Daemonologie

Daemonologie is a book by King James the First, first published in 1597. Written during a time of intense fascination—and fear—surrounding witchcraft and the supernatural, this treatise presents the monarch’s firm stance on the reality of witches, necromancers, demons, and other malevolent forces.

Structured as a Socratic dialogue between two characters, the book lays out arguments in favor of prosecuting witchcraft and divination as crimes against both the natural and divine order. The book was penned against the backdrop of the North Berwick witch trials and reflects the broader European witch-hunting fervor of the 16th century.

James’s influence, as both a scholar and reigning king, lent the text considerable authority and played a direct role in shaping witchcraft legislation in England and Scotland. Notably, Daemonologie is believed to have influenced William Shakespeare in the writing of Macbeth, with its themes of dark magic and demonic pacts echoing throughout the play.

Today, the work stands as a historical artifact—revealing the interplay between monarchy, religion, and early modern fears of the unknown. This edition was taken from an early 20th Century reprint.