Theses medicae de divina et admiranda hominis in utero formatione

nothing more effective. Now indeed, if I were to set out to commemorate the benefits you have conferred upon me, time would fail me, and I would appear to be doing nothing other than counting the sand. For, to pass over countless other things, by your counsel and exhortation especially, the two illustrious Orders of Counts and Barons, Knights and Nobles of the renowned Archduchy of Lower Austria, my most merciful Lords and Patrons, decreed these funds for me to complete the curriculum of the medical art. Therefore, after God, I acknowledge that whatever I have achieved in my studies thus far, I owe to you; whatever honor has come to me, I owe entirely to you; from you, whatever hope remains, everything is to be expected. Therefore, so that I might repay you at least some small gratitude (for I cannot repay an equal amount), and so that some argument of my gratitude toward you might exist, I wished and was obliged to send to you these medical theses of mine on the divine and admirable formation of Man in the womb, which I have undertaken to defend for the purpose of attaining the highest degree in the medical art, and to dedicate and inscribe them to your most illustrious names. Therefore, receive this offspring of mine, though perhaps immature, which I have brought forth for you as midwives, not without difficulty, and protect it under your patronage.

Farewell, most generous Barons, most merciful patrons, and allow my studies to be more fully commended to you. Given at Basel of the Rauraci on the Ides of April April 13th, in the year of Salvation 1581.