The Encyclopedia Of Demons And Demonology

Marie des Vallees 167
methods of interrogation and torture, and guidelines for
sentencing. Judges are instructed to allow hostile witnesses
because everyone hates witches. Torture is to be
applied if the accused do not confess voluntarily. Judges
are permitted to lie to the accused, promising them mercy
if they confess, a tactic readily employed by Kramer. This,
the text argues, is all done in the best interest of society
and the state. The Malleus allows for light sentences
of penance and imprisonment in certain cases but urges
execution of as many witches as possible. Most of the instructions
on sentencing pertain to death.
Some questions are not answered clearly and contradictions
abound. For example, the authors say that the
Devil, through witches, mainly afflicts good and just
people, then says only the wicked are vulnerable. At one
point, judges are said to be immune to the bewitchments
of witches; at another, witches cast spells over judges
with the glance of an eye, and judges are admonished to
protect themselves with salt and sacraments.
The Malleus Maleficarum was refuted by JOHANN
WEYER.
FURTHER READING:
Herzig, Tamar. “Witches, Saints and Heretics.” Magic, Ritual,
and Witchcraft. Summer 2006, 24–55.
The Malleus Maleficarum of Heinrich Kramer and James
Sprenger. New York: Dover, 1971.
Malphas (Malpas) FALLEN ANGEL and 39th of the 72
SPIRITS OF SOLOMON. Malphas is a powerful president in
HELL who appears first as a crow and then, when commanded,
as a human who speaks in a hoarse voice. He
skillfully builds houses and high towers and brings down
the temples and towers of enemies. He will bring deceivers
together quickly. He destroys the desires, thoughts,
and accomplishments of anyone’s enemies. Malphas gives
good FAMILIARs. He will receive a sacrifice kindly but
then deceive the one who offers it. Malpas commands 40
legions of DEMONs.
Mammon FALLEN ANGEL who rules in HELL as an archdemon
and prince of tempters. The name Mammon in
Aramaic means “riches.” He embodies the second of the
SEVEN DEADLY SINS, avarice. Mammon is equated with
LUCIFER, SATAN, and BEELZEBUB. He serves as hell’s
ambassador to England.
mandragora DEMON who appears in the shape of a little
man with no beard and thin hair. Mandragoras also are
small poppets, or dolls, that are inhabited by the DEVIL
and used in spell-casting. According to lore, mandragoras
can predict the future by nodding their head, and can converse
with their owners. They bestow good health, curing
of disease, and protection of homes against evil.
Marbas (Barbas) FALLEN ANGEL and fifth of the 72
SPIRITS OF SOLOMON. Marbas is a president in HELL who
rules 36 legions of DEMONs. He appears first as a lion but
will change into a man. He knows about hidden and
secret things. He causes and cures diseases. He imparts
wisdom and knowledge of the mechanical arts. He can
change men into different shapes.
Marchosias FALLEN ANGEL and 35th of the 72 SPIRITS
OF SOLOMON. Marchosias is a marquis ruling 30 LEGIONs
of DEMONs. He appears as a cruel she-wolf with griffin
wings and a serpent’s tail, with fire spewing from his
mouth. He will take a human form if commanded to do
so. He is a strong fighter. He faithfully serves the magician
and gives true answers to all questions. Once a
member of the angelic order of dominions, Marchosias
holds the futile hope that he will return to the Seventh
Throne in Heaven after 1,200 years.
Marie des Vallees (1590–1656) French girl of Coutances,
France, whose lifelong struggle with POSSESSION
led to her cult recognition as a local mystic. Marie des
Vallees was possessed for 44 of her 66 years and was
called the Saint of Coutances.
Marie was born to a peasant family in Saint-Sauveur-
Landelin in the diocese of Coutances in Lower Normandy.
Her father, Julien, died when she was 12. Her mother, Jacquelin
Germain, married a butcher, who beat Marie with
a stick. The abuse forced her to leave home, and she wandered
for two years living with different people. In 1609,
she was living with a female tutor when the symptoms of
demonic possession manifested.
According to Marie, who shared details of her life with
St. Jean Eudes, who was inspired by her, the cause of her
possession was a witch’s CURSE. A young man proposed
to her and she turned him down. He sought the help of
a witch to force her to love him. Soon after, he pushed
against her while they were in a procession for the feast
of St. Mercouf, and she felt lustful stirrings within her.
When she went home, she fell down and uttered “terrible
cries.” From then on, Marie was in the grip of DEMONs.
She found it difficult to pray or attend church.
Marie never disclosed the name of the young man
but said that he left the parish permanently. The witch,
known as “La Grivelle,” was later burned at the stake on
unrelated charges of WITCHCRAFT.
Another version of the possession cause was publicized
by one of Marie’s critics, who said that her problem
started after she indulged in a “lascivious and sacrilegious
dance” with a young man in a cemetery on a feast day.
Regardless, once Marie was afflicted, her problems
increased. After three years of unrest and near-sleepless
nights, her adopted family took her to Bishop Briroy, the
bishop of Coutances, to seek his advice. Doctors could
not help her. The bishop tried for three years to exorcise
the demons but failed.
In 1614, Marie went to Rouen, to undergo EXORCISMs
by the archbishop and several doctors. The demons