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, first published in 14861487, is the standard medieval text on witchcraft. 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. 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. 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. A thesis submitted to the faculty of the university of mississippi in partial fulfillment of. University of pennsylvania history department, 18981912 vol. Translation, notes, and two introductions by montague summers. The malleus is among the most important, wisest and weightiest books of the world.
The montague summers edition francesco maria guazzo snippet view 1988. Malleus maleficarum digital collections national library. Malleus maleficarum montague summers translation sprenger, jakob on. 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. The malleus maleficarum is one of the bestknown treatises dealing with the problem of what to do with witches. The malleus maleficarum search the malleus introduction to online edition. However, his views on witchcraft and demonology differed considerably from those of catholic encyclopedists and spokesmen of today. 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 is written in a style almost unreadable nowadays, and is. Free download the malleus maleficarum pdf full pdf. Montague summers transl kramer books to read online. The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of the witches was written by dominican friars henry kramer and jacob sprenger with papal endorsement.
This first edition by montague summers is available at bauman rare books. Malleus maleficarum first edition montague summers bauman. Authorship of the book is credited to two german dominican monks, heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger. The witches, werewolves, and vampires of montague summers. 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. Augustus montague summers 10 april 1880 10 august 1948. The only previous translation into english, that by montague summers produced in 1928, is full of inaccuracies. It contains a note upon the bibliography of the malleus maleficarum and includes bibliographical references. However, one thing it most certainly has proven to be is controversial.
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. Mackay explains the terminology at length sorcerer is used to preserve the relationship of the latin terminology. A lot of people hate montague summers, but i have a big, warm, soft spot in my heart for the man. Malleus maleficarum, the medieval witch hunter book.
Hopkins, for those of you who dont know, was englands self proclaimed witchfinder general. 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. At the very least, the malleus maleficarum the witch hammer. 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. In all corners of the world there are stories about people who have the ability to transform themselves into animals. The malleus maleficarum is one of the worlds few books written sub specie aeternitatis.
Malleus maleficarum montague summers translation facebook. Translated, with introductions, bibliography and notes by montague summers. 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. Montague summers quotes author of the history of witchcraft and. Malleus maleficarum the art and popular culture encyclopedia. The reverend montague summers was a roman catholic priest. Augustus montague summers 10 april 1880 10 august 1948 was an english author and.
The discovery of witches matthew hopkins and montague. Dr helen parish the malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches is one of the most infamous and controversial books of the early modern period. Jan 01, 2005 the malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches. Malleus maleficarum, free pdf, ebook, epub global grey. Montague summers summers, montague, 18801948 the online. 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. 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. Online read the malleus maleficarum and download the malleus maleficarum for free. The malleus maleficarum and the witchhunts in early modern europe. Throughout his life he was described by acquaintances as kind, courteous, generous and outrageously witty. 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. Jan 01, 1970 beautiful woodcuts of witches and devils.
Montague summers, the malleus maleficarum of heinrich. 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. The malleus maleficarum, first published in 14867, is the standard medieval text on witchcraft and it remained in print throughout the early modern period. Upload a document russian werewolf spell and werewolf lore. The history of witchcraft and demonology montague summers. Alphonsus josephmary augustus montague summers 18801948 was a fascinating character in himself. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Translator montague summers consistently uses the malleus maleficarum or simply the malleus in his 1928 and 1948 introductions. Malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches is the most important witchhunters bible, used by both catholics. The effects of the malleus maleficarum spread far beyond germany, greatly impacting france and italy and, to a lesser extent, england.
He was responsible for the first english translation, published in 1928, of. Augustus montague summers 10 april 1880 10 august 1948 was an english author and clergyman. 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. The malleus maleficarum has been blamed for the death of tens of thousands of women and men, and its instructions. Malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches is the most important witchhunters bible, used by both. Malleus maleficarum of heinrich kramer and james sprenger unabridged online republication of the 1928 edition. 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. Buy the malleus maleficarum new edition by heinrich kramer, james sprenger, montague summers isbn.
Heinrich kramers malleus maleficarum was a medieval treatise on witchcraft, describing the nature of witchcraft and the appropriate punishment for accused witches. 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. The nonesuch press, 1923, by william congreve page images at hathitrust. The malleus maleficarum by montague summers, paperback. The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of witches, or hexenhammer in german is the most famous medieval treatise on witches. Malleus maleficarum by rev summers montague abebooks. The malleus maleficarum, a latin book written in 1486 and 1487, is also known as the hammer of witches. In appearance he was plump, round cheeked and generally smiling. It was written in 1486 by heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger, and was first published in germany in 1487 jolly 2002, page 239.
In 1490, only three years after it was published, the catholic church condemned the malleus maleficarum as false. In the following two centuries, europe saw an explosion of witch persecutions which it had never seen. Covid19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of witches is. He was clearly either so convinced of his position that he could not imagine any other, or else so. The malleus maleficarum, usually translated as the hammer of witches, is the best known and the most thorough treatise on witchcraft. Montague, translated with an introduction, bibliography and notes by and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Malleus maleficarum project gutenberg selfpublishing. This paperback makes the full translation accessible to the readers as a single volume. Jan 03, 2011 this edition of malleus maleficarum is here translated into english for the first time. The malleus maleficarum and the construction of witchcraft. Malleus maleficarum translated by montague summers introduction to the malleus maleficarum introduction to the 1948 version malleus maleficarum part 1 question i. This edition of malleus maleficarum is here translated into english for the first time.
90 1073 633 926 997 1008 206 585 849 232 1550 986 1366 619 342 1116 625 1500 312 296 675 125 319 1291 271 919 689 988 1261 952 1227 115 547 444 228 1159 419 392 1458 980 921 1397