A decorative horizontal headpiece featuring two rows of ornamental motifs. The upper row consists of alternating stylized foliage or fleur-de-lis patterns, while the lower row consists of repeating symmetrical scrollwork flourishes.

TO THE MOST LEARNED MAN,

FRANCIS PRUJEAN, Sir Francis Prujean (1593–1666) was an eminent English physician who served as the President of the College of Physicians from 1650 to 1654.

Accomplished in medicine and other fine literature, President of the Society of Physicians of London Now known as the Royal College of Physicians., and to the rest of the most distinguished colleagues of that same Society, these tender blossoms of his talent,

William Johnson,

Practitioner in Chemistry,

Dedicates and devotes.

Since, because of your singular kindness toward me (most learned men), as you were zealously striving for the common health and public benefit, you had arranged for a Chemical laboratory original: officinam Chymicam; at this time, chemistry was closely tied to the preparation of refined medicines (galenicals and spagyrics). to be built separately in the garden of your College, and you had summoned me (though unworthy) to be your Practitioner, and by the help of this work— The sentence is interrupted by the page break; the catchword "ris" indicates the next word is "operis" (of the work).