A Pious and Useful Admonition Concerning the Brothers of the Rosy Cross

...they are able to dwell conveniently. For they fear the Papists original: "pontificios." A term used by Protestant writers to refer to the Roman Catholic Church and its followers, particularly in the context of the religious tensions of the early 17th century., according to their own profession—unless this stands in the way of that assertion: the fact that they themselves spread their own fame secretly, and take care that it is spread through substituted persons. This would not seem to happen if they feared those to whom they reveal themselves through their writings; concerning this doubt, it will be made more fully clear through what follows.

4. They do not seem to give effort to the liberal arts The traditional academic curriculum of the time, including grammar, logic, rhetoric, etc., seeing as they teach and seem to care much for Alchemy original: "Alchimiam." Here defined specifically as the "art of making gold.", as the art of making gold, and even for gold itself. Now indeed, concerning those who are delighted by and apply themselves to studies, Seneca Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC – AD 65), a Stoic philosopher whose writings on ethics and poverty were highly influential in the Renaissance. says, that they are either poor, or they become poor. And that is done with this intention: so that one might be less distracted in his thoughts.

Certainly, we see that the more learned and principal philosophers of old were so intent upon their philosophizing that they did not even care for gold. On the contrary, the very nature of all men is found to be so constituted that they cannot, at an excellent level, apply themselves to the pursuit of riches and the pursuit of the liberal arts at one and the same time. In which respect, and lest the people be drawn away from more honorable exercises...

The catchword "retur" completes the word "abstraheretur" (be drawn away/distracted) which began on the final line of this page.