On Witchcraft: An Abridged Translation of Johann Weyer's De Praestigiis Daemonum

"On Witchcraft" is an abridged translation of Johann Weyer's important work "De Praestigiis Daemonum". Weyer was a Dutch physician and a follower of the Renaissance humanist Erasmus and a student of the mystic Cornelius Agrippa. Weyer was deeply concerned with the rise of the belief in the diabolism of witchcraft and the subsequent tortures and executions that followed in the 15th and 16th centuries. His answer to this concern was this present work, first published in 1563. "De Praestigiis Daemonum" argues against the belief, prevalent at the time, that witchcraft was a real and tangible danger and that witches and sorcerers operated through a pact with the Devil. Weyer was a Christian and believed in the existence of demons and the Devil, but argued that witchcraft, as it was popularly believed, could not exist. He argued on medical, legal, and theological grounds that witches were in many cases mentally deluded, senile, or ill, and that in fact they were no more guilty of diabolic crimes than any other mentally ill invalid. He also argues on the grounds of Roman Law that any contract supposedly made with Satan would be impossible and that the Bible says nothing of such pacts. Weyer found himself, like his contemporary anti-witchcraze writer Reginald Scot, beseiged by critics on all sides and was accused of being nothing more than an anti-Catholic heretic. He was singled out particularly by the famous French jurist and demonologist Jean Bodin who contradicted much of what Weyer argued. Weyer has come down through history as being important to the history of psychiatry and rationalism. His work was important at the time as being a lonely voice against the rising tide of the witchcraze and remains important to modern readers as a window on the mind of the 16th century and the contemporary debate on the existence of witchcraft and demonic magic.

An important book, however, deficient in a full translation. Well worth the price if you cannot afford, "Witches, Devils, and Doctors in the Renaissance" in "Medieval & Renaissance texts & studies" Volume 73 which is a full translation. While other works (Malleus Maleficarum, Demonolatry, Daemonologie, Compendium Maleficarum, Saducismus Triumphatus, ect.) dealing with the subject on witchcraft and demonology, taught that the individuals were, "Servants of Satan." Johann Weyer reported that many of these individuals were mentally disturbed as well as having an illness. Weyer believed in demons and hell, however, did not believe that every person accused of witchcraft was in league with the devil. A very important book on the reality witchcraft and demonology. A must read for any occultist, historian, and layman.

On Witchcraft is an abridged translation of Johann Weyer's "De praestigiis daemonum". This seminal antiquarian study by Weyer (1515-1588) was introduced in 1563 at the height of the witchcraft craze and published in its entirety in 1583. Benjamin K. Kohl and H.C. Erik Midelfort are two outstanding Renaissance historians who worked for nearly a quarter of a century to translate and make available this seminal text for contemporary students of medieval and renaissance history, metaphysics, folklore, psychology, religion, and the history of witchcraft.