TO THE NOBLE BY

BIRTH, AND ORNAMENTED BY

ERUDITION AND VIRTUE,

The most distinguished man, Lord JOHANN CHRISTOPHER VOHLIN of Fric-

kenhaufen, etc., his best friend,

sends greetings.

An ornamental initial 'S' begins the text.
That some sciences are far more excellent than others, my most Noble Christopher, is so manifest that it requires absolutely no proof. Moreover, by how much any one of the sciences is more outstanding than another, by that much it usually appears more difficult to understand. If this were not obvious from elsewhere, it would certainly become clear from the study of Jurisprudentia Jurisprudence/Law without any effort. For how many are there who think that all other disciplines (Theology excepted) can in any way be compared to this one, in which both admirable and divine things are for the most part handed down? But if, on the other hand, we look at either the multitude or the variety of matters which are treated in this study of Law, there will be nothing more difficult, nothing more laborious, without controversy. Indeed, such is the difficulty in most points of Law that it could turn anyone away from this otherwise divine and incomparable science, if there were not, in turn, most ample dignities and rewards set out for its followers. And hence, so that some are not easily defrauded of promised benefits and due emoluments, it has been observed for a long memory of men that those who have attained some knowledge of written Law through great vigils and continuous labors, before they gird themselves for the practice of customary Law, must, by the public testimony of some most famous School, be adorned with the dignity or degree of