Gernsprachter Engel und Offenburgischer Teufel...Zweyer Romisher Catholisher ... Anagrammatismo Andreae Frusio...[Manuscript copy].

[Christlichen= Basle?] Germany:: N.P., [1606.] c1890.. 8vo.. Late 19th c. 1/2 vellum over German marbled paper, title in ms. on spine, underlines in red pencil; stamp of "Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, Institut fur deutsche Volkskunde." From the Adolf Spamer Collection. Maunuscript copy of a printed work in black ink in a clear German hand on fine paper. Witch and demon on t.p. The first major Offenburg witchcraft trial was that of Elsie Gwinner in 1601. Offenburg (modern Baden) was a town of some 2,000-3,000 inhabitants, rigidy Catholic and Jesuit directed (through its schools). It was ruled by a town council (Rath) of 22 members with 2 ex-officio priests. "Offenburg continued its witch hunts, for they were profitable to the judges, and the trials became even more lawless and brutal. The judges introduced the iron witch's chair, on which the victim was bound and roasted into confession. This new device quickly proved the wealthiest persons witches." [Robbins, Ency. of Witchcraft & Demonology.]Unrecorded work in dialogue form taken from a copy that was in a libary in Frankfurt am Main at the time. It is a attack on the witch-mania in Offenburg. It is interesting to note they have reused the woodcuts from the official report of 1603.Adolf Spamer, 1883-1953, important German folklorist. His works on mysticism and folklore are essential readings for modern scholarship. He international reputation was of the first rank of scholars and his extensive library was given to the [former] Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, at the Institut fur deutsche Volkskunde. This manuscript was part of that gift and has been deaquisitioned by the Institute.In a clear late 19th c. German hand from an unidentified scholar. Sadly someone has removed the owner/scribe's name from the front end-paper. See: De Backer/Sommerogel III, 1046ff. (for Frusius), not listed.