Annals of the University of Ingolstadt

DEDICATORY EPISTLE.

...departure from this life, the Reverend and most distinguished man Master Martin Eisengrein, of pious memory—that great TheologianMartin Eisengrein (1535–1578) was a key figure in the Counter-Reformation and a rector at the University of Ingolstadt.—was my most serious advisor in urging me to pursue such a praiseworthy undertaking.

But when his lamentable death intervened, it not only terrified my mind, which was already prepared for writing, and suspended the undertaking, but almost diverted and overwhelmed it entirely. At last, however, having recovered my spirit, out of my love for the Academy original: "Academia"; here referring specifically to the University of Ingolstadt. and its merits toward me in turn, I set my hand to the pen and approached the writing. This was done partly for the sake of all those who performed the Rectoral dignityThe office of the Rector, the highest academic official of the university. among us, and for the illustrious and famous men who gave their names to our University; and partly in honor of the most Serene Dukes of Bavaria, whose Most Illustrious Highnesses are a great benefit to all Bavaria and their Academy, just as, in turn, a well-established and flourishing school is no small ornament to them. Therefore, I examined what records I could find, and collected them from here and there, both from ancient monuments and from the conversations of men, as far as it was possible to track them down, and I compiled these Annals which we are now publishing.

When indeed, Most Illustrious Prince, I was looking about for a Patronoriginal: "Meccenate"; a reference to Gaius Maecenas, the Roman advisor to Augustus and famous patron of poets like Virgil and Horace. under whose name and protection these Annals might come into the light, I could certainly think of no other who could claim our labors for himself by greater right than your Most Illustrious Highness. For it has not yet slipped from our mind, nor will any forgetfulness ever erase, with how much clemency, kindness, and humanity your Most Illustrious Highness treated us for as long as you were able to dwell with us—so much so that I might testify to my devoted duty of obedience, respect, and gratitude toward your Most Illustrious Highness.

Receive, therefore, Most Illustrious Prince, our Academic Annals; and although I confess they are not such as are worthy of so great a Prince, and of so exalted and heroic a spirit, I nevertheless pray most humbly that your Most Illustrious Highness might look, if not at the thing itself, certainly at our spirit and will, and judge it kindly. May God, the Best and Greatestoriginal: "DEVS Opt. Max." (Deus Optimus Maximus); a common Renaissance adaptation of the Roman title for Jupiter, used here to refer to the Christian God., grant that this present year begins for your Most Illustrious Highness with the favor of the heavens and happy auspices, proceeds more happily, ends most joyfully, and returns more frequently, always more fortunate. May your Most Illustrious Highness fare well, and [favor] me and all my works...