A Treatise Addressed to the Most Illustrious

Prince and Lord, Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, Styria, Carinthia, etc., concerning female sorcerers original: "laniis" - literally 'butchers' or 'lamias', a term used here for witches and women who practice divination original: "phitonicis" - referring to the Pythian or Delphic spirit of prophecy, written by Ulrich Molitor of Constance, Doctor of Decrees a doctor of Canon Law of the University of Pavia and advocate of the court of Constance, in honor of the same Prince and subject to the correction of his Highness.

Epistle

Most Excellent Prince

and Lord, most worshipful Lord Archduke. The humble Ulrich Molitor of Constance, Doctor, offers himself in service to your Highness. Since, therefore, in previous years, a plague of certain female sorcerers and enchantresses was said to have invaded the lands of your Excellency; and since several women under your rule, suspected of this kind of heresy, were captured and, when questioned under torture, gave various answers; and since your counselors held various opinions among themselves on this matter—one indeed leaning toward one side, another toward the other—at last, in your mercy, the memory of me occurred to you. Therefore, in accordance with your innate eagerness for knowing the truth, I received a command through the counselors of your Worthiness that I should not fail to designate by the duty of my pen what I might feel in this matter for your Excellency.

Truly, although this task is both laborious and dangerous—laborious indeed for me, who am occupied with other things and concerned with seeking a livelihood; and dangerous on account of the envious and the detractors, who do not cease to slander all things which they are unable to imitate, and who do not fail to tear apart with a poisonous tooth, like a bristly he-goat, those things which they themselves, by their own laziness, are unable to experience. Although, moreover, this subject matter has called even distinguished doctors into doubt, I nevertheless deemed it worthy—since you hold the members of my small body bound to your service—that you should also possess whatever powers of my mind there may be. Thus, while the pressures of the outer man devote themselves to your service, my weak and unrefined intellect may also strive for the glory of your Highness.