Of Ghostes and Spirites, Walking by Night (eBook)

Ludwig Lavater (1527–1586) was a Swiss clergyman and author, prominent for his work in the field of demonology and spirits. Lavater served as the archdeacon at the Church of St. Peter in Zurich and wrote extensively on theological and philosophical matters, adhering to the principles of the Swiss Reformation initiated by Ulrich Zwingli, whose work he continued alongside Heinrich Bullinger. Among his literary works, 'Of Ghostes and Spirites, Walking by Night' stands out as a significant contribution to early modern literature on the supernatural. This treatise, first published in Latin as 'De spectris, lemures, portentis et prodigiis et de quae illis credendum sit' (1570), was later translated into English in 1572 by R. H. Lavater's 'Of Ghostes and Spirites' delves into the nature and classification of spectral entities and reflects the period's preoccupation with witchcraft and the occult. His scholarly approach combined theological perspectives with empirical observations, echoing the Renaissance humanist impulse to scrutinize and interpret the supernatural world through the prism of religious belief and rational inquiry. Lavater's writings exhibit a style marked by a blend of earnest piety and intellectual curiosity, contributing to the era's discourse concerning the intersection of the natural and preternatural. His work not only offers insight into the 16th-century mindset but also provides a valuable reference for historians and literary scholars interested in the evolution of spectral lore and its cultural implications.