DEDICATION

...protect original: "vindicetis" it, as it is yours—that is, with a strong and severe hand.

What more could I desire? May God Almighty original: "Deus Optimus"; literally "the Best and Greatest God" make you, Prince, the greatest at home and in war original: "domi atque militiae"; a classical Roman idiom for excellence in both civil leadership and military command, and preserve you as a certain pledge of our happiness. And may He command you, Noble Men, to long remain for the public good, and to happily care for the University Res Academica: literally "the academic matter," referring to the institution's affairs, governance, and community.

Franeker, January 3rd, 1683.

The Roman date "III. Non: Ian:" (the third day before the Nones of January) corresponds to January 3. The year CIƆIƆCLXXXIII uses an archaic notation where CIƆ represents 1,000 and IƆ represents 500, totaling 1683.