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A WARNING ON CRIMINAL TRIALS

OR

Concerning the Trials against Witches

THE BOOK.

Question I.

Whether witches, hags, or sorcerers truly exist? original: "An Sagæ striges seu malefici revera existant?" The author uses three different Latin terms for those accused of magic: "Sagas" (often used for wise women or fortune tellers), "striges" (an ancient term for owl-like night hags), and "malefici" (literally "evildoers" or those who perform harmful magic).

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I respond, that although I know some have cast doubt on this matter—even Catholics and learned men whom it is not necessary to name here; and although some seem to suspect, and not without reason, that there were once times in the Church when the physical gatherings of witches (original: corporalibus Sagarum conventibus) were not believed in; and although, finally, I myself—while I have dealt with various people accused of this crime in prisons quite frequently and attentively (not to say inquisitively)—have more than once had my mind so entangled that I almost did not know what to believe about this matter; nevertheless, when I finally gather the sum of my perplexed thoughts,