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Pandaemonium, 1684

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This is a reprint of the Montague Summers' edition of Richard Bovet's "Pandaemonium, or the Devil's Cloyster". Originally published in 1684, this work was one of the later works publushed in defence of the declining belief in the existence of witches and demons.

Bovet was a known anti-papist, and his strong views against Catholics can be seen throughout this work which openly equates Cathoticism with diabolism. This was a popular view in Anglican England at this time as many were suspicious of the rise of the Catholic Stuarts to the English throne and of the growing power of Catholic France under Louis XIV. This being said, this book draws on earlier works on witchcraft to makes its point that witches and their evil ilk continue to walk the earth and threathen good Christian citizens. It argues against the dangers of Sadducism, that is, a rejection in the belief of spirits and witches, which some feared would lead down the road to blatant atheism. The second part of this work includes a number of interesting folkloric tales of witches and diabolic pacts.

Bovet's work draws heavily on the work of Joseph Glanvill, particularly his popular "Sadducismus Triumphatus". It was one of the last learned treatises defending a belief in witchcraft, as by the early 18th century, such views were much discredited among mainstream scholars. This edition was edited and republished by the eccentric early 20th century occult historian Montague Summers.