Transactions of the Lodge Quatuor Ooronati.

23
in German Ol' French, all these three languages being in use with the Order. Very impor-
tant matters wera written in cipher throughout. The Craft degrees, the "Scotch" and
a.lso the " Novice " used the common Masonic cipher based upon the square, divided into
nine parts, with various keys. The chivalric degrees, however, used at various periods the
following four special ciphers :-
1 2111 11113 ' 2 !2 61222
I. Pa.ganis, Mollay, Aumont, Harris.
1111 11 1 !S 28 !: u u 2
II. Salus ordinis prima lex esto.
11 121 8111112 ,2328824
III. Andrae Asmoutis Barrensis y z.
11211 1112122! 8 88! 2U
IV. Vivat Ferdinandus a. Victoria.
1n each case the letters of the Latin Alphabet (with omission of the letter" K "),being
written under the letters of the key, each of the latter shews its value corresponding with
the common alphabet. Thus, following :
I :p =a; a =b ; g = c ; a =d; n = e; i =f; s = g, etc.
1 ! 1 1 1

With the cipher IV. the alphabet, however, began with-

2 2
n = a ; d being b, etc.
Now, to make the cipher more difficult for deciphering, only the first letter of each word
was plainly written according to the cipher, the other letters ex;pressed by numbers gained
by addition or substraction with reference to the prec1,1ding letter of the word. An example
will elucidate the matter. Returning to the inscription of the Seal of the Sub-Priory of
Droysig, described above, we find the first word is this :-2 N : 9 : 2 + 2 + 2 + 9 : 8 : .
The inscription is written in cipher I. 2 N corresponds with the letter S of the common
alphabet. ( + means addition; : substraction.l The following letter is expreRsed by : 9,
which means, go from the letter "S" to the left (substraction indicated by:) by 9, the
letter arrived at being " i," the following letter : 2 is gained by going from "i " to the left
by 2, the result being the letter "g " ; the next letter + 2 is arrived at by going from "g"
to the right ( +) by 2, the result being, of course, "i." In the same manner we find
+ 2 =I; + 9 = u; : R = m; the triangle : . denoting tbe end of the word, which is
"Sigilum," The following iN :. means, of course, "S."=Snb. In this way we find the
following word-U + 2 : 8 + 5 + 3 :. t<> be "Prior," and i A + 13 : 3 : 5 + 9 : 9 : 2 :.
t<> be " Droisig."
As for clothing, we wish only briefly to state that the full attire of the Knights
-consisted of the following garments :-1. The Palndamentnm or Ootte d'Armes. It was a
kind of a doublet of the shape of a breast-plate. It was made of fine white glove-leather
lined and edged with crimson (ponceau) taffeta and fastened by strings or ribbons of crimson
silk. On the breast a red Templar Cross (of satin for high dignitaries, of taffeta for other
Knights) was fastened. High dignitaries had the cross edged with a golden string, and
the paludamentum below adorned with silver fringes. 2. The Pa.llium; a. mantle with
sleeves, made of white wool, bearing likewise a red cross. It was to be worn over the
paludamentum, left open a little in front in order that the paludamentum might be seen.
Over the pallium the sword was fastened which had gilt mountings, the Templar motto
•• L.V.C." in pierced-through silver, under it red velvet. 3. The Chlamyda (worn only by
high dignitaries); a mantle without sleeves, bearing a red cross on the left side. It was
put over the pallium and fastened together in front. 4. Over it the Cross, made of red
enamel, hung around the neck. 5. A golden ring, different with Knight Commanders and
other dignitaries. 6. Boots with spurs, gauntlets, and bats with red cockades, completed
the costume, which, though not historical in its details, was surely stately and picturesque
ilnough, so much the more so a.s all the parts of the attire differed slightly in size, stuff, and
adornments with the numerous dignitaries of the Order. (Such costumes are preserved at
the Castle Degh.) The high dignitaries were appointed immediately by the Grand Master.
Among them were the Sub-Priors and Prefects also. The dignitaries of the Sub-Priories
and Prefectures were likewise appointed by the Grand Master on proposal of the Sub-Prior
or Prefect. Among them were the "Commeudator Domus ''also, who was identical with
the Master of Lodge called" Honse of Order." This forms another characteristic feature
-of the Rite, as the Lodge was governed by an appointed Master who was a " Commander,"
and was not removable by the Lodge, but in case of discontent only to be accused before
the Chapter of Prefecture, a mysterious body with ordinary brethren, to whom it was known

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