe progrejjus^ ita C^ dementia Panegy rim fuperat d^ vel inde licet conji- cere vos omni numero abfolwtos , quia tarn mites & blandi efiis : ii folum Frontem conirahunt ^ qui in rugis infcttiam latere volunt^ qui omnes in partes fuas trahenty eofq^ fatis chw imperio cogent ajjentiri^ quibus ad^ verfari timent.
Ignofcite nobis Qviri Spe&atijjimt) p inepte efferamus illa^ quorum adhuc ignarifumus 5 certe elaboratum exigit §n€omium^ quicqmdfub vefirumtitulo
in
htcemfrodjt^ &¥itmdvefirMfdp^ 'i$m fold valuit ebuccinare : mhis ta* \tim fdrre et jwfnreliceat tantis Ha^ Wiihus litare ^ qH mddre nonfe^mus^ nobis vcnerari iiligM erit.
tibeSHm vefirum omni ex parte no-- hoanimo Hfq\ congruum quafi nohir hlummod^ confcriptu f^JJe opinemur^ ^ reverb Frovidentia hand vulgaris^ rat^ qH£ nos ^Cwfrneriisplufquam te^ tehris nannihil eduxit^ et in dubia luce ^ttecMvit^qu£SoieM mox oriri efficief^
optatam dahit meridiem uhi nulla ire umbra , out fdhem brevifppfa fi- obUfociabiP.
Nosnonfuntus ex eorum numero^^ JiMti nimis^ cachimno etfannis Jolen^ iaaccipere , q$t^ Inftitnthni fu£ ne^t madrantperiffdeacfi DoSrina Ulif tarn ^0 vinculo alligata effii^ ut nemojln^ mrum conftlioiBdm adire^ autfalutar^ •^v nempeHifafiuafifimtPerrpM'^ f^\ ^Hi m Arifiotelis verba jHr^Hnf, Btlmw dmri mmm^ mfimm
'I
exitinm Fidel ef , Hi ftint qui inam aura tumentes^ orb em iis angufium ni mis covijueruntur^ qui AxiontatafattA larjia traduht cuivis rjx£ apta^idanixj' iifdctn fere verbis modo aiunt ^ mode fiegnnfi Atqi^Hi (^Boniviri) jlrekm audiunt veritatis Vatroni ! fed ftodum quern folvere non fojjunt^ rifu difrum pufft^ probe enim aMorum laborib'jfS r4Hltum invident^ qnos in exile corpus max odio marcefcerevidere erit. v ^ ^ rob is Kaufeam crearemus ^fi incfttof ^ quihjis eorum Librifcatent^ in mediHnz * prof err ewHs ^ quotiefmnq-^ enim vtag^ mim aliquod myfierium traSandufTp venit^id vel dubie et obfcure abfolvnnt^ vel prorfus neglignnt : gluis ab Arifio tele maieriam edifcet.} quam cautns (iccultare voluit^n} irtfcftiam proderet^ verilm quia. adm&dum difficile eji or cana b£a ritnari^ an ide^ tutum efi err are . penitus latet^ quicquidtkulterins dam- num explicdtur: fortajfis multi ingenio follentes maftriam hanhinvenire ng-
grejji
%
grejfjfnijfenf^ n^tpius imemm.^
_ taffmt. . ■. ..T^v- , .::~\
1 y Nefcmuf qtwmm frivilegio Ati-
\ ffoUfiis AnteceJJorihHs eruditione €e4e^f
yUuiim
^emvmidUm deUxiffe iactiutj-fuas
^.nim h(tbent Litters viccs\ Cum ifa^*,
}4rijiotdes omnium
tonvixmt^ahlit HtHOs(niJi rn p&nam^
')ivof i^adaverijmgeremu^^ utfcrtpiU:
^ama defufsHis^ mv^ invent a coUf^f^
FhHofophia antem ve/ifa (viri eru^.
^ iujjfimi) noneji hifcenugis refirfa^ ed abdnijjima NatHr£ fecreta cla^ff^ tme pandit. Pamm Jane. Uudii eji
' j filia fdicHer indagaffe^ultra pro^knijk tpides quos, netno colligi^ ithidfohm* nodo vobii dignum^qHod aim laffk^ji^ i^fumi qui omnium fere ocuhs ex tin-* :ere^ veftros reddiderunt acnt tores. Phihfophia etia vefira ptodeJiaeJi^C^ fcredo&a^ quippe que e Cwlo lapfa eji^ riginen^ 3. S, Scripturis debet ^ex qui ^s verUi^t^m tuta difcernere licet '^ihil ^ • II jlquid^rri
Jiqitidem illic vclfufpicatui habere paf- fumm^ ntidth minus errom argnere : cum igitur uftufquifq'-^ Sacram pagtHdm volvatj quorfuM falfa improbo laborc ampk&imur^ d^fugitivam deperimus L nmbram ? cur gradnm (ifttmuf > quin X^ materiam cujutqi ^^^ ^ Bihliis eruamus^ nam plufquam verifimile eji Deumj qui liqnidHm iHudlSiatHra creavit id cptime proditurHM^ (iquk fcriptk hifce incubuerit^ brevi fciret a qua materia omne quod vivit^ tanquam tot riimli a mari fuam haufit originem ^ necnou in iUam ludente pauli/per und^L exont'* ratur.
^i pertinaciter negant qnofdam ejje vivos quos Dent felegit^ ut intimi :^^^ ntyjleria cognofcant^ fummam paritCr | Creatoris cur am toUunt^ qui nihil nobis ./^^ utile & necejfarium negabit. ^i enim ^^ totam univerfi machinam in humant- j,,^> generis ufum fabric at us efi^ turn infui- ^S ipfiuf gloriam^ turn in nostrum com* ^ moda ejus opera intelligt voluit s §lua* rmdam igitur mentes e ci^lo elnmina^
vii
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Ik
vit3^ d^ cogitdtiones quidflane divhtuxfi
medit antes indidU'-^captus fani nojier
adeo hHwilis eji^Ht plurimajupra vires
expenatur':, perpetkis torqueri jludiis^
' foUtum non concedere oculis fdmnum^
' penes ninfrnv^fed nijiradticxlejies in
' wente^ccendant diem^ipfis nox oritur
f) vigiitis"-) ni(i Densfer'e infperato Juper^
^ vettidt auxilio^ ipfe labor eji tantunt
'' operojius otium.
'J Dens igitur Ter 0pt. Max. uti duo ^ mm^rnimdi origine creavit Lumina^ '^ mi bus omnia confptci ac tl/ujirari pof- '■' int^ it a quornndam animos tanta Luce iffudit^ut Selem ipfur/i^ Lunamq^ nh \^\ ium &cc(BcatiintHeantHr^ ut creaturis ritji 'ace ilia cuelejii pr£^nt^ et flofere eas t^ fficiant : it a Chaos literature ingto^ fc iofam evafitfabricam^ cesium in ter- 0 asdefcendit^ ntrunq'-^ centrum femotii 0 Mperjicic j'emet in con[peUum dedit^ et «i" \h£ adhuc majora^audemus dicer e ea uofdam non latere » Verum banc ejfe Societatem Vefiram inAui Dens oracula aperuit , ntultd funt a> a qus
fH^M/ inducunt^ Hi credamus : Fro - ^ babiUus quidem ejl ilium Ecclefiie fu£ ^^^ potius miraudd Htec indulfurHm quhm a Ethtikis qui fcitftiUantem Nature Fa,-- I cem Soli accettdnnt^ d^ (iquando hux e . Ctelo ifs mieet^ magi s inde^ cos^utiunti^ rj quippe ochH tcnehris ferpetno verfati^'^- lAimm tampwrum minime fine detri^ c mento ferant : Handdubid Deuf iifdem « quibusfua myjieria libere donavit^ alia J^hit benefciapaHtbinferiora'^qui Lege . Vivifji' peritijJiMifunt^cenvenitetiatfp nt iUi Nature nonfint igna^i 5 qui dc^ ^ fiiq'^ in Domini admitttmiur condor-- , tium^ Ancilldt ejus eodem pact 0 fi nut ' Familiar es.
Alia fubinde Ratio eji quia admo^ a. dum pauciefits'j vulgus multitudo ejt, i fed rudify nocetq'-^ illi in alinm fpiranti ' propria moles^cum interim unus aut aU ' ter mira fc moveant agilitate^&fuperai ^' evadant ad auras : vilefcit porro quic^ . quid temerariis omnium manibus tra^ Satur 5 fagax igitur Natura divitiai ' wtimg Jim occult avit^ nhfordefccrenti ^^*
iU
ffajud habet & Ars penetralia^ iUhiv ')etend AuTum^ Divinum etiam opus eji afpciiip it h£c it a d^ ilia invefiigemus.^^"^*^^'^^
Fatna Vefira in linguam tran^ih Anglican am ad nojlras manus pei\^»it ydit'ujfmul Pr^fatione Viri iHuflfijJi^ J^/ E. P. Orbis Britamci Solk) inill^ l:ripfijlk vos plures modb dignos i« octet atem adoptaturos ;
lie hincprocui He Propbani^NoHde- et omnes cHJufcHncji^ farina homunci'^ nes in tantam Humanitatem involare^ Ht alios fpei melioriseam ante pedes cjitam conculcare : aocerrima interim H nobis exorta eft pugna^ntpote qui nos tnti favor is int merit as negare non offumus^ fed tandem impotentia n0bis ifa eft Vejir£ Gratis fuccumbere^ flc mviftfumus^ quia viHi^ & veftrnm KofcutaMur LaurumJ Csterum ampntato uno Hydra capite^ (iudfubinde fe attoUtt^ adeo ut Infer" mium noftrum damno videatur vireg :qHi(fvij]e'-i ad iOud igitnr tanqnam
. VirtHti
He
i
It
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Virtnti affine contendimns ^ quod difi^ cultatibus acji numcrofo fatellitio con^ jiipatur : Nobk anfa dejnit ad vos mittendi'-yuhi terrarum vos qmtrerent EpiJioU nonfatis conftitJt^ quibm no ^natim liter as infer/ here £que incer lum^ JiquiUem cJ^ JSIomina^ uti & de gendi locus qnofcnnqj niji vos iffos latent.
Tanlatim^ itaq--^ inva(it animos Tri^ ftitia^^ ^ueruli ^ nti accidere folet anxiis^ h£c verba e]ulavimHs, Q^^xd proderit nobis manus auxiliatrix quse calamitatem noftram non at* tingat ? Sint Fratres R. C. Viri Sapientiffimi, etiam & Benevolij quid inde hoc folatii^ nifi nos bene ficiorum compotess fimus*^ id fane nos magistorquetj quod in deliciis habitum non confequamur^ utik fitim accendir augetqs aquarum fcaturigo e longinguo fita^fic novif- fima faelicitasxrumnas reddidit a^ cutiores, ille enim qui femel fruftri fperavitjCft bis mifer,
Altunp
K
AltHm fnhitb exoriri fiUntiHm «/- dehatur , d^ facta vox uTrt fjir^x^'^f hunc retulit Refponfum, Quam folli* ' cite ambitis Fraternitatem, tandem Dei gratia invenietis, vota veftra ! non irrita in aerem evanuerunt 5 hand dubio qui ejufmodi fcintil- ilam primo accendit, eandem in flammam erumpere & poteft effi- cere & vult ; pergatis itaq, tanto flagrare difcendi ftudio^&afcendet ad nos licet obtort^ face ardens induftria.
Auditif hifce^ timorem smntA ferh membra modo oceupantem abjecimus^ e^ quaji redivivis fpirttus etiant ^ iagiliores rediere^ omnia deniq-^fupe^ "rato dolor e Gratitudinem fpirarunt^ mnltum. vel ipfo lapfu profecimus z it \fic flores imbre nonnihil deprejji^ vege^ Stores evadunt ^ & eb latius expandunt folia ^ quo c9mpendi0jiHs contraxe^ runt.
Tlufquam verijimik eft multos auro alleSos Sodetatem vefiram optare^
fi^&^t^marcefi^nf ut crefcatfectmiay yf.^rcA imfleatur'-i f^d rever^^opes ^ QPfpiifiJd genus f or dent ^ Ji eximia $fimti£ dignitas fpeSetur : ijium fane Met allorum Regent procaiw /g- norantiA , qu^e exinde tarn proflrga t£ fcholis fit neater : Alii porro ut fup- petat iis quod voluptatihus indulgeant^ Frater^fitatem follicitahunt : its cere* brum in ventrem dcgeneravit^ Artefq ^ proh nefas ^ compotaticnes vocant^ quis nan mirctur ahqutm tardum ven- tris onus vix po[fc pofi fe trahere ^ VrbesGenteJqj uno cyatho ahforbere ? MaJuimus autem nos Secreta nefcire^ quJnt tit iis Jreti in fcekm, ruerC"
Vohis interin^Qjri Dv&iJJimiy ne piir^m videaiHr nos infer tot c a lies ntifere lajjiito^- ad Afercurhs .Indices accedere qui, tcrcfidam pr^monjlrent viam, Midti profeaojlribendi pruritic j y, labor antes Art i bus fcabiem indipcere : Hie a4 ma'^nupi Eiixar cont^endety ille ad FanaUHmyHterq'^ ^iar4. fitsigntA- ^ ' ' tice \
i
'ke fcrihit, ut ohfcuriiate decipiattt, z §HOth (mines tot o vita currichlo in^ CudarHnt^ut quod Author ipfe ncn pt" 'elltxitin eo invenirent ? quern zptur n exemplum proponere difficile ad» modntn efi judicatw^ttenim fat Jiquef llos qui igne Fatuo illufi funt , alios 'tiam^ne ipji ridiculo ftnt^ in eandem :rovocare' Jbrtem : jt^ mnltum juvat nf£lices miferi£ focios habuijfe, \