Baronatus et armorum insignium melioratio pro Rodulpho de Salis

and diligence, so that he may not appear to have deprived virtue of its due rewards. For if virtue is easily content with itself and does not greatly require the support of another's praise, which honor, greatness, and glory usually follow of their own accord as most certain rewards, it is nonetheless fitting that if it is ever approved by the judgment and decree of supreme Emperors and Kings, it becomes much more illustrious and clear, and also kindles others not so much to admiration as to imitation and a noble zeal for emulation, and enjoys the benefit of posterity. Our divine predecessors, the Roman Emperors and Kings, certainly looked to this diligently, applying every care so that virtue would not be deprived of its due rewards. We, indeed, following this most praiseworthy custom of theirs, have always persisted in the same care and diligence, so that the virtue of the best men who have deserved well of us and the Republic, and who were clear by their ancient family and nobility of birth, might be honored by us with the most ample titles. Since, therefore, we have ascertained that you, Rodolph Salis de Salis, are born of the noble and most ancient Salis family in the Diocese of Chur, and that your ancestors have deserved well of the Holy Empire: especially that your paternal grandfather Rodolph performed useful service to the same for a long time, and was employed as a Councilor for matters of State by the Dukes of Milan, and indeed acted as Governor of the Pope; and at that time, when no small forces of the Swiss and Grisons were dispatched for the defense of that same Duchy of Milan, the office of General Captain was entrusted to your same grandfather on various occasions, and was managed and administered by him with the greatest faith and no less virtue, and finally he fell bravely in battle against the enemy at Marignano under the auspices of the same Dukes of Milan. From this heroic virtue of your ancestors, and especially your grandfather, his son Hercules (conceived from Maria, daughter of the last Count of Sacco, and of the same Count and Lord of Mesocco) your father, showed himself not to have degenerated, but served in the office of Colonel of the Grisons in various military expeditions, omitting nothing that pertained to the duty of a strenuous soldier and Prefect. You, indeed, Rodolph,