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1576, Romae. 4to (8.3 in - 21 cm)
, 5ff +180 p .
Complete in very good condition. Later
full vellum binding.
Exact title of this 1st edition :
Quaestio de Strigibus ( = Inquiry on Witches)
Also contains :
-Quadruplici apologia
de Lamiis (refutation of Ponzinibio's defense of witches in
the Tractatus de Lamiis)
-Tractutus
de praeminentia sacrae theologiae
First edition
(the only one in large format)
of this extremely rare book that was written around 1523 making
it one of the earliest practical manual against witches by one
of the fiercest inquisitors of his time, and a firm believer
in the reality of witchcraft.
It is most famous under the title of
the second edition : Novus malleus maleficarum sub quaestione
de strigibus seu maleficis (1581,Cologne, 8vo, 398pages). This
second edition is more usual although almost impossible to find.
Beautiful roman impression with a wood-cut on title page.
In this "Investigation on witches" (the
most common latin words to designate witches are (Sagae, striges,
veneficiae & lamiae), the author defends firmly their existence,
and more particularly the reality of nocturnal flying, copulation
with demons, and transformation into beasts (there is a full
chapter on the transformation of witches into cats).No
doubt exist on their culpability. He also remarks than if their
confessions are enough to burn them, they can also serve, even
under torture, to act as a proof against the accomplices they
denounce. These accomplices can in their turn be "confessed"
before their execution, and God won't allow any innocent to
be harmed !
In the added treatise against Penzinibo,
the author defends the reality of witchcraft and the methods
of torture used against witches, against the author of the Tractatus
de Lamiis , who was the first to oppose these methodes.
Although this work is of utmost importance
, its great rarity accounts for many bibliographies on the occult
not mentioning it (including Caillet and Dorbon). There was
no copy in the library of R.Lenkiewicz, that was considered
the most complete contemporary collection of ancient books on
the subject.
Rosenthal 1130 - Cornell 518 - Thorndike
5-71 - Not in Caillet, Dorbon, Guaita, Y-P.
Index of the De Strigibus :
1 - Proponitur quaestio, é
ducuntur argumenta quattuor quae generaliter probare videntur
partem questionis falsam : omnia in quam quae narrantur de Strigibus,
non in veritate aut in corpore, sed per phantasticas visiones
aut in somnis, diabolici, spiritus illusione contingere.
2 - Duo argumenta producuntur ad idem, quae specialiter probare
videntur, Striges ad ludum diabolicum unctione vel alio maleficio
facto non portari. Inde unicum pro parte quaestionis vera subnectitur:
quo sit ut tota questio dubia reddatur.
3-Plurima maleficiorum genera officio Inquisitionis atqui iudicio
subiecta oftenduntur de quibus tamen non esse principalem huius
operis intentionem differere, manifestatur et Adrioani Papae
vi. Breve contra Striges, ac ipsus strigiatus haeresim.
4- Quae sit operis huius specialis intentio; quotue sint in
eodem specialiter declaramda
5 - Homines a daemonibus posse deferri ad longin qua terrarum
spatia:itidem facto huic accessoria, sacris litteris non contradicere,
qnin potius congruere.
6- Daemones hominibus apparere posse in forma humana , & etiam
in brutali : ipsosq : se praebere incubos eisdem et succubos
.
7 - Daemones virtute sua naturali posse quaeq; per-dita seu
destructa, non eadem numero, sed specie: non solum in apparentia,
sed vere etiam recuperare.
8 - Viros ac mulieres in brutorum quamcumq; speciem virtute
daemonum non vere conuersi, sed delusorie.
9. Deum optimum Mac. non nisi sapientissima dispositione permittere
mala plurima quae per Striges contigunt gieri, & ex eis elicere
multa bona
10 - Ea quae comuniter referuntur de Strigibus, non posse contingere
tantum in somnis. 11 - Eadem quae referuntur de Strigibus in
veritate sic contingere posse, ut communiter fama volat, pluribus
suadetur exemplis.
12 - Esse firmiter credendum, at que nullatenus dubitanlum,
praedicta omnia eo modo contingere quo ab Inquisitoribus affirmantur
ratione ex eorumdem Inquisitorum iudiciis sumpta.
13 - Ad idem secunda ratio sumptae ex textium multiplicium ssertione
fideli, omnique; exceptione maiori, & unious respondionis reprobatio
14 - Improbatio unius evasionis ad praedictam rationem
15 - Ad eandem euasionem praecludendam, aliae de ductiones inuictae.
16 - Ad idem ratio tertia ex multiplici experientia per nobiles
inducta.
17 - Experientiae corporalis cursus ac transportationis Strigum
ad longinquia loca per personas populares inductae.
18-Experientiae corporalis cursus ac transportationis Strigum
ad longinqua loca persona populares inductae
19 - Experientiae apparentis conuersionis Strigum in catos.
20 - Cur Deus permittat quod daemones copiosos ac celebres Strigum
conuentus, crebro sic instruant ac aceruent , e diuersis regionibus
assumptis viris ac mulieribus.
21 - Pro solutione primi argumenti, primo deduci tur allegatum
in contrarium capitulum Episcopi esse multipliciter de authoritate
ac veritate suspectum.
22 - non euadere Striges manus Inquisitorum, et de variis lluionum
diaboli modis atque generibus.
23 - Argumentum secudum soluitur, in qua solutione quid de casu
in legenda santi Germani sacto factis Strigum simili sentiendum
fi multipliciter aperitur .
24 - Nodi omnes dissoluuntur , quibus tertium quartumque argumentum
25 - Trahatur diabulous ad Strigum vota per illam unctionem
, quasi per signum ...
26 - Diabolum quandoque praeferre quasi personae immobiliter
dormientis imaginem, ne credatur personam illam vere sed potius
delusorie ac imaginaris visione tantum modo ad ludum esse delatam
27 - Striges non posse diabolo non subesse: qualiter etiam apparenter
conuertantur in catos & ab eadem etiam liberentur delusione,
clarissime manifestatur
29 - De obligatione illa, qua Diabolo striges promis tunt occidere
pueros, & quare Deus tot inocentum iniustam (ut apparet) necem
permittat.
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