A decorative headpiece features three horizontal sections: repeating ornate fleurons, a row of asterisks, and a second row of fleurons. Below the title, a large, ornate historiated drop cap "E" is decorated with scrolling foliage and flowers.

Preface.

To the inclined reader!

Perhaps many a haughty woman's heart (which in itself, even without my proofs, already harbors such thoughts) might naturally feel a strong sensitivity, that this most precious sex, under the title of a craft, is meant to be presented to the ungrateful Roman clergy as deserving of its birthright honor. But I must confess to myself that, when this highest degree of honor among all creatures compelled me to this designation of a craft, I felt it necessary to bow down before all the prickly pens of a black-hearted swan a metaphor for malicious critics directed against this sex, with which the foundation of my protective writing could perhaps be challenged even in the slightest. For because I have undertaken to assert this, it must be done in such a manner. Even if I were not to know, according to Divine Scripture, that a woman, and indeed the wife of a judge, came so far through her mercy that she attempted to prevent the innocent death of Christ; the high female essence still generated so much respect in my heart to protect the same from these robbers of honor. And indeed