Lot 655
Neuwaldt, Hermann
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographss | 10 May 2007
£840
Description
Bericht von erforschung/Prob. und Ekentnis der Zauberinnen durchs kalte Wasser. Helmstadt: Gedruckt durch Jacobum Lucjum, 1584, first edition, 4to, woodcut on title, with blank K2, later parchment boards, extreme lower corner of B4 repaired
Footnote
Note: An account of ordeal by immersion in water, a favourite method of determining the guilt or innocence of those accused of witchcraft. If the suspect floated they were found guilty, if they sank they were innocent. The chief European exponent of the swimming of witches was Wilhelm Adolf Scribonius, against whose views this pamphlet was written. Not in Adams.