Directorium Inquisitorum: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | [[Nicholas Eymeric]]'s most prominent and enduring work was the '''Directorium Inquisitorum''', which he had composed as early as [[1376]]. The Directorium Inquisitorum defined [[witchcraft]], and described means for discovering witches. In compiling the book, Eymeric used many of the magic texts he had previously confiscated from accused sorcerors. |
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| ⚫ | He describes various forbidden [[magic|magical]] practices including the [[baptism]] of images, fumigating the head of a dead person, casting salt on fire, burning bodies of animals and birds, conjuring spirits, invoking unfamiliar names, mixing names of angels and demons. He considered sorcery involving demons to be [[heresy]], and divided it into two categories: dulia or "false veneration" which involved mentioning devils in litany and asking for their intercession before God. And the more serious latria, "false worship", which included making sacrifices, praying, and lighting candles or incence to devils. Eymeric was among the first to condemn all forms of demonic conjuration. The common belief of the time was that even a saint might make a demonic pact, as exemplified by the story of Saint Theophilus, who made a pact with the devil to gain an ecclesiastical position. |
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| ⚫ | Eymeric's most prominent and enduring work was the Directorium Inquisitorum, which he had composed as early as 1376. The Directorium Inquisitorum defined witchcraft, and described means for discovering witches. In compiling the book, Eymeric used many of the magic texts he had previously confiscated from accused sorcerors. |
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| ⚫ | In addition to describing common magical practices, Eymeric also described means of extracting a confession which included primitive psychological manipulation as well as outright [[torture]]. Regarding torture, Eymeric said, "Quaestiones sunt fallaces et inefficaces" meaning, "Torture is deceptive and ineffectual." However, Eymeric was the first inquisitor to get around the Church's prohibition against torturing a subject twice. He interpreted the directive very liberally, permitting a separate instance of torture for a separate charge of heresy. The Directorium Inquisitorum was to become the definitive handbook of procedure for the [[Spanish Inquisition]] for over a century. It saw numerous printings, including a run at [[Barcelona]] in [[1503]] and one in [[Rome]] in [[1578]]. These printings are now highly valuable original sources. In addition, the Directorium Inquisitorum was one of the primary forrunners of the better known [[Malleus Maleficarum]]. |
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| ⚫ | He describes various forbidden magical practices including the baptism of images, fumigating the head of a dead person, casting salt on fire, burning bodies of animals and birds, conjuring spirits, invoking unfamiliar names, mixing names of angels and demons. He considered sorcery involving demons to be heresy, and divided it into two categories: dulia or "false veneration" which involved mentioning devils in litany and asking for their intercession before God. And the more serious latria, "false worship", which included making sacrifices, praying, and lighting candles or incence to devils. Eymeric was among the first to condemn all forms of demonic conjuration. The common belief of the time was that even a saint might make a demonic pact, as exemplified by the story of Saint Theophilus, who made a pact with the devil to gain an ecclesiastical position. |
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| ⚫ | In addition to describing common magical practices, Eymeric also described means of extracting a confession which included primitive psychological manipulation as well as outright torture. Regarding torture, Eymeric said, "Quaestiones sunt fallaces et inefficaces" meaning, "Torture is deceptive and ineffectual." However, Eymeric was the first inquisitor to get around the Church's prohibition against torturing a subject twice. He interpreted the directive very liberally, permitting a separate instance of torture for a separate charge of heresy. The Directorium Inquisitorum was to become the definitive handbook of procedure for the Spanish Inquisition for over a century. It saw numerous printings, including a run at Barcelona in 1503 and one in Rome in 1578. These printings are now highly valuable original sources. In addition, the Directorium Inquisitorum was one of the primary forrunners of the better known Malleus Maleficarum. |
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Revision as of 21:06, 21 September 2005
Nicholas Eymeric's most prominent and enduring work was the Directorium Inquisitorum, which he had composed as early as 1376. The Directorium Inquisitorum defined witchcraft, and described means for discovering witches. In compiling the book, Eymeric used many of the magic texts he had previously confiscated from accused sorcerors.
He describes various forbidden magical practices including the baptism of images, fumigating the head of a dead person, casting salt on fire, burning bodies of animals and birds, conjuring spirits, invoking unfamiliar names, mixing names of angels and demons. He considered sorcery involving demons to be heresy, and divided it into two categories: dulia or "false veneration" which involved mentioning devils in litany and asking for their intercession before God. And the more serious latria, "false worship", which included making sacrifices, praying, and lighting candles or incence to devils. Eymeric was among the first to condemn all forms of demonic conjuration. The common belief of the time was that even a saint might make a demonic pact, as exemplified by the story of Saint Theophilus, who made a pact with the devil to gain an ecclesiastical position.
In addition to describing common magical practices, Eymeric also described means of extracting a confession which included primitive psychological manipulation as well as outright torture. Regarding torture, Eymeric said, "Quaestiones sunt fallaces et inefficaces" meaning, "Torture is deceptive and ineffectual." However, Eymeric was the first inquisitor to get around the Church's prohibition against torturing a subject twice. He interpreted the directive very liberally, permitting a separate instance of torture for a separate charge of heresy. The Directorium Inquisitorum was to become the definitive handbook of procedure for the Spanish Inquisition for over a century. It saw numerous printings, including a run at Barcelona in 1503 and one in Rome in 1578. These printings are now highly valuable original sources. In addition, the Directorium Inquisitorum was one of the primary forrunners of the better known Malleus Maleficarum.