University of Nevada, Reno Text and Image in Ulrich Molitor's De Lamiis

University of Nevada, Reno Text and Image in Ulrich Molitor’s De Lamiis et phitonicis mulieribus,1489-1669: A Bibliographic and Cultural Analysis A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History by Amy Ghilieri Dr. Kevin Stevens/Dissertation Advisor May, 2015 THE GRADUATE SCHOOL We recommend that the dissertation prepared under our supervision by AMY GHILIERI Entitled Text And Image In Ulrich Molitor's De Lamiis Et Pythonicis Mulieribus: A Bibliographic And Cultural Analysis be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Kevin Stevens, Ph.D., Advisor Jane Davidson, Ph.D., Committee Member Dennis Dworkin, Ph.D., Committee Member Edward Schoolman, Ph.D., Committee Member Barbara Walker, Ph.D., Committee Member Phillip Boardman, Ph.D., Graduate School Representative David W. Zeh, Ph. D., Dean, Graduate School May, 2015 !i Abstract In 1489 Ulrich Molitor wrote De Lamiis et phitonicis mulieribus at the request of Sigismund, the Archduke of Austria, in order to explain the realities of witchcraft within the region of Tyrol. Published just two years after the infamous Malleus Maleficarum, De Lamiis was meant to be an inexpensive publication that addressed Sigismund’s concerns regarding witchcraft, while appealing to a more general public. As the first printed manual on witchcraft activity that was illustrated, it became an instant success and was subsequently published more frequently than the Malleus between 1489 and 1669. In this study, I: (1) determine the nature of the text - number of editions, details of each edition, etc., and (2) identify the book’s legacy. Ultimately this study provides an analysis of the role that De lamiis played in the visual formation of the witch in Europe, from the late fifteenth-century to the seventeenth-century. Due to the wide dispersal of De lamiis between 1489 and 1669, the association of text and image within the book helped create what, by the mid sixteenth century, became the visual representation of the witch. !ii Table of Contents Chapter One - Introduction 1 Chapter Two - Literary Comparisons 36 Chapter Three - Beginnings, 1489-1510 92 Chapter Four - Innovation, 1544-1576 143 Chapter Five - Anthologies, 1580-1669 176 Chapter Six - Legacies, and Conclusion 207 Appendix A 230 Appendix B 260 Bibliography 286 !1 Chapter One - Introduction In 1489 Ulrich Molitor wrote De Lamiis et phitonicis mulieribus at the request of Sigismund, the Archduke of Austria, in order to explain the realities of witchcraft within the region of Tyrol. Published just two years after the infamous Malleus Maleficarum, De Lamiis was meant to be an inexpensive publication that addressed Sigismund’s concerns regarding witchcraft,1 while appealing to a more general public. As the first printed manual on witchcraft activity that was illustrated, it became an instant success and was subsequently published more frequently than the Malleus between 1489 and 1669.2 In this dissertation I attempt to: (1) determine the nature of the text - number of editions, details of each edition, etc., and (2) identify the book’s legacy.3 Ultimately this study provides an analysis of the role that De lamiis played in the visual formation of the witch in Europe, from the late fifteenth-century to the seventeenth-century. Due to the wide dispersal of De lamiis between 1489 and 1669, the association of text and image within the book helped create what, by the mid sixteenth century, became the visual representation of the witch. Given the significance of Molitor’s book, it is appropriate to conduct an in depth analysis of its publishing history. De lamiis is casually mentioned in most secondary 1 Sigismund, like most in the late fifteenth century, sought clarity regarding what witchcraft, or maleficia, actually entailed. Brian P. Levack, The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe (Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2006), 4. 2 The Malleus was never illustrated in any edition during the early modern period. 3 This dissertation builds on the Master’s thesis that I completed in 2010, which focused on the reasons for the publication and success of De Lamiis. !2 literature on witchcraft in the early modern period, and yet there is no scholarly study of the text in English. Jörg Mauz, in his 1997 monograph Schriften, provides details regarding Ulrich Molitor and the five works for which he is responsible but there is no full-length study on De lamiis itself. Other authorities on the text, including Walter Stephens and Charles Zika, admit that De lamiis deserves further scholarly attention.4 There are many methodological approaches that would be appropriate for such a study, but I have selected bibliographic history for much of this research.5 The unique bibliographic details of each copy suggest that interesting conclusions can be made as to how these different books were marketed, and for whom.6 Especially during the incunabular period, when publishing was in its infancy and publishers tended to be more conservative in book production with regard to layout, use of woodcuts, and typeface, such dramatic distinctions between editions is uncommon and merits analysis. The fact that such differences are found between copies of the same edition also creates a particularly unique research opportunity. I have located 328 copies of various editions that are currently catalogued, consulted 98 of those copies, and determined that 36 editions of De lamiis were published between 1489 and 4 Email correspondence with Charles Zika (March 16, 2014), personal conversation with Walter Stephens (October 2014). 5 Sixteenth Century Society Conference, 2014. Feedback suggested the importance of bibliographic details in order to determine edition specific information. 6 I use this term in light of textual and descriptive bibliography, rather than enumerative bibliography, which will be discussed below. !3 1669.7 Date Publisher Location Language January 10, 1489 Johann Prüss Strasbourg Latin 1489 Johann Otmar Reutlingen Latin After 1489 Johann Prüss Strasbourg German After 1489 Michael Greyff Reutlingen German After 1489 Johann Zainer Ulm German After 1489 Conrad Hist Speyer Latin After 1489 Michael Furter Basel Latin After 1489 Johann Amerbach Basel Latin After 1489 Johann Amerbach Basel Latin 7 There is a caveat to this list. There are numerous problems in cataloguing a book like De lamiis: 1) the dating is highly unreliable. Ten years ago the British Library claimed a 1488 edition, which was later determined to be a 1490 Zierkizee edition. Generally, the editions prior to 1544 are not dated, and no accompanying material is present to indicate either a legitimate date, or even publisher. The editions after 1544 are much easier to attribute, though a few of the seventeenth-century anthologies lack publisher information (they are, however, dated and printing convention makes it reasonably easy to attribute each edition to a publisher). There are five instances of editions attributed to Johann Knobloch and Marten Flach, but these are mismarked. The Flach is actually the 1489 Otmar edition, and the Knobloch (generally listed under Knoblochtzer, though is Heidelberg Knoblochtzer at Brandeis). Johann Prüss printed under Knobloch until 1480 and his name is usually not listed in his publications, making this mistake understandable. Harvard’s alleged Amerbach copy is most likely actually a Michael Furter (it is an exact match to the Furter held by Cambridge). The only edition not currently checked against other copies is held by the Bayerische StaatsBibliothek and listed as a 1489 edition by Johann Amerbach. This is a digital copy of a book held by the Bibliothek Otto Schäfer, though I was unable to cross reference this with the original library catalogue. Though OCLC numbers are also highly unreliable for De lamiis cataloging, this is the only OCLC copy of this book (number 854680497). The other issues surround the copies by Cornelius de Zierikzee. Four of the five editions can be grouped organically, but two contain discrepancies. I have not distinguished between Zierkizee edition in the list, as there is no way to ascertain which copy correlates to which edition without consulting them all. *These editions are not new editions. They are the 1595 and 1615 editions, with new title pages. !4 After 1489 Arnoldus de Colonia Leipzig Latin After 1489 George Mittelhus Paris Latin After 1489 Cornelius de Zierikzee Cologne Latin After 1489 Cornelius de Zierikzee Cologne Latin After 1489 Cornelius de Zierikzee Cologne Latin After 1489 Cornelius de Zierikzee Cologne Latin After 1489 Cornelius de Zierikzee Cologne Latin 1508 Johann Otmar Reutlingen German 1508 Johann Otmar Reutlingen German 1544 Jacob Cammerlander Strasbourg German 1545 Jacob Cammerlander Strasbourg German 1561 Giles Corrozet Paris Latin 1575 Christian Müller Strasbourg German 1576 Johann Gymnicus Frankfurt German 1576 Nicholas Basse Frankfurt German 1580 Nicholas Basse Frankfurt Latin 1582 Nicholas Basse Frankfurt Latin 1584 Jacob Juntae Lyon Latin 1586 Nicholas Basse Frankfurt German 1588 Nicholas Basse Frankfurt Latin 1595 Gerhard Gevenbroich Cologne Latin 1595 Pierre Landry Lyon Latin 1600 Nicholas Basse Frankfurt Latin 1604* Pierre Landry Lyon Latin 1614 Pierre Landry Lyon Latin 1615* Pierre Landry Lyon Latin 1620 Claude Landry Lyon Latin 1669 Claude Bourgeat Lyon Latin !5 De Lamiis et phitonicis mulieribus De lamiis is arguably one of the most significant works on demonological theory in the early modern period, both in its content and its visual appearance. Molitor creates a dialogue between himself, Sigismund (the Archduke of Austria), and Conrad Schatz, the chief magistrate of Constance and Molitor’s mentor. In twelve chapters they discuss what kind of maleficia witches are capable of committing, what powers are mere illusions, and what role God plays in the interaction between demons and mortals. Molitor was skeptical of some of the more extreme elements presented in the Malleus and took the opportunity to provide a more moderate approach to potential witch activity.8 Born in 1442 and enrolled at the University of Basel in 1465, Molitor studied church law and “Reich rechts” at the University of Padua.

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