Johann Weyer

Pseudomonarchia Daemonum Johann Weyer

Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, or False Monarchy of Demons, first appears as an Appendix to Johann Weyer's De praestigiis daemonum (On the Trick of Daemons, 1577). An abridgement of a grimoire similar in nature to the Ars Goetia, the first book of The Lesser Key of Solomon, it contains a list of demons, and the appropriate hours and rituals to conjure them. This copy contains both Weyer's original Latin text as well as Reginald Scot's English translation, which was origianlly published in his newsletter The Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584). The book was written before The Lesser Key of Solomon, and has some differences. There are sixty-nine demons listed (instead of seventy-two), and the order of the spirits varies, as well as some of their characteristics. The demons Vassago, Seere, Dantalion and Andromalius are not listed in this book, while Pruflas is not listed in The Lesser Key of Solomon. Pseudomonarchia Daemonum does not attribute seals to the demons, as The Lesser Key of Solomon does.