The Crime of Crimes: Demonology and Politics in France, 1560-1620

Leonard Adams is a professor of French Studies at the University of
Guelph.

Prefaced by a brief chronology of political and politically related
events in France from 1550 to 1611, this book, as its author clearly
states, is intended to examine French demonology “as a genre of
religio-political literature” from about the mid–16th century to the
early 17th century. In the course of a well-reasoned, attractively
presented account, Professor Pearl takes issue with traditional
histories of demonology penned even by eminent historians on two
continents. Challenging long-held generalizations, he rejects rumor,
presents the facts from authentic sources, and argues convincingly for a
fresh look at the role the Tridentine Leaguers played in spreading
politically charged propaganda on the supposedly widespread use
Protestants made of witchcraft in their effort to undermine the truth
that Catholics believed could come only from within the framework of
Catholic dogma and practice. Citing systematically the tactics of the
demonologists, Pearl debunks the view that witchcraft was widespread in
France, that the witches numbered in the thousands, and that there was a
surfeit of executions of witchcraft practitioners. Instead, he argues,
the demonologists’ strident and bitter condemnations originated with
devotees desperately trying to influence the judiciary, whose members
persistently used moderation and applied the rule of law. In the end, it
turns out that executions of the accused were rare. In fact, France
never experienced a witches’ bloodbath. Would-be organizers of
witch-hunts such as Juan de Maldonado (Jean Maldonat, 1534–83), the
Spanish Jesuit; Pierre de Lancre (1553–1631), a misogynist who saw a
witch and a seducer in every woman; and anti-Protestant zealots remained
part of a rather small, though quite vocal, minority crying out for the
total eradication of heretics by violent methods.

Pearl brings to bear on the subject basic sources as well as a
meticulous examination of existing relevant literature. His presentation
is lucid, and his disagreement with other critics is not only expressed
with restraint but also rests on irrefutable evidence. This study is a
very important contribution to the history of demonology in France.