This article provides a deep dive into the history of Weyer’s book, its contents, its controversial stance on witchcraft, and—most critically—the current state of its English translations and where (and if) you can secure a PDF.
. This 1991 translation by is the standard scholarly version. 📚 Key English Translations Witches, Devils, and Doctors in the Renaissance (1991) de praestigiis daemonum english translation pdf
This was revolutionary. In an era where Heinrich Kramer’s Malleus Maleficarum (The Witch’s Hammer) demanded the burning of witches, Weyer insisted that the “crime” of witchcraft was impossible. Only demons could perform supernatural harm. Old women who thought they were witches were pitiable victims of their own biology and demonic trickery. This article provides a deep dive into the
The last page was blank except for a single line of text in the center: “Do you see your own question here, Dr. Petrova?” 📚 Key English Translations Witches, Devils, and Doctors