Compendium of Witches (Compendium Maleficarum)

a Book 21, City of God, ch. 4, 5, & 6.

as many hold. Likewise, when the sound of a drum made from wolf skin bursts another drum stretched with lamb skin. Also, those illustrious things which Augustine Saint Augustine of Hippo narrates in Book 21 regarding peacock flesh, which does not know how to rot; regarding straw that preserves snow with its own cold and ripens fruit with its heat, by a contrary power; regarding lime, which, because it possesses an ignited power within itself, is kindled by water and is not kindled by oil poured upon it; regarding Agrigentine salt, which is liquefied by fire and hardened by water, and crackles, and many other things of this kind.

The other is artificial, which performs certain wonders through human industry, and this is also twofold: Mathematical and Prestidigitatory. Mathematical is that which relies on geometric, arithmetic, or astronomical principles. Examples of this are the combustion of ships by mirrors during the siege of Syracuse, the flying wooden dove of Archytas of Tarentum ancient Greek philosopher and engineer, and the golden singing birds of Emperor Leo Leo VI the Wise, Byzantine Emperor, and the like. We assume, however, that this can effect nothing that opposes the nature of things, but rather that it requires the aid of natural causes, applied by certain motion and dimensions. The other species, playful and deceptive, may be called prestidigitatory. Its effects are not what they appear to be. To this belong most of the things that are believed to be performed by charlatans and tightrope walkers through incantations, although they are done with the agility of feet or hands. Sometimes they are also done through brute animals taught by long practice; sometimes through hidden passages with some people entering underneath, just as the priests of Bel used to do, who feigned that food was devoured by a dragon. Dan. 14. Thaumaturgical and natural magic is good and lawful by itself, just as all arts are good by themselves; both become prohibited by accident. First, when they are referred to an evil end. Second, when scandal arises, in that it is thought that these are the works of demons. Third, if some spiritual or corporal harm to the soul or body threatens the charlatan himself or the spectators. Someone notes that this kind of people is accustomed to mix one artfully performed act of subtlety among ten magic tricks, so that they may persuade others that whatever is done by them, apart from the deception, is done by dexterity and art alone, and whatever of witchcraft they mix in, it may appear to be of subtlety and agility. Ulric Ulrich Molitor, author of De Lamiis b Book on Pythoness women. observes that the medium can be disposed by the Devil in such a way that one thing appears as another, and very many other experiments are accustomed to be made by charlatans, as Nider Johannes Nider, author of the Formicarius teaches. c In the Formicarius, chapter on witchcraft and their deceptions. Therefore, the demons taught this prestidigitation to the giants before the flood, and Cham Ham, son of Noah was imbued with it by them, and from him, his descendants the Egyptians, then the Chaldeans, Persians, and so successively, as Saint Clement Clement of Rome reports. d Book 4, Recognitions. Among the Chaldeans, Zoroaster ancient Iranian prophet and philosopher was the first, who was later struck by lightning, so that he might receive what was worthy of his deeds.

Examples.

A certain maiden was summoned at Cologne, who had performed wonders in the sight of nobles, which appeared to be done by magic art: for a napkin...