Planetary and Manuscript Sets

Lansdowne 1202: Armadel’s French Catalogue

The French Armadel manuscript gathers a large pentacle catalogue alongside smaller spirit groups and planetary figures. Its four-book arrangement also includes preparations, experiments, spirit accounts, ring talismans and a book of psalms. [1]

Lansdowne MS 1202

Armadel’s four books

Lansdowne MS 1202 bears the title The True Keys of King Solomon, by Armadel. McLean describes a French manuscript of 116 folios. Its first book moves from divine love and planetary times to the circle, prayers, stronger conjurations, pentacle making and the discovery of theft. [1]

The second book concerns preparations and materials: the conduct of the master and companions, fasting, baths, instruments, incense, clothing, writing materials, parchment and silk. A third book addresses spirits and their powers. The fourth opens with spirits governing under the orders of the Sovereign Creator.

[1]

The large catalogue and its smaller groups

In the fourth book, McLean records eighty-two drawings under the heading for sacred medals or pentacles. Six more follow under a heading for making spirits favourable, then twelve for conjuring infernal spirits, another diagram and planetary figures. The eighty-two belong to the main sequence; the manuscript contains further groups beyond it. [1]

The catalogue continues with characters for twelve rings in which a spirit is enclosed, followed by the Golden Book on the virtues and characters of the psalms of David. Its psalm sequence runs from 1 to 150. [1]

Seven planets at the end of the sequence

Peterson’s transcription presents three figures with each planetary passage on manuscript pages 165–171. The order is Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Mars, the Sun and the Moon. Their notices describe squares ranging from three by three for Saturn to nine by nine for the Moon. [2]

The Saturn notice specifies lead and a retrograde Saturn, and says that nothing will prosper where its figure is placed in new buildings or an assembly of people. The Jupiter figure is associated with love and obtaining requests; Venus with women’s love; Mercury with science, wisdom and genius; Mars with victory over enemies; the Sun with the favour of great lords; and the Moon with protection from illness and safety in travel. [2]

Mathers describes the coloured pentacles of Lansdowne 1202 as carefully drawn, but leaves out its concluding material that he associates with the Grimorium Verum. His edition arranges the Key in two books. The four-book Armadel manuscript therefore preserves a broader arrangement than the one he chose to print. [3][1]

Sources and editions

Adam McLean, description of Lansdowne MS 1202
Manuscript description of the French Armadel version. Lansdowne MS 1202 entry: title and physical description; contents of Books I–IV; main and additional pentacle groups, ring talismans and Golden Book.
McLean records the manuscript’s chapter headings and drawing counts.
Joseph H. Peterson, transcription of Lansdowne MS 1202, Book IV
French manuscript text with editorial notes. Manuscript pp. 165–171: complete Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Mars, Sun and Moon notices and accompanying figures.
The planetary passages specify square sizes and attributed effects.
S. L. MacGregor Mathers, The Key of Solomon the King
S. L. MacGregor Mathers, 1889; printed edition, including editorial restoration of Hebrew characters. Preface, printed pp. vi–vii; description of Lansdowne MS 1202 and the edited two-book arrangement. Facsimile PDF pp. 5–6.

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