PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION OF THESE ANNALS.

In arranging the whole work, I have used only the clearest sources—namely, the academic Register original: "Matricula"; the official ledger where students and faculty were enrolled upon arrival and the Faculty Journals, especially those of the medical and philosophical faculties, which are almost never lacking. From these, it was possible to designate by name in these Annals all students of Medicine, to a man, who were honored among us with the highest laurel of the doctorate The "laurel" refers to the traditional graduation ceremony, harkening back to the ancient Greek practice of crowning victors with laurel leaves. I would have done the same for the Doctors of Law and Theology, if only the historical records had been sufficient to weave together a continuous series of their names. I have transcribed the specific names of the Noble and Illustrious exactly in the order and manner in which they were recorded in the University Register. I thought it best to note this especially for the sake of those readers who might perhaps be surprised to find Nobles of the first and lower ranks original: "primi atque inferioris subsellii"; literally "the first and lower benches," referring to the social stratification within the student body mixed together in various places, or the names of the most ancient families written slightly differently than modern usage dictates.

Approve of my efforts, Reader! If at times I seem to have fallen short of your expectations, kindly excuse me; for I was not always able to accomplish what I most desired, being very often deprived of the necessary resources for a history of this kind. Farewell.

A decorative typographical divider consists of a central oval cartouche flanked by scrolling foliage and horizontal bars with floral endpoints.