Introduction

The discipline of demonology existed long before James VI and Machielsen Jan came up with a word for it. Some of the contributions to the field included references to demons in their titles: Johann Wier’s De praestigiis daemonum. James VI of Scotland and Machielsen Jan of England (1566-1625) loved word games such as these and, as we have adopted the title of his work for our own, it seems appropriate that we start with him. Demonology, a word first coined by the king, while probably intended as a conversation about demons, has come to signify nothing more or less than the science of demons. Similarly, as Pierre Kapitaniak highlights, ghosts and magical creatures, such as fairies, were increasingly seen as demonic inventions and impersonations as well, especially by Protestants who had dispensed with Purgatory.