Collectanea chymica

Reader,

Ornamental drop cap VV (W) spanning several lines at the beginning of the text.

We seek no Maecenas A wealthy patron of the arts; here used to mean a financial sponsor to flatter with a dedication, nor do we crave any shelter from great personages. For we know that our philosophy is the world’s contempt, and its professors their scorn and derision. Therefore, we neither crave their pardon nor fear their frowns, but shall assert this truth boldly: that the arts have no enemies but those who are ignorant of them. For this reason, we fear no uprising of commoners Jack-straws: a reference to the leader of the Peasants' Revolt, used here as a derogatory term for the uneducated masses, even if it is leveled against our learning. For wisdom is justified by her children, and to them only do we give this account of the occasion for printing this collection of these small chemical treatises, which—next to their usefulness—are for their preservation, being by several...