To the well-disposed Reader.

A large decorative initial letter 'I' features ornate floral patterns and scrollwork.It is known to everyone experienced in the trade of navigation how very necessary and helpful instruments sea charts are to sailors, as much those of the great sea in general, as those of the description of the sea coasts, harbors, depths, and shallows in particular; how poorly a ship arrives at its desired destination through the sea without them, and how safely it is brought through them into harbors and unknown anchorages, to the exceptional convenience of the sailor and the prevention of much invaluable damage. Therefore, many men experienced in navigation have brought to light various descriptions of sea coasts, harbors, and streams of many countries, among whom Willem Barentsz. of Amsterdam, that widely renowned helmsman (when the trade and shipping from these lands to Italy greatly increased), brought to light a new chart book of a part of the Mediterranean Sea, containing the description of the sea coasts from the Strait of Gibraltar to Venice, from which those who have sailed those regions have enjoyed remarkable service, to the great advantage of many a merchant. But because since that time the voyages from these our lands to those quarters have not only greatly increased but have also stretched further, almost to all islands and outermost parts of the same sea: we have for some years past, with diligence, gathered together all notes, observations, and designs, with which we have not only improved the aforementioned descriptions of Willem Barentsz. (whose labor has been of no little help to us in this work) in many places, but have also greatly increased them. Furthermore, we have added the descriptions of all the sea coasts further eastward not described by him, both of the islands of Candia and Cyprus, the coasts of Syria and Egypt, as well as of the Greek islands: how one may sail through there all the way to Constantinople, and all that brought together for the third part of our chart book named The Light of Navigation, not doubting that all those who will wish to sail the Mediterranean Sea, and use this our labor, will derive no less utility from it than those who sail the common Eastern and Western routes (such as to the Baltic, Muscovy, England, France, and Spain) have enjoyed from the first two parts of the aforementioned book, and still enjoy daily. Farewell.