A decorative woodcut headpiece consisting of ornate scrolling foliage, a central stylized mask, and two hybrid beast figures at the left and right ends.

TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS KING

MAXIMILIAN’S MOST

EXCELLENT MAJESTY,

JOHN DEE OF LONDON

wishes a most happy

Reign.

A large historiated woodcut initial 'Q' set within a square frame, containing a rose or floral motif with foliage.

WHATEVER two causes might encourage a man of my humble condition to present so great a KING with so small a Gift original: "Munere"; referring to the book itself, both of these have now impelled me to do so. These are, namely, my greatest goodwill toward your Majesty, and the great rarity as well as the not-to-be-despised quality of the Gift itself, small though it may be. Your admirable Virtues have stirred up and won for you an everlasting goodwill; these virtues are so great that those who have not perceived them with the witness of their own eyes original: "oculata... fide"; literally "eyewitness faith" may indeed only moderately believe others who report the most rare things concerning them, even though—