Here is set forth the truth concerning
four horrible crimes which devils commit against infants, both in the
mother's womb and afterwards. And since the devils do these things
through the medium of women, and not men, this form of homicide is
associated rather with women than with men, And the following are the
methods by which it is done.
The
Canonists treat more fully than the Theologians of the obstructions
due to witchcraft; and they say that is is witchcraft, not only when
anyone is unable to perform the carnal act, of which we have spoken
above; but also when a woman is prevented from conceiving, or is made
to miscarry after she has conceived. A third and fourth method of
witchcraft is when they have failed to procure an abortion, and then
either devour the child or offer it to a devil.
There is no doubt concerning the first two methods, since,
without the help of devils, a man can by natural means, such as
herbs, savin for example, or other emmenagogues, procure that a woman
cannot generate or conceive, as has bee mentioned above. But with the
other two methods it is different; for they are effected by witches.
And there is no need to bring forward the arguments, since very
evident instances and examples will more readily show the truth of
this matter.
The former of these two
abominations is the fact that certain witches, against the instinct
of human nature, and indeed against the nature of all beasts, with
the possible exception of wolves, are in the habit of devouring and
eating infant children. And concerning this, the Inquisitor of Como,
who has been mentioned before, has told us the following: that he was
summoned by the inhabitants of the County of Barby to hold an
inquisition, because a certain man had missed his child from its
cradle, and finding a congress of women in the night-time, swore that
he saw them kill his child and drink its blood and devour it. Also,
in one single year, which is the year now last passed, he says that
forty-one witches were burned, certain others taking flight to the
Lord Archduke of Austria, Sigismund. For confirmation of this there
are certain writings of John Nider in his Formicarius, of
whom, as of those events which he recounts, the memory is still fresh
in men's minds; wherefore it is apparent that such things are not
incredible. We must add that in all these matters witch midwives
cause yet greater injuries, as penitent witches have often told to us
and to others, saying: No one does more harm to the Catholic Faith
than midwives. For when they do not kill children, then, as if for
some other purpose, they take them out of the room and, raising them
up in the air, offer them to devils. But the method which they
observe in crimes of this sort will be shown in the Second Part,
which we must soon approach. But first one more question must be
inquired into, namely, that of the Divine permission. For it was said
at the beginning that three things are necessary for the effecting of
witchcraft: the devil, a witch, and the Divine permission.