The Witch Trials

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In the three documents, “Bull Summis desiderantes” written by Innocent VIII, “The Ant Hill ”, written by Johannes Nider and Extracts from “The hammer of witches” written by Malleus Maleficarum, regarding the hunting of witches, the beliefs of witchcraft and the trail process for those accused of witchcraft all show a great deal of evidence that those accused of witchcraft had no chance at a fair trial.

In the document, “Bull Summis desiderantes” written by Innocent VIII, sheds light on how the catholic faith viewed those whom were thought to be practicing witchcraft. For the accused, there was little to no hope of a fair trial, for the accusers had already made their minds up on what they believed to be true about witchcraft. Innocent VIII spoke on the cruel intentions of witchcraft, claiming those whom practiced gave themselves to the devil and for all intensive purposes these witches had powers that threatened the faithful. An example of the believed threat from witchcraft came when Innocent VIII wrote, “[those whom practice witchcraft], ruin and cause to perish the offspring of women, the foal of animals, the products of the earth” ("Witchcraft Documents [15th Century]”).By addressing the general public in this way, one-sided to his faith, and fear mongering, Innocent VIII basically signed off on the killing of all those whom were not of Catholic faith and suspected of witchcraft ("Witchcraft Documents [15th Century]”).Innocent VIII then justifies his wishes by claiming heretical pravity in the areas of “ upper Germany, the provinces, cities, territories, regions, and dioceses of Mainz, Ko1n, Trier, Salzburg, Bremen, and throughout certain parts of the Rhine” ("Witchcraft Documents [15th Century]”). Innocent VIII believed he w...

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...as Johannes opinion bias on women witches but that his beliefs were shared amongst those noble and trust worthy men whom he shared stories with.

In the “The Hammer of witches” written by Malleus Maleficarum, Malleus writes,

Here it may be asked whether the judge, in the case of a prisoner much defamed, convicted both by witnesses and by proofs, nothing being lacking but his own confession, can properly lead him to hope that his life will be spared when, even if he confess his crime, he will be punished with death ("Witchcraft Documents [15th Century]”).

There is little doubt according to the three documents that there was ever, if any fair trials for those accused of witchcraft.

Works Cited

"Witchcraft Documents [15th Century])." Internet History Sourcebooks Project http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/witches1.html (accessed 12 February 2014).

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