To the READER.

those who apply themselves to gaining knowledge by reading good authors will find infinite benefit from perusing it. Since the aforementioned treatise, called THE ANCIENT WAR OF THE KNIGHTS, was written in the German language, I have gone to the effort and expense of obtaining an original copy of it. My goal was that the lovers of this science original: "Science"; referring to alchemy might also have a translation of the same, allowing them to draw water from the spring itself meaning to study the original source rather than a secondary translation. Additionally, by comparing this version with the first the French translation mentioned on the previous page, they might see and correct those passages that have suffered from being translated a second time the author is concerned about "translation loss" occurring when a text is translated from German to French, and then French to English.

I hope that no one will object that the style of this work is not in keeping with modern refinement original: "Politeness"; referring to the polished, elegant literary style expected of formal writing in the 1700s, if they are kind enough to consider that it is not intended to be a textbook on grammar,