From the editor: Thousands of people, especially women, lost their lives at the expense of this book. It was first published around 1489, shortly after the invention of the printing press and five years after a Papal order was issued legitimizing the belief in witches. It went through at least 30 printings and became the handbook for witch hunters, both Protestant and Catholic. It gave permission to bishops and secular authorities to prosecute witches if there were no representatives from the Inquisition around, giving full instructions. After the witch trials swept through Europe, some villages were left with as few as two women.

This is a fascinating view of actual mass hysteria, greed, and delusional behavior - some of which is alive and well even today.

Pages: 278
Special Interest: Witchcraft, Occult, Witches Hammer, Witch Hunter, Religion, Persecution, Inquisition, The Burning Times, Demonology, Dealings with the Devil and Demons, Inquisition, Sorcery.