A Candle in the Dark by Thomas Ady

Details: A new reprinting makes available one of the rarest books ever written on magic. This book contains one of the earliest histories and explanations of the word “Hocus Pocus”. You will find the account on page 29. Quite possibly, this could be where the word originated 339 years ago. Through the benevolence of Etienne Lorenceau, we’re honored to bring into the magic fraternity one of the most sought-after volumes of magic books-the 1655 edition of Ady’s revered A Candle In The Dark.

Why is this treatise so rare? In the first full-dress bibliography of conjuring, Raymond Toole Stott cites only five copies in existence. Ady wrote this treatise to augment Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft and further prove that people being accused of witchcraft were simply magicians. Ady’s book contains a determined onslaught on the doctrines of Demonologie-King James of England’s book on the nature of magic and sorcery which fueled witch hunts. Ady makes reference of King James’ most excellent Hocus Pocus, a magician who used to say, “Hocus Pocus, tont us talont us, vade celeriter jubeo.”

Contents:
*Note: original spellings were retained in creating the table of contents.

vii Foreword

A1 A Candle in the Dark
A3 The Reason of the Book
A5 Errata

001 To The Prince of the Kings of the Earth
002 To the Reader
003 To the more Judicious and Wife, and Discreet part of the Clergie of England
004 A Preface
006 A Dilemma That Cannot bee answered by Witch-Mongers

009 A Candle in the Dark: Shewing The Divine Cause of the distractions of the whole Nation of England, and of the Christian World
011 The First Book, The Text Opened
012 The First Book, The definition of a Witch
013 The First Book, A Ring-leader to Idolatry
016 The First Book, A Diviner
021 The First Book, A Planetarian
025 The First Book, A Conjecturer
028 The First Book, A Juglar
047 The First Book, A Charmer
065 The First Book, An Oracle-giver
075 The First Book, A South-sayer
082 The First Book, A Necromancer

091 The Second Book, Traditions of the Romish Witch
105 The Second Book, Confutation by Scripture
115 The Second Book, Objections answered
137 The Second Book, The Conclusion

139 The Third Book, The Vanity of Some English Writers concerning Witches
139 The Third Book, The intituled Works of K. James answered
151 The Third Book, Mr. Cooper answered
162 The Third Book, Mr. Perkins answered
163 The Third Book, Mr. Gaule answered
166 The Third Book, Mr. Ciffard answered
167 The Third Book, The Conclusion
169 The Third Book, A Reference to Mr. Scots Treatise
172 The Third Book, An Instruction for Lawyers

175 Publisher’s Note

submitted by Evan Shuster

• Publisher: Stevens Magic Emporium
• Pages: 172
• Location: Wichita, KS, USA
• Dimensions: 6″x8″
• Date: 1665, 1994
• Binding: hardbound

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