Solemn Historical Dissertation on the Rosicrucians

he may be, whether he acts toward them in jest or in sincerity, points to a letter appended to the very ancient booklet of that most well-known alchemist, Basilius Valentinus, in which it is shown that such people lived in the 15th century. Indeed, if Maier is to be believed in his Themis Aurea (a work which was translated into the German language and published at Frankfurt, 1618, in 8vo, and which the current Magnificent Pro-Rector of the Academy, the Lord D. Chladenius, kindly shared with me along with others pertinent to this matter, due to the goodwill he bestows upon me, though I am unworthy), p. 41, this Society flourished centuries ago, the origin of which he himself, on page 48 of the aforementioned book, thinks should be traced to about the year 1413.

V. Indeed, the greater the discrepancy I discovered among writers concerning the time of the origin of this Philadelphias Brotherly Love, the greater it will be observed concerning its author and first founder. Yet, so that I may not be carried about uncertainly, I will preface the opinions of those who attribute this to one certain man, and then of those who attribute it to more than one, in which matter I will conduct myself in such a way that I will always add my own epikrisin critical judgment, which I beg the reader to be persuaded I have brought forth not out of a desire to contradict, but out of a zeal for inquiring after the truth. First, Arnold notes, in the aforementioned place, § 2, that there were some who made Luther the author of this Philadelphia, for the reason that he commended the Theologia Germanica German Theology and Tauler. But, in truth, while that is said by Arnold, it is proven by no testimony, by which very fact he provides an indication of a bad cause, and makes this testimony suspected by me. Nor perhaps do I collect it poorly that Arnold himself, if he could have, would have gladly made D. Luther the author of this Sect to better commend this Fraternity, as he otherwise does not cease to disparage this chosen instrument of God; by which single crime Arnold shows sufficiently what spirit he is driven by, and what kind of man he is, while, in the manner of the dizzy-headed who attribute the vapors and foul breaths of their own brains to deceased bodies, he wishes for this divine hero to appear as such to the simple populace. For if it were true that Luther had been considered by some to be the author of this Society, I could hardly believe that Arnold would not have brought forward the testimonies