three books of occult philosophy or magic

8/16/2019 Three Books of Occult Philosophy or Magic

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8 LIS T O F C O N TEN TS .

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f

t

h

e Passions of

the M i

nd

,

t

h

ei

r O

ri

g

ina

l So

u rce,

D if

f

erences,

and K

i

nd

s

.

19

4


12/304

1

0 LIS T OF C O N TEN TS .

L XIII . How

t

h

e

Passions

o

f

t

he

M i

n

d ch

a

n

g

e

t

h

e

p ro

p e

r Bo

d

y

b

y

cha

n

g

i

n

g

it

Acc

i

de

nt

s

and

m

o

vi

n

g

t

he

Sp irit.

195

L XI V .H

o

w

t

h

e

Pass

i

ons

o

f

t

he M ind chang

e th

e

Bod

y

b

y

w

a

y

o

f

Im

it

a

t

ion

f

rom

so

m

e

Resemb

l a

nce

;

o

f

t

he T

ran

s

f

o

r

m

in

g

a

n

d

Translating

o

f

Men

,

a

nd

w

hatF

orce theIm

a

g

i

na

t

i

ve

Pow e

r ha

t

h

,

noto

n l y

over theBod

y

b

u

tt

h

e

So

u l .

19

7

L X V . How

t

he

Pas

s

i

o

n

s

o

f

t

h

e

M ind c

a

n Work of

t

he

m

se

l ve

s

up on Another ’9 Body

200

L X V I . Thatthe Passions of

t

h

e

M ind a

r

e H elp ed by

a

C e

l est

i

a

l Sea

s

on

,

and ho w

Necessa ry

t

he

C

onstan

c

y

o

f

the

M ind is in eve

r

y

Work . 203

LX

V

H

.

H

o

w

t

h

e M ind of

M

a

n

m

a

y

b

e

J

o

i

ne

d

w

it

h

t

h

e

M i

n

d

o

f

the

Sta r

s

,

and Intell ig

e

nc

es o

f

t

he

C e

l e

s

tia l s,

an

d

,

t

o

g

e

t

he

r with them,

Im

p res

s

ce

rtai

n

w

onde

rf

u

l V it

ue

s

up o

n

i

n

f

e

ri

o

r Th

i

n

g

s .

2

0

4

L X V II I

H

o

w

o

ur

M ind can

C han

g

e and

Bind

i

n

f

e

rio

rTh

i

n

g

s

t

o

t

h

e

E

nds w h

i

h

w

e D es

ire

2

0

6

L XI X .O

f

S

p eec

h

,

a

nd

t

he

Occu

l tV irtu e of

Words . 20

7

L XX .O

f

t

h

e

V irtue

o

f

Pro

p er

N

a

m

es

2

0

8

y L XXI .

O

f

man

y

Wo

rds

j

o

i

n

e

d

t

o

g

e

t

h

e

r,

as

i

n Sen

t

ences and

V e

rses

;

an

d o

f

t

h

e

V i

rt

u

es and

A

s

tritio

ns

o

f

C ha

rms

.

21

0

L XXII .

O

f

t

he

w

o

nde

rf

u l Pow er of

E

n

c

h

an

t

men

t

. .

21

3

V L XXIII .

O

f

t

he

V irt

u e o

f

Writ

i

n

g,

and o

f

M

ak

i

n

g

Imp recatio

n

s

,

and Inscr

ip t

i

ons 215

L XXI V . 0

f

t

he Prop o

rtion,

C orre

s

p on

d

e

n

c

y

,

a

n

d

R e

d

uc

ti

on o

f

L ettrs to theC

el esti

a

l S

i

g

n

s and

Pa

n

e

t

s

,

A

c

cording

t

o va rious

To

n

g

u

e

s

,

an

d

a Tab

l e

t

hereof

.

21

6


13/304

LIS T O

F

C ON TEN TS . 11

B

y

He

n

r

y

M

o

r l

e

y

.

C riti

i

s

m

o

n A

g

ripp a ’s Natu ra l M ag

i

E

x

p os

iti

o

n

o

f

t

he

C aba

l a

.

N

e

w Ta

bl e of

t

he

C aba

l a a

n

d Ta

ro

t

(

s

p ec

i

a

ll y

comp il ed)

Or

i

g

i

na

l

and S

e le

c

t

e

d

.

Sy

m

bo

l s of

the A

l che

mi

s

t

s

T

h

e

M a

g

i M irro

r,

a M essa

g

e

t

o

M y

s

t

i

s.

2

7

9

I l

u

s

t

ra

t

i

o

ns a nd Et

c

hin

g

s .

Frontip ice

3

2

C a l a

m

u

s

94

C

h

ara c

t

rs o

f

D i

v

i

ne

L ett

rs

113

C a

b

a l

i

t

i

a

l Tabl e of

Cc

-

o

rd

i

na

t

C hara

c

trs

22

0

Tree of

t

h

e

C aba

l a

,

t

hre

e

f

u ll - p ag

e

e

th

i

n

g

s

,

f

a

c

i

n

g

.

Rosiru cian Sy

m

bol o

f

t

h

e

Sp iritof

Natu re,

f

acin

g

.

Sy

m

bols o

f

t

h

e

Al chemists


14/304

The Oc c u l

t

Ph

i

o

so

p

h

y

.

J

UD

ICIOUS READER : This is t rue a nd s ublime O

cc ult Ph i los op hy. Tounders t a nd the m ys t erious in

fl

uenc es of the int e llect ua l world up on thec eles t ia l

,

a nd of b oth up on the t erres t ria l;

a nd to know how to dis p ose a ndfit ourse l

v

es s o a s to b e c a p a ble of rec eiv

ing

t

h

e

s up erior op era t ions ofthese worlds

,

whereby we m a y b e ena bled to Op era t e wonderful thing

s by a

na t ura l p ower

to dis cover the sec re t counse ls of men , to inc rea se r iches ,to ov

ercome enem ies ,

to p roc ure the fa v

or of men,

to ex

p e l d ise a ses ,

to p reser

v

e hea lth,

to p rolong

life,

to renew youth,

to fore t ell fut ure ev

ent s ,

tosee a nd know th in

g

s done m a ny m i les off,

a nd s uch lik

e a s these . Theseth in

g

s m a y seem inc redible,

ye t rea d b ut the ens uing

t rea t ise a nd thous ha lt see the p oss ibilit y confirmed b oth by rea s on a nd ex a m ple .

.

F

.

,

the t ra ns la tor of the E

ng

lis h ed it ion of 1651.


15/304

P

R

E

F

A

CE

.

I

N the l ast ha lf of 1509 and the first m

o nths of 1510Corne l ius A

g

rippa

,

k no

w

n in hi d

a

y

as a

Ma

gic

ian

,

g a the re d t og ether a

l l

t

he My s

t ic

l o

re he ha

d

o

b ta

in ed

by the ene rg y and a

rdo

r o

f

y o

u

t

h a

nd c om

pil e

d it in

t

o t

he e l ab o

rate s

y s

t em

o

f

Ma

gic ,

in

t

h

re

e b oo

k s

,

k no

w

n

a s

Occ u l t P hil oso

phy ,

t

h

e fi

rs

t b oo

k o

f

w

hic h atura

l

Magic

c onstit ute s the pre se ntvol um

e

.

Ag rippap

u

b

l

i

hed hi

O

cc u

l t P hil oso

phy ,

w

ith a

dd it

iona

l c ha

p

t ers,

in

1533. The o

n l y En

g l is

h t ra

n

s

l a

t ion a

ppe a

re di

n L o ndon in 1651 .I

t i

s a

th

o

rou

g hl y e dite d a

nd

re v ised e dit ion of this l atter w

o

rk tha

tw e pro

du c e .

So

me t ransl a

ting h

a

s

b ee

n d

o

n e

a

n

d m

iss

in

g pa

rts s

u

p

pl id . The re ade r i assure d thatw hil e w e havem

o

d

i

fied

som

e o

f

th

e

v

e

rybroa

d E

ng l is

ho

f

t

h

e se

v

e

n

t

ee n

thc e ntury

,

t

h

at heh

as a thoro

ug hly v

a l id w

o

rk .

Du

e

c a re has b een tak e

n

t

o

pre se

rv

e a

l

l

t

h

e

qua

in t n

e s

s

of

t

he

E

ng lis

h t

ex

t

as

f

a

r

as c ons

is

t

en

t

w

it h

pl a

in

re

a

di

n

g

.

W

e hav

e

ende a

vo

re

d

t

o

d

o

f u ll j

us

t

ic

e t

o o

u

r

a

u

thor,

t

h

e dem

ands of those pure ly m

y stic a l ,

an

d

t

h

e

natura

l co

n

s

e rva

t

ism o

f

t

h

e an

tiqua

ry a

nd c o

ll e c t or .

I

n this

w

e b e l iev

e

w

e ha

ve

f u ll y su c c e eded .T

h

e l if e of Ag rippa,

u

p

t

o

the t

i

me of

w

riting h

i

O

c c u l t P hil oso

phy ,

i

s a

l

so

giv

en

,

draw

n m

os

t ly from

He

nry Morl e

y

’

s

e xc

e ll ent

l if eo

f Corne l ius Ag rippa.

T

h

a

t part of the vol u

m

e c redited to Mr. Morl ey m

a

y

be de s

ig nate

d as an honestS

k

e

pt ic ’s

c

o

ntrib utio

n

to My stic

ism

,

an

d

h

i

s c

h

a

pte

rs

ar

e

pro

d

u c e d e ntire,

a s

j

u

st

ic e to bo

th him andA g rippa

c anno

tb

e

done ot herw

i

s

e

,

a

n

d they a

re an e s

pe cia l ly va

l ua

bl e partof

M

y

s

ti l it e rat

ure .

1

3


16/304

14

ED

ITO R

’ S PREFACE .

The t abl e of

t

he

Ca

b a

l a

,

ne

w l y co mpil e d for thisv ol

um

e ,

w ill b e f ou

n

d t

o

po

ss

es

s supe rior f e a t ure s ov e ra

l

l o the rs.

F

ollow ing the ab ove w e give a c hapte r on th e E

m

py

rean

He a

v

e n

,

w hich

w

ill e

x

pl a in muc h tha t our

a u

t

hor has

w ritte n

.

I

t

is

de

riv

ed ma in ly f ro m an oldocc u l t

w

o

rk o

n

P hy s

i .

”

The S

y m

b

o

l s of t

h

e A

lc hem

i

s

ts

w

il l b e fo und bo thus

e f u

l and

in

s

t ru

c

t iv

e . T

he c

ha

pte r on the Magic

Mirror , w hic h e nds the work , i b e l ive d t o b e the b e st co ntrib ut ion on the sub

j

e c t ex tant

A

l

l

th e origina

l ill u

s

t

ratio

n

s

an

d so

me new and

s

e l e c t

e d o n

e s

w

ill b

e

f oun

d,

a s a

l sov

ario us et c hings of c h

a

ra

c te rs .

Tha

t o

n

e o

n t

he

E

m

py r

e an He ave n c ont a

in

s

,

w

e

hav

e

c a

use

t

o

b

e lie

v

e

,

so

me of the v e ry hid

d

en k now l e dg e re l ating to the L ostW

ord . in is a m

u c h o

lde r pl a

te tha

n

t

he

w

o

rk itw a s t ak e n fro m.S

o me part s o

f

the v

o

l ume

w il l inte re st tho se w ho l ov e to w ork outhidden thin

g

s

.

The e dit o r c onv ey s his w arme st thank s t o tho se f rie nds w ho hav e e nc ourag ed him in the

w

o rk n the

Cab al

a t abl e , the il l ustrat ion of the G ra nd Sol ar M

an

and

the t ran

sl at ing

ut

s

ide o

f

w

hic h he has

n

o

ta

sk e dor re c e ive d an

y

he l p . This b e ing the ca se o

ur f rie ndsw ill pl e ase e x c use an

y

part ic u l ar thi

n

g tha t ma

y

n

o

t

so un

d pl e a

sa

n t ly to

th

e e

ar .

A g e ne ra l inde xw

il l b e inse rte d in the third a

n

d

co ncl uding v ol um

e of the Occ u l t P hilo so phy .


17/304

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join


18/304

1

6 EARLY LIFE O F AG

R IPPA .

n

o

thin

g s

im

pl e r tha

n to seta

pa

rtfor l ite rary purposes

tha

t

ha

l f of h

i

re

a

l s

t

y

l e

w

hih w as a l re ady com

p

l

e

t

e l

y

R o

man .

He n

ry Co

rn

e

l iu s

Ag rippa von Net

t

e

s

h

e

i

m b ec am

e there f ore to the w orld what he isa

l so c a

l l e

d in

t

h

is

na

rra

t

iv

e

Corne l iu s Ag rippa .

H

e i

s

the

o

n

l y

m

e

m

b e r o

f

the f amil y of Nett e she im

c o

n

c e

rnin

g w

hom an

y

re

c o

rds

hav

e b e en l e f t for the in

s

t ru

c t

ion

o

f

po ste

rit y . N

et

te s

h

e im it se lf is a pl ac e o

f

litt

l e n

o

te ,

d

is

t

a

nt

a

b o

utt

w

e nty - five mil e s to the

so

u

th

w

e

st of

Co l og ne , It l ie s in a va ll e y , thro ug hw

hic

h fl

o

w

s t

h

e st

re a

m

f ro

m

o

n

e o

f

t

he

s

m

a ll sourc e so

f

t

h

e

R

oe

r.

T

h

e

ho

m

e o

f

t

he Vo

n

N

e

tt e she ims,

w henthe y

w

e re

n

o

t

pe

rso

n

a

l l y a

tt a c

hed to the se rvic e of

t

he em

pe

ro

r,

w

as a

t

Co

l o

g

n

e . Th

e anc e s

t

ors ofC

or

n

e

l

i

us

A g rippa

h

ad

b ee n fo

r

g en

e rat ion s in the se rvic e

o

f

t

h

e roy a l house of Au st ria ; hi f a the r had in thisre spe c t

w

a

l k ed in the st eps of his f ore f a th e rs,

and

fro

m a

c hil d Co

rne l ius

l o o

k ed for no

thin

g b ette r tha

n

to

d

o

the sam

e .

It is

prope r to me n t ion that among the sc hol ars o

f

G e rmany one,

w

ho b e f ore the t ime of A g rippaw

a

s

k now n a s the m

ost f am

o

u

s o

f

m

agic ians , b e lo ng e d toth e

same c

it y of Col og ne;

for

the re

,

in the

thirtee n

th

c e ntu ry ,

Alb e rt us

Mag nus

ta

ug ht and

it is t

he re tha

t

h

e

i

s

b uried .Bo

rn in Co

l o

g n

e did notme an in 1486

w ha

t i

t

ha

s

m

e

ant f

o

r m

a

ny g e

nerations a l mo s

t u

nt il no

w

born

int o the dark n e ss of am

ou ldering re c e pt a c l e of re l ic s .Then the t

o

w

n

w

a

s

n

ot

pries

t - ridde n

,

but

rode its

prie st s . For ne a

rl y a

thou

s

a

nd y e a

rs

prie s

t cra

f t and

handic ra f t hav e b att l e d for predominanc e w ithin i

t

s

w a ll s . P rie stc ra f t ex pe l l e d the J ew

s

,

b an

is

he d t

he

w e av e rs,

and g a ined thoroug hly the mas

t e

ry a

t

l a

st .

B

u

t

i

n

t

h

e

ti

m

e

o

f

Corn e lius A g rippa handic ra f t wasuppermost and in sac red C

o

l o

g n

e e

v

e ry t

ra

de

r and

me c han ic did hi partin k e eping w a

t c h o

n

the ar

c h


19/304

TR O

U B

LES

O F THE JEWS . 17

b is

ho

p. Eu

ro

pe c o

n

t a

ine

d the nb

ut

fe

w

c itie s thatw e r

e

l a

rg e r,

b us

ie r,

and

ric her,

for the R

hine was a

m

a

in

hig hw

a

y o

f

c o

m

me

rc e,

an

d s

h

e w

as

e nric hed,

n

o

t

o

n ly by herm

anuf ac turers andm

e rc hant s, but atthes

a

me

t

i

m

e a

l so

,

by a

l a

r

g e

re

c e ipt o

f t o

l l . Co

mm

erc ei t

he mo

st po

w

e

rf u

l an

t a

g on

is

t t

o

des

po

tism,

and

i

n

w ha

t

e

v

e r

pl a

c e

bo th are

bro

ug ht t o

g ethe r o

ne of

t

he m

m

u

s

t die .

P a

s

s

in

g by the

e a

rl ie r time

s

t

o abo u t t h e y e ar 1350

the re arose a dev ilish pe rse c ution ofthe J e w s inm

a

ny part s of Europe

,

an

d

t

h

e

J e w

s

o

f Col og ne

,

a l arme d by t

he

s

uff

e

ring s

t o w

hic

h o

thers of the ir r

a

c e had b e

en

ex

posed

,

w ithdrew into

the

ir ho

u

se s

,

w

ith the

ir w

iv

e s

a

nd c hil dre n,

and b urnt t h e mse l v

e s in the m

idst ofthe ir po

ss

e ss

i

o

n

s . T

h

e

f

e

w

w

h

o

h

ad

flin

ched

fro

m

this se lf - imm

ol ation w ere b an ishe d , and th e ir house sa

n

d l an

d

s

,

t

o

g e t he r w

ith

a l l t

h

e

l a

nd t ha

t had

b e

l on

g e dt

o Co l og ne J ew

s

,

rema ine d a ss

poil

s

in

t

h

e

h

a

nd

s o

f

t

h

e Col og n e Christ ian s . All hav

ing b e e n co

n

v

erte

dinto c a sh

,

t

h

e g a ins o

f

t

h

e transa

c tio

n

w

e re d

iv

ide

dequa lly b et

w

ee n t h e t o

w

n

a

n

d the arc hb isho

p. The

J e w s , tw enty y ears l a t e r, w ere ag a in a ll ow e d to re sidei

n

the pl a

c e o

n pa

y me n t o

f

a

t

ax

f

or

t

he

pro

t e

c t io

n

g ra

n

t

ed them.I

n 1369

t

he

c

i

ty w

a

s

ag a

i

n

i

n

t

urmoil ,

c au

s

e d by

a

dis

pu

t

e c o

nc ern ing priv

il eg e s b e t w e ent

h

e au

t ho

rit ie

s

of

the c hurch and the t ow

n

c ounc

il . Thew

e

av

e rs

,

a

s

a dem

oc ratic b ody , e x pre sse d t he ir viw s very strong and t

here

w

a

s

fig ht ing inth

e

s

treet s. Thew

e a

v

e rs

w

e

re s

u

bdu

e d;

the

y fl ed to the c hurc h

e s,

and

w

e

re

sl a

in a

t

the a

l t ars

. Eig htee n hundred of them,

a

l l

w

ho s

urv

iv

e d,

w e re b an ishe d,

suffering ,

o

f

c ourse

,

c onfis

c a

tio

n of the ir property ,

an

d Col og ne b e ing

cl eare d of a l l its w e avers

h

o

h

a

d

c

arrid on noin

c ons

ide ra

bl e

branc

h o

f

ma

nu f acture

he ir g u il dw as

de mo

l is

he

d . Th

is

e v

e nt o

c c urred t w

enty y ears

a f te r


20/304

18 EAR LY LIFE O

F

AG

R IPPA .

t h e t o w

n

ha

d

l os

t ,

i

n

t

he

J e

w

s

,

a

n

o

t

h

e r important

pa

rt o

f

it

s

in

dus

t ria

l po

pu

l a

t

ion

,

an

d

t

he proud c ity t

hu

s

w

a s

pa

s

s

in

g in

t

o

t

h

e

firs

t

s

t a

g e

o

f

its

de

c ay .

I

n

1

3

88

a

n

u

n ive rsity was e stab l ihed at Col og n e ,u

pon

t

he mo

de

l o

f the U

ni

v

e rsity of P aris . The o l og y and sc

ho

l as

t i

c phi

l oso

ph

y w

e

re the

c

hi f studie s c u l t iv

ated in it

and t

he

y we

re

tau

g ht i

n

s

u c h a w ay

a s t o w

in

m

a

n

y s

c ho

l a

rs

from ab

roa

d. E

ig ht y e ars a f t erw a

rds

,

c

h

u

rc

hmen

,

n

o

b

l e

s

,

and

t

ra

d

e

rs

w

ere ag a in c on

t e st ing the ir re spe c t ive c l aim

s

,

an

d bl ood w as ag a ins

he

d i

n

t

h

e

s

t re e

t s

. The no

b

l e s,

a sse mbl ed by nig ht a

t

a

se c

re

t

m

e e

t i

n

g ,

w

e

re s

urprised,

an

d

t

he

fi

na l c onque s

t

o

f

t

he

t

ra

din

g c

l ass

w

a s

in that way

a ssure d.A ne

w

cons

t it

u

t

io

n

w

a

s

the n dev ise d,

c ontinu ing inf o

rc e

durin

g t

h

e

l if et ime of Corne l iu s A g rippa .

The V

o

n

N

e

t

t

e she im

s

w e re l ik e ly to b e on b ette rte

rms

w

ith the a

rc hb is

ho

p tha

n

w

ith the part y w

h

o

o

ppo

se

d him

,

and

the

y w

e

re i

n the empe ro

r ’s serv

ic e .

This must hav

e

influ enc ed the early y e ars ofA g rippa .In the se early y e ars he displ ay e d a ra re apt it ude forstudy

,

and

,

a

s

Co

l o

g ne w

a

s

an un iv

ersit y t ow

n and

printing , disc ove re d short ly b e f ore hi b irth , w as c arrie d

o

n the re in

the pro

duc t io

n

o

f L a t in cl a

ss

ics

,

th

e

w rit ing s of asc et ic s,

sc ho l astic s,

an

d my st ic s l ik e Thomas A qu inas and Alb ertus Mag nus

,

it w

as o nly n

a t u ra l he shou ld av

a il his e ag e r de sire for k no

w

l e dg e at these sou rc e s . He

w

as remark ably su cc e ss

f u l in

t

h

e s

t

u

dy ofE

urope an l ang uag e s a l so , b e c om

ing profi

cint in

s

e v e

ra

l .

Thus

hi

s

y ea

rso

f ho

me

t ra

in

in

g .

w

ere passed u

nt il h

e arriv

ed atthe ag

e

w

he n

prin

c e s

a

r

e

c

o

n

sidered fi

t to b e produc ed atc o

urt

He the n

l e f tCo

l og n e and

b e c am

e an a

tt enda

nt

on

th e Em

pe

rorof

G erma

n y ,

Max imil ian the Firstw

ho

m h

e s

e rv

e

d

first a s a secre tary, a f terw ards for seve n y e ars as aso

ldie

r.

At t

he a

g

e o

f

t

w

e

n

t

y

h

e

w

a

s

e m

pl o

y

e

d on

se c r e

t

s

erv ic e by the G e rman c ourt .

A

t

thi

s

t

im

e


21/304

FO

R M S A

M YS TIC B

R

O

T

HE

R

H

O

OD

.

19

S

pa

inw

as in a c

ha

o

t

ic

po

l it ic a

l condit io n . Fe rdinand,

t

h

e

w

ido

w

e

r o

f

Isa

b e

ll a

,

w

as

ex cl uded from the crow na f t e r

h

i

w

if e

’

s

dea

t h,

tha

t inh

erit an c e hav

ing passe d

w ith hi daug hte r J oanna , a s a dow e r, t o her hu sb andP hil ip

,

w

ho

w

as

t

he

so

n of

Max

im

il ian

.

In

S

eptem

b e r,

1

506

,

P hilip die

d,

ha

v

ing decl aredw

ar ag ain stF

ran

c e

.

Thus

itw

a s

t ha

t Co

rne l iu s w ent T6

)

P aris

,

o

s

t

en

s

ib l y t

o a

t te

nd

t

h

e

un

i

v

ers

it y the re,

bu

t

i

n re

a l it y t

o

k e

e p Ma x

i

m

i

lian a

dv

i

se

d of

t

he

import ant n

e

w

s reg arding the French. In the c apac ity of se c ret s

e rv

i

e

,

i

n w hih he

w

as en

g a

g e

d

mo

re

than once

,

h

e

sho w e d himse lf abundantl y ab l e to pre serve dipl omati

c

s

ecre ts

,

t

h

ou

g h c onc e

rn

i

n

g

hi

s o

w

n

a

ffa irs he w

a

s o

pen

,

frank,

and

fre e .

Thus

h

e

i

s

si

l en t in reg ard

to

o

ffic ia l duties

a

t this

time

.

In attending the unive rsity Ag rippa c a

m

e

i

n c on

t

ac

t

w

it

h

s

e

v

era l otherm

ind

s

w

h

o had

a

l o

v

e

f

o

r the

o

c c u l t

y st ic s w hof ound in him

a natu

ra

l le a

de

r to

g

uide t

hem into there a l m

s o

f

t

h

e unk no

w

n

.

W

it

h t

he se

h

e o

rg

a

ni

e

d

a

se cretb a

n

d

o

f The

o

s

o

phis

t

s

,

o

r pos

s

ib l y

R

o

s

ic rucians.A

m

o

ng t

he se

m

y

s

ti

s

w

as one

m

o

re

prom

i

n

e

n

t

a

s

t

he

frie nd ofAg rippa , w ho mightb e rega rded as se c ond inl e a

d

e

rs

h

ip,

an

It

a

l ian b

y

t

he name of

Bl as

i

u

s

CaesarL

a

ndu l

p

hu

s

,

w

h

o

af te

rw

ards

b

e

c

a

me n

o

t

ed in medic ine

,

a

n

d

a l so a prof e ssor in the Univ

ersity of P avia .A m

o

n

g

t h

e

m

w

ere MM.

G e

rmain,

ad

vo

c ate

,

and aut

h

orof a hi

s

t

o

ry

o

f Charl e s V .,

et .

;

G

a

i

g

n

y

,

t

h

eo

l

o

gian,

l ing u ist L atin poe t , and suc c e ssive l y proc urator , r e ct

o

r

,

an

d

c han

c e l l o

r o

f the P aris Universit y ;

Charl esFouc

a

rd

,

M

.

de Mo linflor

,

Cha

rl e s de Bo

ue l l e s,

c anon

,

pro

f e sso

r of

theo

l o

g

y ,

an

d

a

u t ho

r ofw

ork s on me taphy sic s

a

n

d

g

eo

m

et ry ,

am

o

ng w

hic h he t re ate d of thequa

dratu

re of

t

he c

irc

l e and

t

he

c

ubiati

o

n

of

t

h

e

sphe re , and other unusual m

atte rs ; G erm

a in de Bri ,c a

n

o

n

,

l ing uis

t an

d

w

rite r o

f

Gre e k v

erse;

MM . Fasch,

W

ig an

d,

and

C

l a

i

cham

p

s

;

and

J

u

a

n

e

ti

n Basc ara de


22/304

2O EARLY LIFE o

r

AG

R

I

PPA

.

G e ro na

,

a

yo un

g Ca

t a

l o

n

ia

n

no

bl eman,

te mporarily a t P aris w hil e

onh

i

w

a

y

t

o

t

he c ou rtof Max imil ian .

D

is

t u

rb a

n

c e s

i

n

S

pa

i

n had

S

pre ad t o Arag o n and

Ca ta l on ia , and in the ditric tof Tarrag on the Cat alo h

ians

h

ad

c has

e d on e o

f

t

h

e

ir l o

c al maste rs,

the Se no rde G e r

ona

,

the

l as

t

n

a

me

d o

f the

se c ret b and abo v e .

A g rippa

a

n

dhi

frie n

ds

dev

ise

d apl an w he re by Gerono

co u

ld b e re s

t ore d to

hi

s

e sta

te s . Th e c apt ure of a fort ific

at

ion

k n

o w

n a

s

the

Bl a c k Fort was ne c e ssa ry

t

o the e nte rprise , and to effe c t this a da ring st ra t ag e m

w

as

de c ide d u

po n

.

As

th

e w

ho

l e provinc e of Tarrag o nc o

u

ld thu

s

b e he ld a

g a

ins

t t

h

e

re

b e l liou s pe a sant ry it w

as

b e l ie v

e d the e m

pe

ro

r,

Ma x

i

m

il ia

n

,

w

ou ld sanc t io nthe e

n

te rpris

e in

b e

ha

l f o

f

h

i

s

k

i

n

,

and G e ro na w e nt t o the G e r

m

an

c o

u

rt

f

o

r t

h

is

pu rpose . A g rippa al so

ret urne d t o Colo g ne for a se a son e arly in 1507.It w

as

o v e r a

y e a

r a

f t e

rw

a

rds

w

he n th e pla ns of the co ns

pira

t o

rs

w e re c a

rrie

d

o

u

t

Th

e

Bl ack Fo rt wasc a

pt u

re d,

a

s

pl anne

d,

by a s

t ra t ag em.

Af te r re ma ini

n

g

the re for a t ime,

Ag rippa w as se nt w ith so me o t he rs t o g

a

rriso

n

t

he

pl a c e ofG erona atV ill arodo na .

L a ndu l ph had,m

e anw hil e , g on e to Barc e lo na , and it and

it w

as

dee me

d prude n t that G e ro ng,

the pe a

sa

n t so

f the w

hol e c ou

n

t ry b e ing now in

a

rm

s,

s

ho u ld j

o inhim the re

.

G e ro

n

a

w

a s

,

how

e

v

e r,

ca pt ure d by theinf uria te d ru st ic

s

,

w

h

o

immediat

e

ly o rg an

iz

e d the mse l ve s in g re a t f

o

rc e to

s

t

o

rm hi c as

t l e and ex

t

e

rm

i

na te the g arrison the re , w ho , in G e rona ’s ab se nc e , w e re u

nde r the c harg e of A g

rippa . Time ly w

a

rn

in

g of the a tt ack was c onv e

y

ed to the g a rrison . T

o

e sc a

pe by bre ak ing throu

g

h t

h

e w atc he s of the

pe a

san

t ry w

a

s

madn e ss,

t

o rema in w as equa l l y f u t il e .But

o

n

e

way of e sc ape pre sent ed itse l f n

o

l d

,

ha

lf - ru

in

e d t ow e rthree

m

il e s dist ant sit u a te d in one of the m

o unt a inw ilde rne sse s whic h characte riz e th

e

dis

t ric t

of V a

ll s.

The t o

w e r st o od in a c ragg y ,

c a

v

e

rnou

s v all e y ,

w he re


23/304

AD

V

EN TURES

IN S

PAIN . 2

1

th e bro

k e

n moun

t a

ins ma

k e

w

a

y

for a

g u

lf c on

t a

in

in

g s

t ag na

nt w

a

te rs

,

and

j

a

gg e d,

i

n

a c c ess

ibl e

ro

c ks

h

em

it in . A t the g o

rg e by w

h

ic

h t

his

pl ac e

i

s

e n

t e

re d

st ood the tow er , on a hil l whih was itse l f surrounde db

y

dee p b og s and pool s,

w

hil e

it

a l so

w

a

s

w

ithin

a

ring of l of ty

crag s. The rew

a

s bu

t

one

w

a

y

t

o

this

t

o

w

er,

e x c e

pt w hen the g ro

u

n

d

w

as

fro

z

e

n

,

a

n

d

t h

e

se

e

v

en

t s

ha

ppe ned in the midsumm

e

r o

f 150

8

. Th

e w a

y

a

m

o

ng the

pool s

w

as by a narrow

p

ath

o

f stone

,

w

i

th

t

urf wa ll s as hedg e s . The site of the tow er made it inex pug nab l e in summer time . It

w

as

o

w

n ed by

a

n

abb o t ,

w

h

o g av

e them permis

i

on to oc c

upy a

n

d

f o

rt

ify it . Thi they a c cordin

g

l y don e,

h

a

v

ing a poo

r b a

il iff

,

in cha

rg eo

f

t

h

e

p

l ac e

,

f

o

r

c o

m

pan

y

.

T

h

e

re t re at to th

e to

w

e r was sa

f e

l y ac c o

m

pl is

he

dunder cove r of night G erona ’s pl ac e w as sa c k ed then

e

x

t

d

a

y

by the peasants,

w

h

o so

ug ht

fi

e

rc e

l y f

or t

h

e

G erma

n

,

as

the

y

t

ermedAg

rippa .

T

he

hi

d

i

n

g p

l ac e

o

f

t

he c on sp

irators b e c oming

k now

n

,

t

he fl

oo

d

o

f

w

ra

t

hpou red do

w

n

t

o

w

ards the to

w

e r,

b

u

t

t

h

e s

t

ren

g t

h

o

f

th

e

pos

itio

n

w a s

t

h

e

n f e l tW

it

h a ba

rri

ad

e

o

f

o

v

e

r

throw n w ag ons the sol e path to the b esiged wasc

l os

ed

,

and b ehind thi b arrir t he

y poste

d thems

e

l v

e s

w

ith their arqu eb uses,

of

w

hih o

n e

o

n l y s

u

ff

ic e

d to

da

u

nt

a

c row

d

o

f me

n

ac

c

u

st

o

m

e

d

to no

w

ea

p

o

n

s

ex c e

pt Sl in

g

s or b ow

s and arrow

s .

T

he

peasa

n

t

ry ,

dic ove

ring tha

tt

h

e to

w

e r w

a

s

n

otto

b

e sto

rm

ed

,

se

t

t

e

d dow n to lay stri t Siege to the pl a c e and the reby s

t

a

rv

e

it

s

lit tl e g arriso

n

i

n

t o su

rren

d

e

r .P eril ous

w

e ek sw

e re pas

sed b

y

the a

dv

e

n

t ur

e

rs

,

bu

t

m

ore f ormidabl e than a ctua l conflictw

a s

t

he

f a

m

ine

c ons

equen

t on

the

ir b l o

c k ade.

P e rro

t t

h

e

k e

e

pe r,

t a

ki

ng couns

e l w

it h himse lf asho

w

t

o

he

l p h

i

s

g ues

t

s

an

d rid him

s

e lf of the m at the sam

e

tim

e

,

e x pl ore de

v

e ry cran

ny oft

he

w

a

l l of ro

c k by

w

hic h

t

he

y w

e

re

su

rro unded. Cl amb ering a

m

o

n

g

t

h

e

w

a

s

t e s

,

w

ith f eet


24/304

22 EARLY LIFE O F AG

R

I

P

PA

.

acc us

t o m

e d t o the dif

fi

c u

l t i

s

o

f

the mo un t a in,

he

di

c ov e re

d a

t

la st a

d

e

v

i

u

s

an

d

rugg e d way

,

b

y

w hihthe

o

b s

t acl e s of

c ra g a

n

d

c has

m w e re avoided and the

m

o unta in topre ac he d . L ook ing dow n from

t he re hesa

w

ho

w

,

on

the o the r s

i

de

,

the m

o

unt a in rose outof

a l ak e,

k n

ow n

as

t h e Bl a c

k L a

k e ,

having an e x panse o

f

ab out fo u

r m

il

e s,

u

pon

t

h

e

f arthe r shore of w hic hhi m

as

te r ’ s a

bb e y st

oo

d.

He f o

und aw

a

y

to

t

he l ak e throug h

a

rocky g org e ,

bu

t

fro m th e re to the abb ey

w

as

a l ong way, and, tom

en w itho ut a bo a t , the l ak e w

a

s

a m

ore im

pa

ssibl e

b a

rri

r than

the mo untain . He return

e

d t o the t o w

e r,

w

he re

the l it tl e g arrison he ardt

h

e

re su

l t of

his e x

plora

t io

ns .

It w

as

see n t hata b oa t w

as ne c

e ssa

ry t

o

e ff

e c t an es

c a

pe ,

an

d t o proc u re tha t a l

e

tt e

r wo u

ld ha

v e t

o

b e s

e nt

thro

ug h the rank s of

the vigil an t b e sie g e rs , w hose sen t rie s w e re po ste d ata l lpo int

s

,

a

n

d

w

h

o a

llo w

e d no on

e

t o a

pproa c h the t ow e r;

n

o

te v

e

n t

h

e

g o

od a

bb o

thim

se lf ,

w

ho had

v a

in ly t rie dt

o

t urn the pe a sa n

t s from

the ir pu

rpo

se .U

nde r th e s

e c irc u

m

s

t an c es

the in

g e nu

it y of A g rippa

w

as

s

e v

e re ly te ste d,

an

d he

j

u s

t ifi

e d the c re dit he hadw

o

n

f

or sub t l e w it . The k e epe r had a son , a shephe rdbo

y

,

and

A g rippa

dis

fi

g u

re

d h

i

m

w ith st a ins

o

f m

ilk thi

s

t l e and

the j

u

ic e o

f

o

the

r he rb s,

b e fo u

l e d h

i

s s

k ina

n

d pa inte d it w ith s

ho

ck ing spo t s t o imit a te the mark s

o

f l e pro

sy ,

fix e d h

i

s

ha ir in

t o a

fil thy b un c h,

dressed h

i

m l ik e a

b e gg a

r,

and

g a

v e h

im

a

crook e d

branc h for a st ick ,

w ithin w hic h t h e re was sc oope d aholl ow f

o

r th e l ette r.

U

pon

t

h

e

boy so dis

g u ise d

f e arf u l pic t ure of

the o u

t c a s

t l e pe r the l e pe r ’s b e ll w

a s hung ,

his fa the r se a

t e

d h

im

on an ox

,

a

nd

l e d h

i

m

by nig htac ro ss the m

a

rs

he s b

y

the fo rd,

w he re he l e f t h

im.

St amme rin

g ,

as

h

e

w

e n

t pet it io

n

s f

or a

l ms

,

the b

o

y

w a lk e d w ithou t diffic u l t y b y a v e ry b road roadmade for h

i

m amo ng the pe asan

t

ry ,

w

ho

re g a

rde

d h

i

approa c h w ith te rror and fled from

his pa

th.

The l

e

t


25/304

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26/304

2

4 EAR LY LIFE OF AG

R IPP A.

hazardous missions.

After remaining several days in the abbey he set

o

ut

wi t

h an old man and his servantS

tephen ,

for B

arcelona.

An t

onius Xan thus,

t

he

c

o

m

panion of

Agrippa, had seen much of the rough side of the world

,

was useful as a traveling companion ,

and became a member of Agr

ippa ’s secret league .

N

o

t finding Landulph at B

arcelona th raveled to

Valentia.

F

rom there t

hey sailed for Ialy,

a nd byway

o

f

the B

alearic I

slands and S

ardinia they went to

N

aples , where , disheartened by not finding Landulph ,they shipped for Leghorn

,

and then traveled to Avig

non .T

here they learned,

from a traveling merchan t

that Landulph was at L

yons. T

h

e

friends now corre s

p

o

nd

e

d

,

C

ornelius wri t

ingD

ecember 17

th nearl y fourmon

t

h s a f t e r h e h a d l e f t

t

h

e

abbey in search of his

friend, the 24

th

o

f

August .W

e may imagine many of

t

he

t

hings these friends wro t

e each other. Itwas the

suggest

ion of Agrippa that

a l l t h e m e mbers of theirleague be called toge ther

t

hat they might be absolvedof t

heir oaths regarding the S

panish conspiracy andt

o resume ,

once more ,

their former p l easant relations .

H

e also hoped that Landulph might be able to visithim

a

tAvignon and talk their secrets over,

as he wasunable t

o

leave for Lyons,

his funds being exhausted,

until af ter the lapse o

f

a li ttle time .

Th

e foregoing account,

w

hic h has been condense d

from M

r .

H

enry M

orley ’s excellent Life of CorneliusAgrippa

,

is continued in that part of this volume t

hatstarts wi th the headi ng

o

f

“ Agrippa and the R

os

iru

c

ian

s

. Agrippa ’s l ife now beco me s s o inte rw ov e n wi th mysticism that we give

M

orley ’ s accoun t

in full.

T

he next chapters in his life are reple t

e with the frui

tion of his mystic nature ,

i t s f u ll - blown flower beingT

he

Occult Philosophy,

or Three Books of M

ag

ic ,

the wri ting of which comple tes h is ea rly life .


27/304

C

ORN

E

L

I

U

S AG

R

I

P

P

A

TO

T

H

E

READER .

I do no

t doubt but the title o

f

o

ur book of O

ccultPhilosophy

,

or of Magic ,

may by the rarity o

f it allure

many to read it , amongstwhich,

some of a disorderedjudgmen tand some tha

t

are perverse will c ome to

hearwhatI can say

,

who ,

by t

heir rash ignorance ,

may t

ake the name

o

f

M

agic in the

worse sense and,

thoughscarce having seen

t

h

e t

i t

le ,

cry o

u

t

that I teach fo

r

bidden Arts,

sow the seed of heresies,

o ffend the pious,

and scandalize excellent wits ; that I am a sorcerer,

and supersti tious and devilish,

who indeed am a Magi c

i

a

n

: t

o whom I

a

n

s

w

e r

,

[

t

h

at

a M

agician do t

h n

o

t

amongstlearned men ,

signify a sorcerer or one thatissuperstitious or devilish

;

bu

t

a wise man ,

a priest,

a

p

r

o

p

h

e

t

g

a

n

d that theS

ybils were Mag

ii

ane sse s

,

and

therefore prophesied most clearly of C

hrist;

and thatMagicians

,

as wise men ,

by t

h

e

wonderful secrets of t

h

e world,

knew C

hrist the au thor o

f the world,

t

o

be born

,

and came firstof all to

worship him ;

and t

hat

the name of Magic was received by philosophers,

c om

mended by divines,

and is not unacceptable to

th

e

Gospel . I believe thatthe supercilious censors willobj ect against the

S

ybils,

holy Magicians and theGospel i tself sooner than receive the name of Magic in to favor

. S

o

conscientious are t

hey that n ei therApollo nor all the Muses

,

n

o

r an angel from heaven c a

n redeem me from their curse .W

h

om therefore I

advise thatthey read notour wri tings,

nor unde rstandthem

,

nor remember them . Fo

r they are perniciousand full of poison

;

t he gate of Ac heron is in thisbook

;

i

t

speaks stones e

t

the m ta ke hee d th at i tbeat not

o

u

ttheir brains . Butyou that come without25


28/304


29/304

ADDR

ES

S

TO THE READER . 27

set upon the wri t

ing of t

hese books,

but,

hoping that

I

should set

them forth wi th correc tions and enlarge ments and for t

h

at cause I

gave them to Trithemius,

a

N

ea

p

o

l

i

t

a

n

i

n Abbot, formerly a S

p

an

h

e

m

e

n

s

i

an

, aman v ery industrious after secret things . Butit hap pened afterwards that the work being in tercepted

,

before I

finished it,

it

w

as carri ed abo utimperfect andimpolished

,

and did fly

abroad in Italy,

in France ,

in Germany

,

through many men ’s hands;

and some men ,

whether more impatien tly or imprudently I

know notwould

h

a v e p u t i t t

hus imperfect to

t

he press,

withwhich mischief

,

I

being a

fie c

t

ed

,

de termined to setitfort

h

myself ,

t

hinking t

hatt

here might

be less dangerif these books came

o

utof my hands wi th some amendmen ts than t

o

come forth,

torn and in fragments,

out

of o the r m en ’s hands.[

M

o

r

eove

n

I thought it no crime if

I

should not sufi

er the testimony of my you thto perish Also

,

we have added some chap ters andinser

t

ed many t

hings which did seem un fitto

pass by,

which the curious reader shall be able to u nderstandby the inequality of the very phrase

,

for we were um

willing to begin the work anew and to unravel all thatwe had

done ,

but to

correc tit and p

u

t some flourishupon it .

W

herefore ,

I pray thee ,

courteous reader,

weigh not these things according to the presen ttime o

f

se t

ting t

he m

forth,

but pardon my curious you th if t

ho u

find any thi ng in them thatmay displease thee .

W

hen Agrippa firstwro te his O

ccult Philosophy he sen

titt

o

his friend T

ri

t

h

e

m

iu

s

,

an Abbot o

f

W

urtzburg

,

withthe

ensuing letter. Trithemius detained t he messenger un ti l h e

.

had read the manuscript and then

answered A

g

r

i

pp

a

’

S

l

e

tt

e

r with suc h sound advice asmys

t

ics would do well to follow for all time to

come .T

r

it

hem

i

us

is known as a mystic author and scholar.


30/304

28 HENRY C O RNELIUS

AG

R IPPA ’S

AG R IPP

A T

O

T

R

I

THE

MIU

S

.

To

B

P

D

. Jo

hn Tr

it

hem

i

us

,

a

n Abbo

t

o

f

S

a

i

n

t

J

a

i

n

e

s

,

i

n

t

he S

u

burbs o

f

He

r

b

i

p

ol

i

s

,

He

n

r

y C

orne

li

u s

A

g

r

i

p

p

a o

f

N

e

tt

she

i

m sende

t

h

G

r eet

i

n

g

:

W

HE N I was of lat e ,

most reverend father,

f o r awhile conversan

t

wi th you in your Monastery ofHerb

i

p

o

li

, we conferred toge ther of divers things concern ing C

hemist

ry,

M

agic ,

and C

abala,

and of other things,

whic h

asy

e

t

lie hid in S

ecret S

ciences and Arts;

andthen there was

one

great question amongst the rest

W

h

y

M

agic ,

whereas it was accounted by all ancientphilosophers to be the chiefest science

,

an d by t he

ancient wise men and priests was always held in greatveneration

,

came at last,

after the beginning of the C

atholic C

hurch,

t

o be always odio u s to and suspectedby the holy

F

athers,

and then exploded by D

ivines,

and condemned by sacred C

anons,

and,

moreover,

byall laws and ordinances forbidden

?

N

o

w

,

t

he

cause ,

as I

conceive , is no o ther than this, viz . :B

ecause , bya certain fatal depravation

o

f ti me s a nd m en ,

manyfalse philosophers crept in

,

and the

se ,

under the name of Magicians

,

heaping t ogether,

t

hrough various sort

sof errors and fac tions

o

f false religions,

many curse

dsuperstitio n s and dangerous rites

,

and many wicked

sacrileges,

even to the perfec tion of

N

ature ;

and the same setforth in many wicked and unlawful books

,

to which they have by steal

t

h pre fixed th

e

most honestname and ti tle of Magic

;

hoping,

by t

his sacred t

itle ,

t

o gain credi tto their cursed and de t

est

able fooleries.

Hence it is that this name of M

agic ,

formerly so hon o

r a

bl

e

,

is now become mostodious to good and honestmen

,

and accoun te d a c a p i tal crime if any on e

three books of occult philosophy or magic

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