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On Lycanthropy, Transformation, and the Sorcerer's Ecstasy.

 


De 
La Lycanthropie,
Transformation
et Exstase des Sorciers.

Où les astuces du Diable sont mises tellement en evidence, qu'il est presque impoẞible, voire aux plus ignorants; de se laisser doresenavant seduire.

Avec la refutation des argumens contraires, que Bodin allegue au 6. chap. du second livre de sa Demonomanie, pour soustenir la realité de ceste pretendue transformation d'hommes en bestes.

Le tout composé par I. de Nynavid, Docteur en Medicine.

A Paris, chez Nicolas Rousset, ruë de la Pelleterie, prés l'Horloge du Palais, à l'Image S. Iacques, devant la Chaire de fer.

M. DC. XV.

Avec privilege et approbation.


On Lycanthropy,
Transformation,
and the Sorcerer's Ecstasy.

Wherein
the Devil's Trickery is put to the Test,
such that it is henceforth nigh impossible
even for the most ignorant to be seduced thereby. 

Including
a refutation of what Bodin claims
in Chapter Six of the Second Book
of his Demonomanie,
in favour of the supposed
tranformation of man into beast.

The whole composed
by 
J. de Nynavid,
Doctor of Medicine.

Paris,
by Nicolas Rousset,
Rue de la Pelleterie,
near the palace clock,
at the sign of St James
before the iron chair.

1615

By permission & approved. 


Notes.

On Lycanthropy was written by the physician Jean de Nynauld, about whom not much seems to be known, or is readily accessible. 

Jean Bodin (c.1530 - 1596) was a French political and economic theorist, whose De la démonomanie des sorciers (1580) is a key text in the intellectual conversation about supernatural criminality in Early Modern Europe. In this respect, Nyauld's focus on Bodin is a bold move, hitting at the heart of the matter. 

The reference to 'the Devil's trickery' is reminiscent of Weyer and Scot.

Rue de la Pelleterie - the street of the fur-tanners - was on the Île de la Cité, until it was pulled down in 1860. 

This is how it appeared in 1855.



The Palace Clock is still extant, though, and was recently restored. It has been modified a great deal over the centuries, but dates as far back as the 1370s. 




Before proceeding with the translation of Nynauld, we'd do well to visit Bodin, and what he has to say about shape-shifting. 
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