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The Book of ceremonial Magic

The Book of ceremonial Magic

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Principem et ejus Angelos Conjurationes ex originale Romæ servato, Rome, 1529. <strong>The</strong><br />

authenticity <strong>of</strong> this work is evidently questioned by its exclusion, and it is impossible to<br />

speak certainly concerning it, as, on account <strong>of</strong> its extreme rarity, few public libraries,<br />

none apparently in England, possess an example. But it is evidently the formularies <strong>of</strong><br />

exorcism, a rite <strong>of</strong> the Church and possessing a considerable body <strong>of</strong> literature, to which<br />

even a Pope <strong>of</strong> past ages might not inconceivably have contributed. However this may be,<br />

the attribution in the one case will account for it in the other. <strong>The</strong> book <strong>of</strong> Black <strong>Magic</strong><br />

may be merely a perversion <strong>of</strong> the orthodox conjurations, and if not that, is a reprisal; it is<br />

Sorcery revenging herself on a Pope who cast out devils by representing him as the<br />

prince <strong>of</strong> those who dealt with them.<br />

Having said something to justify the Grimoire from groundless condemnation, it is<br />

necessary now to add, on the<br />

p. 107<br />

authority <strong>of</strong> its own evidence, that it is a malicious and somewhat clever imposture,<br />

which was undeniably calculated to deceive ignorant persons <strong>of</strong> its period who may have<br />

been magically inclined, more especially ignorant priests, since it pretends to convey the<br />

express sanction <strong>of</strong> the Apostolical Seat for the operations <strong>of</strong> Infernal <strong>Magic</strong> and<br />

Necromancy. <strong>The</strong> entire claim is set forth most curiously at the beginning <strong>of</strong> the pseudoconstitution,<br />

and must be cited at considerable length to convey its full force.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Holy Apostolic Chair, unto which the keys <strong>of</strong> the Kingdom <strong>of</strong> Heaven were given by<br />

those words that Christ Jesus addressed to St. Peter: I give unto thee the Keys <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Kingdom <strong>of</strong> Heaven, and unto thee alone the Power <strong>of</strong> commanding the Prince <strong>of</strong><br />

Darkness and his angels, who, as slaves <strong>of</strong> their Master, do owe him honour, glory and<br />

obedience, by those other words <strong>of</strong> Christ Jesus: Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,<br />

and Him only shalt thou serve--hence by the Power <strong>of</strong> these Keys the Head <strong>of</strong> the Church<br />

has been made the Lord <strong>of</strong> Hell. But seeing that until this present the Sovereign Pontiffs<br />

have alone possessed the Power <strong>of</strong> using invocations and commanding Spirits, His<br />

Holiness Honorius the Third, being moved by his Pastoral care, has benignly desired to<br />

communicate the methods and faculty <strong>of</strong> invoking and controlling Spirits to his venerable<br />

Brethren in Jesus Christ, adding the Conjurations which must be used in such case, the<br />

whole being contained in the Bull which here follows.<br />

HONORIUS,<br />

Servant <strong>of</strong> the Servants <strong>of</strong> God, unto all and each <strong>of</strong> our venerable Brethren <strong>of</strong> the Holy<br />

Roman Church, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots; unto all and each <strong>of</strong> our sons<br />

p. 108<br />

in Jesus Christ, Priests, Deacons, Subdeacons, Acolytes, Exorcists, Cantors, Pastors,<br />

Clerks both Secular and Regular, Health and Apostolic Benediction. In those days when<br />

the Son <strong>of</strong> God, Saviour <strong>of</strong> the World, generated in the fulness <strong>of</strong> time, and born,<br />

according to the flesh, <strong>of</strong> the Race <strong>of</strong> David, did live on this earth, Whose Most Holy

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