Historical Persons related to Witchcraft

KRAMER (INSTITORIS), HEINRICH (ca. 1430–1505).A Dominican friar and papal inquisitor, Kramer (the name he used in his German writings; he used Institoris in his Latin works) is best known as the author

SPRENGER, JAKOB (ca. 1436/38–1495). Traditionally listed as one of the authors of the infamous late-medieval witch-hunting manual Malleus maleficarum (Hammer of Witches), Sprenger was a Dominican friar, theologian, and papal inquisitor active

Cornelius Loos (1546–1593) A Catholic priest and scholar, Loos was a strong opponent of witch-hunting who ultimately suffered condemnation as a heretic for his beliefs. Born in Gouda in the Netherlands, Loos

Balthasar Bekker (1634–1698). One of the most important and perhaps the most thorough opponent of witch-hunting in the 17th century, Bekker was a Dutch clergyman. In 1690, he published the first volumes

Pierre Bayle (1647–1706). An important philosopher, born in France and later a professor at the university in Rotterdam, Bayle was a strong advocate of liberalism and religious toleration. He treated the subject

Friedrich vonSpee (1591–1635) was a German Jesuit and poet who, in the course of serving as confessor to witches during the trials in Würzburg, became revolted by the torture and execution of

James I (1566–1625) king of Scotland and England who strengthened anti-witch laws in 1604. James’ own beliefs about witchcraft reflected the popular views of the day, and while he permitted prosecutions of