In the district of treves a peasant was planting cabbages in his garden with his eightyearold daughter, and praised the girl highly for her skill in the work. The werewolf in lore and legend by montague summers. However, his views on witchcraft and demonology differed considerably from those of catholic encyclopedists and spokesmen of today. The image of witches and witchcraft created by kramer in the malleus maleficarum is one of the most enduring and influential representations of the witch. It was written by the discredited catholic clergyman heinrich kramer under his latinized name henricus institoris and first published in the german city of speyer in 1487. In appearance he was plump, round cheeked and generally smiling. Translator montague summers consistently uses the malleus maleficarum or simply the malleus in his 1928 and 1948 introductions. The nonesuch press, 1923, by william congreve page images at hathitrust. The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of witches, or hexenhammer in german is the most famous medieval treatise on witches. The malleus maleficarum of kramer and sprenger, orignally published in germany in 1486, has been called many things, from gods own truth, a pack of blatant lies, sexually repressed farce, to an interesting yet ultimately baseless medieval oddity. Malleus maleficarum project gutenberg selfpublishing.
Montague summers quotes author of the history of witchcraft and. Whether the belief that there are such beings as witches is so essential a part of the catholic faith that obstinacy to maintain the opposite opinion manifestly savours of. University of pennsylvania history department, 18981912 vol. A lot of people hate montague summers, but i have a big, warm, soft spot in my heart for the man. Authorship of the book is credited to two german dominican monks, heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger. It was written in 1487 by a dominican inquisitor, heinrich institoris, following his failure to prosecute a number of women for witchcraft, it is in many ways a highly personal document, full of frustration at official complacency in the face of a spiritual threat. Buy the malleus maleficarum new edition by heinrich kramer, james sprenger, montague summers isbn. The malleus maleficarum search the malleus introduction to online edition.
Malleus maleficarum, free pdf, ebook, epub global grey. The history of witchcraft and demonology montague summers. It is a most certain and most catholic opinion that there are sorcerers and witches who by the help of the devil, on account of a compact which they have entered into with him, are able, since god allows this, to produce real and actual evils and harm, which does not render it unlikely that they can also bring about visionary and phantastical illusions by some extraordinary and peculiar. Covid19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation.
Alphonsus josephmary augustus montague summers 18801948 was a fascinating character in himself. Montague summers summers, montague, 18801948 the online. Malleus maleficarum translated by montague summers introduction to the malleus maleficarum introduction to the 1948 version malleus maleficarum part 1 question i. Malleus maleficarum montague summers translation sprenger, jakob on.
Upload a document russian werewolf spell and werewolf lore. Malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches is the most important witchhunters bible, used by both. The effects of the malleus maleficarum spread far beyond germany, greatly impacting france and italy and, to a lesser extent, england. At the very least, the malleus maleficarum the witch hammer. Jan 01, 2005 the malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches.
The malleus maleficarum has been blamed for the death of tens of thousands of women and men, and its instructions. He was clearly either so convinced of his position that he could not imagine any other, or else so. The only previous translation into english, that by montague summers produced in 1928, is full of inaccuracies. In contrast to the scepticism of modern catholicism, montague summers insisted that the reality of witchcraft is still an essential part of catholic doctrine, and declared the malleus maleficarum to be an accurate account of witchcraft and the methods needed to combat it. A thesis submitted to the faculty of the university of mississippi in partial fulfillment of. Jan 03, 2011 this edition of malleus maleficarum is here translated into english for the first time. The malleus maleficarum, usually translated as the hammer of witches, is the best known and the most thorough treatise on witchcraft. The malleus maleficarum and the construction of witchcraft. In 1490, only three years after it was published, the catholic church condemned the malleus maleficarum as false. The discovery of witches matthew hopkins and montague. Its descriptions of the evil acts of witches and the ways to exterminate them continue to contribute to our knowledge of early modern law, religion and society. This notorious document was drawn up in 1484 by the church as a handbook for wouldbe inquisitors on how to identify, torture and erradicate paganism from society.
Montague summers transl kramer books to read online. The malleus maleficarum is one of the bestknown treatises dealing with the problem of what to do with witches. Throughout his life he was described by acquaintances as kind, courteous, generous and outrageously witty. The malleus maleficarum, first published in 14867, is the standard medieval text on witchcraft and it remained in print throughout the early modern period. Translation, notes, and two introductions by montague summers.
The malleus maleficarum by montague summers, paperback. He is not ashamed of the greatest excesses committed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches is the most important witchhunters bible, used by both catholics. The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of the witches was written by dominican friars henry kramer and jacob sprenger with papal endorsement. Augustus montague summers 10 april 1880 10 august 1948. Malleus maleficarum first edition montague summers bauman. This pamphlet contains matthew hopkins treatise on witchcraft from 1647 and an essay about hopkins by my hero, montague summers.
The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of witches is. He was responsible for the first english translation, published in 1928, of. The malleus maleficarum is one of the worlds few books written sub specie aeternitatis. He is known primarily for his scholarly work on the english drama of the 17th century, as well as for his idiosyncratic studies on witches. It contains a note upon the bibliography of the malleus maleficarum and includes bibliographical references. Although the malleus was thought to have held a huge amount of sway over the persecution of witches during the european witch hunts, its influence seems to have been much more widely spread. The malleus maleficarum, first published in 14861487, is the standard medieval text on witchcraft. The reverend montague summers was a roman catholic priest. He is known primarily for his scholarly work on the english drama of the 17th century, as well as for his idiosyncratic studies on witches, vampires, and werewolves, all of which he professed to believe in the existence of. Jan 30, 2010 the malleus maleficarum of kramer and sprenger, orignally published in germany in 1486, has been called many things, from gods own truth, a pack of blatant lies, sexually repressed farce, to an interesting yet ultimately baseless medieval oddity. The malleus maleficarum, a latin book written in 1486 and 1487, is also known as the hammer of witches. Malleus maleficarum the art and popular culture encyclopedia. Heinrich kramers malleus maleficarum was a medieval treatise on witchcraft, describing the nature of witchcraft and the appropriate punishment for accused witches. The malleus is among the most important, wisest and weightiest books of the world.
Malleus maleficarum by rev summers montague abebooks. May 28, 2009 the malleus maleficarum, first published in 14867, is the standard medieval text on witchcraft and it remained in print throughout the early modern period. The malleus maleficarum and the witchhunts in early modern europe. Despite popular belief that the malleus maleficarum was the classic roman catholic text on witchcraft, it was never officially used by the catholic church and was, in fact, condemned by the inquisition in 1490. Pope innocent viii the papal bull the malleus maleficarum an extract from the malleus maleficarum the letter of approbation johann niders formicarius jacob sprenger heinrich kramer stefano infessura montague summers the waldenses the albigenses the hussites. Translated, with introductions, bibliography and notes by montague summers. Malleus maleficarum digital collections national library. Malleus maleficarum some late medieval theologians, like the dominican inquisitor heinrich kramer institoris, author of the malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches, 1486, imagined witches to be members of a vast conspiracy directed against christian society that was allowed by god to cause immense physical and spiritual hardship. The montague summers edition francesco maria guazzo snippet view 1988. This first edition by montague summers is available at bauman rare books. It was written in 1486 by heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger, and was first published in germany in 1487 jolly 2002, page 239.
Montague summers summers, montague, 18801948 a wikipedia article about this author is available summers, montague, 18801948, ed the complete works of william congreve 4 volumes. This paperback makes the full translation accessible to the readers as a single volume. In the following two centuries, europe saw an explosion of witch persecutions which it had never seen. Jan 01, 1970 beautiful woodcuts of witches and devils. The witches, werewolves, and vampires of montague summers. Page ix from the point of psychology, of history, it is supreme what is surprising is the modernity of the book there are cases which occur in the law courts today, set out with the greatest clarity, argued with unflinching logic and judged with the scrupulous impartiality. Dr helen parish the malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches is one of the most infamous and controversial books of the early modern period.
Mackay explains the terminology at length sorcerer is used to preserve the relationship of the latin terminology. Hopkins, for those of you who dont know, was englands self proclaimed witchfinder general. Augustus montague summers 10 april 1880 10 august 1948 was an english author and. In all corners of the world there are stories about people who have the ability to transform themselves into animals. Malleus maleficarum, the medieval witch hunter book. He is known primarily for his scholarly work on the english drama of the 17th century, as well as for his idiosyncratic studies on witches, vampires, and werewolves, in all of which he professed to believe. Augustus montague summers 10 april 1880 10 august 1948 was an english author and clergyman. Malleus maleficarum of heinrich kramer and james sprenger unabridged online republication of the 1928 edition. Montague summers, the malleus maleficarum of heinrich. Malleus maleficarum montague summers translation facebook. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Montague, translated with an introduction, bibliography and notes by and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The malleus maleficarum warns us that all witches are evil regardless of what they use their powers for and they must be punished accordingly, but a lot of their abilities sounds useful for dealing with superstitious peasants or entertaining oneself when trapped in 15th century germany. This edition of malleus maleficarum is here translated into english for the first time. However, one thing it most certainly has proven to be is controversial. Online read the malleus maleficarum and download the malleus maleficarum for free. It is written in a style almost unreadable nowadays, and is.
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