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PROGRESS OF ROSICRUCIANISM IN GERMANY. 261
friend of Andreas, and Andreas is accredited with two
Rosicrucian pamphlets which appeared under the name of
" Florentinus de Valentia." The authority may be ques-
tionable or not, but the reference is somewhat suicidal to
the Buhle-Andrean hypothesis, for not only do we discover
the pseudonymous author attacking his personal friend, but
hurrying forward full of zeal to the defence of the Rosicrucian
"
pretensions. Rosa Florescens contra F. G. Menapii
Calumniis, to wit : A short notice and refutation of the
libels published on June 3, 1617, in Latin, and on July 15
of the same year in German by F. G. Menapius, against the
Rosicrucian Society.
Written by Florentinus de Valentia
in great zeal." It is a reply to the first pamphlet of
Menapius, the Latin original of which I have been unable
to trace. It begins by blaming Menapius for his extrava-
gant self-laudation, then refers to the attack on the secresy
of the Society, and on the anonymous publication of their
manifestoes. It declares any other method than that of
secresy to be contrary to the will of God, and in other
ways dangerous, asserting that nobody suffers by the concealment
of their names and places of abode. The writer
further accuses Menapius of blind hatred of the Rosicru-
cians, when he compares them to the devils, for the whole
intent of the Society is the welfare of all humanity. He
" The opinion of the Fraternity is not that all men
says :
should be made or become equal, because the majority are
too hard and sinful, but that the few who love God, and
live to please Him, should be like Adam in Paradise." The
desire of the Order is to serve God as faithfully as possible,
to discover the secrets of Nature, and to use them in diffus-
ing a true belief in Christ, and for the glory of God.
Therefore, the author requests Menapius
to desist from