This book focuses on three Secret Societies of the Middle Ages--in particular the Moslem 'Assassins', the Catholic 'Knights Templar', and the Westphalian Vehmic courts, or secret tribunals. The author is somewhat sympathetic in that he presents these associations as arising in response to tyrannical governments, although he admits they became exceedingly corrupt over time. He also asserts that secret societies are "no longer needed" in the "modern world." Nonetheless, the book provides a great amount of historical information about these institutions, and provides critical insights into medieval society.

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