Bologna: Printed at the behest of Paolo Baglioni, 1665. New, revised edition. 8vo (162 x 105 mm). 432, [64] pp. (without the 32-page "Aggionte" that was bound into some copies -- see below). Collation: A-Z8, Aa-Hh8. Eighteenth-century calf (Belgium? France?), five raised bands on spine, lettering piece in the second compartment (slightly defective, headcap chipped, corners quite worn). Blue sprinkled edges, marbled pastedowns and endleaves. Internally quite crisp and clean, without blemish. Very good. Item #4562

MILITARIZING SPIRITUALITY, BEING A SHOCKING COUNTER-REFORMATION MANUAL FOR SPIRITUAL COMBAT. HERE IS COMPENDIUM OF PRACTICES AND RULES FOR INQUISITORS, OCCASIONED BY GROSS ABUSES OF THE INQUISITION IN THEIR CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ACCUSED WITCHES, JEWS, AND OTHER "HERETICS."

Masini's Sacro Arsenale was the only Inquisition manual of its kind written in Italian, which obviously contributed to its success. The work presents an analysis in the form of practical examples of the methods of interrogation and torture as was practiced by the Inquisition at that time. There are general guidelines and principles such as the definition of heracy, types of accusation, actual forms to complete for issuing licenses, and descriptions of various methods of torture and their use.

A FULLY SCRIPTED INTERROGATION THEATER: The entire Sixth Part of the text is devoted to torture exclusively, with special parts on methods of interrogating the accused under torture; examining the accused under torture even if he has already confessed; examining the accused under torture to obtain further truth; interrogating the accused under torture concerning accomplices and other heresies; observations of incidents that usually occur during torture; confronting an accomplice under torture; repeating torture on the accused; ratification of the things the accused confessed under torture; repeating torture on an accused who, having previously confessed under torture, does not wish to ratify it; administering torture to an accused who either does not speak or does not testify clearly in court; administering torture to witnesses who are inconsistent, contradictory, or suborned, etc. The Sixth Part almost reads like stage directions: "Interrog." (question), "Resp." (answer), "Monitus" (admonished to tell truth), "Tune DD. mandauerunt..." (then the judges ordered…), etc.

It is of great interest that in the Sacro Arsenale, torture is normalized and legally justified. It is not "punishment" (yet) but a means of extracting truth: rational and necessary, and bound by procedure.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY: Publication of the Sacro Arsenale was occasioned by the review of the abuses of the 1612 Logrono witchcraft trial. The first edition appeared in 1621 and was superceded by the 1625 edition which added 200 more criteria that every Inquisitor should know; the number of chapters (originally nine) was expended to ten with the addition of a short chapter on polygamy. In 1639 an edition containing an anonymous "Instruction" appeared. This text, which Rome had been secretly circulating, literally provided instructions on how to avoid excessive torture in order to elicit confessions in witchcraft trials and to prevent false accusations. Indeed, Chapter 6 (pp. 154-194 in our 1665 edition) is devoted entirely to torture.

In 1653 the text was printed in Genoa and was further expanded with writings by Prospero Farinacci, Antonio Santarelli, Antonino Diana, Cesar Carena, Juan Bautista Larrea, and Filippo Pascale. The present edition reprints that text at the behest of Paolo Baglioni; curiously two separate editions of this 1665 publication exist (same text, same pagination, same signatures but with different capitals, ornaments, and even partially different typefaces). These editions are easily distinguished by the title-page ornaments: a Jesuit vignette (here) and the Trinity. All of the above editions were placed on the Index.

There was an Aggionte (or "update") which has its own pagination and signatures, that was bound into some copies but not all copies; it is not present here.

PROVENANCE: “St. Aloysius College, The Hague, with "Bibl. Gymn. Catu”" label inside upper cover and "“Bibliotheek St.-Alloisius Coll. s'Gravenhage" stamp on title.

Caillet III, 7203 ("'De la plus grande rareté, l'édition ayant été détruite presque en entier par ordre du Saint Office''). This edition is not in the Jacob Burns Law Library.

Price: $1,600.00