by various letters addressed
to both branches of the magistracy, imputing to superiors and judges
the exercise of tyranny towards the subjects. 4 And consequently,
inasmuch as the most reverend and illustrious Archbishop and Prince
Elector of Treves not only permits witches and magicians to be
subjected to deserved punishment in his diocese, but has also
ordained laws regulating the mode and cost of the procedure against
witches, thereby with inconsiderate temerity tacitly insinuating the
charge of tyranny against the said Elector of Treves. 5. _Item._ I
revoke and condemn these following conclusions, to wit, that there
are no such beings as sorcerers, who renounce God and worship the
Devil, who bring on tempests, and do the work of Satan and such
like, but that all these things are dreams. 6. Moreover that magic
is not to be called sorcery, nor its practisers to be deemed
sorcerers, and that that that place of Exod. xxii, ('Ye shall not
suffer sorcerers to live') is to be understood of those who slay
with material poison, naturally administered. 7. That no contract
exists or can exist between man and the demon. 8. That demons do not
assume bodies. 9. That the life of Hilary, written by St. Jerome, is
not authentic. 10. That the demon cannot carnally know mankind. 11.
That neither demons nor witches can excite tempests, rain, hail,
&c., and that what is alleged in that behalf is mere dreams. 12.
That spirits and forms can be seen by mankind separate from matter.
13. That it is rash to assert that whatever demons can do magicians
can also by the help of demons. 14. That the assertion that the
superior demon can expel the inferior is erroneous and derogatory to
Christ.--Luke xi. 15. That the Popes in the bulls do not allege that
magicians and sorcerers perpetrate such acts as above mentioned.

"All these and the like, my assertions, with my many calumnies,
falsehoods, and sycophancies, petulantly, indecorously, and
mendaciously expressed against the magistracy, as well secular as
ecclesiastical, wherewith my writings on witchcraft abound, I hereby
expressly and deliberately condemn, recant, and reject, earnestly
beseeching pardon of God and my superiors, and faithfully promising
that henceforth I will not, either by word of