The Malleus Maleficarum ("The Hammer of Witches") is the classic Catholic text on witchcraft and was first published in 1487.  The book was notorious for its use in the Witch-hunts initially started on a national scale across Europe and England in the later part of the 1400’s.

Two Dominican inquisitors Jacob Sprenger and Heinrich Kramer compiled it and submitted the book to the University of Cologne’s Faculty of Theology for their approbation on the 9th of May, 1487.  This is usually taken as the date of publication, although earlier editions may have been produced in 1485 or 1486.  It was published in a number of editions, thirteen times from 1487 to 1520 and revived another sixteen times from 1574 to 1669.  The book was popular throughout Europe with at least sixteen German editions, eleven French editions, two Italian editions and several English editions, the English editions however, did not appear until much later, e.g.:  1584, 1595, 1604, 1615, 1620 and 1669.  For its time, the Malleus was the lead authority available to the masses on the subject of witchcraft, and soon became accepted by both Catholics and Protestants, adding to there’re already religious favours.

The work was originally prefaced by the above papal bull ‘Summis desiderantes’, as issued by Pope Innocent VIII on the 5th of December 1484, and which remains the main Papal document on witchcraft.  It mentions Sprenger and Kramer by name and directs them to combat witchcraft in northern Germany.  The book itself was not specifically ordered by the Catholic Church, but was written to lend credence to and enforce the bull.  To help its credulity, the writers then attached the letter of approbation from the University of Cologne, signed by four of its professors.

The book itself is divided into three sections, the first proving witchcraft or sorcery existed, the second describing the forms of witchcraft and the third the detection, trial and destruction of witches.  The first two sections are thought to have been the work of Sprenger, who as a distinguished theologian put together the theological and intellectual components of the book.  Section three and the practical components of the book is most likely is the work of Kramer, who had conducted a campaign in the Tirol during the early 1480’s and had gain much experience as a trial judge.  There is little original material in the book, being mainly a codification of existing beliefs and practices, with substantial parts taken from earlier works such as Johannes Nider's - Praeceptorium and Formicarius (1435).

Innocent VIII (Pope - 1484/92) successor to Sixtus IV (Pope -1471/84), was born Giovanni Battista Cibo in Genoa (1432).  He was the son of Aran Cibo who under Calixtus III (Pope - 1455/58) had been a senator in Rome.  His wife Teodorina, was a lady of the house of de' Mari.  Cibo’s youth was spent at the Neapolitan court from were he gained a lascivious aptitude.  He was educated in Padua and Rome, studied Humanities and early gained a reputation as a Latinist.  He also fathered two illegitimate children, Franceschetto and Teodorina, a trait that would characterize his life.

The term burning times has come to refer to "any threatened return of prejudice against or persecution of Witches and neo-Pagans by other religious groups, law enforcement agencies, employers, politicians and others.

Historically the term designated, especially for witches, the period within Western history in which there occurred intense burning, also the various types of murdering of witches. This period is known for its vindictive witch-hunts which extended from the mid-15th century to the early 18th century.

The idea of burning witches, one of the cruelest forms of execution, is said to have originated with Saint Augustine (354-430), who said "that pagans, Jews, and heretics would burn forever in eternal fire with the Devil unless saved by the Catholic Church."

Witches, also were classed as heretics, during the time of the Inquisition. Heretics were not only disbelieves of the church doctrine, but, many also were accused of beings servants of the Devil by forming compacts with him to get his help. The accused were sentenced to execution by burning when found guilty of heresy, and few escaped this conviction of the church, which practically controlled every aspect of human life, because "Fire itself is the element of purification, and nothing less than fire could negate the evil that was said to be witches."

The 16th century demonologist, Jean Bodin, stated in De la Demonomanie des Sorciers:

Even if the witch has never killed or done evil to man, beast, or fruits,
and even if he has always cured bewitched people, or driven away
tempests, it is that he has renounced God and treated with Satan that
he deserves to be burned alive...Even if there is no more than the
obligation to the Devil, having denied God, this deserves the most cruel
death that can be imagined.