TO MY MOST DEAR AND HONORED LADY, MADAME THE QUEEN MOTHER.

A decorative woodcut ornament features symmetrical floral and scrollwork patterns.

Madame, some time after I was delivered from the hands of my cruel enemies by your means and favor, at the request of My Lord the Constable, I entered into a mental debate regarding the nature of human ingratitude. I knew well that the only reason they wished to condemn me to death was that I had pursued their own good, indeed the greatest good that could ever happen to them. Having considered this, I turned within myself to search the secrets of my heart and enter into my conscience, to see if there was any ingratitude in me, such as that of those who had consigned me to the peril of death. Then I remembered the good that it pleased you to do for me, when in your grace you employed the authority of the King for my deliverance. Seeing this, I found that it would be a great ingratitude in me if I did not acknowledge such a kindness. Nevertheless, my poverty did not allow me to transport myself into your presence to thank you for such a gift, which is the least reward I could offer. And although God has given me several inventions with which I could do you service, I have had no means of making it known to you. This has caused me to place into this book, as a recompense, several secrets brought to light, which tend toward the goal of multiplying the goods and virtues of all the inhabitants of the Kingdom. My smallness did not dare take the boldness to dedicate my work to the King, knowing well that some would want to say that I had done so with the intention of being rewarded. If that were the case, it would be nothing new. Madame, it was never the case that good inventions were not rewarded by Kings. Nevertheless, although I have hope that this work will be more useful to the King than to anyone else, because of my smallness, I have dedicated it to My Lord of Montmorancy, a good and faithful servant of the King, who I hope will know very well how to make it understood to his sovereign,