quisitiones Magicæ, is even more emphatic: “So many sound authors and divines have upheld this belief that to differ from them is mere obstinacy and foolhardiness; for the Fathers, theologians, and all the wisest writers on philosophy agree upon this matter, the truth of which is furthermore proved by the experience of all ages and peoples.”[1] The erudite Sprenger in the Malleus Maleficarum has much the same.[2] John Nider, O.P. (1380–1438) in his Formicarius, which may be described as a treatise on the theological, philosophical, and social problems of his day, with no small acumen remarks: “The reason why evil spirits appear as incubi and succubi would seem to be that … they inflict a double hurt on man, both in his soul and body, and it is a supreme joy to devils thus to injure humankind.”[3] Paul Grilland in his De Sortilegio (Lyons, 1533) writes: “A demon assumes the form of the succubus. … This is the explicit teaching of the theologians.”[4]
“It has often been known by most certain and actual experience that women in spite of their resistance have been overpowered by demons.” Such are the words of the famous Alfonso de Castro, O.F.M.,[5] whose authoritative pronouncements upon Scripture carried such weight at the Council of Trent, and who was Archbishop-elect of Compostella when he died. Pierre Binsfeld, De confessione maleficarum, sums up: “This is a most solemn and undoubted fact not only proved by actual experience, but also by the opinion of all the ages, whatever some few doctors and legal writers may suppose.”[6]
Gaspar Schott, S.J. (1608–66), physicist, doctor, and divine, “one of the most learned men of his day, his simple life and deep piety making him an object of veneration to the Protestants as well as to the Catholics of Augsburg,” where his declining years were spent, lays down: “So many writers of such high authority maintain this opinion, that it were impossible to reject it.” Bodin, de Lancre, Boguet, Görres, Bizouard,[7] Gougenot des Mousseaux,[8] insist upon the same sad facts. And above all sounds the solemn thunder of the Bull of Innocent VIII announcing in no ambiguous phrase: “It has indeed come to our knowledge and deeply grieved are we to hear it, that many persons of both sexes, utterly forgetful of their souls’ salvation and
