Compendium Maleficarum

The Compendium Maleficarum was the ultimate field guide for the beginning demonologist in the 17th century. Guazzo's Compendium was accepted by his contemporaries as the authoritative manuscript on witchcraft. Later demonologists continued to hail the conciseness and clarity with which Guazzo analyzes the practice. The Compendium not only gives an organized account of the subject matter but provides a glimpse at the Christian view of witchcraft during the early 17th century.