Demonology

The Practice of Witch Hunting

Demonology

by

King James VI of Scotland

later also James I of England

Daemonologie

In Forme of a Dialogie

Diuided into three Bookes.

By James RX

Daemonologie -- in full Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogie, Divided into three Bookes. By James Rx -- was written and published in 1599 by King James VI of Scotland (later also James I of England). The book endorses the practice of witch hunting. James begins 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.

The work is in the form of a dialogue between characters called "Philomathes" and "Epistemon."

In writing the book, King James was influenced by his personal involvement in the North Berwick witch trials (1590).