Edward Fairfax

An English scholar of the sixteenth century, translator of Tasso's Gerusalemme Liberata and author of Daemonologia: A Dis-course on Witchcraft, in which he claims that in 1621 two of his daughters were bewitched through the malice of six witches. In his preface to the book Fairfax describes himself as neither a "fantastic Puritan nor a superstitious Papist, but so settled in conscience that I have the sure ground of God's word to warrant all I believe …"

Sources:

Dictionary of National Biography. London: Oxford University Press, 1953.

Fairfax, Edward. Daemonologia: A Discourse on Witchcraft. Harrogate, England: R. Ackrill, 1882. Reprint, New York: Barnes & Noble, 1971.

Quotes:

"Each mind is pressed, and open every ear, to hear new tidings, though they no way joy us."

Edward Fairfax (1580? — 27 January 1635) was a translator, the natural son of Sir Thomas Fairfax and thus a half-brother of Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron.

Fairfax lived at New Hall, Fewston^[1] , near Harrogate, Yorkshire, England in peace and prosperity. His translation of Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, for which he is best known, is considered a masterpiece, one of the comparatively few translations which in themselves are literature. It was highly praised by Dryden and Waller. The first edition appeared in 1600, and was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Fairfax also wrote a treatise on Demonology, in which he was a devout believer.

Edward's daughters Elizabeth and Anne were baptised in Fewston village church in 1606 and 1621 respectively.^[1]

External links

• Works by Edward Fairfax at Project Gutenberg

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The History and Topology of Harragate and Knaresbourough Forest by William Grainge

• This article incorporates public domain text from : Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London, J. M. Dent & Sons; New York, E. P. Dutton.

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