To the Most Christian

PRINCE,

THE DIVINE FERDINAND,

King of Rome, Bohemia, etc., Duke of

Austria, etc., a ruler of the greatest prudence

and goodness, the highest

happiness is wished.

A decorative woodcut initial letter 'E' contains floral motifs and a small figure.

Since I have deemed that the study of eternal things should be preferred to the cares of temporal matters, and have left behind the aids of my present life, Most Serene Prince, I have set before myself two goals for my current existence. The first is that I might render an account of those things which have hitherto been believed to the entire world, but above all to the students of the Latin or Roman realm: later, however, they must also be understood, and in a Religion most clear to the entire human race, such as only the Christian one is...