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TO THE READER.

...a thing which, to those who are upright judges of affairs and to all students of antiquity, will undoubtedly be by far the most pleasing. Moreover, merchants and chemists original: "chimici"; here likely referring to alchemists or early scientists who often used codes to protect their formulas and others who take heart in veiling their affairs in the covers of darkness, will find here a much more abundant harvest of such things than has been available before now.

But since these books will recommend themselves more than enough, leaving this part aside, we shall now say a few things about the title which we have changed. In this matter, we do not deny that it was pointed out to us from what grave authors Master Porta original: "D. Porta"; Dominus (Lord/Master) Porta took the occasion for setting his work down. However, because the translation of "furtive" referring to the original title De Furtivis Literarum Notis, or "On Secret Characters of Letters" is less pleasing to readers, and the title of Ciphers original: "Ziferarum" was hardly necessary, we have taken care to substitute in its place the title that pleased us, which seemed both more acceptable and more complete.

Regarding errors original: "mendis"; mistakes in previous transcriptions or typesetting, we can affirm this: a great number have been removed in this edition of ours. This is something those who compare it with the previous edition will easily discover.

Furthermore, regarding what we said in the third place—that we would warn the reader about certain examples—the matter stands thus: for the author is accustomed to provide examples of two kinds: those of others, and his own. And as for the examples belonging to others—of ancient writers, for instance—he seems protected by the common right of all interpreters original: "interpretum"; here meaning translators, commentators, or those who transmit ancient texts. For in whatever condition they found such things, they also [passed them on]...