A decorative woodcut headpiece features floral motifs, cornucopias overflowing with fruit, and a central female mask flanked by two figures.

TO THE GREAT PRINCE,

WISE AND GOOD,

LOUIS

DE VALOIS

COUNT OF ALAIS,

MASTER OF THE LIGHT CAVALRY THROUGHOUT

original: "S. P. D." stands for "Salutem Plurimam Dicit," a traditional Latin greeting meaning "sends his fondest wishes" or "sends his heartiest greetings."

A large ornamental drop cap 'M' is decorated with foliage and vine patterns.
Circular library stamp: NATIONAL LIBRARY V. E. ROME
Small circular emblem stamp on the right margin.

Great PRINCE,

I am beginning to write the life of the most praised PeirescNicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc (1580-1637) was a renowned French scholar, astronomer, and collector who maintained a vast network of correspondence with the leading thinkers of Europe., which you requested of me. Indeed, you had no sooner arrived in this province under favorable omensoriginal: "faustis auibus." This literally means "with lucky birds," a reference to the Roman practice of augury where the flight of birds was used to predict success., than