An Inventorie of Demons

An Inventorie of Demonsby Reginald Scot, introduction by Jake Stratton-KentHadean From the Introduction: “It is nowadays tolerably well known that the Goetia of Solomon derives its spirit catalogue in great part from Johann Weyer’s De Praestigiis Daemonum et Incantationibus ac Venificiis, in particular the appendix Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (Liber officiorum spirituum). From this The Goetia derives, even more specifically, via a translation published in Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft. So much for known bibliography; nevertheless, the lessons to be learned from textual comparisons have yet to percolate out to any significant degree. The changes in the spirit order – and additions to the list – are fairly familiar subjects, but other major textual alterations require understanding. Among other elements that require examination – or even simply awareness – is what I call ‘the Long Text group’, five entries in the original spirit catalogue of far greater length than the others. (S