"Daemonologie"

A book by James VI, king of Scotland (later James I of England). The king's books were greatly admired in his day, winning the praise of Bacon, Izaak Walton, and numerous equally eminent men of letters. Published in 1597, Daemonologie is written in "[the] forme of ane dialogue," the speakers being Philomathes a skeptic of magic, and Epistemon, who enlightens Philomathes on the subject. Epistemon names many famous acts of witchcraft for the sake of analysis, but when Philomathes asks why the black art is considered wicked Epistemon fails to give a satisfactory answer. He merely rails against the practice, making trite statements. Epistemon is converted to the other speaker's point of view, declaring loudly that all sorcerers and the like "ought to be put to death according to the law of God, the civill and imperiall Law, and municipall Law of all Christian Nations."

The book was indicative of James's credulity toward witchcraft. He attended some witchcraft trials in Scotland and was impressed with the evidence presented. Later, Puritan Bible translators seeking James I's approval of their work translated the Hebrew word ob as "witch" to gain his favor. That translation in the King James Version of the Bible provided the English-speaking world with phrases such as "Thou shalt not suffer a witch (ob ) to live" and the "witch (ob ) of Endow."

Sources:

James I. Daemonologie. 1597. New York: De Capo Press, 1969.

Macdougall, Norman. James IV. Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers, 1989.