Malleus Maleficarum

James Sprenger ( 1436/1438 - 1495 ) was a German priest born in Rheinfelden. He is believed to be the co-author of Malleus Maleficarum with Heinrich Kramer. Sprenger was not interested in witches and witch trials and many scholars believe Sprenger was named a co-author to give the book more authority since he was a priest. Heinrich Kramer, also known as Henricus Institoris, (1430 – 1505) was a German churchman. In 1485 he created a treatise on witchcraft that was incorporated in Malleus Maleficarum. This book was met with much rejection and Kramer was denounced by the Inquisition at the Faculty of Cologne.