Page:The Captivity of Hans Stade of Hesse.pdf/124
me in my distress? That Your Highness may not doubt me, and suppose that I put forward untrue things, I would personally offer you a passport to assist this recital. Το God alone be in all Honour and Glory!
And I herewith hasten to express my humble submission.
Dated Wolffhagen, the twentieth day of June,
Anno Domini, Fifteen hundred
and fifty-six.
The born subject of Your Highness Hans
Stade from Homberg in Hesse,
now citizen of Wolffhagen.
To the Highborn Lord, the Lord Philipsen, Count of Nassau and Sarprück, etc., his Gracious Prince, sends D. Joh. Dryander much greeting, with offer of his services.
Hans Stade, who now through the press publishes this book and history, has begged me that I will look through his work and writing of these stories previously to printing, correct them, and, if necessary, improve them. To this, his wish, I have from several causes assented. Firstly, I have known this author's father now for more than fifty years (for he and I were born and brought up in one city, namely, Wetter), and not otherwise the same, at home and in Homberg of Hesse, where he now resides, than as an upright, pious and honest man, who was also learned in good arts. As a well known proverb says, " the apple always tastes of the trunk," and, as may be expected, Hans Stade, this honest man's son, is reported to be like his father in virtue and piety.
Moreover, I accept the task of correcting this little book with the more pleasure and satisfaction, inasmuch as I willingly occupy myself with those matters which concern mathematics, such as cosmography, that is, the description and measurement of counties, cities and roads, some of which are in many ways brought forward in this book. I