An ornamental headpiece featuring a central oval medallion containing a dolphin, flanked by two winged figures with scrolling, foliate tails and floral patterns.

TO MY LORD

PIERRE SCARRON,

BISHOP AND PRINCE

OF GRENOBLE, &c. Pierre Scarron (1570–1667) was a significant ecclesiastical figure and the uncle of the famous poet Paul Scarron.

MY LORD, Since this composition is a general remedy, and a public medicine against all sorts of afflictions, it must be approved that I prescribe its use under the authority of your Name, and that I seek credit for it through the esteem you shall have for its merit. After the illustrious testimony of Theodoret Theodoret of Cyrus (c. 393–457 AD), an influential theologian and Bishop in Syria, who can be ignorant of the fact that Bishops are the Physicians of the human race, and that it belongs to them—following the example of our charitable Samaritan—to mix the wine with the oil? That great Man Referring to the prophet Elijah, who left us such a beautiful idea of zeal in the ancient Law, and whom God reserves to assist at the final agonies of nature, never opened his mouth without a miracle; since, according to the observation of the Hebrews, all the words of Elijah were salutary medicines. And what do the Prelates Prelates: high-ranking clergy members, such as bishops, who exercise authority do in