TO THE HIGH

AND WELL-BORN,

MIGHTY, NOBLE, EARNEST, WISE, AND PRUDENT LORDS, MY LORDS, REPRE- senting the States General of the United Netherlands Provinces.

A decorative woodcut initial 'G' depicting a small figure or bird amidst foliage and geometric patterns.

Just as some allow their simplicity to be too clearly seen, who accept without any distinction whatever strange or new things are presented to them, so it seems to me (subject to correction) that those also wish to confine nature and her treasures within too narrow a boundary who do not hold anything as believable unless it appears to us under our own part of the Firmament The heavens or the sky, traditionally viewed as a solid dome., or reveals itself elsewhere in a similar fashion: for in all places, remarkable and diverse causes are found to rightly wonder at the manifold peculiarities that reveal themselves in nature.

Even if we noticed nothing further or otherwise than that the Earth, our dwelling place, as well as the water—which is in itself wonderful—are not only greatly different in appearance and in what they cover, produce, and nourish beneath them: but also that humans, who are such glorious creatures, are easily distinguished in form and being according to the diversity of places under a particular height of the Heavens; should we not be reasonably prompted, by experiencing such great changes, to consider further and surely believe that the least of it is before our eyes? Especially seeing that nature, in her overflowing lap, so closely mimics the handiwork of men and produces from herself things in which little or nothing is found lacking in their perfection? Which, although it shall appear as true as it is wonderful, yet if we look more closely at the hidden power and property which the Creator's omnipotence has enclosed in nature, we shall surely surrender all cleverness of understanding and fully confess that His wisdom (in this particular) has presented much to us for wonder, while the proof or reason for it is denied in the depths of His mystery. It is undoubtedly worthy of wonder that the Sad Tree original: "Droevighe boom," likely Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, known for blooming at night and dropping its flowers at dawn. (as it is called in the East Indies by the Portuguese) stands blooming the whole night through, and at the morning hour suddenly lets fall its blossom, which was of very sweet scent, beginning anew to bloom again the whole year through with the setting of the Sun. Or also (which is rarer) that at a certain place in the Principality of Anhalt, the Earth itself works up such perfect cups, as if they were turned on a potter's wheel and the handles attached by hand, two of which were recently sent by the illustrious Duke of Württemberg to the highly learned Dr. Bernardt ten Broecke Better known by his Latinized name, Bernardus Paludanus (1550–1633), a famous physician and collector of rarities in Enkhuizen who assisted Linschoten with the scientific descriptions in this book., Physician of this city of Enkhuizen, His Illustrious Grace assuring upon Princely words that no human hand had done anything to them. Yet, if the use of the lodestone original: "Magneets steens" were not so known and common to us, who could behold without greater wonder, or at least reflect upon, the fact that through its hidden power iron is forcibly drawn up into the air, and by the same is constantly directed straight toward the north? Which, although it has much and greatly exercised the sharpest minds, has nonetheless until now (so I believe) not been proven wherein such a property principally consists; to which we pay too little or hardly any attention, because our understanding and thoughts, resting through long habit in its use, do not further heed the mystery. And considering that nature treasures more such things in her kingdom—