The Witches' Sabbat in Basque Country – Lecture & Book Launch

The dark legend of the Witches' Sabbat holds a special place in the occult imagination.

In person at Treadwell's, Dr Jan Machielsen presents a vivid slide lecture on this notorious rite, as described in the Basque materials. Expect a rich body of lore involving everything from toads to the the devil to raucous dances. Drawing from a wide range of original witchcraft sources – many of which before now have never been examined – Jan illustrates his remarkable findings before opening up for an audience Q&A. Afterwards, all are invited to the launch party for his new book: The Basque Witch Hunt: A Secret History. Drinks on the house, as always. 

Dr Jan Machielsen is a Reader in Early Modern History at Cardiff University. He is a historian of early modern religion with a particular interest in reputations – how people come be to be seen as wicked witches or wondrous saints. His first 'love': the sixteenth-century Jesuit Martin Delrio (who wrote an influential work on demonology) has led to extensive research and writing on two related subjects: Catholic Reform and the early modern witch-hunts.