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Summary: A repudiation of the understanding of "prodigies," monstrous births in humans or animals, as signs from God.

Summary: A repudiation of the understanding of "prodigies," monstrous births in humans or animals, as signs from God.

An engraving depicting a scene from the sixteenth book of the epic poem, Saint Louys, in which Archambaut de Bourbon battles and defeats the sorcerer, Mirème, who has created demonic illusions and traps to keep the cruasders from accessing the Matariya Fountain and curing Saint Louis of his poisoned arrow wound.

An engraving depicting a scene from the sixteenth book of the epic poem, Saint Louys, in which Archambaut de Bourbon battles and defeats the sorcerer, Mirème, who has created demonic illusions and traps to keep the cruasders from accessing the Matariya Fountain and curing Saint Louis of his poisoned arrow wound.

A woodcut depicting a monstrous fish purportedly pulled from the sea in Poland, which had the appearance of a Roman Catholic bishop.

A woodcut depicting a monstrous fish purportedly pulled from the sea in Poland, which had the appearance of a Roman Catholic bishop.

A woodcut of the four beasts which appeared to Daniel in a vision. Each beast represented a different kingdom.

A woodcut of the four beasts which appeared to Daniel in a vision. Each beast represented a different kingdom.

An engraving of the four beasts which appeared to Daniel in a vision. Each beast represented a different kingdom and is labeled from left to right: Roma (Rome), Grecia (Greece), Persia, and Asyria.

An engraving of the four beasts which appeared to Daniel in a vision. Each beast represented a different kingdom and is labeled from left to right: Roma (Rome), Grecia (Greece), Persia, and Asyria.

A woodcut depicting the Monk-Calf of Freyberg, which was born with a tonsure-like irregularity on its head, resembling the common hairstyle of a Catholic monk.

A woodcut depicting the Monk-Calf of Freyberg, which was born with a tonsure-like irregularity on its head, resembling the common hairstyle of a Catholic monk.

A map of the world including latitude and longitude markers. Personifications of the winds are depicted withing croulds surrounding the map and various monstrous creatures are depicted within the oceans.

A map of the world including latitude and longitude markers. Personifications of the winds are depicted withing croulds surrounding the map and various monstrous creatures are depicted within the oceans.

A woodcut depicting the "Papal Ass," a monster purported to have been pulled from the Tiber in Rome as a portent of the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church.

A woodcut depicting the "Papal Ass," a monster purported to have been pulled from the Tiber in Rome as a portent of the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church.

A map of the world including Europe, Africa ("Der schwarzen Moren Land"), Asia (Major), America ("Die Newe Welt"), and India Meridionalis (a so called "phantom" peninsula that was often depicted in Medieval and Rennaissance maps). A number of monstrous sea creatures are depicted in the various oceans and seas.

A map of the world including Europe, Africa ("Der schwarzen Moren Land"), Asia (Major), America ("Die Newe Welt"), and India Meridionalis (a so called "phantom" peninsula that was often depicted in Medieval and Rennaissance maps). A number of monstrous sea creatures are depicted in the various oceans and seas.

A map of the world including Europe, Africa, and Asia as three leaf or petal shaped continents with America ("Die Newe Welt") draw in the bottom left corner. A ship and numerous sea creatures are depicted in the oceans.

A map of the world including Europe, Africa, and Asia as three leaf or petal shaped continents with America ("Die Newe Welt") draw in the bottom left corner. A ship and numerous sea creatures are depicted in the oceans.

An engraving of Daniel, flanked by a lion and lioness, the four beasts from his vision depicted in the sky on either side of his head.

An engraving of Daniel, flanked by a lion and lioness, the four beasts from his vision depicted in the sky on either side of his head.

A woodcut depicting the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: the first, a conquerer with a crown and bow, the second, with a sword, tasked with taking peace from the earth, the third holding scales, and the fourth, Death itself. The image appears in the September Testament, Martin Luther's first printing of his German New Testament.

A woodcut depicting the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: the first, a conquerer with a crown and bow, the second, with a sword, tasked with taking peace from the earth, the third holding scales, and the fourth, Death itself. The image appears in the September Testament, Martin Luther's first printing of his German New Testament.

A woodcut depicting a hairy, bipedal beast, labeled as the "spook of the evil ghost," which is found in a vast desert beyond India in the land of Cathay. This type of ghost is said to lead travellers astray by mimicking the voices of their travelling companions.

A woodcut depicting a hairy, bipedal beast, labeled as the "spook of the evil ghost," which is found in a vast desert beyond India in the land of Cathay. This type of ghost is said to lead travellers astray by mimicking the voices of their travelling companions.

A woodcut depicting the four beasts described in Daniel's vision placed on a map, one each in Europe and Africa, and two in Asia. The beasts are placed in such a way that they surround the holy land.

A woodcut depicting the four beasts described in Daniel's vision placed on a map, one each in Europe and Africa, and two in Asia. The beasts are placed in such a way that they surround the holy land.

A woodcut depicting Martin Luther as a seven-headed monster, critiquing his deviation from Catholicism. Each head is labeled (from left to right): Doctor, Martinus, Luther, Ecclesiast, Schwirmer [Schwärmer], Visitieter, and Barrabas. This was a classic piece of Catholic propaganda, portraying Luther not only as a Doctor and Churchman, but as a Turk, a wild enthusiast (Schwarmer) and "Barrabas."

A woodcut depicting Martin Luther as a seven-headed monster, critiquing his deviation from Catholicism. Each head is labeled (from left to right): Doctor, Martinus, Luther, Ecclesiast, Schwirmer [Schwärmer], Visitieter, and Barrabas. This was a classic piece of Catholic propaganda, portraying Luther not only as a Doctor and Churchman, but as a Turk, a wild enthusiast (Schwarmer) and "Barrabas."

A woodcut depicting Martin Luther as a seven-headed monster, critiquing his deviation from Catholicism. Each head is labeled (from left to right): Doctor, Martinus, Lutherus, Ecclesiastes, Suermerus, Visitactor, and Barrabas. This was a classic piece of Catholic propaganda, portraying Luther not only as a Doctor and Churchman, but as a Turk, a wild enthusiast (Suermerus) and "Barrabas."

A woodcut depicting Martin Luther as a seven-headed monster, critiquing his deviation from Catholicism. Each head is labeled (from left to right): Doctor, Martinus, Lutherus, Ecclesiastes, Suermerus, Visitactor, and Barrabas. This was a classic piece of Catholic propaganda, portraying Luther not only as a Doctor and Churchman, but as a Turk, a wild enthusiast (Suermerus) and "Barrabas."

A woodcut depicting a monstrous fish purportedly pulled from the sea in Poland, which had the appearance of a Catholic monk.

A woodcut depicting a monstrous fish purportedly pulled from the sea in Poland, which had the appearance of a Catholic monk.

A woodcut depicting two boys, one born with four [feet] and one born without hands or eyes and the lower body of a fish. These beings are described in the text as being portents of the coming of Islam, implying that Islam was a danger to Christians.

A woodcut depicting two boys, one born with four [feet] and one born without hands or eyes and the lower body of a fish. These beings are described in the text as being portents of the coming of Islam, implying that Islam was a danger to Christians.

A woodcut of a creature labeled as "Salamandra" (Salamander), which is described as preferring to live in fire and can be found on a mountain in the land of Chinchital in the New World.

A woodcut of a creature labeled as "Salamandra" (Salamander), which is described as preferring to live in fire and can be found on a mountain in the land of Chinchital in the New World.

A woodcut depicting Martin Luther as a seven-headed monster, critiquing his deviation from Catholicism. Each head is labeled (from left to right): Doctor, Martinus, Luther, Ecclesiast, Schwirmer [Schwärmer], Visitieter, and Barrabas. This was a classic piece of Catholic propaganda, portraying Luther not only as a Doctor and Churchman, but as a Turk, a wild enthusiast (Schwarmer) and "Barrabas."

A woodcut depicting Martin Luther as a seven-headed monster, critiquing his deviation from Catholicism. Each head is labeled (from left to right): Doctor, Martinus, Luther, Ecclesiast, Schwirmer [Schwärmer], Visitieter, and Barrabas. This was a classic piece of Catholic propaganda, portraying Luther not only as a Doctor and Churchman, but as a Turk, a wild enthusiast (Schwarmer) and "Barrabas."

A woodcut depicting the victorious armies of Heaven (top right) routing the opposing forces as the beast is cast into a lake of fire and brimstone. The image appears in the September Testament, Martin Luther's first printing of his German New Testament.

A woodcut depicting the victorious armies of Heaven (top right) routing the opposing forces as the beast is cast into a lake of fire and brimstone. The image appears in the September Testament, Martin Luther's first printing of his German New Testament.