Witch theorists
The collective term witch theorists summarizes those authors who mainly dealt with the "witch question" in the early modern period (i.e. from around the 15th to 18th centuries). The scholars came from various fields of science, from theology , philosophy , jurisprudence and medicine . In their works they discussed the witch doctrine of the time and individual aspects of it and the legally correct implementation of the witch trials .
Witch theorists
- Alfonso Tostatus , De maleficis mulieribus, que vulgariter dicuntur bruxas (1440)
- Ponce de Feugeyron , Errores Gazariorum (1436/37), Latin. The errors of the Cathars, but not the real Cathars , but the alleged witch sect
- Claude Tholosan, Ut magorum et maleficiorum errores (around 1436)
- Johannes Nider , Formicarius (1437)
- Nicolas Jacquier , Flagellum haereticorum fascinariorum (written around 1458, printed in 1481)
- Bernard Basin , Tractatus des artibus magicis ac magorum maleficis (1482)
- Jakob Sprenger and Heinrich Institoris (= Heinrich Kramer) were long considered to be the authors of the work 'Malleus Maleficarum' (1487) (in German: The Hexenhammer ), whereas today it is assumed that Kramer is the sole author . The work presented the witch doctrine systematically for the first time and thus laid the theoretical basis for the witch hunt
- Ulrich Molitor , De laniis et phitonicis mulieribus (1489); in German translation: Von Unholden oder Hexen (ca.1500)
- Johannes Trithemius , Antipalus maleficiorum ("Opponent of witchcraft") (1508), which even put the witch's hammer in the shade.
- Bernhard of Como , Tractatus de strigiis (1508)
- Bartolomeo de Spina , Quaestio de Strigibus (1523)
- Paolo Grillando (Latin Paulus Grillandus) , Tractatus de hereticis et sortilegijs omnifariam coitu eorumque penis (1527)
- Heinrich Bullinger , Against the Black Arts (1571)
- Peter Martyr Vermigli , Loci communes theologici (1576)
- Thomas Erastus , Repetitio disputationis de lamiis seu strigibus (1578)
- Jean Bodin , De la Demonomanie de sorciers (1580); in Latin: De magorum Daemonomania (1581); in German translation by Johann Fischart : Vom aufgelasen angry devil army (1581)
- Samuel Meiger , De Panurgia Lamiarum, Sagarum, Strigum ac Veneficarum totiusque cohortis magicae Cacodaemonia libri tres (1587)
- Peter Binsfeld , Tractatus de confessionibus maleficorum et sagarum (1589); in German translation: Treatise from the acquaintance of sorcerers and witches (1590)
- Wilhelm Adolf Scribonius , Letter of inquiry and probation of sorceresses through cold water (1583)
- Rudolf Goclenius the Elder Ä. , Oratio de natura sagarum in purgatione examinatione per Frigidam aquis innatantium, Marburg 1590
- Nicolas Rémy , Demonolatriae libri III (1595)
- Hennigus Grosius , Magica (1597)
- Martin Anton Delrio , Disquisitonum magicarum libri sex (1599)
- Francesco-Maria Guazzo , Compendium Maleficarum (1608)
- Friedrich Förner , Panoplia armaturae dei (1625)
- Heinrich von Schultheiß , a detailed instruction (1634)
- Benedikt Carpzov , Practica nova imperialis Saxonica Rerum Criminalius (1635); The Embarrassing Inquisition and Eight Trial - a German-written manual for the judges (1638)
- Heinrich Rimphoff , Dragon King (1647)
- Peter Goldschmidt , Hellish Morpheus (1698)
Critic of witchcraft
- Canon episcopi , (before 1000) condemned as a heretic who believes in witches
- Georg Golser , Bishop of Brixen, declared Institoris crazy in 1484
- Johann Weyer , De praestigiis daemonum et incantationibus ac veneficiis (1563)
- Johann Georg Gödelmann , Disputatio de magis, veneficis, maleficis et lamiis (first published in 1584). German Translation: Of sorcerers, witches and fiends (1592)
- Reginald Scot , The Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584)
- Hermann Witekind published his under the pseudonym Augustin Lercheimer von Steinfelden: Christian bedencken vnd reminder of witchcraft against the persecution of witches (1585)
- Johann Fichard , Consilia (written from 1564, first printed in 1590)
- Cornelius Loos , De vera et falsa magia (1592)
- Anton Praetorius , Thorough Report of Magic and Magicians 1602, appeared in 1598 under the pseudonym Johannes Scultetus
- Adam Tanner : Disputationes. 1617.
- Johannes Grevius : Tribunal Reformatum. 1622.
- Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld : Cautio Criminalis . 1631.
- Justus Oldekop : Cautelarum criminalium Syllagoge practica. 1633; or in the 2nd edition: Cautelae criminales consiliariis maleficiorum Judicibus, Advocatis, Inquisitibus […]. 1639.
- Johann Matthäus Meyfart : Christian memory. 1635.
- Michael Stappert , also Michael Stapirius, his writing (1676) published by Hermann Löher
- Hermann Löher , Serious Subjects Wemourful Lament of the Pious Invalid (1676)
- Balthasar Bekker , De betovered Wereld (1691–1693)
- Christian Thomasius , De crimine magiae (1701)
- Heinrich Bode , De fallacibus indiciis magiae (1701)
- Hermann Adolph Meinders , Unpreparable Thoughts and Monita, How without blind eyes and rushing with those witch trials and the Inquisition because of the magic ... in which Königl. Prussian and Princely Brandenburg Lands ... to proceed, Lemgo (Meyer) (1716)
- Johann Pistorius the Elder J. saved 1603 in Freiburg i. Br. The 14 year old "witch child" Agatha Gatter.