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MalleusMaleficarumPart1QuestionVI

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MalleusMaleficarumPart1
QuestionVI
ConcerningWitcheswhocopulatewithDevils.WhyisitthatWomen
arechieflyaddictedtoEvilsuperstitions?
Thereisalso,concerningwitcheswhocopulatewithdevils,muchdifficultyin
consideringthemethodsbywhichsuchabominationsareconsummated.Onthepartof
thedevil:first,ofwhatelementthebodyismadethatheassumessecondly,whetherthe
actisalwaysaccompaniedbytheinjectionofsemenreceivedfromanotherthirdly,as
totimeandplace,whetherhecommitsthisactmorefrequentlyatonetimethanat
anotherfourthly,whethertheactisinvisibletoanywhomaybestandingby.Andon
thepartofthewomen,ithastobeinquiredwhetheronlytheywhowerethemselves
conceivedinthisfilthymannerareoftenvisitedbydevilsorsecondly,whetheritis
thosewhowereofferedtodevilsbymidwivesatthetimeoftheirbirthandthirdly,
whethertheactualvenerealdelectationofsuchisofaweakersort.Butwecannothere
replytoallthesequestions,bothbecauseweareonlyengagedinageneralstudy,and
becauseinthesecondpartofthisworktheyareallsinglyexplainedbytheiroperations,
aswillappearinthefourthchapter,wherementionismadeofeachseparatemethod.
Therefore,letusnowchieflyconsiderwomenandfirst,whythiskindofperfidyis
foundmoreinsofragileasexthaninmen.Andourinquirywillfirstbegeneral,asto
thegeneralconditionsofwomensecondly,particular,astowhichsortofwomenare
foundtobegiventosuperstitionandwitchcraftandthirdly,specificallywithregardto
midwives,whosurpassallothersinwickedness.
WhySuperstitionischieflyfoundinWomen.
Asforthefirstquestion,whyagreaternumberofwitchesisfoundinthefragile
femininesexthanamongmenitisindeedafactthatitwereidletocontradict,sinceitis
accreditedbyactualexperience,apartfromtheverbaltestimonyofcrediblywitnesses.
AndwithoutinanywaydetractingfromasexinwhichGodhasalwaystakengreat
glorythatHismightshouldbespreadabroad,letussaythatvariousmenhaveassigned
variousreasonsforthisfact,whichneverthelessagreeinprinciple.Whereforeitisgood,
fortheadmonitionofwomen,tospeakofthismatterandithasoftenbeenprovedby
experiencethattheyareeagertohearofit,solongasitissetforthwithdiscretion.
Forsomelearnedmenpropoundthisreasonthattherearethreethingsinnature,
theTongue,anEcclesiastic,andaWoman,whichknownomoderationingoodnessor
viceandwhentheyexceedtheboundsoftheirconditiontheyreachthegreatestheights
andthelowestdepthsofgoodnessandvice.Whentheyaregovernedbyagoodspirit,
theyaremostexcellentinvirtuebutwhentheyaregovernedbyanevilspirit,they

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indulgetheworstpossiblevices.
Thisisclearinthecaseofthetongue,sincebyitsministrymostofthekingdoms
havebeenbroughtintothefaithofChristandtheHolyGhostappearedoverthe
ApostlesofChristintonguesoffire.Otherlearnedpreachersalsohavehadasitwere
thetonguesofdogs,lickingwoundsandsoresofthedyingLazarus.Asitissaid:With
thetonguesofdogsyesaveyoursoulsfromtheenemy.
ForthisreasonS.Dominic,theleaderandfatheroftheOrderofPreachers,is
representedinthefigureofabarkingtodogwithalightedtorchinhismouth,thateven
tothisdayhemaybyhisbarkingkeepoffthehereticwolvesfromtheflockofChrist's
sheep.
Itisalsoamatterofcommonexperiencethatthetongueofoneprudentmancan
subduethewranglingofamultitudewhereforenotunjustlySolomonsingsmuchin
theirpraise,inProverbsx.:Inthelipsofhimthathathunderstandingwisdomisfound.
Andagain,Thetongueofthejustisaschoicesilver:theheartofthewickedislittle
worth.Andagain,Thelipsoftherighteousfeedmanybutfoolsdieforwantof
wisdom.Forthiscauseheaddsinchapterxvi,Thepreparationsoftheheartbelongto
manbuttheanswerofthetongueisfromtheLord.
ButconcerninganeviltongueyouwillfindinEcclesiasticusxxviii:Abackbiting
tonguehathdisquietedmany,anddriventhemfromnationtonation:strongcitieshathit
pulleddown,andoverthrownthehousesofgreatmen.Andbyabackbitingtongueit
meansathirdpartywhorashlyorspitefullyinterferesbetweentwocontendingparties.
Secondly,concerningEcclesiastics,thatistosay,clericsandreligiousofeithersex,
S.JohnChrysostomspeaksonthetext,Hecastoutthemthatboughtandsoldfromthe
temple.Fromthepriesthoodariseseverythinggood,andeverythingevil.S.Jeromein
hisepistletoNepotiansays:Avoidasyouwouldtheplagueatradingpriest,whohas
risenfrompovertytoriches,fromalowtoahighestate.AndBlessedBernardinhis
23rdHomilyOnthePsalmssaysofclerics:Ifoneshouldariseasanopenheretic,let
himbecastoutandputtosilenceifheisaviolentenemy,letallgoodmenfleefrom
him.Buthowarewetoknowwhichonestocastoutortofleefrom?Fortheyare
confusedlyfriendlyandhostile,peaceableandquarrelsome,neighbourlyandutterly
selfish.
Andinanotherplace:Ourbishopsarebecomespearmen,andourpastorsshearers.
AndbybishopshereismeantthoseproudAbbotswhoimposeheavylaboursontheir
inferiors,whichtheywouldnotthemselvestouchwiththeirlittlefinger.AndS.Gregory
saysconcerningpastors:NoonedoesmoreharmintheChurchthanhewho,havingthe
nameororderofsanctity,livesinsinfornoonedarestoaccusehimofsin,and
thereforethesiniswidelyspread,sincethesinnerishonouredforthesanctityofhis
order.BlessedAugustinealsospeaksofmonkstoVincenttheDonatist:Ifreelyconfess
toyourcharitybeforetheLordourGod,whichisthewitnessofmysoulfromthetimeI
begantoserveGod,whatgreatdifficultyIhaveexperiencedinthefactthatitis
impossibletofindeitherworseofbettermenthanthosewhograceordisgracethe
monasteries.
NowthewickednessofwomenisspokenofinEcclesiasticusxxv:Thereisnohead
abovetheheadofaserpent:andthereisnowrathabovethewrathofawoman.Ihad
ratherdwellwithalionandadragonthantokeephousewithawickedwoman.And

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amongmuchwhichinthatplaceprecedesandfollowsaboutawickedwoman,he
concludes:Allwickednessisbutlittletothewickednessofawoman.WhereforeS.John
Chrysostomsaysonthetext,Itisnotgoodtomarry(S.Matthewxix):Whatelseis
womanbutafoetofriendship,anunescapablepunishment,anecessaryevil,anatural
temptation,adesirablecalamity,adomesticdanger,adelectabledetriment,anevilof
nature,paintedwithfaircolours!Thereforeifitbeasintodivorceherwhensheought
tobekept,itisindeedanecessarytortureforeitherwecommitadulterybydivorcing
her,orwemustenduredailystrife.CiceroinhissecondbookofTheRhetoricssays:
Themanylustsofmenleadthemintoonesin,butthelustofwomenleadsthemintoall
sinsfortherootofallwoman'svicesisavarice.AndSenecasaysinhisTragedies:A
womaneitherlovesorhatesthereisnothirdgrade.Andthetearsofwomanarea
deception,fortheymayspringfromtruegrief,ortheymaybeasnare.Whenawoman
thinksalone,shethinksevil.
Butforgoodwomenthereissomuchpraise,thatwereadthattheyhavebrought
beatitudetomen,andhavesavednations,lands,andcitiesasisclearinthecaseof
Judith,Debbora,andEsther.SeealsoICorinthiansvii:Ifawomanhathahusbandthat
believethnot,lethernotleavehim.Fortheunbelievinghusbandissanctifiedbythe
believingwife.AndEcclesiasticusxxvi:Blessedisthemanwhohasavirtuouswife,for
thenumberofhisdaysshellbedoubled.Andthroughoutthatchaptermuchhighpraise
isspokenoftheexcellenceofgoodwomenasalsointhelastchapterofProverbs
concerningavirtuouswoman.
AndallthisismadeclearalsointheNewTestamentconcerningwomenand
virginsandotherholywomenwhohavebyfaithlednationsandkingdomsawayfrom
theworshipofidolstotheChristianreligion.AnyonewholooksatVincentofBeauvais
(inSpe.Histo.,XXVI.9)willfindmarvellousthingsoftheconversionofHungaryby
themostChristianGilia,andoftheFranksbyClotilda,thewifeofClovis.Whereforein
manyvituperationsthatwereadagainstwomen,thewordwomanisusedtomeanthe
lustoftheflesh.Asitissaid:Ihavefoundawomanmorebitterthandeath,andgood
womansubjecttocarnallust.
Otheragainhavepropoundedotherreasonswhytherearemoresuperstitious
womenfoundthanmen.Andthefirstis,thattheyaremorecredulousandsincethe
chiefaimofthedevilistocorruptfaith,thereforeheratherattacksthem.See
Ecclesiasticusxix:Hethatisquicktobelieveislightminded,andshallbediminished.
Thesecondreasonis,thatwomenarenaturallymoreimpressionable,andmorereadyto
receivetheinfluenceofadisembodiedspiritandthatwhentheyusethisqualitywell
theyareverygood,butwhentheyuseitilltheyareveryevil.
Thethirdreasonisthattheyhaveslipperytongues,andareunabletoconcealfrom
thefellowwomenthosethingswhichbyevilartstheyknowand,sincetheyareweak,
theyfindaneasyandsecretmannerofvindicatingthemselvesbywitchcraft.See
Ecclesiasticusasquotedabove:Ihadratherdwellwithalionandadragonthantokeep
housewithawickedwoman.Allwickednessisbutlittletothewickednessofawoman.
Andtothismaybeaddedthat,astheyareveryimpressionable,theyactaccordingly.
Therearealsootherswhobringforwardyetotherreasons,ofwhichpreachers
shouldbeverycarefulhowtheymakeuse.ForitistruethatintheOldTestamentthe
Scriptureshavemuchthatiseviltosayaboutwomen,andthisbecauseofthefirst

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temptress,Eve,andherimitatorsyetafterwardsintheNewTestamentwefindachange
ofname,asfromEvatoAve(asS.Jeromesays),andthewholesinofEvetakenaway
bythebenedictionofMary.Thereforepreachersshouldalwayssayasmuchpraiseof
themaspossible.
Butbecauseinthesetimesthisperfidyismoreoftenfoundinwomenthaninmen,
aswelearnbyactualexperience,ifanyoneiscuriousastothereason,wemayaddto
whathasalreadybeensaidthefollowing:thatsincetheyarefeeblerbothinmindand
body,itisnotsurprisingthattheyshouldcomemoreunderthespellofwitchcraft.
Forasregardsintellect,ortheunderstandingofspiritualthings,theyseemtobeof
adifferentnaturefrommenafactwhichisvouchedforbythelogicoftheauthorities,
backedbyvariousexamplesfromtheScriptures.Terencesays:Womenare
intellectuallylikechildren.AndLactantius(Institutiones,III):Nowomanunderstood
philosophyexceptTemeste.AndProverbsxi,asitweredescribingawoman,says:Asa
jewelofgoldinaswine'ssnout,soisafairwomanwhichiswithoutdiscretion.
Butthenaturalreasonisthatsheismorecarnalthanaman,asisclearfromher
manycarnalabominations.Anditshouldbenotedthattherewasadefectinthe
formationofthefirstwoman,sinceshewasformedfromabentrib,thatis,aribofthe
breast,whichisbentasitwereinacontrarydirectiontoaman.Andsincethroughthis
defectsheisanimperfectanimal,shealwaysdeceives.ForCatosays:Whenawoman
weepssheweavessnares.Andagain:Whenawomanweeps,shelabourstodeceivea
man.AndthisisshownbySamson'swife,whocoaxedhimtotellhertheriddlehehad
propoundedtothePhilistines,andtoldthemtheanswer,andsodeceivedhim.Anditis
clearinthecaseofthefirstwomanthatshehadlittlefaithforwhentheserpentasked
whytheydidnoteatofeverytreeinParadise,sheanswered:Ofeverytree,etc.lest
perchancewedie.Therebysheshowedthatshedoubted,andhadlittleinthewordof
God.AndallthisisindicatedbytheetymologyofthewordforFeminacomesfromFe
andMinus,sincesheiseverweakertoholdandpreservethefaith.Andthisasregards
faithisofherverynaturealthoughbothbygraceandnaturefaithneverfailedinthe
BlessedVirgin,evenatthetimeofChrist'sPassion,whenitfailedinallmen.
Thereforeawickedwomanisbyhernaturequickertowaverinherfaith,and
consequentlyquickertoabjurethefaith,whichistherootofwitchcraft.
Andastoherothermentalquality,thatis,hernaturalwillwhenshehates
someonewhomsheformerlyloved,thensheseetheswithangerandimpatienceinher
wholesoul,justasthetidesoftheseaarealwaysheavingandboiling.Manyauthorities
alludetothiscause.Ecclesiasticusxxv:Thereisnowrathabovethewrathofawoman.
AndSeneca(Tragedies,VIII):Nomightoftheflamesortheswollenwinds,nodeadly
weapon,issomuchtobefearedasthelustandhatredofawomanwhohasbeen
divorcedfromthemarriagebed.
ThisisshowntoointhewomanwhofalselyaccusedJoseph,andcausedhimtobe
imprisonedbecausehewouldnotconsenttothecrimeofadulterywithher(Genesis
xxx).Andtrulythemostpowerfulcausewhichcontributestotheincreaseofwitchesis
thewoefulrivalrybetweenmarriedfolkandunmarriedwomenandmen.Thisissoeven
amongholywomen,sowhatmustitbeamongtheothers?ForyouseeinGenesisxxi.
howimpatientandenviousSarahwasofHagarwhensheconceived:Howjealous
RachelwasofLeahbecauseshehadnochildren(Genesisxxx):andHannah,whowas

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barren,ofthefruitfulPeninnah(I.Kingsi):andhowMiriam(Numbersxii)murmured
andspokeillofMoses,andwasthereforestrickenwithleprosy:andhowMarthawas
jealousofMaryMagdalen,becauseshewasbusyandMarywassittingdown(S.Luke
x).TothispointisEcclesiasticusxxxvii:Neitherconsultwithawomantouchingherof
whomsheisjealous.Meaningthatitisuselesstoconsultwithher,sincethereisalways
jealousy,thatis,envy,inawickedwoman.Andifwomenbehavethustoeachother,
howmuchmorewilltheydosotomen.
Next:QuestionVII
WhetherWitchescanSwaytheMindsofMentoLoveorHatred.

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