This scholarly edition is occasionally hosted on academic repositories like Internet Archive, JSTOR, or university library networks.
The Whisper of the Index
For centuries, Weyer’s work remained confined to Latin, limiting its reach to scholars. To fully grasp his arguments against torture and for the humane treatment of the accused, an English translation is necessary.
In later editions (specifically 1577), Weyer added an appendix titled Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (The False Hierarchy of Demons). This grimoire catalogs 69 demons, their ranks, abilities, and the methods to summon them. Ironically, while Weyer included it to expose the absurdities and formulas of ceremonial magicians, it became one of the most famous source texts for later occultists and heavily influenced the Ars Goetia (the first book of The Lesser Key of Solomon ). Finding the English Translation PDF de praestigiis daemonum english translation pdf
The primary English translation of Johann Weyer's 1563 work De praestigiis daemonum (On the Tricks of Demons) is titled Witches, Devils, and Doctors in the Renaissance.
Witches, Devils, and Doctors in the Renaissance: Johann Weyer, De Praestigiis Daemonum : General editor George Mora , associate editor Benjamin Kohl, and translator Where to Access Internet Archive
You can "borrow" a digital copy for free through the Internet Archive's Open Library. This is the most reliable way to read the full English text online without purchasing it. This scholarly edition is occasionally hosted on academic
Weyer drew a sharp line between innocent, deluded "witches" and actual con artists or malevolent magicians who intentionally deceived people for profit. To help narrow down your research, let me know:
Because the definitive 1991 English translation is a protected, copyrighted academic work, it is rarely hosted legally as a free, open-access PDF on standard websites. However, researchers, students, and bibliophiles have several legitimate avenues to locate and read digital versions of the text. 1. Academic Repositories and Libraries
Weyer, a trained physician and student of the famous occultist Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, argued that the bizarre confessions of accused witches—such as flying on brooms, shifting shapes, or copulating with devils—were the result of severe mental delusion. He categorized these hallucinations as symptoms of "melancholy" (what we would call clinical depression or psychosis today). 2. Legal and Moral Reform In later editions (specifically 1577), Weyer added an
Useful for searching specific phrases or passages within the Shea translation.
If you are looking for the original 16th-century Latin editions, these are in the public domain and widely available as free PDFs on Google Books and Scribd .
For those tracking the historic reception, EEBO contains early English translations of related 16th and 17th-century critiques (such as Reginald Scot’s The Discoverie of Witchcraft , which plagiarized and popularized Weyer’s concepts in England in 1584).
I can provide more targeted advice on where to look based on your research goals. Share public link
To understand the demand for the English PDF, one must first understand the book’s radical nature.