ON WITCHES

I CANNOT offer sufficiently just thanks to God, the Best and Greatest, that He has provided my pen with such a subject for writing, the publication of which has resulted in the abandonment, in many places, of the cruel practice of venting rage upon innocent blood. Because of this work, the fierce atrocity and tyranny of the devil is being driven away from that human butchery—a sacrifice than which no other smells more sweet to him. For I see that by the publication of my books On the Deceptions of Demons original: "de Præstigiis dæmonum," Weyer’s most famous work published in 1563, I have gained this benefit: that certain more distinguished magistrates now not only treat those most wretched old women (who are branded with the hateful name of "witches" witches original: "lamiae." In Roman myth, Lamia was a child-eating demon; here Weyer uses it to describe the women accused of witchcraft. in the trials of the common people) more mildly, but even acquit them from capital punishment. This is done despite a custom introduced by long-standing tradition and the biased influence of authority. Furthermore, the frequent congratulations of the most learned men—of every profession, status, and religion—testify at length that my late-night labors have not been fruitless, as they seem to join in my opinion with their own approval. However, I understand that because of the weariness caused by a long treatise (though the difficulty and magnitude of the subject demands it), some people only look at those books fitfully or read them superficially, without sufficiently weighing the force of the arguments. Therefore, I wished to set forth in brief the matters concerning witches that must be discussed, lest anything hinder a "delicate reader" from a deeper knowledge of our judgment.

Otherwise, it almost always happens that when a dispute is raised concerning the actions of witches, testimonies of Holy Scripture are immediately brought forward as objections. In these passages, one reads the name of a "magician," or an "evildoer," or an "enchanter," or even a "juggler" juggler original: "praestigiator," one who uses illusions or sleight of hand to deceive the eyes. (as others interpret it), or a "poisoner" poisoner original: "veneficus." In Latin, the word for a sorcerer and a poisoner is the same, which Weyer uses to argue that biblical "witches" were actually physical criminals, not supernatural ones.. It is then immediately asserted, without distinction, that the people commonly called witches or "wise-women" original: "sagas" are denoted by these names. I find, however, that these monstrous people—along with their arts, deceptions, or illicit divinations—are explained in various ways by the Rabbis and Hebrew interpreters. They are also rendered with different names by our Latin translators, and the Greek version does not exactly harmonize with the Hebrew idiom or the Latin translation. This will be more manifest if you compare the Hebrew context with any version whatever (and not lazily), and if you observe more attentively the judgments of the Rabbis and interpreters in all those places where any mention is made of these portents: such as in Exodus chapters 7, 8, 9, and 22; Leviticus 19 and 20; Deuteronomy 18; Jeremiah 27; Daniel 2; 2 Kings 21 original: "4 Reg. 21." In the Vulgate Bible, the books of Samuel and Kings are counted as 1-4 Kings.; 2 Chronicles 33 original: "2 Paralip. 33."; and the rest.

Therefore, I have judged it most fitting—especially in this most ulcerated century, which is still so unlearned and ignorant in the discernment and censure of demonic impostures of this kind—to first separate "Witches" from the others with whom they are usually confused without distinction. I do this so that the mixing of terms and names does not pour darkness upon that variety of opinions. From such confusion, matters are often entangled in such inextricable folds that hardly any Theseus In Greek mythology, Theseus used a ball of thread to find his way out of the Minotaur's labyrinth. offers himself to show a way out. Truly, such has been the infamous labyrinth of magic, incantations, and poisonings until now. By this method, the things of which I shall speak here will be more clearly distinguished; and it will also be openly established where I depart from the poorly-rooted opinion of others, based on reason and Holy Scripture...