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What King James I Had to Say About Vampires and Werewolves
King James I of England, also King James VI of Scotland, is primarily known for his role as monarch of both countries from 1603 to 1625, uniting the crowns. James’ reign is known for such events as the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and overseeing the continuation of a flourishing literary culture in England which had begun under Elizabeth I, most notably through the works of William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson. However, James was no stranger to literature and art, nor did he sit idly by. He authored works of political theory as well as scientific works, and sponsored the King James Bible. One of James’ more interesting treatises is Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogue, Divided into three Books (henceforth referred to as Daemonologie), in which James explores various aspects of necromancy and demonology. Published in 1597, James was not yet King of England, though that did not mean that his writing had no impact on English culture. Aided by a reprinting in 1603, his dissertation influenced various writers, most notably William Shakespeare in his depiction of the ‘Weird Sisters’ (witches) in Macbeth (1606).
The main focus of historians when interpreting Daemonologie has — rightly — been on its attitude towards (and justification of) persecution of witches, which James explicitly endorses not just as justified but as an obligation of all good Christians and…
