Rachel Summers

By the Pricking Needle Rachel Summers

Both the 'Malleus Maleficarum' and the 'Cautio Criminalis' hold a special place in the history of the European witch trials, but this is where the similarities between these contentious books ends. The 'Malleus' rails against women and their bewitching ways while the 'Cautio' defends the accused and condemns the often corrupted processes of the trials. Whether for or against, both of these primary sources provide valuable insight into the late medieval mindset and both should be read by any who hope to understand the era. Nonetheless, such texts can be daunting if not tedious, as both are written in the ecclesiastical question and answer format which can wear down any reader. Hence this book, an abridged and modernized version of both texts. 'By the Pricking Needle' is intended as a reference guide and a companion to both the 'Malleus' and the Cautio'. May what you learn herein stir the cauldron of your mind.