An Examen of Witches/To Monseigneur
 | An image should appear at this position in the text. If you are able to provide it, see Wikisource:Image guidelines and Help:Adding images for guidance. |
To Monseigneur,
Monseigneur
the most Illustrious and Most Reverend Archbishop of Besançon, Monsieur Ferdinand de Rye, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Abbot of Saint Oyan de Joux commonly known as Saint Claude, Cherlieu, etc.
Monseigneur,
It is to you that the credit is due for the partial purging of your land of Saint Claude from witches, that vermin which had long been multiplying and would have infected many districts, but for the care you have taken to extirpate them. Messieurs your brethren, those three Bolts of Mars, have waged war upon the enemies of their Princes: but you have fought the deadliest enemies of Heaven that the world knows. So that just as their glory must live for ever by reason of their great and warlike exploits, so also can your glory never pass away by reason of your so pious care. Accordingly I have set down a little treatise concerning that which has been done with regard to this miserable sect of people, in order that all may know the zeal with which you have striven to bring them to the payment of their last debts; and I dedicate it to you as to the author, after God, of the good which has resulted, very humbly entreating you to accept it with an indulgent eye, even as it has pleased you always to honour with your favour him who offers it to you and will ever remain,
Monseigneur,
- Your very humble servant,
- Henry Boguet.