An ornamental woodcut headpiece features symmetrical scrollwork, foliage, and two bird-like figures, possibly griffins or eagles, flanking a central decorative element.

PREFACE TO THE

Favorable, dear reader: Herewith you receive such a weighty Opus work, the likes of which has hardly come to light publicly for almost unthinkable years. You may learn from the Dedicatoria Dedicatory why it has been published. Its author is not named by name with the title original: "nomine tenus, cum inscriptione". However, it is attributed to Aegidius Gutman, who lived in Swabia and was well known to several people in Augsburg. This is seen from the German treatise published in the year 1616 under the title ECHO, or concerning the God-enlightened Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross Fraternitet R. C., in its preface to the reader on page 12. He stayed there around the years 1580 and 1584, as is still known to some. Therefore, and because the author of this work wrote it around the year 1575, as shown in book 2, chapter 1, page 18, it is more credible that the named Gutman is the true author. You will primarily find his intent for why he wrote this work for us in book 4, chapter 17, page 62; book 5, chapter 104, page 190; and book 6, page 193. He did this out of divine will. Therefore, do not blame the author for not satisfying your desire for art and secrets immediately in everything. For important reasons indicated in various places, some things must rightly and necessarily remain hidden. He points you instead to the Lord God and to the Key of David a biblical symbol of divine authority to open what is shut. He had to preserve his conscience toward God in this matter.