context
courtesy of wikipedia
- french judge in late 1500s
- catholic
- claimed to oversee execution of 800+ witches
- initially studied + practiced law; also wrote about history
- demonolatry, published in 1595, is his most well-known work. this is a witch-hunters' handbook.
- supposedly, his son died after being cursed by a beggar; thus began his career as a witch-hunter. (he was responsible for this woman's execution)
dedication
- sees evil in how people "despise the institutions of our forefathers," create religious cults, and turn from God
- some turn from God due to seeing the "light of human reason." others are too quick to adopt new beliefs due to strong feelings; these are who the devil preys on.
- claims these people lack knowledge of God. they aren't exposed to sermons. they have no sound faith. because of this, they are not at fault for sinking "to such a level of foulest depravity."
- while the lack of sound faith isn't necessarily a problem, it goes hand in hand with harming others, which is a problem.
from "to the courteous reader:"
When a man's attention is continuously engaged with a certain subject, his mind becomes so full of it that often he forms the design of recording his opinions of it in writing, either to occupy his moments of leisure, or mayhap because he thinks that his observations will not be entirely without service to others.
he is quick to keep reminding us that, to show he's telling the truth, he is using specific details about the times, place, people, and events. he wants the reader to understand that what we are about to read is true. he's referencing his own accounts of events, and he has referenced similar incidents which were recorded by "other learned and eloquent authors."
book 1
chapter 1
- topic: how men are led astray
- Satan takes every opportunity to lure people with the promise of getting what they want.
- Satan appears to talk to people who are weakened by hardships. he will help, or so he says, but man must be faithful to Satan and see him as his master.
- if that's not enough, satan threatens them. remy brings up a few examples where the demon threatened to kill people if they did not dedicate themselves to him.
chapter 2
- topic: how demons prepare "drugged powders, wands, ointments and various venoms" for their subjects to use.
- basically, once someone has pledged themself to witchcraft, demons will give them the tools for witchcraft.
- editor's note clarifies that people used to believe witches spread diseases through powders.
- the color, and not the actual physical properties, of a powder relate to its purpose. "for the drugs owe their potency to the Demon, not to any inherent properties of their own."
- witch's power is not unlimited; there are some they are unable to harm (ex. the judges at their trials). but demons do have particular hatred for judges, and anyone else who tries to stop witches. god protects those who are trying to stop witches.
- notes that he tries to suppress and refrain from spreading knowledge about specific poisons, so that more do not know of them.
- also notes that mankind is prone to making things public which should not be---ex. public's role in judgement of capital crimes.
chapter 3
- topic: witch ointments, which are fatal to others if they wish them to be.
- with just a bit of poison, applied to the edge of another's garment, witches can kill people. again.
- this ties back into disease transmission, plagues, etc.
- however, this will not harm people the witch does not want to harm.
- this could mean the unguent is a symbol of the witch's complicity in the demon's crimes, and has no power on its own. cites how poison loses its power after a witch has renounced partnership with the demon.
- (thinking about how "intent matters" is consistent with genuine magical practices. also, i need to read more about what actually happened with witch-hunting in the 1500s. what were these people, mostly women, actually doing? i'm intrigued by the way remy is able to corroborate their accounts.)
chapter 4
- topic: demons give people glamoured money.
- demons possess all of the treasures which are hidden in the earth (i presume we're talking about rocks, precious minerals, etc---i'm reminded of something about hades' realm. his realm, being the underworld, contains the precious minerals and substances beneath the earth's surface.)
- demons use proof of their wealth as bait; they have no ability to pass their wealth on to mankind. this is because of god.
chapter 5
- topic: demons physically mark their indebted.
- compares this to marks made on slaves.
- witches lack feeling in the spot these marks are made. for judges, this is proof of their guilt. cites multiple examples of needles being thrust in these spots (moles?) and witches claiming to not feel pain, no blood loss, no awareness of what's going on, etc.