To the Reader.

[...practice] The OCR "cieſſe" likely completes "practice" or "association" from the previous page. with wicked spirits and devils, he gave himself body and soul unto them, upon the condition that he might attain to the Pope's seat and dignity. This they promised him and fulfilled, but he did not enjoy it for long, contrary to his expectation. For while he was privately taken into a chamber in a certain place called Mount Canillus likely referring to a legendary version of the death of a Pope (often Sylvester II or Alexander VI) involving a demonic trick regarding a location., and there questioning with his demon how long he should reign as Pope, he was answered that he should reign eleven and eight. This "Holy Father" understood this to mean so many years; but he was deceived. For after he had reigned as Pope for eleven years and eight months, this devil would no longer be without his prey, but straightway came to the Pope’s court dressed like a courtier.

At the Pope’s chamber door, he knocked very loudly, saying that he must speak with his "fatherhood" A title of address for the Pope, similar to "His Holiness.". The door being opened, he came and spoke with the Pope, while all others were ordered to avoid original: "auoyde"; meaning to leave the room or withdraw.. But they were talking so earnestly together that many did rightly conjecture original: "coniect"; to guess or deduce based on evidence. that they were arguing. For the Pope stoutly affirmed his time had not expired. "For," said he, "I was promised nineteen years (for eleven and eight is nineteen), and of these nineteen years, I have reigned but eleven years and eight months." But this courtier-like devil replied and said that he misunderstood his words: "For I did not say," said he, "nineteen years, but I meant eleven years and eight months, and therefore now you must needs die The catchword "dye" at the bottom of the original page indicates the next word is "die."..."