☛This topic intersects with the history of science at the one end, and with the history of religion at the other. See also Alchemy, which has its own page.
For authors of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, we might say that “magic” is the name for the experimental branch of science, but the natural is not always clearly distinguished from the supernatural.
A History of Magic and Experimental Science During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our Era. By Lynn Thorndike. New York: Macmillan, 1923. —Professor Thorndike later continued this work for several more volumes dealing with later centuries. Those are probably still in copyright in the United States, but may be found by the diligent in the Internet Archive, badly scanned by the Digital Library of India.
Les Secrets et merveilles de nature, receuillis de divers autheurs & divisez en XVII. livres. Par Jean Jacques Vuecker, de Basle, Medecin do Colmer. Traduicts en François, & corrigez outre l’impression precedente selon la traduction Latine. Avec une Table tres-ample. A Lyon, par Barthelemi Honorati, au Vaze d’or. 1586. —Nearly 1300 pages of everything from parlor tricks to necromancy to gourmet cooking. Although we have not found the original edition, this was a perennial seller in Latin for two centuries, and we have found a number of later editions, mostly printed in Basel:
Joh. Jac. Weckeri, Basiliensis, Medici colm., De secretis libri XVII, ex variis auctoribus collecti…
1592.
1604.
1701.
1750.
The History of Magick by way of Apology, for all the wise men who have unjustly been reputed magicians, from the Creation, to the present age. Written in French by G. Naudaeus, late library-keeper to Cardinal Mazarin. Englished by J. Davies. London, 1657.
Natural Magick by John Paptista Porta, a Neapolitane: In Twenty Books. Wherein are set forth all the riches and delights of the natural sciences. London: Thomas Young and Samuel Speed, 1658.
The Holy Guide: Leading the way to the wonder of the world: (A compleat Phisitian) teaching the knowledge of all things past, present, and to come; viz. of pleasure, long life, health, youth, blessedness, wisdome and virtue; and to cure, change and remedy all diseases in young and old. With Rosie Crucian Medicines, which are verified by a practical examination of principles in the great world, and fitted for the easie understanding, plain practise, use, and benefit of mean capacities. By John Heydon Gent. φιλόνομος, a servant of God, and a secretary of Nature. London: Printed by T. M. and are to be sold by Thomas Whittlesey at the Globe in Cannon-Street near London-Stone, and at all other Booksellers Shops, 1662.
P. Gasparis Schotti Physica curiosa, sive, Mirabilia naturæ et artis libris XII. comprehensa, quibus pleraque, quæ de angelis, dæmonibus, hominibus, spectris, energumenis, monstris, portentis, animalibus, meteoris, &c. rara, arcana, curiosaque circumferuntur, ad veritatis trutinam expenduntur, variis ex historia ac philosophia petitis disquisitionibus excutiuntur, & innumeris exemplis illustrantur. Herbipoli, Sumptibus Johannis Andreæ Endteri & Wolffgangi Jun, Hæredum. Excudebat Jobus Hertz Typographus Herbipol. Anno 1662.
The History of Oracles, and the Cheats of the Pagan Priests. Written in Latin by Dr. Van-Dale. Made English by Mrs. Behn. London, 1699. —Aphra Behn is often cited as the first English woman to make her living by writing, and translations were a very easy way for a writer to add to her income.
The Mysteries of Magic. A digest of the writings of Éliphas Lévi. With biographical and critical essay by Arthur Edward Waite. Second edition, revised and enlarged. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., 1897.
Albertus Magnus. Being the approved, verified, sympathetic and natural Egyptian secrets, or, white and black art for man and beast. Revealing the forbidden knowledge and mysteries of ancient philosophers. The book of the natural and the hidden secrets and mysteries of life unveiled, being the forbidden knowledge of ancient philosophers. By that celebrated Student, Philosopher, Chemist, Naturalist, Psychomist, Astrologer, Alchemist, Metallurgist, Sorcerer, Explanator of the Mysteries of Wizards and Witchcraft; together with recondite Views of numerous Arts and Sciences—Obscure, Plain, Practical, Etc., Etc. —The author is identified by the librarian as “Albertus, Magnus, Saint, 1193?-1280.”
The Book of Miracles; or, celestial museum, being an entertaining and instructive treatise on love, law, trade, and physic with the Bank of Heaven, containing a never-failing method for ladies to obtain good husbands, and gentlemen good wives, with happiness and felicity after marriage; showing how to prevent all disappointments in love; and also all unhappy marriages; how a lady may become amiable, beautiful, lovely, and handsome in the sight of any man, by the rules of art; and how to protect and defend all injured females; apprehend all Thieves and Robbers; punish the Guilty, and defend the Innocent; and also, how to overcome your Adversary in any Lawsuit, (if in a just Cause;) prevent Poverty, Want, Bankruptcy, &c.; how to preserve and obtain success and prosperity with all your Cattle, both great and small; and also, in whatever you may hope, wish for, and desire, agreeable to the will of Heaven; to Heal the Sick and the Diseased in the most dangerous Cases, when, and where the best Medicines in the World, being given alone, would fail: The whole containing greater miracles, performed in all these various departments, than were ever known to be done before in this kingdom, within the memory of the oldest man living; all of which is well proved and substantiated, as hereinafter mentioned, from several curious examples, cases, and facts, delivered from the evidence of several remarkable post letters inserted herein; which are also now in possession of the author; forming the greatest and most useful curiosity, now in extant in the world; being the most valuable treasure that can ever be introduced into any family, at any time whatsoever; made plain and easy for the meanest capacity. By Dr. Parkins. London: Printed for, and sold by, the Author. [1817.]
The discouerie of witchcraft, Wherein the lewde dealing of witches and witchmongers is notablie detected, the knauerie of coniurors, the impietie of inchantors, the follie of soothsaiers, the impudent falshood of cousenors, the infidelitie of atheists, the pestilent practices of Pythonists, the curiositie of figure casters, the vanitie of dreamers, the beggerlie art of alcumystrie, the abhomination of idolatrie, the horrible art of poisoning, the vertue and power of naturall magike, and all the conueiances of legierdemaine and iuggling are deciphered: and many other things opened, which have long lien hidden, howbeit verie necessarie to be knowne. Heerevnto is added a treatise vpon the nature and substance of spirits and diuels, & c.: all latelie written by Reginald Scot, Esquire. Imprinted at London by William Brome, [1584]. —Includes a number of conjuror’s tricks: “These are such sleights that even a bungler may doo them.” Printed in a very neat blackletter.
Discours Execrable des Sorciers. Ensemble leur procez, faits depuis 2 ans en çà, en divers endroicts de la France. Avec une instruction pour un Iuge, en faict do Sorcelerie. Par Henry Boguet, gran Iuge au Comté de Bourgongne. A Rouen, Chez Romain de Beauvais, pres le grand portail nostre Dame. 1603. —A manual for witch-hunters. Like other such works, it makes one suspect that the author himself suffered from dreadful temptations toward sorcery.
The Compleat Wizzard; being a collection of authentic and entertaining narratives of the real existence and appearance of ghosts, demons, and spectres: together with several wonderful instances of the effects of witchcraft. To which is prefixed, an account of haunted houses, and subjoined a Treatise on the Effects of Magic. London: T. Evans, 1770.
De natura daemonum libri IIII. Io. Laurentii Ananiae [Giovanni Lorenzo d’Anania] Tabernatis theologi. Venetiis 1581. —In italic type with no paragraphs, the only divisions in the text being the four books.
A Treatise of Specters or straunge sights, visions, and apparitions appearing sensibly vnto men. Wherein is delivered the nature of spirites, angels, and divels: their power and properties: as also of witches, sorcerers, enchanters, and such like. With a table of the contents of the severall chapters annexed in the end of the booke. Newly done out of French into English. At London: Printed by Val. S. for Mathew Lownes. 1605.
Angelorvm et doemonvm [sic] nomina et attribvta passim in divinis scriptvris contenta ad patrvm sententiam explicata. Et de ecclesiastica hierarchia. [By Vincenzo Cicogna.] —A manuscript in a neat secretarial hand, dated “ca. 1585-1600.” The librarian says: “The author was a Venetian ecclesiastical scholar who published a book of commentaries of the Psalms in 1620. In the closure of his dedication to the cardinal Santori, he mentions his being old and decrepit.”
Demoniality, or Incubi and Succubi. A treatise wherein is shown that there are in existence on earth rational creatures besides man, endowed like him with a body and a soul, that are born and die like him, redeemed by our Lord Jesus-Christ, and capable of receiving salvation or damnation, by the Rev. Father Sinistrari of Ameno (17th Century). Published from the original Latin manuscript discovered in London in the year 1872, and translated into French by Isidore Lisieux. Now first translated into English. With the Latin Text. Paris: Isidore Lisieux, 1879.
An Historical, Physiological and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts, and other Magical Practices. Containing an account of the genii or familiar spirits, both good and bad, that are said to attend men in this life; and what sensible perceptions some persons have had of them: (particularly the author’s own experience for many years.) Also of appearances of spirits after death; divine dreams, divinations, second sighted persons, &c. Likewise the power of witches, and the reality of other magical operations, clearly asserted. With a refutation of Dr. Bekker's World bewitch'd; and other authors that have opposed the belief of them. By Jonh [sic] Beaumont, Gent. London, 1705.