Daemonologie
Encyclopedia
Daemonologie is the book written and published in 1597 by King James VI of Scotland
(later also James I of England). In the book he approves and supports the practise of witch hunting
. He starts the book: "The fearefull aboundinge at this time in this countrie, of these detestable slaves of the Devil
, the Witches or enchaunters, hath moved me (beloved reader) to dispatch in post, this following treatise of mine (...) to resolve the doubting (...) both that such assaults of Satan
are most certainly practised, and that the instrument thereof merits most severely to be punished."
He was influenced by his personal involvement in the North Berwick witch trials
.
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
(later also James I of England). In the book he approves and supports the practise of witch hunting
Witch-hunt
A witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and lynching, but in historical instances also legally sanctioned and involving official witchcraft trials...
. He starts the book: "The fearefull aboundinge at this time in this countrie, of these detestable slaves of the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
, the Witches or enchaunters, hath moved me (beloved reader) to dispatch in post, this following treatise of mine (...) to resolve the doubting (...) both that such assaults of Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
are most certainly practised, and that the instrument thereof merits most severely to be punished."
He was influenced by his personal involvement in the North Berwick witch trials
North Berwick witch trials
The North Berwick witch trials were the trials in 1590 of a number of people from East Lothian, Scotland, accused of witchcraft in the St Andrew's Auld Kirk in North Berwick. They ran for two years and implicated seventy people. The accused included Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell on charges...
.