Necromancy for the masses? A printed version of the compendium magiae innaturalis nigrae

The practice of ceremonial magic was a popular pursuit in the early modern period. Necromantic manuals gave instructions on how to compel and control evil spirits for personal gain. One such manual, the Compendium Magiae Innaturalis Nigrae (“Compendium of Unnatural Black Magic”), originated in Central Europe and enjoyed a long if not particularly widespread circulation history (c.1500–1900), appearing in both manuscript and printed form. The aim of this article will be to evaluate a hitherto unstudied pamphlet copy of Compendium, ostensibly dating to 1540. Using a selection of manuscript sources as points of comparison, I assess the ways in which the pamphlet Compendium differs from these longer, more elaborate handbooks, and provide an indication of how this booklet relates to the wider Compendium corpus