Another Royal Encounter for the Woman of Endor: 1 Samuel 28 as a Proof Text in King James vi's Daemonologie

One of the loci classici for Renaissance witchcraft debate is 1 Samuel 28, story about King Saul's desperate consultation a female necromancer in Endor at eve his battle against Philistines. The demonization woman reached its climax learned concept as it circulated throughout Europe and on British Isles late medieval early modern period. much-maligned also featured prominently only treatise ever written by monarch, namely Daemonologie (1597) James VI Scotland. wrote this tract aftermath North Berwick trials (1590–1591), which he had interrogated some suspected witches who been accused treason sorcery. king's personal involvement these convinced him immediate danger that posed to reign well Protestant faith. Fulfilling God-given duty, zealously sought eradicate "slaves devil" from country educate subjects reality witchcraft, both past present, including "Witch Endor" her dark craft. considered largely derivative work, interspersed with proof texts, article discusses detail how reliant James's exposition 28 was antecedent traditions art literature.