[WITCHCRAFT SAMMELBAND – MALLEUS MALEFICARUM]

Five volumes bound as one, all published by Petri Landry in Lyon.

KRÄMER, HEINRICH; SPRENGER, JAKOB. MALLEUS MALEFICARUM. 

2 vol in one, [48], 544, [24],317pp., titles in black and red, with printers devices with a tree and the motto “Virtus hilaris cum pondere”, first title ownership inscription in old hand and previous ownership censored in dark ink, some underlining in text, floriated woodcut initials, typographical headpieces, contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over boards with worn paper spine labels and a little wear to corners, 8vo, Lyon, Petri Landry, 1615.

Rare Edition of the most famous witch hunter manual.

Malleus Maleficarum, or the Hammer of Witches, is without question the most important and most sinister work on demonology ever written. It crystallized into a fiercely stringent code previous folklore about black magic with church dogma on heresy, and if any one work could, opened the floodgates of the inquisitorial hysteria. It sought to make effective the biblical command of Exodus xxii. 18. “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” The Malleus Maleficarum was the source, inspiration and quarry for all the subsequent treatise on witchcraft.

It owed its authority and pride of place over other contemporary works to several features: first, the scholastic reputation of its two authors, both Dominicans, Jakob Sprenger (1436-95), Dean of Cologne University, and Prior Heinrich Krämer (1430-95); second, the papal bull from Innocent VIII to silence opposition to the witch hunt; and third, the detailed procedure for witchcraft trials.

“The Malleus Maleficarum is divided into three parts. Part I discusses the need for administrators thoroughly comprehending the enormity of witchcraft. Part II treats the three types of maleficia of witches and how these evils may be counteracted. Part III gives formal rules for initiating legal action against witches and securing a conviction and passing sentence.” – Encyclopedia of Witchcraft p.337.

The influence of this work throughout time is indisputable and is corroborated by the countless quotes of its methods and examples in many other works. The text is often blamed for the worst aspects of the hunts.

A very scarce edition, USTC shows only two known copies (Médiathèque de la Communauté Urbaine d’Alençon, Aleçon; Bibliothèques municipales, Grenoble).

[The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology, Robbins, 1964; Caillet Dorbon/Bibliotheca esoterica; USTC: 6901969]

[BOUND WITH]

MENGHI, GIROLAMO. Fustis Daemonum Adjurationes Formidabiles.

[16], 208, title in red and black, with printers devices with a tree and the motto “Virtus hilaris cum pondere”, Lyon, Petri Landry, 1615

One of the most important and influential works on exorcism by the most authoritative exorcist of Renaissance Italy, the Franciscan, Girolamo Menghi. A theologian and exorcist, he practised in Bologna, and was known as ‘the father of the exorcists’ art’. First published in 1584, Fustis Daemonum (The Daemon’s Bludgeon) followed the widely popular Flagellum Daemonum published eight years earlier.

“The texts consist of both a theoretical treatise and a hands on guide describing actual exorcisms. Fustis daemonum lists exorcisms that follow a strict formula: after an initial prayer, signs of the cross are made, followed by incantations, a reading from the Gospels, and repeated orations” Joseph P. Laycock, Spirit Possession around the World: Possession, Communion, and Demon.

Menghi was well acquainted with demoniacal literature; the authors he quotes range from Avicenna to Michael Psellus, from Lull to Sprenger. Despite his contemporary fame his works were placed on the index of forbidden books by the Sant’Uffizio in the C18th. “Girolamo Menghi articulated a philosophy of evil that reflected the social and religious culture of his time. …. He tried to arrange devils according to their function, spheres of action and bad habits – just as Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite had arranged angels in his ‘Celestial Hierarchy’”. Gaetano Paxia.

[BOUND WITH]

MENGHI, GIROLAMO. Flagellum Daemonum Exorcismo Terribiles…,

[14],213, [2]pp. title in red and black, with printers devices with a tree and the motto “Virtus hilaris cum pondere”, Lyon, Petri Landry, 1614.

Girolamo Menghi’s best known work, the Flagellum Daemonum was later included in the authoritative collection on exorcisms the Thesaurus exocrismorum. He prefaces the Flagellum with a vehement defence of exorcism. Dedicating the work to Cardinal Gabriele Paleotto, Menghi advocates a much more aggressive promotion and publication of books of exorcisms.

Flagellum Daemonum was translated into Italian and published in 1576, as Compendio dell’arte essorcisica so it would reach the widest audience possible. This work was intended to instruct parish exorcists in the authorised rituals, in order to combat the unorthodox practices employed by many exorcists in Italy. This practical approach was due partly to events of the recent past. A deadly infection had spread, threatening innumerable victims. Menghi argued that ‘medicina celeste’ as it was practised by ecclesiastical exorcists, was the only appropriate means to overcome diabolic power.

“Girolamo Menghi’s Flagellum Daemonum […] was a collection of seven rites of exorcism with detailed instructions on the preparation of the priest and the victim and what sorts of gestures or paraphernalia the priest should employ….He could use his book of exorcism, holy water, fire, or images of the devil…and there are rites of blessing given in this manual as well” Jane Davidson, ‘Early Modern Supernatural: The Dark Side of European Culture, 1400-1700.’

Both Flagellum Daemonum and Fustis Daemonum were published in one volume from 1598 and soon became popular all over Europe.

[BOUND WITH]

STAMPA, PETRO ANTONIO. Fuga Satanae Exorcismus

112, [8]pp., title in red and black, with printers devices with a tree and the motto “Virtus hilaris cum pondere”, Lyon, Petri Landry, 1615.

An extremely rare manual for performing exorcisms, especially aimed at treating victims of witchcraft. Pietro Antonio Stampa, a priest who lived and worked in Chiavenna in Lombardy, wrote his manual in language that could be understood by both laymen and clergymen in order to be understood by as wide an audience as possible.

Guides for exorcisms were very sought after during the end of the sixteenth century and throughout the seventeenth century. The popularity of this work was partially due to Stampa’s reliance on prayers and sacred scripture rather than resorting to herbal concoctions and elaborate procedures as was typical of the time. Simplifying the methodology was Stampa’s attempt to combat the unauthorised exorcisms carried out by both charlatans and radical priests that were flourishing at the time Fuga Satanae was first published, in 1597.

All editions are very scarce. First published in 1597, a second edition was published by Landry in 1605. This edition is unrecorded in USTC.

Provenance: Sotheby’s Robert Lenkiewicz sale, Nov 2003

[Adams, II, p. 229 – missing from the British Library and Brunet].