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Chapter 4
from Question 2
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2015
Summary
AS for those upon whom an illusion is played by the art of conjuring, so that they think that they lack the male member or have been transformed into animals, the remedies by which they can be helped can be deduced quite evidently from the foregoing. Since such people are altogether deprived of God's Grace, this being the initial element that lays the foundation in the case of those affected by sorcery, it is not possible for a healing balm to be applied while the weapon remains in the wound. Hence, it is a good idea that above all a reconciliation with God should be effected through true confession.
Next, as was discussed above in Chapter Seven of Part One of the work, such appendages are never in reality torn or separated from the body but are merely hidden with reference to the senses of touch and sight through art of conjuring, and it was also explained that illusions of this kind are not readily played on those in a state of Grace, either in an active or a passive way, so that the appendages would be taken away from them or they would be deluded in their power of sight as if the members had been taken away from others. Therefore, the remedy is also stated in that chapter along with the disease itself: as far as possible they should reach a friendly settlement with the sorceress.
Finally, regarding those who think that they have been transformed into animals, it should be known that this sort of sorcery is not practiced in the kingdoms of the West in the same way that it is in those of the East. (Understand “in terms of other people,” though in terms of the sorceresses' own person it has been seen quite often among us that the sorceresses have showed themselves to the eyes of viewers in the guise of animals, as was concluded above in Chapter Eight, and hence the remedies that will be related in Part Three of the work, which concerns the eradication of the sorceresses through the secular arm, would also be applicable.)
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- The Hammer of WitchesA Complete Translation of the Malleus Maleficarum, pp. 431 - 435Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009