Discourses on Fortifications

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It is the custom, Most Sacred Majesty, for every loving and grateful servant to show his lord the affection and devotion of his soul through some outward sign. Now, finding myself, like everyone else, bound to do so for the graces that I am continually receiving from the kindness of Your Majesty, I have thought long within myself as to what way I might most fittingly fulfill this debt of mine in some part. Therefore, since it seems to me that among all other things that best suit Your Majesty, both for your rank and for your valor and prudence, one of the principal ones is that which concerns the art of war, with the same spirit with which I already dedicated my humble service to you, I now present and consecrate these few discourses of mine on Fortification, which I have had reprinted, and which formerly, without my consent (not having been reduced by me to the state that I desired, and which they are in today), were nonetheless printed under my name by—if I may call them friends—people who dedicated them to Your Majesty. Whom I entreat with all due reverence not to look upon my little merit, nor that of this work, but rather at its subject; may you deign to accept it with your customary greatness of spirit, to whom, humbly bowing, I pray to God that he may grant that happiness which your most valorous and most worthy qualities promise.