To the Reader.

die. At which the Pope, being abashed, fell to entreating him, but all was in vain. For as soon as this Devil was gone, the soul of this Pope departed miserably from his body with horrible cries, fearful groanings, and deadly bewailings. In this way died this horrible sorcerer (as says Hieronymus Marius in his work titled Eusebius Captivus original: "Eusebius Captivus" (Eusebius the Captive), a 16th-century anti-Catholic work by Girolamo Mariano.). In that work, the history of this wicked Pope Alexander is very vividly set forth, regarding both his wicked living and his horrible deeds original: "factes"; in this context, it refers to actions or crimes.. His terrible end may be an example to all sorcerers, conjurers, and witches.

Like him was Pope Gregory VII, otherwise called Hellbrand (Hildebrand, I should say) A pun on his name Hildebrand, implying he was a "brand" or spark from hell. who was also a great sorcerer and necromancer original: "Nigromancer"; traditionally one who communicates with the dead, but used here generally for a dark magician., as Benno the Cardinal declares in his work on this Gregory's life. He says that Gregory also had a familiar spirit A supernatural entity or demon believed to assist a witch or sorcerer., through which he wrought many mischiefs in the commonwealth of Rome, both for the satisfying of his fleshly and beastly lust, as well as to increase his riches and dignity.

Platina Bartolomeo Platina (1421–1481), author of "Lives of the Popes," often cited for his accounts of papal corruption. also writes the same of Pope John VIII, Pope Sylvester, Pope Benedict VIII, with various others who were better practiced in these devilish sciences than in godly divinity.

Much like these was Pope Paul III, who, as Sleidan Johannes Sleidanus (1506–1556), a prominent historian of the Reformation. declares, practiced sorcery and witchcraft, and thereby committed two horrible