MSS Folger V.b.26 Book of Magic, with Instructions for Invoking Spirits - ca. (1577-1583)
The Goetia of Solomon relied on the English translation of Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum that appeared in Reginald Scot's The Discoverie of Witchcraft. Weyer cited as his source a manuscript called Liber officiorum spirituum, seu Liber dictus Empto. Salomonis, de principibus & regibus dæmoniorum ("Book of the offices of spirits, or the book called Empto. Salomonis concerning the princes and kings of the demons").
The original Book of the Offices of Spirits was probably written in Latin, but MSS Folger V.b.26 contains a copy of the Book of the Offices of Spirits which is mostly in English. You can read it by clicking HERE.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
The Importance of Pseudomonarchia Daemonum
The Goetia of Solomon did not just appear spontaneously. It has sources. One of those sources is the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum of Johann Weyer. I just gave a link to the text. If you follow that link and read what Joseph H. Peterson wrote, you will see that it was not the Latin of Weyer that was the source for the Goetia of Solomon. The GoS used Reginald Scot's translation from The Discoverie of Witchcraft.
Weyer cites as his source a book called Liber officiorum spirituum, seu Liber dictus Empto. Salomonis, de principibus & regibus dæmoniorum ("Book of the offices of spirits, or the book called Empto. Salomonis concerning the princes and kings of the demons"). Weyer omits and alters the content of this source work in the creation of his Pseudomonarchia Daemonum. He omits information on Satan, Lucifer, and Beelzebub as well as the Demonic Princes of the four cardinal directions.
Right before Reginald Scot translates Weyer's work, he writes "These are no small fooles, they go not to worke with a baggage tode, or a cat, as witches doo; but with a kind of majestie, and whith authoritie they call up by name, and have at their commandement seventie and nine principall and princelie divels, who have under them, as their ministers, a great multitude of legions of pettie divels; as for example." This quote is important for two reasons. First, Reginald Scot is aware of the number of demons that should be in the list he is about to give (72 demons, 4 cardinal demons, plus Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Satan = 79) and he could fill in some of what Weyer left out, but chooses to leave the list deficient. Although Scot is aware of Weyer's work, I do not believe he translated it directly. He was copying another person's English version which was slightly different to Pseudomonarchia Daemonum. In the margin between the second and third chapter, he writes, "This was the work of one T.R. written in faire letters of red & blacke upo[n] parchment, and made by him, Ann. 1570. to the maintenance of his living, the edifieng of the poore, and the glorie of gods holie name: as he himselfe saith." This manuscript by T.R. quite possibly contained the missing demons that would push Scot's count to 79.
Oh, yeah... The second reason that first quote is important?
In this art we are not dealing with Hebrew Kabbalah or the Angelic Orders and Choirs of the Christian church, "but with a kind of majestie, and whith authoritie they call up by name". Weyer uses the words "Pseudomonarch Daemonum". That has been translated as "False Monarchy of Demons". Weyer's source work uses the words "Princes", "Kings", and "Offices of Spirits" right in its title. What does this mean to us?
This is a subject I will return to again on this blog, but the offices and titles used in the Pseudomonarchy of Demons and the Goetia of Solomon describe an order not to be found in the works of Agrippa or Crowley. Kings, Princes, Marquisses, Dukes, Earls, Presidents... to understand what these titles mean and how to use the names, seals, and lamens of this art with majesty and authority, you need to put down 777 and pick up some books on Heraldry.
Weyer cites as his source a book called Liber officiorum spirituum, seu Liber dictus Empto. Salomonis, de principibus & regibus dæmoniorum ("Book of the offices of spirits, or the book called Empto. Salomonis concerning the princes and kings of the demons"). Weyer omits and alters the content of this source work in the creation of his Pseudomonarchia Daemonum. He omits information on Satan, Lucifer, and Beelzebub as well as the Demonic Princes of the four cardinal directions.
Right before Reginald Scot translates Weyer's work, he writes "These are no small fooles, they go not to worke with a baggage tode, or a cat, as witches doo; but with a kind of majestie, and whith authoritie they call up by name, and have at their commandement seventie and nine principall and princelie divels, who have under them, as their ministers, a great multitude of legions of pettie divels; as for example." This quote is important for two reasons. First, Reginald Scot is aware of the number of demons that should be in the list he is about to give (72 demons, 4 cardinal demons, plus Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Satan = 79) and he could fill in some of what Weyer left out, but chooses to leave the list deficient. Although Scot is aware of Weyer's work, I do not believe he translated it directly. He was copying another person's English version which was slightly different to Pseudomonarchia Daemonum. In the margin between the second and third chapter, he writes, "This was the work of one T.R. written in faire letters of red & blacke upo[n] parchment, and made by him, Ann. 1570. to the maintenance of his living, the edifieng of the poore, and the glorie of gods holie name: as he himselfe saith." This manuscript by T.R. quite possibly contained the missing demons that would push Scot's count to 79.
Oh, yeah... The second reason that first quote is important?
In this art we are not dealing with Hebrew Kabbalah or the Angelic Orders and Choirs of the Christian church, "but with a kind of majestie, and whith authoritie they call up by name". Weyer uses the words "Pseudomonarch Daemonum". That has been translated as "False Monarchy of Demons". Weyer's source work uses the words "Princes", "Kings", and "Offices of Spirits" right in its title. What does this mean to us?
This is a subject I will return to again on this blog, but the offices and titles used in the Pseudomonarchy of Demons and the Goetia of Solomon describe an order not to be found in the works of Agrippa or Crowley. Kings, Princes, Marquisses, Dukes, Earls, Presidents... to understand what these titles mean and how to use the names, seals, and lamens of this art with majesty and authority, you need to put down 777 and pick up some books on Heraldry.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
The Ring or Disc of Solomon?
In the Mathers/Crowley edition of the Goetia of Solomon, you can find an odd diagram of the Ring of Solomon. The text tells us, "This is the Form of the Magic Ring, or rather Disc, of Solomon, the figure whereof is to be made in gold or silver."
Disc of Solomon? Where else can we read about this Disc of Solomon? Is it in the Testament of Solomon? Maybe the Talmud? Josephus? No, those all mention a finger ring.
What about all the manuscripts of the Goetia of Solomon? Unlike Mathers, we can search the internet and in a short period of time collect PDF versions of most of the manuscripts. A very good version of the GoS can be found at Joseph H. Peterson's site (click HERE). That's where I snagged this image:
This diagram shows a simple band with the word TETRAGRAMMATON inscribed on the inside and ANEPHENETON-MICHAEL written on the outside (the X is a correction to ANEPHEXETON). There is no mention of a "Disc of Solomon" in any manuscript of the Goetia of Solomon. The diagrams just looked like discs to Mathers and Crowley.
A ring like this would have been easy to acquire in the 16th and 17th centuries. All you would have to do is purchase a band like the ones used in common posie rings. For a little extra charge, the smith or jeweler would probably stamp or engrave the words for you. Or you could put your burin to good use.
Disc of Solomon? Where else can we read about this Disc of Solomon? Is it in the Testament of Solomon? Maybe the Talmud? Josephus? No, those all mention a finger ring.
What about all the manuscripts of the Goetia of Solomon? Unlike Mathers, we can search the internet and in a short period of time collect PDF versions of most of the manuscripts. A very good version of the GoS can be found at Joseph H. Peterson's site (click HERE). That's where I snagged this image:
A ring like this would have been easy to acquire in the 16th and 17th centuries. All you would have to do is purchase a band like the ones used in common posie rings. For a little extra charge, the smith or jeweler would probably stamp or engrave the words for you. Or you could put your burin to good use.
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