Section 9

10 6 The Myfierhs andLawef
be his Fathers heircjbut the gifts of mind, cfpccially (iich as thisFcaternity hath, is rarely by Generation communicated to theofspring: He that (hill be end need cither by entreaty, or hired with money to reveale ought to any one, but a truly vertuous man, doth injure the firft Giver of fuch a Talent, the Lawgiver and the whole Fraternity, for perhaps enemies thereby would be able to further their de^ figne?, God would be di (honoured, and vertue banifhcd.
The Philofophers would have my fteries revealed to none but thofe,wh6 God him fclf (hall enlighten, that their undcrftan- dings being refined, they may apprehend the deepefl fayingsSc profoundeftfecrctj: Others fay, that we mufl not truft him with whom we have not eaten a Buftiell a Salt; that is,him with whom they have not had much converfe to the fure expe- rience of his abilities and faithjfor friend-^ (hip is not to be compared to Horfes that bear price according as they are young, but to wine and Gold which are bettered by Age : So the Brethren entertain no man to bt a member of the Fraternity, but men of approved parts, and very ver- tuous.
There
cffhe Rofecrucians. 1 07
There were certain rites and Ceremo- nies done at Athens in the honour of Pr vietheufy Vulcarty and Mefterva after thi^ manner : many were appointed to run in- to the City with lighted torches, and he whofe light was out, gave place to the o- thers, fo that the viftory was obtained by him who could come fir ft at the goal with his flaming torch : The meaning was to cxprcfs the propagation of fecrets for the putting out of the torch is the death of a Predeceffour, fo that another living with his lighted torch fucceeds him, by which meanes the rare myfieries of Chymiftry come fafe to after generations.
Chymiftry indeed is a Science above all Science?, the Mintrva that fprang from JufiUrs braine^an heavenly ray which doth difplay it felfe to the cornforiing of things below : This is the birth of the underftanding , whofe propagation is a$ neceffary as that of the body : we may obferve the antipathy of fome bodies to others, and we may fee as great difference in minds : mens difpoiitlons are to be fully known, leaft a fword b« put into 3 mad mans hand 5 for a good thing may be evilly ufed, as wholfome wine put into a ftinking easke doth change both colour
and
io8 The Mjijieries andtawes
and tafte : Armho>*iedes boafted that if he we could fix his foot in a (ure place, he could p by his skill move the whole world, and j what would not ill affeft^d perfons do if jfeci they were flatters of ruchfecrets.** doubt- bee Icfs they would endeavour the accom- piiftiment of ail their wicked devices.
Some may aske why they have fueh an Eleftion, and do not rather let their knowledge be buried with them (or if not fo unworthy) why do they not print,that every one rnay have^read, and qnderftand their myfteries, or cife why do they noc chufe more to augment the Fraternity / we (hall anfwer to each of them to fatisfie thoi'e thus do Qjicfiion.
Firft, why do they leleft a few perfons ? and will not have their fecrets perifh? we anfwer, there is good reafon for both. Jn'^uflm Cdfar would not fufferthe Eneads o(Vir;:illto be burnt aIthou^h he had dc- figned h foby his will, icaft Romes glory ftowld i'uffer ihtrcby, and yet. this Poet as Homer amongft the Grecians had in- (lead of Truth produced iic\Lon is there not a greater caufe why Brethren of the K, C. fhould endeavour the keeping in memory fuch fecrets ? may this lear- ning never be forgotten in which there
are
of theRofecruciansi ^ 169
re no Fables but true devine cxperl- nents.
Wc may woefully lament the lofs of ecrets which being writ have unhappily ^een burnt, not Wrft have been forgotten, .hereforefor prevention of both it is con- venient that they (hould be entrufted in a "ew h^ndF, and by thofe careful be trans- mitted to others. Before the flood, the Arts were engraven on two pillars Icaft sicher fire or water (hould blot them our, and afterward fas fome writej the Caba- lyrtical Art was found out, and by word of mouth communicated, and the Kabbins have at this day rather a ftiadow then the fubftance of that Science.
The Heathens had their Colledges in which were admitted none but fuch as were of an unbiamt able converfation ^nd of choice partsjfo that every one who was educated in a Scholaftick way was not thought a fit perfon to be of their Socie- ties, but they would picke of themofta- ble and they were few, the which rule is obfcrved by the Fraternity of the R. C, who admitted few and thofc upon good defert.
In the next place we come to the rea~ fon why they do not print and make theii*
knowledge
i I o« iheMyJieries and Lances
Knowledge publick ? there are many things in Policy , more in Divinity, ng/t a few in naturciWhich ought not to feefche light,but are to be kept in private brcafts, Icaft thereby fome have written of the fe- crets of the Commonwealth, no one yet durft revealc the iriy fteries of God. Alefc- ander the great being in Egypt learned of LeoH the priefl^ that the Gods there and thofe which were every where clfe wor- (hipped as Jupiter , Vionypus , M iiy others were no God , and He by letter informed his mother, bat commanded that the Letter (hould forthwith be con- secrated to Vulcan^ lead the multitude a- doring thofe Gods (hould run into con- fufion ; fo likewife in Nature if their hiyfieries were knowne, what would be- come of order?but indeed how can thatibc called a fecret which is revealed to many; ' though many may be judged fit per- fons to receive the' knowledge ; yet few have fuch command over themfclves a^ to keepe them, who will tic his tongue and deny himfelfe the liberty he might otherwife enjoy V very few will let their words by long abiding there corrupt iii there mouths, an ancient Phrlofojphcr being accufed of a ftinking breath> laid,
that
of the Rofecrucians^ ill
tat it was caufed by letting fecrets putri* : in it.
Why aliwho arcdefirous oftheFra* icrnity arenotchofcn, is not their fault, ut the others lottery : in courts they arc )oneft promoted who are moft pleafing ) their Princes, and they who are known referred before the ftrangers, although leir parts be better deferving, but of this aw enough*
I
CHAP. XVL
\he fift Latv : that the letters R. Ci Jhall be their feale, Charalfert and Cognizance.
rHe Egyftians had two forts of letters, the one holy called Hiefoglyphicks, :)nely known to the Pricfts 5 the other prophane commonly known; The Holy were the imagci af Animal vcgctableSjOr mathematical Figures engraven in mar- ble, which yet are to be fccne at Komt be- ing
i I D iheMjijicries and Lams
ing'ye;> brought whole thither in Auguflui ■- his raigne, for the impreflion being in-JTi ward) it will endure long. The Proflune were made by lines, as the Greeke and Hebrew, the Priefts ufed both the one to the Commonwealth, the other to the wife and learned. Hicroglyphicks were lignes and Charafters of deep knowledge which none might expound to others under oath and the pleafure of the Gods.
Junior Philofophers have employed all their paines and ftudy to finde out the meaning of thcfc Hieroglyphicks : the Phenix (properly belonging to Chy— miftryj was accounted a creature dedica* ted to the Sun, and this Embleme agrees to all the holy marks : fo likewife the R* C. have diverfe letters to difcover their minds to their friends, and to coriceale ic from others.
Their Charafters are K. C, which they ufe thattbey may not be without Name, and every one according to his capacity* may put an Interpretation upon the let- ters, as foone as their firft writing come forth 5 fhortly after they were called Rofie Crucians^ for K.may ftandfor Rofcs and C, for Crofg, which appellation yet re- maines, although the Brethren have de- clared
of the Rofecrucianr. tig
dared that thereby they Syn»bolicaiIy
mca ne the Name of their firft Author. M
one man could pierce into anothers breaft
and efpie his thoughts, we ihoald need
neither words nor writings ; but this be-
, .ing denied usj andonely granted to An-
! gels, we muftfpeake and write each to o-
\ ther. Thefe Letters do contain the whole
, Fraternity,and fo darklyjthat you cannot
by their Names know their families, by
, ; their families know their perfons^by their
\ : pcrfons learn their fecrcts.
Each order hath its Formalities and coat of Armes or Embleme, The Khodi-^ , atis have the double crofs, they of BurguH" \ dj the golden fleece 5 others a Garter,in \ honour of a woman who loft her garter in a dance. The Brethren have the letters i R, G.and as Tome of the others are Hiero- glyphicks and ferve to cover myfieries ; , fo the Brethren have a particular intenti- on in this. I am no foothfayer, no pro- phet, yet under favour I havefpoken to the purpofe in my otn( r books : for K, , Signifies Fega/us^C. lulium if you look not to the letter but right interpretation; have a Key to open fecrets, and attain the true knowledge thereof. Z>. wwrul. ^li, w. \q() bl{a X 3 underftand if thou canft, thou !•- nccdft make no further fearch : Is not this I I a
114 ^^^ My jl cries and tawes
a claw of the Rofy Lion, a drop of Hippo- crene 1 and yet 1 have not been fo un- faithful as publifh their holy myfteries ; for no man can picke any thing out of it, unlefs he is very skilfull both in words and thi-ngs. Some out of proper names will make Anagrams^fce what is included in K, C the Rofy crofs >AuKi7r/f jor Hay Ha^ Eheuy in the fame is contain'd a laughter and a complaint, fwectnefs and bitternefs, joy aud forrow, for to live a- midft Rofes, and under a croffe are two contrary things, Man being about to be borne partly by change of places, partly by t^ie nsvel ftringcut, is faid moft com- monly to (bed teares, and rarely doe re- joyce ; fo there whole life is but a conti- nued forrow, and have more of the Crofj then Rofc in it : But I rather take R. for the fubftantial part,C. for the Adjcftive which holds not good in that interpreta- tion of the Rofy-Croffe,
The Cdfars of ^frmany^ Charles the Great C. his Succeffors were wont to ufe handfeals, and to fetthem to their fub- fcriptiefis, it was meet that the Brethren ftc-uld not be deficient in this, and there- fore let Ingenious perfons judge of this Anagram>
Foe
of the Rofecrucunt. 115
For in this K. C. are A- crofticks J di- ligence will finde out the reft : But none I hope will bee fo foolifti as to thinke any vertue to Me n thisiFigure, as ic fufpeftcd to be in the vord Abracadabra , for we mean nothing cTs, but we have onely given in our ver- luit, and let others have the freedome as o have their opinions ; But we matter ot words 5 but look more after things, or things fhould be although they were mnamed^but words are without things ain and infignificant. : When a certain wing chreatned the LacO'-ians for their ong letter, and deiircd a (peedy anfwer, hey fcnt back one, thefe letters 0 T, by he one meaning that they wouldlsJot^by he other that they valued not his threats »ne jot 5 (o that multitude of words are »ftentimes to no purpofe, snd a few car- ying weight in them may be fufScient. Hence thefe Elenienu of the letters are li noc
1 1 6 Ti5e Myfterief andtavpes
not to be fleighted, R. Babies raadneffe and the middle, L. Ltt^itf the Moone doe exprefs, (or if theSunbe becwedi >ihem , they make an heart , IKhjc^ is the J^rft thing in man, ^d if iti^firicere may fee an acceptable (Scrifice to Of^dk .
chaf. xv^h;
cor
Concerning the fixt and Lafi Law^ vchich is^ that the fraternity of the pre R. C. JJ)aII be concealed an hundred ^no
bot! coiil
WHcn the common people take no tice of the fecrct managing of |wi{e puclick affaires, they becaufeof their ig- norance^fufpeft it to be a plot upon them, and openly cenfure it, as not fitting to fee the Sun % for treacheries and wickednefle defircs the night and darkneffe to covcrjfaood and conceal them, and therefore anions are bad becaufe they are private. Beiides the rud« multitude many gra ' vcr
Con
veJd niQcf
Hew
orof
ofthRofecTHcians. 117
i^er heads have inconfiderately called i ipparcnt things good, and the other , : lought, faying, if they be vertuous, why ! ' hould they not be known that they may ( De embraced by honeft men ? 18 if alllawfull fecrets becaufe of their awfulneffe were to be made publicke: ^ould it not favour of folly if a Princes ■ Tcafure becaufe it was rightly gained iould therefore beexpofed co all men/* "urely fuch an opinion would onely be- :omc a thiefe and robber.
The Brethren are thought guilty of
roncealing themfelves , for they might
r probably doe more good if they were
J '^nowne, becaufe they ibould be fought
ifter, and have opportunities put into
heir hands, and why will they keepclofe
>oth their perfons and place ; but let us
:onrider that they traveh and they jas all
J \Niit men elfejacknowledge no particular
^ C^ountrey, but the whole world to them
s as their own native foile, now in tra^
/el diverfe entertainments are tobe found,
[ Tiuch flattery, little fincerity 5 muchfalf-
lood and deceit, no truth , honcftly^
ile who is knowne by his Family , name,
Dr office may be taken notice off to his
difad vantage.
I I The
i 1 8 The Mjjfierks and Lami
The Scripture calls men pilgrimes,who have no true countrey and home but hea- ven ; fo that men are grangers and tra- ydloups in their own land, in their inhe- ritances 9 and why then may they not fcarcely be known to live when they (ball not abide long t Their aftions are fuch as become thofe who hope to appeare and (hine in Heaven though they are ob- fcure below.
How great is their madncfs who fpcnd their tiroes in drunkennefle and gluttony, who are known by their vices ; or imitate him who boafted that he never faw the riling or fetting Sun, and had no God but his Belly : whatever is rare and brought from far Countreys that they defirc to eate, as though the w hole world in (bort time (hould be devoured by the filling their gutts more then their braines ; per- haps, thcfe may have R.ational fouls, but fo clogd that they cannot foare aloft who drink not, eat not that they may live, but live to drink and eat.
The Lar.r^£nioniatts placed drunkards before a company of children, that they feeing the abominable naughtineffe ap() deformity, might fhim and hate that vice, as Ljcwgui commanded : but fuch beaftJy ,.' , perfons
»
of the Rcfecmciant^ 119
perfons do very often draw in others who keep them com^anyjand their fight is too too often dangerous and deflruftive.
Wherefore fuch vices ftiould be covered as filthy, that others may not be provo* ked and ftirred up to the like enormities ; nay let fuch things not onely be conceal'd but buried, and things more profitable be ufed in their rodme ; But if all good and honeft fecrcts were brought to light, 1 dare fay, the Fraternity of the R. C. would not be the laft as having no caufe of fear upon them, but 1 doubt whether yet we (hall fee thofe happy daies.
There arc many things bad which by cuftome have been in good efteeme, and the continuance of vice makes it be thought at length Vertue : The Brethren would give nooccafion of fufpition,for that which is not known, cannot be pra- ftifed ; without praclife no cuftome; without cuftome no fuch miftake, al- though their being altogether honeft need not be fo cenfured or entertained.
Befides, perhaps the Firft Author by the Law that the Fraternity fhould be concealed an hundred years, would give the world time to lay afide their vanities, folly and madnefle, and by chat time I 4 be
1 20 The Myjierks and Lawes
' --• be fitted to receive fuch knowledge;
And truly every man that hath eyes may fee a great and happy change in the world , that many rare inventions are diTcov ered, many abufes in the Arts refti- fied 5 and that they (hall (hine to perfcfti- on, and u hat then fhould hinder but that the name of the Fraternity (hould bepub- lifhed in thdr Fama Confeffiofte and other books /
Two hundred years arepaft fince the firft Law was made, vi^. ah A, C. 1413. in A. C. 1615. about which time the F^^wjrf came forth ; although there is no cleare manifeliation of the difcovery, yet it siay Cufficiently be gathered out of it, and afterwards the tombe of the firft Au- thor bfing i^pened, v;hich was A. C. 1604. to which adde the years of the prophefie, after 120 years I will be known, for 106, ah A, C. 1378. doe niake 1484. and af- terwards 120 doe ii73ke 1604: Some having this from their PrcdecefTours have certainly affirmed this Truth.