A rectangular decorative woodcut headpiece features a central shield surrounded by symmetrical scrolling acanthus leaves, floral motifs, and several putti or cherubs in various poses.

To the most distinguished among the Nobles,

JAMES BRYDGES,

DUKE of CHANDOS,

Marquess and Earl of CARNARVON,

Baron Chandos of SUDELEY, etc.

Most illustrious Duke, to whom rather than to you should I dedicate Eusebius, along with the rest of the family of historians of the ancient Church? For you are a most devoted student of ancient Truth and Faith: one who maintains that Christ, the supreme Head of the entire Church, should be worshipped with a devotion that is not only pious and pure, but also splendid and majestic. So much so, that our Paulinus of Tyre Paulinus, Bishop of Tyre (died c. 323 AD), was a close friend of Eusebius. He is famous for building a grand cathedral at Tyre following the end of the Roman persecutions, which Eusebius described in great detail.—the builder of a most magnificent temple (as Christian circumstances then allowed) and therefore highly praised by Eusebius—would gladly yield to you, if he now has any perception of earthly affairs.

Would that you—the magnificent founder of more than one Church, the restorer of many, and the one who brings back the ecclesiastical glory of happier times—would that you had found an orator equal to that of Paulinus, who could have extolled to the heavens that truly celestial character of the most holy Religion which you display to us in your sanctuary This likely refers to the Duke's private chapel at his palatial estate, Cannons, which was famous for its opulence and for employing the composer George Frideric Handel.. When we contemplate it, we utterly erase from our souls all the goddesses of the poets, all the allurements of the pagan Elysian fields, and all the trappings of worldly pomp; breaking out instead into the words of the holy Patriarch:

“Surely the Lord is in this place; this is none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven.” original: "Certe Dominus in hoc loco est; nihil aliud est quam Dei domus, & porta cœli." These are the words of Jacob in Genesis 28:17.