TO FERDINAND

THE SECOND,

Emperor Augustus, most Potent,

most Invincible;

King of

Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia,

Croatia, Slavonia, &c.;

Archduke of Austria;

Duke of

Burgundy, Stiria, Carinthia,

Carniola, Würtenberg, &c.;

Count of Tyrel, &c.;

his most Clement Lord:

 There has at length, though perhaps quite early enough, come into the world this offspring of mine, which I have, up to the present time, for a number of years back, cherished and strengthened, until, as I hope, I have brought it to the perfection of its proper form.  Now seeing it in need of some champion, lacking neither in vigor nor in power, to defend it against the attacks of Zeilus, I thought of no one more fit or more worthy than,