A decorative woodcut headpiece features a repeating pattern of intertwined scrollwork and floral elements. Below it, a large historiated initial 'S'—an initial containing a miniature scene—shows two figures; a banner within the image bears the motto "Virtue flees vice" original Latin: "VIRTVS FVGIT VITIVM".

TO THE MOST POWERFUL,

MOST VICTORIOUS, AND

Most Christian King Henry, second of that name,

Nicolas de Nicolay, his most hum-

ble Geographer, increase

of all pro-

sperities.

SIRE, the common obligation of the subject toward his Lord & Prince, & the service that I owe you, for the office Nicolay served as the King's "Géographe ordinaire," a position involving cartography and intelligence gathering to which it has pleased your Majesty to call me, have had such power in me that, notwithstanding a grievous & long illness, which seized me at the moment of bringing to light the representations of your victorious voyage to Boulogne original: "Bouloigne"; likely referring to the French siege and recovery of Boulogne-sur-Mer from the English in 1549-1550, I did not wish to fail in performing my duty in some fashion, as much as such an unforeseen hindrance might permit me. Recourse having been taken, then, to the aid of books, to set in order my travels by land and sea—most of them made by your command—by helping myself with the Castilian The Spanish language book on the art of navigation, formerly composed by Lord Pedro de Medina, Pilot of the King of Spain for the West In-