Peter Binsfeld, Witch-Hunter

Peter Binsfeld, an orthodox witch slayer, was upset by those who doubted the reality of witches' flight. He said:

It is incredible that the conscience of jurists should be so bound by the authority of this coucil [the Canon Episcopi which said that nigh-flying (sic) is an illusion], when theologians and others whose business it is to decide upon matters of the faith find no difficulty in it. Do not all doctors whose business it is to judge the sense of Scripture approve and believe in bodily transportation? So popes, cardinals, theologians, doctors, Italians, Spanish and Germans believe. So also right-thinking jurists whose names are above. It is the height of temerity to prefer one's own judgment, led by fragile and apparent reason, to such a cloud of witnesses. This testimony is supported by the most certain experiences, which is confirmed by the common voice of the people (Sidky 70, 71).

He raged, "Fire for malefici, fire for sagae, fire for magic."

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Peter Binsfeld, Witch-Hunter copyrighted 1998 to Shantell Powell.