Text.Grataroli.1563-02.A2r/Translation

With genuine nobility and piety, to the most illustrious and most generous man, Egenolph, Baron of Rappoltstein, Lord of Hohenack, and Geroldseck at Wasichen, etc., my most revered lord, Wilhelm Gratarolus from Bergamo, Philosopher and Physician, wishes everlasting grace and peace from God the Father through Jesus Christ sincerely from his heart.

All mortals, most dignified Baron, from the day of their birth to the very end, are said to be travelers, guests, and pilgrims: as we live on this land far from our eternal and heavenly homeland, where there is no permanence to stand firm, but rather a continuous turmoil of the mind, where eventually one must settle matters or judgments upon examination: so that we may finally consider that we have no fixed station except in heaven. This is repeatedly confirmed by both the old and new divine and infallible scriptures: for when Patriarch Jacob was asked by Pharaoh about the number of days of his life, he answered, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years: few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, etc." And David, in the twenty-ninth chapter of Chronicles, speaking to the Almighty God, said, "We are strangers before you, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no staying." Lastly, Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews said, "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one to come." Thus, God was not ashamed to be called their father, because they admitted they were strangers and guests on the earth. And just as almost all our fathers were not ashamed to wander throughout their entire lives and to be disgracefully called foreigners and tenants wherever they went, so God graced them with incomparable honor, making them heirs of heaven. Therefore, with what mindset should we inhabit the world, in which no certain rest or fixed station is promised to us? Rather, this common condition of all the pious under Christ's kingdom is described by Paul as being unstable: not that each is equally thrown by exiles, but because the Lord calls all His own not to be attached to earthly nests, as if by the sound of a trumpet to pilgrimage. Therefore, whether one remains in his homeland or must change places from time to time, let him diligently practice this meditation, to dwell on earth for a brief time, until after completing his course, he migrates to the heavenly homeland. For since heaven is our inheritance promised from the beginning, we must always prepare ourselves for the ultimate departure. It often happens that those whose life is too peaceful tend to create a nest for themselves in this world. Therefore, for us (especially for the glory of God and justice), it is beneficial to be often shaken here and there, so that we learn to turn our eyes to heaven, which otherwise, being too much attracted by worldly desires, we would incline downwards: and therefore we are sometimes struck on the way by the best father, who chastises those he loves, so that we do not love the way as our homeland. "We are always confident," says Paul elsewhere, "knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord: for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and prefer to be away from the body and to be at home with the Lord." But since naturally all fear death, the faithless never willingly leave life unless they discard it out of disgust or despair. However, for the faithful, migration is voluntary: because a better hope is proposed to them outside this world: which is not of human intellect or uncertain persuasion, but flows from the revelation of the Holy Spirit through God's word: therefore, it is peculiar to the faithful. And indeed, even if the Gentiles speculated something about the immortality of the soul, none of them had any certainty. This proclamation is permitted only to the faithful, to whom the word and spirit of God have been amply testified: hence they also contemplate the happiness and glory of the future life, which awaits the faithful after death in heaven. This makes it easy for them to disdain the miseries of this life and willingly exchange this clay house, as did Peter and Job, for a building of everlasting duration, whether we understand it by that, the state of blessed immortality, or the incorruptible and glorious body, such as it will be after the resurrection. But to come closer to my profession and protect the mortal bodies of men in this voluntary or forced pilgrimage, as much as I am able, I have contemplated for a while and finally, with God's help, undertook to write these certain safeguards, aids, and documents for travelers with no less faith than diligence. For so far, I had seen nothing written in Latin on this matter that would suffice even halfway, and although I do not deny that many fragments can be found among many writers, which Georg Pictorius, a distinguished physician in Ensisheim, had long ago collected, organized, and published in the German language: I do not deny that I have been somewhat helped by him in this matter. However, I was brief (yet not obscure) so as not to detain those equipped for a journey with excessive reading or to burden them with the size of a book: and otherwise, what has been said seems sufficient to me: since at home and at leisure, those wishing to know more are allowed to unfold other books or to consult learned and practiced physicians equally. But indeed, when perhaps there will be no lack of someone who detracts or a less pious and fair critic of this my work, so that not only my defense (to which I am prepared) but also a powerful patron might be needed, who with the sharper brilliance of his name and virtues, may blunt the eyes of the envious and possibly silence tongues: For me, a foreigner in Italy for over ten years for the mere sake of truth and justice, by the grace of God, it was not easy to encounter anyone, until the brilliance of your nobility with sincere piety and illustrious dominion also penetrated my dwelling, and I easily recognized your nobility's ancient Italian origin from history or stories: and (if I may compare great things with small) I see a not dissimilar reason, and almost from the same causes, although at a far different time, we were forced to leave our ancient and native seats. May the almighty and most just God grant that we may also return to them for His glory, if such is His Majesty's will. As you are to me Aeneas, let me be your faithful Achates. Meanwhile, in silence and hope (which alone does not abandon exiles) will be my strength. Therefore, most excellent Baron, you seemed to me to have come from heaven, to whom I could dedicate these my labors, and at the same time, signify and attest, as much as God's goodness has made me, entirely ready for the service of Your Lordship. May the Lord God and Father in Christ always protect you, all your faithful subjects, and fellow pilgrims, and increase His gifts to you. Basel, the first of June, 1561.