Why Did Weyer Write De Praestigiss Daemonum?

De praestigiss daemonum was written just before the major peak in witch trials in the 16th century, therefore was not a response these trial. This leads to why did Weyer write De praestigiss daemonum if not a defence of witches? If the ultimate goal of De praestigiss daemonum was too defend the witches then it should have a clear focus on them and although witches feature in the book it is inhabited by ghosts, dishonest exorcists, fabricated miracles, possessed nuns, immoral clerics and magician popes (). Instead there is underlying attack to expose the wicked ways of priests and to unmask their sinful ways.

The sources Weyer focused on were strange for the defence of witches. A book written to attack witch trials would have a compressive