TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS AND MOST REVEREND

Father in Christ, and Lord,

LORD JOHN DEMETRIUS

SOLIKOWSKI, Jan Dymitr Solikowski (1539–1603) was a prominent Polish prelate, diplomat, and writer who served as the Archbishop of Lviv (Leopolis).

BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE APOSTOLIC SEE,

ARCHBISHOP OF LVIV

MOST WORTHY, &c.

Brother Hannibal Rosseli, a theologian of the Order of Saint Francis of the Observance, wishes every kind of happiness from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The "Observance" was a branch of the Franciscan Order dedicated to a stricter adherence to the original Rule of St. Francis.

A large decorative woodcut initial 'M' featuring two serpents or dragons entwined around a central stem with stylized foliage.

That great Solomon, Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord, the wisest and most powerful of all kings, since he cultivated a wondrous wisdom—being most abundantly enlightened by the gift of heavenly wisdom—discoursed so excellently upon it, and ardently invited us to embrace and pursue its study: "Acquire wisdom," he said, "acquire understanding: do not forsake her, and she will hold you; love her, and she will preserve you; the beginning of wisdom: acquire wisdom, embrace her, and she will exalt you; honor her, and she will embrace you; that she may place a crown of graces upon your head." original: "Poßide sapientiam... vt det capiti tuo coronam gratiarum." Rosseli is quoting and paraphrasing the biblical Book of Proverbs, chapter 4, verses 5–9. If anyone desires to be adorned with the splendor of this crown; if anyone wishes to become a partaker of so distinguished and clearly heavenly a gift, he must fight strenuously against himself. For he shall not be crowned unless he has competed according to the rules. original: "nisi qui legittimè certauerit." A reference to 2 Timothy 2:5, suggesting that spiritual and intellectual growth requires discipline. For those who run in a race all indeed run, but one receives the prize; and they indeed do so to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one: for wisdom never withers. original: "sed vnus accipit brauium... nos autem incorruptam." Referencing 1 Corinthians 9:24–25 regarding the "incorruptible crown" of spiritual victory. Indeed, vigils, fasts, and almsgiving, the reception of strangers, persistence in prayer, visiting the sick, manual labor, and things of that kind become lesser as the body breaks down; wisdom alone becomes more vigorous with age, more polished by use, and stronger in itself with the passage of time. For this reason, that great wise man of Greece, when he saw himself dying at the completion of one hundred and seven years, is said to have remarked that he grieved because he was departing from life just when he had begun to be wise. original: "magnus ille sapiens vir Græciæ." Likely referring to the sophist Gorgias of Leontini, who was famous for his extreme longevity. Plato died in his eighty-first year while writing; Isocrates also completed ninety-nine years in the labor of speaking and writing. Likewise Pythagoras, Democritus, Xenocrates, Zeno, and others who... The text cuts off here, continuing on the following page.