Daemonologia: A Discourse on Witchcraft, as it was Acted in the Family of Mr Edward Fairfax of Fuyston in the County of York in the Year 1621. Together with the Only Two Eclogues of the Same Author Known to be in Existence, With a Biographical Introduction and Notes Topographical and Illustrative [Fairfax Daemonologia]

A facsimile reprint of the original 1882 publication.  ix, 10-188pp,  Dark blue cloth-covered boards with gilt titles on the spine.  Genealogical tables on endpapers.  8vo.  Boards are crisp and clean, just a little bruised at spine ends.  Spotted on text block edges.  A little spotting on endpapers, together with a couple of small pencil annotations on front free endpaper, otherwise internally neat, clean and tight.  In its original paper, illustrated dust wrapper, some spotting and tanning, rubbed and bumped on corners and edges short closed tear on from rear upper edge. Dust wrapper now protected in an archival-quality Mylar sleeve, fitted without the use of tape or adhesives.

Edward Fairfax (1580-1635), third son of the distinguished civil war soldier, Sir Thomas Fairfax, was a respected writer, ranking alongside Edmund Spenser in Elizabethan England as a poet, best known for his translation of Torquato  Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered: a man of substance and genius. The accusation of witchcraft brought against his children, a case which Fairfax brought against his neighbours.  was not upheld and the defendants acquitted.  Fairfax committed the story to paper – it was not published during his lifetime but numerous copies were circulated in manuscript.  Hi account was finally published 1859 for the Philpibiblon Society but no more of it was heard of until 1882 when the well-known author of Yorkshire topographical works published a new edition with his own introduction and notes.  Today the strength of the story and the simple beauty of the text are as appealing as ever, as much as a first-hand account of everyday rural life in Elizabeth England as for the insight into local beliefs and practices around witchcraft.  This is a facsimile reprint of Grainge’s 1882 edition, itself now long out of print.