every brother, whenever he felt inclined to die, should
choose a person worthy to succeed him.

Fifthly. That the words "Rose-cross" should be the marks by which they
should recognise each other.

Sixthly. That their fraternity should be kept secret for six times twenty
years.

They asserted that these laws had been found inscribed in a golden book in
the tomb of Rosencreutz, and that the six times twenty years from his
death expired in 1604. They were consequently called upon from that time
forth to promulgate their doctrine for the welfare of mankind[44].

[44] The following legend of the tomb of Rosencreutz, written by
Eustace Budgell, appears in No. 379 of the _Spectator_:--"A
certain person, having occasion to dig somewhat deep in the
ground where this philosopher lay interred, met with a small
door, having a wall on each side of it. His curiosity, and
the hope of finding some hidden treasure, soon prompted him
to force open the door. He was immediately surprised by a
sudden blaze of light, and discovered a very fair vault. At
the upper end of it was a statue of a man in armour, sitting
by a table, and leaning on his left arm. He held a truncheon
in his right hand, and had a lamp burning before him. The man
had no sooner set one foot within the vault, than the statue,
erecting itself from its leaning posture, stood bolt upright;
and, upon the fellow's advancing another step, lifted up the
truncheon in his right hand. The man still ventured a third
step; when the statue, with a furious blow, broke the lamp
into a thousand pieces, and left his guest in sudden
darkness. Upon the report of this adventure, the country
people came with lights to the sepulchre, and discovered that
the statue, which was made of brass, was nothing more than a
piece of clock-work; that the floor of the vault was all
loose, and underlaid with several springs, which, upon any
man's entering, naturally produced that which had happened.

"Rosicreucius, say his disciples, made use of this method to
shew the world that he had re-invented the ever-burning lamps
of the ancients, though he was resolved no one should reap
any advantage from the discovery."

For eight years these enthusiasts made converts in Ger