that you might deem it worthy and good, I humbly beg and beseech Your Highnesses again and again. Thus may God, the Best and Greatest, allow Your Highnesses to exchange the Belgian tumults for the highest peace, and to hold the rudder of the Republic straight for as long as possible. Antwerp of the Aduatuci, on the day before the Kalends of March. Year 1601.

IOANNES BAPTISTA VRIENTIUS,

TO THE CANDID READER, GREETINGS.

Decorative square drop cap 'C' featuring intertwined floral and vine motifs.
Since, learned Reader, I judged that publishing this little work was no less necessary than useful; because it contains not only a treasure of various Geographic Maps of the whole world, but also certain histories and descriptions of any of its parts: it also seemed fit to publish this work, enlarged and enriched by the author before he departed from life, after his funeral, for the public good, since all the things of ORTELIUS have fallen to me. For since the work is (lest it belie its title) such that it briefly comprehends all things which ORTELIUS embraced in his immense THEATER: therefore, with no small delight to my spirit, I also caused this magnificent little work to be corrected, and added to it, moreover, not a few new Maps, and other things exquisite for the art