Witch Beliefs and Witch Trials in the Middle Ages : Documents and Readings
In 1901 a rich collection of extracts from documents relating to witch beliefs and witch trials in the Middle Ages - Hexenwahns und der Hexenverfolgung in Mittelalter - was published in Bonn. Most of the original documents are in Latin, with some in medieval German and French, and it has been left largely untranslated, making the material inaccessible, and neglected. This new translation of the key documents will enable students and scholars to look afresh at this crucial period in the development of attitudes towards witchcraft. Through the translated extracts we can see the beliefs and
1 online resource (239 pages)
9781441128058, 9781441183552, 1441128050, 1441183558
1058493463
Illustrations; Introduction; Latin terminology; Punctuation convention; Part I; Papal Decisions, Decrees and Letters 1258-1524; 1. Should inquisitors investigate and punish fortune tellers? 1258; 2. A demon-worshipping bishop, 1303; 3. Magicians, fortune tellers and demon worshippers at the Papal Court, 1318; 4. Instructions to root out demon worship and sacrilegious magic in Carcassonne, 1320; 5. Parish clergy and monks threaten the life of Philippe de Valois with harmful magic, 1331; 6. An English necromancer and his magical apparatus, 1336. 7. Payment to a notary for recording the trial of fortune tellers and other criminals, 13368. Payment to the same notary for bringing a necromancer to and from court, 1336; 9. Two magicians arrested in Béarn, 1336; 10. Benedict XII investigates a plot to kill John XXII by magic, 1337; 11. Two women who have entered a devil's service, 1338; 12. Image magic and buried treasure, 1339; 13. Demon worshippers seek to obstruct the inquisitorial process, 1374; 14. Eugenius IV addresses all inquisitors on the subject of demon worship and magical practice, 1437. 15. Pope Eugenius rails against Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, as a protector of and a consorter with witches, 144016. Boniface IX writes to a priest who has been involved in magic and an unforeseen death, 1440; 17. Confirmation of an inquisitor's powers against a variety of offences, 1451; 18. Magicians in the north of Italy corrupt the faithful, 1457; 19. Heretics who practise fortune telling and magic and spread errors among the faithful, 1459; 20. Grant of an indulgence to the Dominican house in Sélestat to help with its upkeep and contribute to the expenses of local inquisitors, 1483. 21. Heinrich Institoris and Jakob Sprenger have their powers as inquisitors clarified in the face of objections from certain clergy and lay men, 148422. Incantations, acts of poisonous magic and superstitious practices are to be suppressed and punished, 1501; 23. Lay interference in cases of magic, divination and demon worship, 1521; Part II; Literature on Magic and Witches c.1270-c.1505; Preface: Canon Episcopi c.900; 1. The form and method of questioning readers of signs and idolaters, anonymous, c.1270. 2. Magically induced impotence and a mixture of remedies, Arnald of Villanova, attributed, c.13003. Interrogating sorcerers, fortune tellers and invokers of demons and repudiating past practice of magic, Bernard Gui, c.1320; 4. Worshipping demons can be a good thing, Ramón de Tárrega, c.1370; 5. Actions which are superstitious and actions which are not, Heinrich von Gorkum, c.1425; 6. Infecundity, eating children and repentance, Johannes Nider, 1435-1437; 7. Can people sometimes be carried by the Devil through various places? Alonso Tostado, c.1440
8. Peasant beliefs and practices according to a hostile source, Felix Hemmerlin, 1444-1450