Apologetic Treatise Defending the Integrity of the Society of the Rose Cross

EPISTLE TO THE READER.

...indicated. Indeed, anyone who has diligently studied that work will perceive that this Summary Original: Breviarium. (to which we here assign the name Preface Original: Proœmij.) has rightly and with the highest justice defended its integrity against the slanders of malevolent men—who charge the group with the crimes of Sedition, Exorcism In this context, "exorcism" likely refers to the illicit summoning or commanding of spirits rather than the church-sanctioned rite., and Heresy. It achieves this by using "arrows" drawn from the Brotherhood's Original: Fraternitatis. own "quiver"—that is, by using the arguments brought forth from their own Confession. The Confessio Fraternitatis (1615), one of the movement's foundational manifestos.

It was for this reason that I proposed to take up the Brotherhood's cause, to immerse myself seriously in it, and to publish this Defense Original: Apologia.—which is more complete than the previous one—at this current Book Fair. Original: Nundinis. These fairs, particularly in Frankfurt, were the primary events for the distribution of new intellectual and scientific works in the 17th century. In this work, I have focused myself intensely on clearing the Brothers of the suspicions cast upon them—namely Necromancy, Harmful Magic, Impious Cabala, and Superstitious Astrology. I intend to do this partly through divine reasoning and partly through the secret operation of light hidden within the very bowels of Nature. My goal is to wash and wipe away their reputation, which has been spattered with the stains of infamy, as if using the waves of truth itself.

This, then, is the reason for placing this Preface before this Defense; this is the entire goal of my effort. Farewell.