Mysteriorum Libri Quinque
or, Five Books of Mystical Exercises of Dr. John Dee
An Angelic Revelation of Kabbalistic Magic and other Mysteries
Occult and Divine
revealed to Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelly
A.D. 1581 - 1583
with a preface by Elias Ashmole
Edited by Joseph Peterson
Copyright 1985 by Joseph H. Peterson
First published by Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks, Wales 1985
All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced
in any form without written permission from the editor.
Please direct inquiries to:
[email protected]
Dr. John Dee
Mysteriorum Libri Quinque
CONTENTS
-
- Preface by Elias Ashmole
-
- Introduction
LIBER I -- The manner of working
-
- Latin Oration
-
- John Dee his note
-
- Preliminary invocation
-
- Prologue (Actio Saulina) Dec 22, 1581. Annael foretells the
coming Actions
- 1.
- First Action. March 10, 1582. Edward Talbot (Edward Kelley)
arrives and invokes Anchor. Uriel appears. Dee inquires about
the Book of Soyga. A false revelation of the gold sigil
- 2.
- Second Action. Mar 10, later. Dee inquires again about Soyga.
Uriel refers him to Michael. Sigillum Dei described. The holy
table shown. Lundrumguffa, a wicked spirit, to be discharged
- 3.
- Third Action. Mar 11. Uriel and Michael expel Lundrumguffa
- 4.
- Fourth Action. Mar 14. Uriel and Michael appear. A host with
letters. The Angel of a man's profession resembling John Dee.
The ring of Solomon revealed. Advice regarding the sigil EMETH
- 5.
- Fifth Action. Mar 15. Salamian, Raphael, Fortitudo Dei and
Uriel appear. Mamon and his servants expelled. Magical instructions
given.
LIBER II -- The Mysteries most marvelous of Sigillum DEI,
otherwise called Sigillum AEMETH
- 6.
- Sixth Action. Mar 1582 (Date uncertain). Michael, Uriel and
Semiel appear. The form of the Sigil described. Forty angels appear
and reveal 40 letters for the sigil's border
- 7.
- Seventh Action. Later, same day. Michael corrects several
errors. The interpretation of the 40 letters given
- 8.
- Eighth Action. Later, same day. Michael appears. More instruction
concerning the 40 letters. Adam's Treatise from Paradise
to be revealed
- 9.
- Ninth Action. Mar 20. Uriel appears and defers the action
until later
- 10.
- Tenth Action. Mar 20, later. Michael and Uriel appear. Seven
names extracted from the 40 letters. These are corrected. Symbols
for the 7 angles of the Sigil are revealed. A table of 49 letters
is revealed, from which are extracted the names of 7 angels. E.
Talbot to fetch Lord Mowntegle's books
- 11.
- Eleventh Action. Mar 21. Michael and Uriel appear. Phanael,
an angelic trumpeter. Seven companies of pillars. A table of 49
letters is revealed, from which four series of seven names are
extracted
-
- The Form of the Sigillum DEI EMETH
LIBER III -- Of the 7 Ensigns of Creation
- 12.
- Twelfth Action. Apr 28, 1582. Michael appears. The first of
seven talismans revealed.
- 13.
- Thirteenth Action. Apr 28, later. Michael appears. The other
six talismans revealed
- 14.
- Fourteenth Action. Apr 29. Michael and Uriel appear. The seven
tables of the mystical heptarchy are revealed. Offices of the
angels described. 68 The seven tables 70 A list of the 49 angels
extracted from the tables 77 A circular diagram of the 49 names
- 15.
- Fifteenth Action. May 4. Michael and Uriel appear. A parable
of two birds is seen as a vision. Magical instruction
LIBER IV -- The offices of the angels of the Mystical Heptarchy:
"Post reconciliationem Kellianam"
- 16.
- Sixteenth Action. Nov 15, 1582. Seven angels appear. Carmara
appears. His office. Balanced and unbalanced kings. True and impure
noblemen. Scholars of light and scholars of confusion. Hagonel
appears. His instruction.
-
- Note by E. Ashmole about the beginning of Liber IV
- 17.
- Seventeenth Action. Nov 16. An angel with a triple crown appears
with seven angels. Bornogo and Befafes
- 18.
- Eighteenth Action. Nov 16, later. Offices of angels Butmono,
Bralges, Blisdon. The 7 characters of the kings
- 19.
- Nineteenth Action. Nov 17. Carmara appears. A company of 42
angels reveal a table of 42 letters
- 20.
- Twentieth Action. Nov 17, later. Carmara appears. Magical
instruction
- 21.
- Twenty-first Action. Nov 19. Carmara, Bobogel and Babalel
appear. A company of 42 angels reveal 42 letters. Magical instruction
- 22.
- Twenty-second Action. Nov 20. Carmara, Babalel and Befafes
appear. Their offices revealed. 42 angels and 42 letters
- 23.
- Twenty-third Action. Nov 20, later. Carmara, Bnapsen and Brorges
appear. Magical instruction from Michael, Uriel and Raphael
- 24.
- Twenty-fourth Action. Nov 21. Carmara appears. He reveals
himself as Baligon. Magical instruction. Explanations of the letters
of the tables. The shewstone miraculously appears
- 25.
- Twenty-fifth Action. 1583 Mar 23. Edward Kelley and John Husey
return with the Book, the scroll and the powder. Medicina Dei
invoked for instruction
- 26.
- Twenty-sixth Action. Mar 24. Me. appears and shows the Holy
Book, Liber LOAGAETH
- 27.
- Twenty-seventh Action. Mar 26. Me. appears and shows the Holy
Book again. A sermon. The Adamical alphabet is revealed
- 28.
- Twenty-eighth Action. Mar 26, later. A vision of a great battle.
Me. appears. Instruction regarding the mission of Adrian Gilbert
- 29.
- Twenty-ninth Action. Mar 28. Gargat, a wicked spirit intrudes
while Dee is away. Dee returns and asks the angels for help. Gargat
confronted. A counterfeit scroll. Gargat punished. More advice
for Adrian Gilbert. Advice for John Davis refused
- 30.
- Thirtieth Action. Mar 28, later. Dee complains that the Queen
will not reform the calendar. Me. appears. Advice for Adrian Gilbert.
Magical instruction
- 31.
- Thirty-first Action. Mar 29 (Good Friday). Me. appears. A
fire enters EK's head. The first line of the Holy Book
revealed
- 32.
- Thirty-second Action. Mar 31 (Easter). Me. appears. The second
line revealed. Dee requests an abridgement of the transmittal
process. Dee rebuked. Me. not to come again until the book is
finished. Prophesies of doom
- 33.
- Thirty-third Action. Apr 2. Lines 38 revealed
- 34.
- Thirty-fourth Action. Apr 3. Lines 9-20
- 35.
- Thirty-fifth Action. Apr 3, later. Lines 21-26. Further instruction
on the transmission of the Holy Book
- 36.
- Thirty-sixth Action. Apr 4. Lines 27-35
- 37.
- Thirty-seventh Action. Apr 5. Charles Sled and EK rebuked
for quarreling. A vision: A headless people to be restored. Lines
36-42
- 38.
- Thirty-eighth Action. Apr 6. Lines 43-48. The Holy Book titled
Amzes naghezes Hardeh
- 39.
- Thirty-ninth Action. Apr 6. Uriel appears to answer questions.
Great misery predicted. Book to be completed in 40 days. The Book
is referred to as 'a Book of Secrets and Key of this World'.
EK begins to write the book down directly. Advice regarding Mistress
Haward. The last line of leaf 1. The beginning of leaf 2
-
- A note of 5 doubts concerning the Holy Book
- 40.
- Fortieth Action. Apr 10. The Macedonian and Mr. Sanford's
letters
-
- The ten seals showing the location of treasures
-
- Apr 11. John Dee deciphers the manuscript
- 41.
- Forty-first Action. Apr 15. An earth spirit bites EK
- 42.
- Forty-second Action. Apr 18. A sentence of 21 letters
- 43.
- Forty-third Action. Apr 18, later. Il introduced. Instruction
and a sermon. Inquiry concerning Soyga. The language infused
into Adam in paradise. Dee asks about the lost Book of Enoch
mentioned in Jude, and also about the lost writings of
Esdras. Il sings a song. Instructions for obtaining the treasures.
EK upset about the diaries hidden in Dee's chimney
QUINTI LIBRI MYSTERIORUM APPENDIX
- 44.
- Forty-fourth Action. 1583 Apr 20. Il gives advice and reconciles
Dee and Kelly
- 45.
- Forty-fifth Action. Apr 23. Dee and Kelly pray that the angels'
silence be ended. Uriel invoked. A strong rebuke for their impatience
-
- Apr 26. EK pacified by Dee and Adrian Gilbert
- 46.
- Forty-sixth Action. Apr 28. Il appears. A lesson on the transposition
of letters. The Adamical alphabet. Instructions regarding the
painting of the furniture. The Holy Table revealed
- 47.
- Forty-seventh Action. Apr 28, later. Il appears and gives
magical instruction
- 48.
- Forty-eighth Action. Apr 29. Il appears. The Book of Soyga
or Aldaraia discussed. Magical instruction. The gold lamine,
an instrument of dignification
-
- Apr 29, later. An evil spirit attempts to pass off a counterfeit
character
- 49.
- Forty-ninth Action. Apr 29, later. Help sought to banish the
evil spirit. A sermon
- 50.
- Fiftieth Action. May 5. Uriel appears to answer questions.
Magical instruction
- 51.
- Fifty-first Action. May 5, later. Uriel appears. Magical instruction.
The treasure discussed. The book, the scroll and powder. Advice
regarding Al Lasky. Visions of the beheading of Mary Queen of
Scotts and the Spanish Armada
-
- The completion of the tables by EK. The correct form of the
holy alphabet given
- 52.
- Fifty-second Action. May 8. Visions. A spirit appears and
denounces the actions. Uriel banishes him. Money sought from the
angels. Uriel issues a strong rebuke. Apparition of a disembodied
tongue
- 53.
- Fifty-third Action. May 9. Mercy sought for their impatience.
Uriel responds. Magical instruction. EK buys a horse to travel
to gather the earths of the treasures
- 54.
- Fifty-fourth Action. May 23. EK returns with the eleven earths.
Proceeds received from the Royal Mines. Michael, Uriel and Raphiel
appear. Instructions. Advice regarding Al Lasky
ADDENDA
-
- TABLE 1
-
- TABLE 2
-
- Additional Angelic phrases found in this book
-
- Statistics on the Angelic Tables
-
- Commentary
-
- Bibliography
-
- Index
PREFACE
Be it remembred, that the 20th: of August 1672, I received by
the hands of my servant Samuell Story, a parcell of Dr: Dee's
manuscripts, all written with his owne hand; vizt: his Conference
with Angells, which first began the 22th of Dec: Anno: 1581, &
continued to the end of May Anno: 1583, where the printed booke
of the remaining conferences (published by Dr: Causabon) begins,
& are bound up in this volume.
Beside these, the booke intituled, The 48 Claves Angelicae,
also, Liber Scientia Terrestris Auxilij & Victoria
(these two being those very individuall bookes which the angells
commanded to be burnt[1],
& were after restored[2] by
them as appeares by the printed Relation of Dr: Dee's Actions
with Spirits pag: 418 & 419) The booke intituled De Heptarchia
Mystica Collectaneorum Lib: Primus, and a booke of invocations
or Calls, begining with the squares filld with letters, about
the black cross. These 4 bookes I have bound up in another volume[3].
All which, were a few daies before delivered to my said servant,
for my perusall (I being then at Mr: William Lillies house at
Hersham in Surrey) by my good freind Mr: Thomas Wale, one of his
maiesties warders in the Tower of London.
The 5t: of Sept: following Mr: Wale (having heard of my retourne
to towne) came to my office in the Excise Office in Broadstreete,
& told me he was content to exchang all the foresaid bookes,
for one of myne, vizt: The Institution, Lawes & Ceremonies
of the most Noble Order of the Garter, to this I agreed,
and provided one, which I sent him fairely bound, & gilt on
the back[4].
On the 10th: of the said Sept: Mr: Wale came thither to me againe,
& brought his wife with him, from her I received the following
account of the preservation of these bookes, even till they came
to my hands, vizt: That her former husband was one Mr: Jones a
confectioner, who formerly dwelt at the Plow in Lumbardstreet
London, & who, shortly after they were married, tooke her
with him into Alde streete among the joyners, to buy some houshold
stuff, where (at the corner house) they saw a chest of cedarwood,
about a yard & halfe long, whose lock & hinges, being
of extraordinary neate worke, invited them to buy it. The master
of the shop told them it had ben parcell of the goods of Mr: John
Woodall Chirurgeon (father to Mr: Thomas Woodall late Serjant
Chirurgeon to his now Maiestie King Charles the 2d: (my intimate
friend) and tis very probable he bought it after Dr: Dee's death,
when his goods were exposed to sale.
Twenty yeares after this (& about 4 yeares before the fatall
fire of London) she & her said husband occasionally removing
this chest out of its usuall place, thought they heard some loose
thing ratle in it, toward the right hand end, under the box or
till thereof, & by shaking it, were fully satisfied it was
so: Hereupon her husband thrust a peece of iron into a small crevice
at the bottome of the Chest, & thereupon appeared a private
drawer, which being drawne out, therein were found divers bookes
in manuscript, & papers, together with a litle box, &
therein a chaplet of olive beades, & a cross of the same wood,
hanging at the end of them.
They made no great matter of these bookes &c: because they
understood them not, which occasioned their servant maide to wast
about one halfe of them under pyes & other like uses, which
when discovered, they kept the rest more safe.
About two yeares after the discovery of these bookes, Mr: Jones
died, & when the fire of London hapned, though the chest perished
in the flames, because not easily to be removed, yet the bookes
were taken out & carried with the rest of Mrs: Jones her goods
into Moorefields, & being brought safely back, she tooke care
to preserve them; and after marrying with the foresaid Mr: Wale,
he came to the knowledge of them, & thereupon, with her consent,
sent them to me, as I haue before set downe.
E. Ashmole.
NOTES:
- 10 Apr. 1586.
- 30 Apr. 1586.
- Sloane 3191.
- As a further testimony
of the sence of Mr. Wales kindnes, shortly after his death, I
sent for his son, & bestowed on him, one of my deputies places
in the Excise, with an allowance of 80 £ p Anum.
[Earliest versions of Angelic or "Enochian" alphabet]
Dee, John, 1527-1608.
Mysteriorum Libri Quinque ('The Five Books of the Mysteries') / by Dr. John Dee.
edited & translated by Joseph H. Peterson
Originally published: Five Books of Mystical Exercises.
Wales: Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks, 1985
1. Christianity -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800.
2. Hermetism -- Early works to 1800.
I. Peterson, Joseph. 1954- . II. Title.
BF1623. 1985
133.-D