ABSTRACT
In the Dernonomanie Jean Bodin describes in vivid and circumstantial detail the apparition of a daemon to an unnamed acquaintance. As long ago as 1910 von Bezold argued that the acquaintance was Bodin himself. His extremely thorough article has had surprisingly little impact on the interpretation of Bodin's thought. Bodin refers very favourably to Calvin, Luther and Melanchthon. His historiography is inspired in part by Protestant historians and he always quotes the psalms in Protestant translations. Bodin specifically identifies the natural and divine law, which he normally couples in the one phrase. In the year 1567 Bodin first seems to have become involved in the investigation of daemonic phenomena. A relevant passage occurs in a chapter of the Demonomanie which considers forms of protection against magic. Bodin argues at some length that justice should be implemented harmonically. He believes that this harmonic justice is exemplified only in the Law of God, and in Hebraic legislation.
