The Rosicrucian Manifestos

Fama Fraternitatis and Confessio Fraternitatis

1. To the Wise and Understanding Reader#

1. Wisdom (saith Solomon) is to a man an infinite Treasure, for she is the Breath of the Power of God, and a pure Influence that floweth from the Glory of the Almighty; she is the Brightness of Eternal Light, and an undefiled Mirror of the Majesty of God, and an Image of his Goodness; she teacheth us Soberness and Prudence, Righteousness and Strength; she understands the Subtilty of words, and Solution of dark sentences; she foreknoweth Signs and Wonders, and what shall happen in time to come; with this Treasure was our first Father Adam fully endured: Hence it doth appear, that after God had brought before him all the Creatures of the Field, and the Fowls under Heaven, he gave to every one of them their proper names, according to their nature.

2. Although now through the sorrowful fall into sin this excellent Jewel Wisdom hath been lost, and meer Darkness and Ignorance is come into the World, yet notwithstanding hath the Lord God sometimes hitherto bestowed, and made manifest the same, to some of his Friends: For the wise King Solomon doth testifie of himself, that he upon earnest prayer and desire did get and obtain such Wisdom of God, that thereby he knew how the World was created, thereby he understood the Nature of the Elements, also the time, beginning, middle and end, the increase and decrease, the change of times through the whole Year, the Revolution of the Year, and Ordinance of the Stars;

He understood also the properties of tame and wilde Beasts, the cause of the raigning of the Winds, and minds and intents of men, all sorts and natures of Plants, vertues of Roots, and others, was not unknown to him. Now I do not think that there can be found any one who would not wish and desire with all his heart to be a Partaker of this noble Treasure; but seeing the same Felicity can happen to none, except God himself give Wisdom, and send his holy Spirit from above, we have therefore set forth in print this little Treatise, to wit, Famam & Confessionem, of the Laudable Fraternity of the Rosie Cross, to be read by every one, because in them is clearly shewn and discovered, what concerning it the World hath to expect. |5

3. Those who are true Disciples of Wisdom, and true Followers of the Spherical Art, will consider better of these things, and have them in greater estimation, as also judge far otherwise of them, as hath been done by some principal Persons. |6

2. Fama Fraternitatis / A Discovery of the Fraternity of the most laudable reader of the Rosy Cross#

4. When now these eight Brethen had disposed and ordered all things in such manner, as there was not now need of any great labour, and also that every one was sufficiently instructed, and able perfecly to discourse of secret and manifest Philosophy, they would not remain any longer together, but as the beginning they had agreed, they separated themselves into several Countries, because that not only their Axiomata might in secret be more profoundly examined by the learned, but that they themselves, if in some Country or other observed anything, or perceived same error, they might inform one another of it. |6-7

5. Their agreement was this:

   1) First, That none of them should profess any other thing, then to cure the sick, and that gratis.
   2) None of the Posterity should be constrained to wear one certain kind of habit, but therein to follow the custom of the Country.
   3) Tthat every year upon the day C, they should meet together at the house.
   4) Every Brother should look out for a worthy person, who after his discrease might succeed him.
   5) The word C.R. should be their Seal, Mark, and Character.
   6) The Fraternity should remain secret one hundred years.

6. Every year they assembled together with joy, and made a full resolution of tat which they had done; there must certainly have been great pleasure, to hear truly and without invention related and rehersal all the Wonders which God bath poured out here and there through the World.

Every one may hold it out for certain, that such persons as were sent, and joined together by God, and the Heavens, and chosen out of the wisest of men, as have lived in many Ages, did live together above all others in highest Unity, greatest Secrecy, and most kindness towards another. |8

7. Our philosophy also is not a new Invention, buat as Adam after his fall hath received it, and as Moses and Solomon used it: also she ought not much to be doubted of, or contradicted by other opinions, or meanings; but seeing the truth is peaceable, brief and always hereself in all things, and especially accorded by with Jesus in omni parte and all members.

And as he is the true Image of the Father, so is she his Image: It shall not be said, this is true according to Philosophy, but true according to Theologie; and Wherein Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, and others did hit the mark, and wherein Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Solomon, did excel, but especially wherewith that wonderful book the Bible agreeth. All the same concurrenth together, and make a Sphere or Globe, whose total parts are equidistant from the Center, as hereof more at large and more plain shall be spoken of in Christianity Conference. |14

8. And this is we say for a truth. That whosoever shall earnestly, and from his heart, bear affection unto us, it shall be beneficial to him in goods, body, and soul; but he that is false-hearted, or onely greedy of riches, the same first of all shall not be able in any manner of wise to hurt us, but bring him to utter ruine destruction. Also our building (although one hundred thousand people had very near seen and beheld the same) shall for every remain untouched, undestroyed, and hidden to the wicked world. |19

3. Confessio Fraternitatis or The Confession of the audable Fraternity of the Most Honorable Order of the Rosy Cross, Written to All the Learned of Europe#

9. But to this false hypocrites, and to those that seek other things than wisdom, we say and witness by these presents publicly, we cannot be made known, and be betrayed unto them; and much less they shall certainly be partakers of all the punishment spoken of in our Fama, so their wicked counsels shall light upon themselves, and our treasures shall remain untouched and unstirred, until the Lion doth come, who will ask them for his use, and employ them for the confirmation and establishment of his kingdom. We ought therefore here to observe well, and make it known unto everyone, that God hath certainly and most assuredly concluded to send and grant to the world before her end, which presently thereupon shall ensue, such a truth, light, life, and glory, as the first man Adam had, which he lost in Paradise, after which his successors were put and driven, with him, to misery.

Therefore there shall cease all servitude, falsehood, lies, and darkness, which by little and little, with the great world’s revolution, was crept into all arts, works, and governments of men, and have darkened the most part of them. For form hence are proceeded an innumerable sort of all manner of false opinions and heresies, that scarce the wisest of all was able to know whose doctrine and opinion he should follow and embrace, and could not well and easily be discerned; seeing on the one part they were detained, hindered, and brought into errors through the respect of the philosophers and learned men, and on the other part through true experience. All the which, when it shall once be abolished and removed, and instead thereof a right and true rule instituted, then there will remain thanks unto them which have taken pains therein. But the work itself shall be attributed to the blessedness of our age. |27

10. But those pragmatical and busy-headed men, who either are blinded with the glittering of gold, or (to say more truly) who are now honest, but by; thinking such great riches should never fail, might easily be corrupted, and brought to idleness, and to riotous proud living, those we desire that they would not trouble us with their idle and vain crying. But let them think, that although there be a medicine to be had which might fully cure all diseases, neverthelesss those whom God hath destined to plaque with diseases, and to keep under the road of correction, such shall never obtain any such medicine. |31