Demonology

by James VI and I

In 1597, King James I of England (when he was still James VI of Scotland) published a compendium on witchcraft lore called "Dæmonologie". It was also published in England in 1603 when James acceded to the English throne.

The book asserts James’s full belief in magic and witchcraft, and aims to both prove the existence of such forces and to lay down what sort of trial and punishment these practices merit – in James’s view, death. "Dæmonologie" takes the form of a dialogue (popular for didactic works) and is divided into three sections: the first on magic and necromancy (the prediction of the future by communicating with the dead), the second on witchcraft and sorcery and the third on spirits and spectres.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Occult, Religion, Witchcraft, Theology, Classics

84 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1597

About the author

James VI, the son of Mary Stuart, queen, reigned from 1567 over Scotland and from 1603 succeeded as James I, the heir of Elizabeth I of England; his belief in the divine right and his attempts to abolish Parliament and to suppress Presbyterianism created resentment that led to the Civil War, but from Hebrew and Greek, his auspices sponsored the translation of the King James Bible , published in 1611.

People forced Mary Stuart, the Catholic monarch and queen of Scotland, in 1567 to abdicate in favor of James, her son.

His sovereignty extended of Ireland. This poet and religious scholar wrote of politics. He convened the known Hampton court conference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_V...

Reviews

[James IV · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am extraordinarily upset that my bestseller has not got a higher review; has something gone wrong with this internet thingy? This book is informative, suitable for all ages, and a genuine piece of art. Many hours were spent slaving over parchment, quill in hand, for the enjoyment of the world, and obviously hasn't been appreciated enough. I'll be speaking to my agent, The Baron, to clear things up and perhaps get better ratings. I hope to come up with a sequel: 'Why Going To Hell Sucks'. Please contact The Baron for more details and to pre-order.
- King James I and IV

[Darrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

King James is most famous for putting together the King James Bible, but reading that doesn't give us much insight into his personality. That's where this book comes in.

Daemonologie takes the form of a dialogue between Epistemon, who believes in witches, and the skeptical Philomathes. However, Epistemon quickly convinces Philomathes that witches are real by quoting a few scriptures, so most of the book consists of Epistemon explaining the details of witchcraft with Philomathes merely prompting him to continue speaking. King James not only cites canonical scriptures, but also scriptures from the Apocrypha, which is no surprise since the King James Bible originally included the Apocrypha in 1611, not removing it until 1885.

Along the way we learn of the difference between necromancers, magicians, and witches. King James also goes into ghosts, werewolves, incubi, succubi, demoniacs, and fairies. However, he draws the line at the idea there is a good angel on one shoulder and an evil angel on the other shoulder of everyone. He tells us this isn't true. Apparently, His Majesty was not familiar with the Shephard of Hermas, an early Christian document considered canonical by many early church fathers which explicitly states just this idea.

He also tells us the Devil will sometimes possess a corpse and use it to impregnate nuns. How can you tell if the person trying to impregnate you is actually a possessed corpse? "It is to be noted, that in whatsoeuer way he [the Devil] vseth it, that sperme seemes intollerably cold to the person abused."

Also included in this volume are notes on the trial of Doctor Fian, a sorcerer King James put to death while King of Scotland. Here we learn that witches can cause hurricanes by using a cat somehow, that witches kiss the Devil's buttocks to pay homage to him, and that the Devil leaves his mark on a witch's privy members by using his tongue. Thus, to discover a witch, one must shave off all their pubic hair to look for the Devil's mark.

Torture is also a good way to get a witch to confess. One witch confessed to attempting to kill King James himself by hanging a toad upside down for three days to collect its venom. Her plan would have worked if not for the fact she wasn't able to gain access to King James' used laundry to complete her spell.

Doctor Fian, a school teacher, apparently fell in love with one of his pupils' sisters. He told the boy that if he obtained three of his sister's pubic hairs he wouldn't hit the boy like he did all of his other students. When the boy tried to obtain the pubic hairs, his sister woke up and called for her mother. Her mother, being a witch herself, knew what was going on, so she had her son give Doctor Fian three hairs from the udder of a cow. When Doctor Fian cast his spell, the cow was the one who fell in love with him and followed him around everywhere. There's even a woodcut in this volume depicting the scene.

Under torture, Doctor Fian confessed to being a witch. However, after escaping from prison and being recaptured, he renounced his former testimony and said he only confessed due to fear of further torture. Whereupon, King James had him tortured some more: "His nailes vpon all his fingers were riuen and pulled off with an instrument called in Scottish a Turkas, which in England wee call a payre of pincers, and vnder euerie nayle there was thrust in two needels ouer euen up to the heads."

However, so great was the Devil's hold upon Doctor Fian that he still would not confess. So he was put to death. Basically, if someone confesses to being a witch under torture, they're a witch, but if they don't confesses under torture, that also means they're a witch because only the Devil could make someone endure so much pain.

By the way, the person who wrote the forward to this book doesn't know what he's talking about. He refers to Elizabethan English as Old English, which it decidedly is not. I doubt other things he says as well. This book is a bit hard to read since it appears as it originally did in King James' day and spelling hadn't been standardized yet, but that also makes it fun to read as well.

[Emma-jane Stevens]

An interesting insight into both the mind of James himself and of the beliefs about witchcraft that were around at the time. I can't say that I liked it, but I did find it fascinating and it confirmed my belief that King James was intelligent yet mad as a box of frogs wearing party hats.

If you really want to know what thought was behind his policy on witches and how twisted things became, check out the Malleus Maleficarum which is both easier to read and more shocking.

[Rob Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

My mam got this for me as a joke at Christmas not expecting me to read it- but little did she know I have a reading challenge to complete!

In all seriousness, I really wish I hadn’t read this. It was rubbish. It’s also written in Medieval English. It’s also a 90 page guide to witch craft and the inferiority of women. Obviously pretty dated views, still makes me feel slightly uncomfortable.

Far too long for my liking.

[Hayden]

I completely understand the evolution of language and word usage/meaning, etc. over time.

But that doesn't change the fact that I laughed out loud when James I used the word "fabulous."

[David Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating insight into the mindset and attitudes of the population during the reign of King James and the initial outbreak of the first witch trials (Within Scotland and later, in England).

The language is occasionally a challenge to read as the script and spellings are presented in all of the glory of the original text which has been scanned for preservation.
The actual narrative is split up into three books and is done in the format of a lengthy discourse between two people over the subjects of Necromancy, Witchcraft and various devils and the forms that they take and how they exhibit themselves, followed by the finalising of how to punish people found guilty of sinning / allowing themselves to be tainted.
There are numerous examples given from texts in the Bible and some serious discussions from the perspective of someone not familiar with the supernatural / paranormal who is trying to obtain a fair balance as to how to correctly identify a person who is blighted / misleading their kin / and if they are not just a victim of slander / mental ailments etc.

I found this totally absorbing and can understand how hysteria could easily have built up over the years and people be wrongfully accused of many things, and I personally found a lot of this to be hypocrisy and ignorance when comparing maladies and healing on the one hand good as in the Bible, and the other bad as it was judged as a false cure or placebo and therefore evil (although to be fair to King James, the degree of persecution was minimal and a lot fairer compared to the later trials).

A worthwhile read for people interested in History / Witchcraft / The Witch Trials and this is FREE to download on Google Play - If you use Amazon, they will charge you!

[Michael’ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very scientistic and rationalistic. James rejects the ideas of werewolves transformations. For James, witches and necromancers are mere servants of the devil. Slaves. But the devil cannot break natural law. He acts upon the world as a spirit. He does not create the rules. Just like the human body cannot break the laws of nature even though it has a soul, so the devil cannot do the impossible. He cannot predict the future as he is not all-knowing. James goes through every claim as in a Socratic dialogue. He makes few concrete references and gives few examples. He explains and he categorises. But the explanations are logical and systematic. They are very rational. For the kind of Christian who believes in ghosts and magic, they must sounds rather plausible. That is not to say everything makes sense. It is not all logical and, come on guys: it’s about witches and the devil. James says confession under torture proves the truth because only madmen would confess to witchcraft without torture. Confessions without torture prove you’re insane then doesn’t confession under torture prove that you can be tortured into saying the insane? Certainly, James makes many logical errors and strange assumptions. But we must remember: strange to us, not to him. It is a look into a wildly different era. It is startlingly different in tone and direction from both modern and ancient explorations of the same subject. It is fascinating. Highly recommended if you have an interest in the supernatural, in early modern thought or James VI/I. Or if you’re...... planning on finding witches!

[Mrs. C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

King James had an (oppositional) interest in witchcraft, and witch trials in Scotland became all too common during his reign. Written in the manner of a medieval Dialogue, this work reads, in parts, like an encyclopedia article--for example, explaining the difference between necromancy and witchcraft--but James's ultimate purpose was to steer folks away from the practice of witchcraft. When reading this, one should keep in mind the old saying, "The past is a foreign country. They do things different there." To James and his contemporaries, there was power in witchcraft, but it was a dark power that led to the destruction of souls and, like all "deals with the devil," ultimately resulted in one's own damnation. If that is kept in mind, one can view James not as obsessed or fanatic, but as someone genuinely interested in the saving of souls. Somewhat dry reading and usually published with sixteenth-century spellings ("v" for "u," for example, as in the word "cavse") and Scottish vocabulary unfamiliar to speakers of modern English

[Lilian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content is vile but it's an important historical text. The old english makes it hard to read but it's still understandable.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

King James' early obsession with witchcraft began after a perceived supernatural attempt on his life. Almost single handed, he rewrote English law and ordered all witches put to death. Ultimately his action would lead to the Salem Witch Trials long after his reign. This book written in his hand is a great incite into his paranoia.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read in so far as seeing the view of witchcraft at the time.

[Etienne]

I read a facsimile of the original mostly as a lark but also with intent to practice the 16th century orthography and pick up a few Scots terms (such as brankle and affray). Unfortunately, as I got further into the text, I began to feel sad and disgusted as I considered the many lives destroyed over the centuries courtesy superstitious nonsense convolved with real political and social power. It hit just a little too close to home.

[Mason Cantwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't take much from it. There's not much to it in my opinion.

[Martha]

Now fully equipped for witch hunting thanks Jamie

[Clara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought it might be somewhat interesting to read this. But it was only depressing

[Jade Heslin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty exciting – I’d never read a book written by a King before. King James I is probably the best King because all the good things happened during his reign (Shakespeare, Gunpowder Plot, Witchmongering).

Also he was the most literary of any of our Kings. First he had the Bible rewritten in order to please all factions of Christianity (what a good egg), and then there was this: Daemonologie, a short work intending to prove the existence of witches.

I’ll be honest with you, the first 3 chapters are pretty boring, but with the fourth and final segment you are in for a treat. This is where King James shares with us some witchy little anecdotes.

And there’s a GREAT one about a fella trying to steal his sister’s pubes towards the end. He tries to cut them off of her while she is sleeping so that he can give them to a friend of his who wishes to conduct a love spell. Anyway, the mum finds out what he is up to and swaps the pubes for the hairs of a cow. You can imagine the hilarity that follows when it is not a beautiful woman that falls in love with him, but a fat old heifer who follows him everywhere. Brilliant stuff – somebody needs to write an entire book about this!

[Molly Neely · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hardest part is getting acclimated to olde English. That was a worthy challenge. Once you crack the code on the 14th century spelling and style, Demonology becomes a wealth of history, intrigue, and all of the nastiness that went on between James I and the Catholic church.
The book is written like an interview. Two chaps posing questions to each other about witchcraft and who's wielding it, the devil and who's in league with him, and of course, how to stop them.
I found this book thoroughly entertaining, not only for its historical worth, but also, because it allows a 21st century American, the opportunity to delve directly into the mind of a 14th century monarch.
I have and will continue to read this classic over and over.

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful copy of King James' work, but if you want context and annotations get Donald Tyson's version of the text: The Demonology of King James I: Includes the Original Text of Daemonologie and News from Scotland.

[Karen Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into C16 mindset about witchcraft

Puts the original into modern English spelling rather than language, which does makes it easier to read than the original, although I must admit I was hoping for a simpler translation. This does however make a 16th century text far more accessible, and the insight into the mindset about witchcraft and cunning folk at that time is fascinating.

[dynras_bookfindings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one shows really simple ideas. However, that’s its impact and importance.

It contains a good idea of how Christianism works, even nowadays, and what is its impact in social life.

It is also, in my personal opinion, a good watch on how harsh we can become when talking about beliefs.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too tedious for my taste, but it was great to find out that Finland was apparently infested with barbaric witches in the 1500s.

[Graham Cammock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

An enthralling read. It's interesting to understand the early modern beliefs regarding daemonologie. I highly recommend.

[Sean Harrigan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's Malleus Maleficarum all over again...blah

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to "Demonology," where King James I takes us on a wild ride through the supernatural world of witches, and let me tell you, it’s like a medieval episode of “Real Housewives”—drama, accusations, and a whole lot of finger-pointing at the women.🎭✨

Diving into this text was like stepping into a time machine that zoomed straight to the heart of patriarchal paranoia. The dialogue between Philomathes and Epistemon is captivating, but let’s be honest: it’s pretty much two dudes debating the merits of hunting down witches while completely missing the point that maybe, just maybe, women aren’t the real threat here.

Epistemon is about proving that witches are lurking around every corner, ready to cast spells and wreak havoc. Spoiler alert: he’s a little obsessed with the idea that women wield dangerous power, which—let’s face it—is a classic case of “let’s blame the women for everything that goes wrong.” 🙄 It’s a real eye-roll moment, especially since we know that women were often trying to live their lives while dodging the witch-hunt hysteria.

The language can feel like a spell gone wrong at times, with its archaic twists and turns, but once you get into the groove, it’s like reading a historical soap opera! And let’s not forget that while King James serves up a hefty dose of misogyny, he also unintentionally highlights the resilience of women who were often scapegoated for simply being resilient.

Ultimately, "Demonology" is a quirky yet eye-opening read that sheds light on the complexities of gender, power, and societal fears. It reminds us how far we’ve come and how much further we must go. So, grab your broomsticks, ladies, and prepare for a journey through history that’s enlightening and a little bonkers! Just keep your wands at the ready—you will need to fend off some patriarchal nonsense! 🧙‍♀️💪📚

[Zachy Mcsmacky · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's only 80 pages, but it takes much longer than expected to read. This is because I found myself re-reading entire pages 2,3 sometimes even 4 times to pick apart the archaic language, run-on sentence-paragraphs and fluid spelling used throughout. Despite this though, it was fun and interesting, if you are into this sort of thing. Yes, there are some outdated ideas, for instance how, referring to the scientific belief of the time, King James understood that death by falling from great height was due to all the air being knocked out of you. Things like this I found charming, as well as his use of humour dotted throughout in the imaginary discourse between two gents with names too long to remember. This is the format that this "F.A.Q." on the occult is presented, and it makes it much more accessible than if it were a straight up lecture on the matter. On the whole I found King James' theology not to incongruent with many current, albeit traditional ideas found in some of the various circles I associate with. Yes, naturally the witchcraft portions are the prime areas of disagreement I have with this work, where on one hand James states a fair trial is required to determine if someone is a witch, then in the next breath he goes full on Malleus Maleficarum. Comparatively however, this topic is actually rather small, so I find it interesting that Daemonologie has earned the unofficial title of ''King James' Witch Hunting Guide''. Perhaps some of the best bits are the fascinating, often hilarious tales of occult practices told at the end of the book, which give you an insight into life of the era and the rumours that arose. Overall a big (but niche) recommend!

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I knew this book as a major influence on Shakespeare's Macbeth. It isn't.

Written as a sort of Socratic dialogue between a slightly dim Philomanthus and a know-it-all Epistemon, it goes through a pick'n'mix of out-of-context Bible quotes to prove the different types of witches, sorcerers, necromancers and demons. Epistemon appears to know what he's talking about, but it would really only convince you if you were already convinced.

Witches are more often women, because women are weaker than men. Yeah, right, cause men never complain when they're giving birth.

James stated he was writing it to refute Reginald Scot's The Discovery of Witchcraft, but that book is much more erudite, knowing both the Bible and classical authors in much more detail. Whether that persuades you more is up to you, but this is shoddy scholarship, even for the 1590s.

The last quarter is called News from Scotland, which gives details of the North Berwick Witch Trial. By sexual humiliation of women, and kicking a headteacher of a school until he confesses, they get confessions that they christened a cat, tied dead parts of a man to his body, and threw the cat in the sea. This caused a storm, which (didn't) kill King James and Queen Anna.

They burnt the witches.

The influence on Shakespeare is negligible.

[Chloe Rochelle Harris · Rating 1 out of 5]

The foreword is a disgusting and inaccurate depiction of Mary Queen of Scots that any decent historian of early modern history would disagree with. It’s as if it was written by an ill informed anti monarchist man in the 16th century who believed the political myths that were perpetuated! Paul Tice is an author of religion, not early modern history and this forewood he has no business writing as he is clearly unqualified and lacks both the critical thinking skills and lack of bias that a historian should approach such a topic with. He writes Mary as an evil seductress who slept with half her court and used that as excuse for James’s behaviour later in life. Not to mention accusing Mary directly of killing people outside her family when she was under guard in England?! It’s outrageous and should be a stain on his reputation.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a bad idea of King James from general opinion but as I’ve grown I’ve learned not to trust everything you hear. So I ventured out to find out exactly what this book was about and I fully stand with him. A brave man of God who dared to stand against the evils of the world and speak openly on it. I can only imagine the level of attacks he must’ve faced throughout his life so I stand impressed by this act.

As for the book itself, it’s very good read but the old English makes it very difficult to understand every sentence. Without understanding everything you still get all the main points. Check it out.

[Carla "Kar" Schmidt Holloway · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the online Dictionary of the Scots Language to be very helpful with the more arcane vocabulary, but most of it is readable with a little patience.

The descriptions of the torture and trials of witches and sorcerers after the dialogue section is pretty graphic and disturbing, so caution if think you can't handle that. Definitely made me queasy.

This would be a great background resource for anyone studying the Salem Witch Trials or similar topics, showing widely-accepted beliefs from the highest of sources in English-speaking Christianity (the King).

[Krystelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

The last thing I need is a monarch who believes that you can pick a witch by finding a birthmark underneath her public hair and kill her on the basis of such spurious evidence. I am aware that this is a product of its time, but at the same time, I think it's also just beyond the level of ridicule that I am happy to accept.

In addition, there's a lot that dear old James seems to have missed in his treatise. Whilst it's long, there's a lot of theological content from the era that he's missing, and I know he was the King, but to be quite frank, he's a bit undereducated.