Compendium Maleficarum , written by Francesco Maria Guazzo and first published in 1608, is a famous witch-hunter's manual detailing demonology, witchcraft pacts, and remedies against sorcery. The primary English translation was produced by Montague Summers
: Offers multiple versions, including the widely cited Montague Summers edition compendium maleficarum pdf
Please note that some of these sources may require a subscription or have limited access to the full text. Compendium Maleficarum , written by Francesco Maria Guazzo
However, Guazzo was also a product of the Counter-Reformation. His book was a direct response to Protestant skepticism. Some Protestant leaders had begun to argue that confessions of witchcraft were obtained by torture and that demons had no real power. Guazzo’s Compendium Maleficarum was written to prove, using Biblical scripture and canon law, that witches absolutely could fly, curse crops, and kill with a glance. His book was a direct response to Protestant skepticism
The most common English version was translated in 1929 by the eccentric clergyman Montague Summers , who famously wrote about the book with a level of belief that matched the original 17th-century author. Digital PDF Access
Focuses on the practical effects of sorcery, such as "soporific spells," "incendiary witchcraft," and the ability of witches to transport themselves through the air (transvection). It also contains detailed classifications of demons, largely based on the 11th-century work of Michael Psellus.