Extraordinarily beloved cousin and brother in Christ. Because I, Brother Jan van Brederode, convert of the Carthusian Order in Zelem, desire (or: promote) your eternal salvation, and especially that you may live a life according to God's precepts, I have taken some trouble and in the year 1408 translated a book from French into Dutch. It was written in 1279 by a great cleric from the Dominican order for King Philip of France, and the French title is Somme le roi, which is the Dutch Des conincx somme, because it is a compendium of many good things that contribute to a righteous life. And it is called Des conincx somme because it was made for the king of France for that reason. In spiritual terms, it can also be referred to as the addition of the King of heaven's name, because it teaches us in what way we should prepare our account at the great day of reckoning, when one should add up all the additions and hand them over to the eternal King. Of all the books I have read, this seems to me to be a very useful book for the lay person who likes to live according to Our Lord's commandments, because it starts with the ten commandments.