A woodcut depicts a horizontal row of ten stylized floral or rosette motifs.

Exordium

OF THE AUTHOR

To

Studious Youths.

Your requests are commands to me, which must be obeyed immediately and ἐμμα-πέως without delay (know this: as soon as it is said). Therefore, I step forth accompanied by you, or rather, I am led into the feudal garden original: "Viridarium feudale" to make a bundle of those things which are seen in its cushions or parts, in such order and manner, indeed, that having known the general and essential things beforehand, we may descend to the special things through questions and answers, and the efficient, material, formal, and final causes, as well as the contrary and adjacent things,