Exempla literarum augustalium quibus comprobatur Ius Familiaritatis Augustalis ac Privilegium, quo cavetur, ne inscio Heroldo, quae scribat aut è tenebris eruat, à quoquam imprimatur

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duly, and with the best reason and counsel, our ancestors, the Emperors and Kings of the Romans, established that those who excelled in the honesty of their character, doctrine, and erudition should be affected with worthy honors and most honorable rewards. For those for whom the reason and some fruit of their studies is established, not only insist on the same path of seeking virtue, but also add to themselves as it were a spur and stimulus to pursue the same studies thereafter more ardently and constantly in every way. Therefore, since we have taken up a kind thought regarding the honesty of your life and character, your integrity, singular erudition, and manifold knowledge of the best arts and letters, and especially your exact knowledge of Histories, and other excellent gifts of the mind, with which we do not only hear many good men declare you, the aforementioned BASILIUS JOHANNES HEROLDUS, to be endowed by the Most High, but we ourselves also hold it to be sufficiently known and perceived, inasmuch as your own outstanding labors testify to this, which you apply zealously, diligently, and in good faith to writing histories and bringing to light from darkness the writings of many ancient and proven authors, just as now also, as many indicate, you are applying yourself to the useful as well as excellent Commentaries of Flourishing Germany original: "Efflorescentis Germaniæ" digested into one hundred and thirty books, and we have received word that you will soon, with your highest praise, put the finishing