To the Illustrious, High-born

Prince and Lord, Lord George Frederick,

Margrave of Brandenburg, in Prussia, of Stettin, Pomerania, of the

Kashubians and Wends, also in Silesia, Duke of Jägerndorf, etc.,

Burgrave of Nuremberg, and Prince of

Rügen, etc., our Gracious Prince

and Lord.

A large, ornate woodcut initial letter 'D' decorated with detailed floral and foliate scrolls within a square frame.Illustrious, High-born Prince, to Your Princely Grace original: "Euwren Fürstlichen Gnaden," a formal address abbreviated later as E.F.G. we offer our humble, yet faithful, submissive, dutiful, and obedient services, with ready diligence beforehand, etc. Gracious Prince and Lord. We, the undersigned, have no doubt that it is well known and manifest—especially in the Holy Empire of the German Nation, our much-beloved Fatherland—how our dear father, Georg Lauterbeck (of blessed and good memory), who was Your Princely Grace's former Court Councilor and servant in the mountains at Culmbach Referring to the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, several years ago (namely, at the time when he was Chancellor of Mansfeld and still in his vigorous years) wrote a book called the Regentenbuch Regentenbuch: literally "Book of Rulers," a genre of "Mirror for Princes" literature intended to advise leaders on governance and morality and had it published in print. And with it (as we do not doubt, though we mention it without boasting), he served many Christian, kind-hearted rulers who love peace and the common welfare, to their benefit, good, and gracious pleasure. The first edition Edition: the original publication run of this work, although a goodly large number of copies were printed, was nevertheless soon and quickly exhausted, and consequently came into great demand. Because of this, our aforementioned dear father—prompted and diligently urged by several excellent, loyal-hearted people—was moved and caused to revise and improve the said Regentenbuch anew. And because precisely then and at that same time, he was graciously summoned by Your Princely Grace to be a Councilor and servant (for which reason...