is not conclusive, for the Rosicrucian rule, as given in the Laws of the Brotherhood, published by Sincerus Renatus in 1710,[37] obliges the members to deny their membership.

[li]

There is more material for the discussion of the second question, but I do not know that it is more possible to come to a definite conclusion. The personality of the anonymous adept who took the name of Eirenaeus Philalethes was shrouded in mystery even to his contemporaries. The fullest account given of him on any of his title-pages is on that of the Experimenta de Praeparatione Mercurii Sophici (1668), which is said to be "ex manuscripto[lii] Philosophi Americani alias Eyrenaei Philalethis, natu Angli, habitatione Cosmopolitae."[38] We have also the description given by George Starkey, or whoever it was, in the Marrow of Alchemy (1654-5), p. 25. Starkey says:—

[lii]

"His present place in which he doth abide

I know not, for the world he walks about,

Of which he is a citizen; this tide

He is to visit artists and seek out

Antiquities a voyage gone and will

Return when he of travel hath his fill.

"By nation an Englishman, of note

His family is in the place where he

Was born, his fortune's good, and eke his coat

Of arms is of a great antiquity;

His learning rare, his years scarce thirty-three;

Fuller description get you not from me."

[liii]

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