TO THE MOST DISTINGUISHED AND LEARNED MAN, MASTER SEVERINUS GOBELIUS,

PHYSICIAN TO THE MOST SERENE KING OF DENMARK,

An ornamental woodcut initial 'Q' featuring a central figure (possibly a saint or scholar) holding a staff and a book, surrounded by intricate floral and scrollwork patterns within a square frame.

SINCE you were the first, most excellent man, to generously encourage me to print the Images of PlantsOriginal Latin: Icones Stirpium. This refers to the woodcut illustrations of plants used in botanical texts. organized by classes—just as they were arranged by Master Matthias de l'Obel, physician to the most illustrious Prince of Orange, where plants of the same kind and those related to one another are grouped together—this edition of ours is rightly dedicated to you. As I gladly offer and dedicate it to you, I also ask that you undertake its defense against those who might not be pleased by it.

For there will undoubtedly be those who will either find fault with it or feel that something is missing. Some of these will take it poorly that we have departed from the order begun by the most learned Master Rembert Dodoens, physician to his Holy Imperial Majesty; others will have different objections. There may even be many who would have preferred that the names in various languages were added to each illustration.

I would ask the former group to wait for the publication of the complete work by Master Dodoens himself. He has promised us more than once to submit his finished manuscriptOriginal: exemplar. Plantin is referring to Dodoens' comprehensive botanical work, the Stirpium historiae pemptades sex. to our press, and has indicated through frequent letters that he will come here for that purpose; I have no doubt that he will fully satisfy their expectations. To the latter group, however, I respond that I chose to publish this handbookOriginal: Enchiridion; a compact, portable book designed for easy reference. with only the Latin names for this primary reason: so that anyone may be free to write in the name of the plant in any language they wish with a pen, adding The text ends mid-word with the catchword "afcri-", likely for "ascribere" meaning to write in or assign.