PREFACE.

Therefore, our ancestors did not use these titles and words in vain: Most Serene, Most Mighty, and Most Invincible Emperor, etc. For God confirms such titles and watches over Imperial Highness, granting it understanding, wisdom, honor, and power, so that it is feared and honored, and its Empire original: "Imperium" is expanded ever further.

Since then, Most Gracious Emperor and Lord, Your Imperial Majesty, etc., through the orderly election and providence of God, has also come to this high authority and power—being gifted by God above other potentates, princes, and lords, not only with great kingdoms, lands, and peoples, but also with high wisdom and all noble virtues—which may rightly be compared in dignity to gold and its nature. Furthermore, you possess many praiseworthy, rich mines original: "Berckwerck" under your rule, in which all the mine-working shareholders original: "gewercken"; individuals who held shares in a mining operation and funded its development. and subjects, under the protection and command of your government, place their complete trust, expecting to receive all grace, benefit, and promotion from Your Imperial Majesty for the good of the common land.

Thus, I am in certain hope that Your Imperial Majesty will most graciously accept from me this work of mine—which I have written to the honor of Your Imperial Majesty and for the use and benefit of all miners, common assayers original: "Probierern"; specialists who tested ores to determine their precious metal content., smelters original: "Schmelzern", and other such fire-artists original: "Fewer Künstnern"; a term for early chemists and metallurgists whose work relied on the transformative power of the furnace. who still lack instruction and for whom this well-meaning diligence of mine is intended—no matter how humble it may be, and that you will be pleased by it. I hereby most humbly commend myself to Your Imperial Majesty, wishing from God long-lasting health, a blessed reign, and victory over the enemies of Your Roman Imperial Majesty.

Given at Prague Lazarus Ercker served as the Control-Testing Master and later the Chief Mining Master in Prague under the Habsburgs., after the [birth] of Christ our Savior...