A decorative rectangular woodcut headpiece at the top of the page, featuring elaborate scrollwork and three masks or faces: one in the center within a circular frame, and two on the sides within square frames.

To the most Illustrious and most Reverend

LORD HORATIO

M A F F E I

Most Distinguished Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church original: "S.R.E. Cardinali Ampliſſ." - S.R.E. stands for Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae

And most vigilant Protector of the Ambrosian Order.

BROTHER FRANCESCO MARIA GUAZZO

Member of the same Order, sends greetings.

THREE YEARS ago (most vigilant Prelate), while I was occupied with the care of the most Serene Duke of Cleves and Jülich Johann Wilhelm (1562–1609), whose mental illness was attributed by contemporaries to demonic influence (who is held by many kinds of bonds by sorcerers), I gathered into one volume this book, titled the Compendium of Witches original: "Compendium Maleficarum", interspersed with various courses of examples. My sole purpose was that mortals (having considered the cunning of mages) might strive to live piously in the Lord,