The page of Spee, Friedrich von Langenfeld , English biography
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Biography
Friedrich Spee (Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld) (Kaiserswerth, February 25, 1591 - Trier, August 7, 1635) was a German Jesuit and poet, most noted as an opponent of trials for witchcraft. Spee was the first person in his time who spoke strongly and with arguments against torture in general. He may be considered the first who ever gave good arguments why torture is not a way of obtaining truth from someone undergoing painful questioning.
The often cited name "Friedrich von Spee" is wrong.
He was born at Kaiserswerth on the Rhine. On finishing his early education at Cologne, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1610, and, after prolonged studies and activity as a teacher at Trier, Fulda, Würzburg, Speyer, Worms and Mainz, was ordained priest in 1622. He became professor at the University of Paderborn in 1624; from 1626 he taught at Speyer, Wesel, Trier and Cologne, and was preacher at Paderborn, Cologne and Hildesheim.
He said "Often I have thought that the only reason we are all not wizards is due to the fact we have not all been tortured" (by Holly from "The Book of Spells" written by "Nicola de Pulford").
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Spee
(Editor of this page: P. T.)
