Demonologia; or, natural knowledge revealed; being an exposé of ancient and modern superstitions. Credulity, fanaticism, enthusiasm, & imposture, as connected with the doctrine, caballa, and jargon, of amulets, apparitions, astrology, charms, demonology ... witchcraft, &c / By J.S. F[orsyth].

  • Forsyth, J. S.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Demonologia; or, natural knowledge revealed; being an exposé of ancient and modern superstitions. Credulity, fanaticism, enthusiasm, & imposture, as connected with the doctrine, caballa, and jargon, of amulets, apparitions, astrology, charms, demonology ... witchcraft, &c / By J.S. F[orsyth]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. CAD Amone the multifarious absurdities and chicaneries, which at different epocha of society have clung to, and engaged the attention of man, absorbing, as it were, his more active intelligence, the marvellous and the ridiculous have alternately and conjointly had to contend for pre-emi- nence; that, whether it were a mountain in the moon or a bottle conjuror ; a live lion stuffed with straw or a mermaid; a Cock- lane ghost or a livmg skeleton ; a giant ora pigmy ; the delusive bait has invariably been swallowed with avidity, and credited with all the solemnity of absolute devotion. If we look back towards what are called the dark ages of the world, that is, at times when men were mere yokels, and when the reins of tyranny, superstition and idolatry, were controlled by a few knowing ones, we shall see the human mind at its lowest ebb of debasement, grovelling either under the lash