The Hammer of Witches

It is always said, however, that it is illicit to use images original: "imagines," likely referring to wax figures or poppets used in sympathetic magic. Indeed, the images used by witches maleficarum the female form of the word for sorcerers, reflecting the period's focus on women are made without any natural capacity to produce an effect. They are placed and applied solely at the command of demons so that they may manually cooperate in producing the effect, primarily as a greater insult to the Creator. Thus, the Creator, being further provoked, permits greater evils to be done as a punishment for such disgraceful crimes. For this reason, they even take care to perform these acts during the more sacred times of the year.

Regarding the fifth point, it must be said that Gregory Pope Gregory the Great understood this to be the power of grace, not of nature. Hence, he adds in the same passage: "Those who are the sons of God by power, as John says referring to John 1:12, what wonder is it if they perform signs by that power?"

Regarding the last point, it must be said that the comparison does not hold, because the action of the soul regarding its own body is one thing, and its action regarding an external body is another. Because the soul is united to its own body as its form a philosophical concept where the soul provides the essential structure and life to the matter of the body, the sensitive appetite is the act of a physical organ. Therefore, through the perception of the human soul, the sensitive appetite can be moved along with some bodily change, such as heat and cold, or even unto death.

A manicule (pointing hand) is drawn in the left margin pointing toward the text regarding the movement of the sensitive appetite and bodily changes.

But to change external bodies, no perception of the human soul is sufficient except through the change of its own body, as was said concerning fascination fascinatio the "evil eye" or the belief that the soul could project harmful influence through the eyes. Hence, sorcerers have no natural power, but work only by the help of demons; and the demons themselves work with the aid of some other object—such as thorns, bones, hair, wood, iron, and the like—when they insert them or hide an instrument somewhere, as will be shown in succession, to carry out the effects of witchcraft.

Next, adhering more closely to the spiritual tenor of the Apostolic Bull likely Summis desiderantes affectibus (1484) issued by Pope Innocent VIII, which authorized the authors to combat witchcraft, we must consider the origin of sorcerers and the multiplication of their works. First, we consider the sorcerers themselves; second, their works. Here it must be noted that for effects of this kind, three things must concur: the demon, the witch, and Divine permission a central argument of the Malleus Maleficarum: that magic only works if God allows it as a test or punishment. This is cited in Canon Law original: "xxvj.q.i.si p sortiarias," referring to the Decretum Gratiani. Augustine also says that this superstitious vanity was invented from a "pestiferous society" of men and demons. Therefore, the origin and multiplication of this heresy is derived from this plague-ridden fellowship,

which is also drawn from other facts. For we must observe that this heresy of sorcerers original: "heresis maleficoꝝum" differs from other heresies not only in this: that it rages through pacts that are not only implied but are expressed, agreed upon, and triated for the total insult of the Creator and the harm of His creatures. While all other simple heresies arise through no pact—silent or expressed—with demons (though not without the instinct of the "sower of all unbelief"), and they assent to errors because of the difficulty of believing certain doctrines, this heresy is different.

Indeed, it differs from every harmful and superstitious art in this: that above all kinds of divination, the heresy of sorcerers holds the highest degree of malice. It even usurps its name from "doing evil" original: "malifaciendo" or from "feeling/thinking wrongly regarding the faith" original: "male de fide sentiendo", as was touched upon before.

It must also be noted that for the increase of that perfidy, they practice four specific acts:
1. To deny the Catholic faith in whole or in part with a sacrilegious mouth.
2. To devote themselves, body and soul, to the demon.
3. To offer unbaptized infants to the Evil One.
4. To indulge in diabolical filthiness through carnal acts with incubi and succubi demons.

Would that all these things were far from the truth and were merely fictions! Then the Summit of the Church would be immune from such a widespread infection. But, alas, this is contradicted both by the determination of the Apostolic See through its Bull, and by experience, the mistress of things, which has certified us through their own confessions and the crimes they have perpetrated. To such an extent have we been made certain that we cannot, without the risk of our own salvation, desist from their inquisitions.

Therefore, in treating their origin and pestiferous multiplication—because it is a wholesome task—everything must be scrutinized by readers with the greatest diligence. Those things should be admitted which are found to be consonant with reason and not dissonant with the traditions of the Scriptures. And because among all the acts serving their multiplication, two things cooperate most: namely, incubi and succubi demons, and the sacrilegious offerings of infants. Therefore, we will treat these specifically: first the demons, second the sorcerers, and third the Divine permission.