To the Illustrious, High-

born Prince and Lord, Lord Philip,

A large decorative initial 'A' featuring intricate floral and foliate scrollwork in the style of 16th-century woodcuts.

Antigonus, the Macedonian King, is highly praised by the wise man Diocles because he labored and exerted himself in all kinds of philosophy and heavenly arts more than other kings. And although philosophy and every rightly fashioned art always bring their own praise with them, yet this philosophy and art—which teaches the health of the body, the warding off of sickness, and how to maintain a long life in health—is, after divine wisdom (which alone is learned from the eternal, imperishable Word of God to preserve the soul), the most necessary for the human race. This can be gathered from the daily experience of all living creatures, in that Nature, a servant of God the Lord, has instilled even in the unreasoning animals what is useful and good for the preservation of life. Thus we know that the wounded deer brought to light the noble herb Dittanyoriginal: "Dictam"; a medicinal plant famous in antiquity for its supposed ability to expel arrows from wounded goats and deer. as a healing remedy; the swallows revealed the Celandineoriginal: "Chelidonia"; from the Greek 'chelidon' for swallow; it was believed swallows used the sap to clear the sight of their young.; and the snakes betrayed that fennel is fit for dim eyes. The wood pigeons and blackbirds brought the laurel leaf into renown and showed it to mankind. For such and similar arts of maintaining health, the aforementioned King Antigonus earned eternal praise among the worldly-wise as a learned and faithful king. How much more, then, Gracious Prince and Lord, is it true of a godly man who is first learned in divine philosophy, and thereafter also in the arts of maintaining a long life in health? Especially one who is ready and willing to serve everyone in all matters with his arts and understanding?

Indeed, it will not fail that the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, will also send and bestow His blessing upon such excellent labor according to His promise—yes, more than we all could have wished. Because such teachers have first sought the kingdom of God with high earnestness, and furthermore exert themselves in divine and natural arts for the welfare of their neighbor and spare no labor, they will without doubt not only please the world (which is transitory), but much more be eternally favored and gifted in heaven by the Son of God, as Daniel says:
Daniel, 12. Refers to Daniel 12:3: "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky..."