And whereas I, Joannes Aurifaber, in the years 1545 and 1546, before the death of that most famous Divine, Luther, was much with and about him, and with all diligence writ and noted down many most excellent Histories and Acts, and other most necessary and useful things which he related: I have therefore set in order and brought the same also into this tome. Now, forasmuch as very excellent declaration is made in this tome of all the Articles and chief points of Christian Religion, Doctrine, and Faith; and also therein are found necessary Rules, Questions and Answers, many fair Histories, all sorts of Learnings, Comforts, Advices, Prophecies, Warnings, and Admonitions: I have therefore thought it a thing fitting to dedicate the same to your Highnesses, Graces, Honours and Worships, etc., as special favourers, protectors, and defenders of the Doctrines which God, through Luther, hath cleared again, to the end that by diligent reading therein, you may be president, and give good examples to others, to your subjects, citizens, etc., diligently to love, to read, to affect the same, and to make good use thereof, as being fragments that fell from Luther’s Table, and therewith may help to still, to slake, and to satisfy the spiritual hunger and thirst of the soul. For these most profitable Discourses of Luther, containing such high spiritual things, we should in nowise suffer to be lost, but worthily esteem thereof, whereout all manner of learning, joy, and comfort may be had and received. DR. AURIFABER, in his Preface to the Book. _Given at Eisleben_, _July 7th_, _1569_. CAPTAIN HENRY BELL’S NARRATIVE: OR, RELATION OF THE MIRACULOUS PRESERVING OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER’S BOOK, ENTITLED “COLLOQUIA MENSALIA,” OR, “HIS DIVINE DISCOURSES AT HIS TABLE,” HELD WITH DIVERS LEARNED MEN AND PIOUS DIVINES; SUCH AS WERE PHILIP MELANCTHON, CASPARUS CRUCIGER, JUSTUS JONAS, PAULUS EBERUS, VITUS DIETERICUS, JOANNES BUGENHAGEN, JOANNES FORSTERUS, AND OTHERS: CONTAINING _Divers Discourses touching Religion_, _and other Main Points of Doctrine_; _as also many notable Histories_, _and all sorts of Learning_, _Comforts_, _Advices_, _Prophecies_, _Admonitions_, _Directions_, _and Instructions_; _and how the same Book was_, _by God’s Providence_, _discovered lying under the Ground_, _where it had lain hid Fifty-two Years_; _and was a few years since sent over to the said Captain Henry Bell_, _and by him translated out of the High German into the English Tongue_.