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Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition

No. 12, Vol. 2. Vernal Equinox 2007

The Little Book of Black Venus

attributed to John Dee

translated by
Teresa Burns and Nancy Turner

This translation was made primarily from London’s Warburg Institute Ms. FBH 51
(written about 1600, +/- 20 years), following the comparison made by Jörg M. Meier
between that handwritten manuscript and eight others,[1] especially Munich’s Bayerische
Staatsbibliothek, Cod. lat. 27005 (17th century), Erlanger’s Universitätsbibliothek
Erlangen-Nürnberg Ms. 854 (second half of the 17th century), and the 1794 Gedrucker
text from Vienna. Except as noted, we’ve followed the Warburg copy except to regularize
spelling or grammar (i.e., when it says “pargamento” (parchment), we’ve used the more
typical spelling “pergamento”). Where no manuscript follows usual spelling or grammar
we’ve used the Warburg manuscript, and we’ve also followed Meier’s transcription of
capitalization and inter-paginal line breaks from that version.

Our frontispiece matches the general color scheme of the Warburg manuscript. With the
exception of the frontispiece, we’ve used black and white text and graphics throughout
because of the irregularity between manuscripts (for instance, the Munich manuscript’s
frontispiece presents a Venus with green hair and a red hexagram.) [2] The Warburg
manuscript writing appears dark brown, while its most colorful counterpart, the Munich
manuscript, intersperses greens and reds throughout the black text: for instance, in the
title, first four lines, and sub-title, this multi-colored version renders Libellus, in Astris,
TUBA, Dæmon, and TUBA in red, and VENERI, VENUS, STYGIUS, and SIGN in green.
[3] Given that even the Warburg manuscript is most likely not Dee’s handwriting, and the
Munich version is a copy from later still, we found it most appropriate to leave the choice
of colors to the reader’s magical or aesthetic understanding and keep our writing and
graphics in black and white. Thank you to Darlene for providing the cover art, and J.S.
Kupperman for recreating the manuscript’s many line drawings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LIBELLUS VENERI NIGRO[4] SACER

The Consecrated Little Book of Black Venus

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Est VENUS a Superis mihi datum She is VENUS on High, a name given to
nomen in Astris me by the Stars.
Incola mox Stygius dum TUBA cantat Soon to be a Stygian[5] sojourner, [6]
adest she appears when the
Subditus En Dæmon SIGNI virtute HORN [7] sounds.
gemiscit
Euge! animi mactus victor ab hoste The subjugated Dæmon [8] groans
redis. under the strength of the
SIGN
Well done! As the victor, infused with
glory, you [9] return
from the enemy.

TUBA VENERIS The Horn of Venus

id est That is

Vocatus sive Citationes Sex Spirituum The Calls [10] or the Summonings of the
sub Veneris dominio existentium, ubi Six Spirits ruled by Venus, whereby the
docetur Methodus perficiendi Sigillum Method is taught to create the Seal,[11]
Veneris Eiusque Tubam, Circuli, Horn, and Circle of Venus, their
Compositio, Nomina propria Spirituum, Arrangement, the proper Names of her
Eorum Vocatus et Sigilla cum horum Spirits, Their Calls and Seals with hours
præparatione. Libri consecratio, for preparation. The consecration of the
Operationis Ritus. Spirituum Valedictio Book, the Rite of the Working. The
cum aliis adhuc pluribus in opere Dismissal of the Spirit with still other
observandis. things to be observed during the
working.

Joannes Dee Amatoribus Artis Magicæ John Dee greets the Lovers of the Art of

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S.P.D. Magic

Non de variis Negromanticæ Artis vel

It is not our intention or the goal of our
definitionibus vel Speciebus vel etiam
little book to write about the different
multifaria ejusdem praxi hic scribendi
nostra intentio Scopusque Libelli nostri Negromantic[12] Arts, their definitions,
est, quippe quam plurimi de his quam subdivisions, methods or even their
plurima pauci tamen pauca clara ac vera various practices of which Views and
quin potius tum captu tum praxi Books many have already written about.
difficillima scripsere volumina. Sed Of these difficult volumes, only a few
Tuba hic tibi canimus Amice Lector! per are clear and true, at one moment for the
cujus Sonum Sex Veneris Dominio understanding, the next moment for the
subjecti Spiritum ad choreas excitantur actual practice. Here however we sound
citantur ad normam et modum à me ipso a Horn for you, Beloved Reader!
prout edoctus sum sæpe sæpius through whose Sound Six Spirits ruled
exercitatum. Citanti enim tibi Dæmones by Venus will be called to come here
ante omnia Vocatus Spiritui cuivis and dance, using a method that I myself
proprius necesse est. Secus haud have practiced several times. In order to
quaquam comparebunt quamvis eos per call the Dæmons, you must Call the
fortes conjurationes ceu efficacia vincula Spirits with the proper name of each.
cogi posse non negaverim non tamen Although I do not wish to disagree that
sine ingenti labore aut circumstantiis they can be forced to come by means of
prolixis amplivaguis et difficillimis. Si powerful conjurings or strong chains, but
vero hujus Vocatus, id est nominum ac not without great effort and plentiful,
citationum seu vocabulorum propriorum, long-winded, and difficult
quibus Spiritus ab ipsis Planetarum circumstances. If you are familiar with
Angelis advocantur imperantur tibi this Call, that is, the names and special
notitia est nec requisitis reliquis in hoc words with which the Spirits are called
Libello nostro assignatis carueris mox et and ordered by the Planetary Angels
sine mora strepitu terrore ac phantasmate themselves, and if you adhere to the
omni longe remoto citatos â te Spiritum other necessities that are shown in our
in forma humana comparere coactos little Book, and if you have pushed away
experieris. Scire enim te oportet bonos â all phantasmagoric figures, you will
Deo teropt. Max. malis præpositos esse perceive that soon and without
Spiritibus ut in illos dominentur; qua hesitation, noise, or terrors, the Spirits
propter si â Spiritu bono malo alicui that you have called will be forced to
præcipietur quidquam hunc ille appear before you in human form. You
competenti suo vocatu vocat jubetque, should know that the good angels of
licet forte in lingua mortalibus nobis God, the best and most High, are placed
haud propria quin imo incognita. Inter above evil spirits so they can rule them;
Doctores variæ quidem de ea opinionem therefore whenever an evil spirit must be
certitudo autem hactenus nulla. Verum ordered to do something, the good spirit
enim vero Creator omnium maximus calls and orders the evil one with his
omni creaturæ certum imposuit appropriate call, but he does so with a
Characterem nomenque utpote qui language that is not typical and is indeed
numerat multitudinem Stellarum et unknown to us mortals. Among the
omnibus eis nomina vocat. al.CXLVI. Learned there are indeed different
Omnes autem mali Dæmones, quum opinions, and at this time no certainty. It
Angeli Stellæque antecedenter fuerint in is certain, however, that the highest
coelis, nomina Signaque illis â Summo Creator gave all created things a distinct
Sign and name, since it is written: “He

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creatore imposita adhuc dum retinent determines the number of the stars; he
atque per hæc ipsissima illos citare et gives to all of them their names.” Psalm
compellere omnino necessarium est, quo
146.[13] Because they were once Angels
modo etiam bonos Angelos advocare and Stars in the heavens, all evil
possumus, prout alibi docui et Dæmons still have the names and Signs
demonstravi. Scientiam hanc praefatam
that were given to them by the Great
ab antiquis Patribum Israëliticis Chaldeis Creator, and therefore it is necessary to
aliisque pluribus pie exercitatam ac call and force them by using the same
hodiedum â piis hominibus means by which we can also call the
practicandam. Exinde enim revelatæ
good Angels, as I have shown and taught
sunt Scientiæ: Magia, Qabala et in other places. This aforementioned
Negromantia, quæ posterior apud Science was practiced in antiquity by the
Egyptos, Persas et Arabes non parum
Israelite Patriarchs, the Chaldeans, and
floruit, licet execrandum in modum
many others, and pious people of today
usurpata, depravata lacerata, hominibus still practice it. Therefore these Sciences
per Sacrilega pacta in Dæmoniorum are revealed: Magic, Kabbala, and
malorum mancipia se se sponte
Negromancy, which last flourished not a
tradentibum quod certe horrendum little among the Egyptians, Persians and
auditu est. Propter pessimum igitur hunc Arabs, even if it was in an unlawful,
abusum ab Ecclesia et Secularibus distorted and mutilated form, since
Magistratibus hæc Ars piè est interdicta
humans voluntarily delivered themselves
atque ideo paucissimos idoneos de ejus into the possession of the evil Dæmons
praxi libros reperire fas est. Tubam ergo through pacts of Sacrilege, which is
hancce noctram studio peculiari adeptam
certainly horrible to hear.Due to this
fideliter tibi in bonum tamen finem
most shameful misuse, this Art was
nequaquam autem in tuum interitum (qui rightfully forbidden by the Church and
ex soli abusione nanciscitur) Lay Authorities and because of this one
communicatam legatamque volumus ut
finds very few books suited to this
pro bono tui ea utaris et commodo v:g: practice. Therefore, after we convey and
ad levandos thesauros absconditos ad hand over to you our Horn, which we
itinera ad Mercaturam ad Navigationem attained with extraordinary trouble, for a
ad bellum et similia ad quæ Spiritus
good purpose, and under no
prodesse tibi et inservire possunt uti. circumstances to bring about your
Praxis et experientia satis docebit. destruction (for this occurs only when
Dantur ceteroquin alii adhuc vocatus seu
misused), we want to leave it for your
citationes Spirituum quæ fiunt per use, e.g. for lifting hidden treasures, for
supremos illorum Principes inter semet Navigating, Trade, war, and other ways
ipsos habentes sed hi valde difficulter likewise where the Spirit can be of
obediunt haud aliter quam cum ingenti
service to you. Practice and experience
strepitu et in forma maxime terribili will teach a lot. There are, moreover,
comparentes non sine ingenti Operatoris still other calls or summonings of
periculo. Hic noster proinde Vocatus
Spirits, who appear by means of their
Spirituum de quo scripturi sumus Veneri
highest Princes who exist among them,
proprius est et ideo à nobis Tuba Veneris but it is very hard to get them to obey,
nuncupatur siquidem mali Dæmones and they appear only with immense
Septem Planetarum Angelis vix non
noise and racket in an extremely terrible
omnes sunt subjecti qui autem huic form and not without the highest danger
inserti sunt Libello sub Veneris duntaxat for the Operator. Our Call of the Spirits,
computantur Dominio ex quo capite about which we will write, belongs to
Libellus Veneris â nobis fuit intitulatus
Venus and therefore we call it the Horn

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quin etiam isti Planetæ consecrandus est of Venus. Not all evil Dæmons are ruled
ad cujus descriptionem jam initium by the Seven Planetary Angels; however,
facimus teque ad cuncta diligenter those written about in this book, are
auscultare et attendere monemus. Vale! counted among those under the rule of
Venus, which is why we title it above
“The Book of Venus,” since it is also
dedicated and consecrated to that Planet
whose description we now begin, and we
admonish you to listen very carefully
and pay close attention. Farewell!

Perfectum Scriptumque Londini Anno Completed and written in London in the

MDLXXX. Pridie Nonis Junij. year 1580, on the 4th of June.

Tubæ Veneris Caput primum The Horn of Venus Chapter One

Quomoda Sigillum sive Character How the Seal or Sign of Venus is to
Veneris pediciendum made

Primum ad Negromanticam hanc The first thing we need for our

operationem nostram requisitum Negromantic work is the Seal of Venus,
Sigillum Veneris est quod modo which is to be made in the following
sequenti præparandum. Accipiatur Pars way: One takes a Piece of new Copper
æris Cyprii novi et nunquam usati ore and from it makes a Plate the size of
perficiatur ex eo in magnitudine figuræ the figure drawn below; [14] one must cut
paulo post delineatæ Lamina quæ scindi this [Plate] according to the number
debet secundum Planetæ numerum sibi appropriate for the Planets, that is, with
proprium, id est in sex Angulos: cui six Angles: the Character should be
deinde instrumento ferreo vel chalybeo engraved using a new and pure iron or
nova pariter et munda Character steel instrument on the day in the third
insculpatur fiat autem hoc in die de or tenth hour of night, counted from the
nocte in tertia et decima hora â occasu time the sets. If the span of one hour is
numeranda. Si unius horæ spatium non not sufficient, one must wait until the
suffecerit expectandum est usque ad next hour, i.e. the tenth hour, since work
alteram id est decimam horam in Veneris is only permitted in the hours of Venus
enim duntaxat fieri licet horis et quidem (we emphasize again) on the new moon,
(quod rursus notendum) in novilunio, which is why, if one cannot complete the
quare si una nocte in duabus Seal during one night of in the two
præscriptis horis sigillum perfici nequit prescribed hours, one must wait in the
pari ratione expectandum est usque ad same way until the next new moon.
alterum novilunium. Perfectum ex post After it is finished, one consecrates the
Sigillum infumetur in ipsissima die et Seal with smoke on the same day and in
hora . the same hour of .

Let the Consecration be done with these

Fumigium fiat em Speciebus:
Materials:
Verbena Puscia et Musco. Verbane, Myrtle, and Musk.

Involvatur postea in lintheum novum Afterwards one wraps it in new linen

atque iterum in tempore prædicto and buries it likewise at the
Novilunii diei horæque noctu defodiatur aforementioned time of the day of the

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in terram penes aquam fluentem New Moon, at night next to a flowing

effodiatur in subsequenti die et hora body of water, then unburies it on the
pariter de nocte serveturque pro following night at the hour of , and
operationis oportunitate. preserves it for the opportunity of the
work.

Sigillum Veneris
[The Seal of Venus]

Caput Secundum. Chapter Two :

Quomodo Tuba Veneris sit præparanda. How to Make the Horn of Venus
Accipiatur Cornu em Tauro vivo dein One takes the Horn [15] of a living Bull, then
sumatur Vitriolum in aceto vineo one takes Vitriol dissolved in vinegar, with
liquefactum cum quo abluatur which one should wash and purify the Horn,
purgaturque Cornu, quo facto prædicto after which one carves the Characters as they
Instrumento Chalybeo cuivis parti are represented in the following sketch, into
insculpantur Characteres uti in mox either side of the horn with the
sequenti adumbratione extant. Tota aforementioned Steel Instruments. One must
autem hæc prædicta Cornu præparatio make sure that the entire preparation of the
incluso tempore in quo id ex tauro Horn, including the time it is torn off from the
abripitur, pari ratione ac de Sigillo bull, must also be in the times, days and hours
antecedenter indicatum est in temporibus of , just as was done in preparing the Seal.
diebus et horis fieri debet quod bene Afterwards, one envelops it in smoke, wraps it
notandum est. Infumetur postea ac in linen, and buries it together with the Seal of
involvatur in lintheum atque unacum , then unburies it again and preserves it for
Sigillo infodiatur, effodiatur et in usum later use.
conservetur.

Tuba Veneris
[The Horn of Venus]

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Caput Tertium Chapter Three:

Quomodo Circulus faciendus How to Make the Circle

Antequam ad Spirituum Vocatum seu Before we talk about how to Call or to

citationem progrediamur de circuli Spirit, we must address the arrangement
compositione nobis agendum erit, utpote of the circle, from which the
quo Negromantici omnes in suis semper Negromancer sets in order everything to
utantur operationibus per hunc tanquam be used for the working, in order to
per fortissimum munimentum contra protect himself by means of the strongest
Dæmonum insidiationes sese tuentes. defenses against the attacks of Dæmons.
Compositio autem circulorum multifaria Different people create the circle various
est, aliqui operantes in ædibus eundem ways. Some, who work in closed
perficiunt crete carbonibus et coloribus; buildings, prepare it with chalk, coal or
nonnulli in sylvis vel biviis exorzisantes colors. Some, who conjure in forests or
faciunt gldio vel certis baculis; Alii vero at crossroads, create it with a sword or
conficiunt circulum ex pergamento cum certain staffs; others, however, create the
inscriptione Divinorum nominum, quem circle out of a parchment upon which the
et nos ad nostram operationem elegimus, Divine names are inscribed, which is the
prout etiam fortunatiori hæredi cum method which we have chosen for our
cæteris requisitis omnibus jamjam work, since we have bequeathed the
confectum reliquimus, nec non formam circle to a more fortunate inheritance
ejus et rationem pro libelli nostri ordine with all the rest of the objects that have
et integritate hic adjungimus. Accipiatur already been made, and we add only the
ergo pergamentum sive charta virginea, form and method here to our book to
scindantur ex eo in latitudine pollicari order it and to make it whole. One takes
tres circuli. primus in amplitudine sex thus some parchment or virgin paper,
pedum reliqui duobus vel tribus digitis and cuts from this a latitude for three
angustius, postmodum in præfixis circles, the first [circle] six feet in

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temporibus horisque Nomina divina diameter; the remaining circles two or

cum coloribus inscribantur uti in three fingers in from the first. Soon
subsequenti Circuli videntur figura. thereafter the divine Names should be
Circulus postquam confectus infumetur written in color during the prescribed
ac defossu in terram hic intermittente ad times and hours of , as you can see in
usum custodiatur. the figure of the following circle.[16] As
soon as the circle is produced, one may
consecrate it with smoke, but do not
bury it: keep it for use.

Forma Circuli
[Shape of the circle]

Caput Quartum Chapter Four

Vocatus Spirituum eorum nomina propris How to Call the Spirits, and how to
horumque signa quomodo sint facienda. create their special names and signs.

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Nomen primi Spiritus. Mogarip. Sigillum.

[The name of the first Spirit: Mogarip. The Seal.]

Vocatus: The Call:

Mogarip! Mogarip! Mogarip! Hamka Mogarip! Mogarip! Mogarip! Hamka
Temach Algazoth Syrath Amilgos Temach Algazoth Syrath Amilgos
Murzocka Imgat Alaja Amgustaroth Murzocka Imgat Alaja Amgustaroth
Horim Suhaja Mogarip! Mogarip! Horim Suhaja Mogarip! Mogarip!
Mogarip! Mogarip!

Nomen secundi Spiritus. Amabosar. Sigillum.

[The name of the second Spirit: Amabosar. The Seal.]

Vocatus: The Call:

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Amabosar! Amabosar! Amabosar! Amabosar! Amabosar! Amabosar!

Pharynthos Egayroth Melustaton Pharynthos Egayroth Melustaton
Castotis Mugos Nachrim Amabosar! Castotis Mugos Nachrim Amabosar!
Amabosar! Amabosar! Amabosar! Amabosar!

Nomen Tertij Spiritus. Alkyzub. Sigillum.

[The name of the third Spirit: Alkyzub. The Seal.]

Vocatus: The Call:

Alkyzub! Alkyzub! Alkyzub! Mergastos Alkyzub! Alkyzub! Alkyzub! Mergastos
Hajagit Agaschar Asmodit Burgum Hajagit Agaschar Asmodit Burgum
Zephar Largon Cherip Galgadim Uriach Zephar Largon Cherip Galgadim Uriach
Alkyzub! Alkyzub! Alkyzub! Alkyzub! Alkyzub! Alkyzub!

Nomen Quarti Spiritus. Belzazel. Sigillum.

[The Name of the Fourth Spirit: Belzazel. The Seal.]

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Vocatus: The Call:

Belzazel! Belzazel! Belzazel! Thittersa Belzazel! Belzazel! Belzazel! Thittersa
Zapkyos Brusiat Algior Soryam Ferozim Zapkyos Brusiat Algior Soryam Ferozim
Abdizoth Mulosin Belzazel! Belzazel! Abdizoth Mulosin Belzazel! Belzazel!
Belzazel! Belzazel!

Nomen Quinti Spiritus: Falkaroth. Sigillum.

[The Name of the Fifth Spirit: Falkaroth. The Seal.]

Vocatus: The Call:

Falkaroth! Falkaroth! Falkaroth! Falkaroth! Falkaroth! Falkaroth!
Hymelion Lothaia Estachar Indos Hymelion Lothaia Estachar Indos
Nomirim Hamach Felogon Morgoseos Nomirim Hamach Felogon Morgoseos

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Angar Arastus Falkaroth! Farkaroth! Angar Arastus Falkaroth! Farkaroth!

Farkaroth! Farkaroth!

Nomen Sexti Spiritus: Mephgazub. Sigillum.

[The Name of the Sixth Spirit: Mephgazub. The Seal.]

Vocatus: The Call:

Mephgazub! Mephgazub! Mephgazub! Mephgazub! Mephgazub! Mephgazub!
Samanthros Jaramtin Algaphonteos Samanthros Jaramtin Algaphonteos
Zapgaton Osachfat Mergaim Hugal Zapgaton Osachfat Mergaim Hugal
Zerastan Alcasatti Mephgazub! Zerastan Alcasatti Mephgazub!
Mephgazub! Mephgazub! Mephgazub! Mephgazub!

Quomodo hæc Sigilla Spirituum sint

How to make the Seals of the Spirits
facienda

Accipiatur Cera viridis cui misceatur One takes green Wax, to which one mixes
de fuligine, fiant ex ea assulæ rotundæ soot, makes from this round pieces and,
inseranturque in eas instrumento with steel instruments, cuts into them the
chalybeo Sigillum hujusce Spiritus qui Seal of that Spirit one wishes to invoke.
citari intenditur. fiant hæc sicut cætera Let these Seals be consecrated with smoke
antedicta simili ratione in tempore die in the same way as the others
et hora suffitus cum defossu hic aforementioned in the time, by the day
intermittatur verum ad opus and in the hour of , but do not bury them:
custodiatur. rather, preserve them for the Work.

Quomodo Libellus iste sit

How to consecrate the Book
consecrandus.

It is necessary to consecrate the Book (in

Libellus (cui Spirituum nomina et which the names and Calls of the Spirits
Vocatus inscripti sunt) antecedenter

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consecretur necesse est: uti nimirum are written) before using it, just as the old
antiqui fecerunt Magi qui similium Magi did, whose consecrations forced
librorum consecrationem ita instituere spirits to appear in similar books;
ut apperiendo duntaxat librum spiritus however, for us this practice is all too
max comparere coëgissent, quod tamen dangerous, particularly if such a book
nobis nimium videtur periculosum infortuitously fell into the hands of people
præsertim si talis liber infortuite in completely unacquainted in this art.
manus hominum hanc artem penitus Therefore we prefer to consecrate our
ignorantium incidat. Quare libellum book the following way: Let the Book be
nostrum sequenti consecrare libuit made from Parchment, with the symbol of
modo. Fiat Libellus ex Pergamento cui and, if one wills, an Image of this
imprimis insignatur Character et si Planet, whose figure is represented with
libet Imago quædam Planetæ hujus over its Head. The Book should be called:
figuram repræsentans cum Signo
super Caput ejus. Libellus intituletur:

The Consecrated Book of the dark Venus

Libellus Veneri nigræ Sacer. [17]

Ante Vocatum Spirituum scribatur in

Rubrica Tuba Veneris ad Normam Before the Call of the Spirits one should
hujus nostri Libelli, qui â me ipso write “The Horn of Venus” in Red, as is
consecratus atque cum reliquis Standard in our Book, which was
omnibus appertinentiis posteritati consecrated by me myself and that will be
relictus est, si secus fortuna hæc omnia left for future generations with all of the
tibi ad manus decreverit. Integer rest of the things that belong to it, just as
proinde libellus in sæpe dictis fate has put all of this into your hands.
temporibus conscribi debet ad quod This book must be written therefore
ulterius requiritur penna ex columba completely in the times of Venus often
atque attramentum calcanto mentioned already, with the feather of a
compositum et a nemine usatum etiam dove, copper vitriol water, and virgin ink.
viridi rubeoque colore pro libitu uti Green and red can be used as desired,
potest, nam hi colores Planetæ nostro because Venus welcomes these colors.
omnino grati sunt. Libellus postquam After the book is produced and written,
compositus et conscriptus est one envelopes it with smoke. Then, taking
infumicetur. dein accipiatur aqua the Vitriol water, one fills the hand and
Vitrioli cum qua manus impleatur et baptizes the book by saying:
liber bapticetur dicendo.

Veneri nigrum te Sacro libellum To dark Venus I consecrate you, Sacred

Veneris esto Tuba tibi nomen Book.
incolis tremena que sitque bene notum Horn of Venus is your name
Omnibus Orci. Whose power is well-known
To all the sojourners in the underworld.

O Magne Princeps Anaël Olympi! Oh Anael, Great Olympic Prince!

Te rogo supplex robora Volumentuo I ask you humbly, strengthen this Volume,
qui perenni semper honori Washed in your spring to eternal honor.
fonte lavatur.

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Veneris horis Dæmon ut inscriptus May the Dæmon inscribed within it

advolet velox hæc si Tuba cantat Come quickly in the hours of Venus,
qua volo præstet, faciat invitus. If this Horn sounds
Placidus adsta! And carry out what I want, even if he is
unwilling.
Gently assist me!

Hoc facto rursum Libellus infumetur As soon as this is done, one should once
atque in pannum vel viridum vel again envelop the Book in smoke and
rubrum involvetur, subdatur supter wrap it in a green or red cloth, and then
terram cum cæteris rebus et in tempore bury it with the rest of the things under the
præscripto effodiatur et pro usu earth and at the time prescribed before,
conservetur. unbury it, and store it for use.

Quomodo operatio instituenda sit How to undertake the working

Si omnia hæc antedicta tandem rite When all of these aforementioned things
præparata promptaque ad manus are finally properly prepared and ready
fuerint atque operator se se ipsum satis and the operator deems himself suitable
probaverit præparaveritque idoneum et and brave enough and has prepared
animosum (pro uti id imperterritum himself (since this requires an absolutely
magnanimumque omnino desiderat unfrightened and courageous man), he
virum) accedat in eodem sæepe should go during the same oft-mentioned
indicato tempore hora et nocte locum time, hour, and night of to a safe place
ab omni hominum perturbatione free from all human disturbances, either in
securum vel in ædibus vel melius in a building, or better in a Forest or at a
Sylvia biviisque absitis atque desertis, isolated and deserted crossroads. There he
disponat ibi circulum et suspendat may spread out the circle and place the
Sigillum super collum, faciat Seal of around his neck. Then he should
fumigium et incipiat citare Spiritum ex kindle the fire and begin to invoke one of
numero assignato a se electum. Totum the spirits he selected from the indicated
autem Vocatum per Tubam number. He should speak the entire Call
pronunciet vocetque Spiritum suo through the Horn of , and he should
nomine tum ab initia citationis tum in summon the Spirit by naming it once at
fine sed semper cum aliqua pausa. the beginning and again at the end, but
always with distinct pauses.

Advenientem Spiritum salutet modo

He should Greet the Spirit in this way:
sequenti:

“Hail to you, noble and obedient Spirit

Salve nobilis ac obediens Spiritus (here one addresses the Spirit by its
(nominetur hic Spiritus suo nominee). name). I order you, in the powerful name
Impero tibi per tremendum nomen of Adonai and with this Seal (show the
Adonai et per hoc Sigillum (:monstret Spirit’s Seal) of the Angel Anael, the
Spiritui Sigillum:) Angeli Anaëlis Supreme Regent of the Planet Venus, to
Principis Regentis Planetæ Veneris ut calmly and peacefully behave and fulfill
quietem te exhibeas et tranquillum my will in all things that I instruct you to
atque in omnibus quæ tibi mandaturus do. This I command you moreover by
sum voluntatem meam adimpleas. Hoc God the Father, the Son, and the Holy
tibi iterato præcipio per Deum Patrem

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Filium et Spiritum Sanctum et per Ghost, and by the Triumphant Lord Jesus
Triumphatorem Dominum Jesum Christ, who will come to judge the world
Christum qui venturus est judicare through fire.”
seculum per ignem.

Post hæc Spiritus Magistrum After this the Spirit will ask the Master
interragobit quare fuerit citatus, why he has been summoned and what the
quidnam præcipiat? et desideret atque master wishes and commands. And this
hoc Magister clare et distincte the Master should then clearly and
denominet. ubi notandum quad si distinctly state. If the spirit shows himself
Spiritum in aliquibus pertinaces sese in any way to be uncooperative, one must
ostenderent, accipiatur Sigillum , be sure to take the Seal of Venus and
detur super ignem vel carbones cum place it over the fire or coal with which
quibus fumigium factum est, vel si the censer was made, or if one is not using
fumigio non utatur (sicut etiam adeo a censer (since using one is not absolutely
necessarium non est) porrigatur necessary), one may hold the Seal over a
Sigillum super candelam ardentem ut burning candle so that it becomes warm
fiat calidum et imponatur super illud and then place it upon the summoned
Sigillum istius Spiritus qui citatur per spirit. When one does this, spirits are
hoc enim enormiter cruciantur Spiritus terribly pained and they beg the master to
et rogabunt magistrum ut cesset illos stop tormenting them and they become no
tormentare et non amplius resistant longer resistant to fulfilling his will.
adimplere ejus voluntatem. Non tamen Surely I advise that the Master not
in petitionibus et desideriis Magister overstep the mark too much with his
nimium excedat, suaserim ne forte demands and wishes and in so doing
Divini Numinis iram provocet; nec provoke Divine wrath, nor vacillate and
inconstantem astutis se monstret show himself inconstant to the sly spirits,
spiritibus aut vaticillantem nec minus or even worse, accept conditions that they
conditiones ab iis proponendas suggest to him. But rather, with a brave
acceptet. Sed animo forti ac constanti and firm mind, he should insist upon the
petitionibus â se Spiritibus semel requests he has expressed to the Spirits
propositis insistat et Spirituum forte and he should regard their threats and
simultaneas difficultates vel etiam protestations of feigned difficulties to be
minas nauci floccique faciat secus empty nothings, otherwise he will lose his
Dominii sui in Spiritus frustraretur. Rule over these Spirits. No less must one
Non minus cavendum est, ne Spirituum guard himself from using the help of
assistentia pro perpetrandis impiis ac Spirits to carry out godless and criminal
sceleratis facinoribus utatur ad quod deeds which the Spirits will show
quidem eo promptiores se se themselves even more eager to do: indeed,
ostenderent Spiritus: verum sic the soul would certainly suffer the greatest
summum sane anima pateretur damage [if it behaved so] since while he
detrimentum nam dum suum in considers himself to be exerting his power
Dæmones vellet exercere Dominium over the demons, he would actually be
animam suam in horrendum illorum delivering his soul into the terrible
traderet mancipatum. Quare paucis servitude of the demons. Therefore we
rursum de omni abusu artis hujus sincerely advise once more against all and
cunctos et singulos fideliter every single misuse of this art. When the
dehortamur. Quod si itaque Spiritus Spirits have fulfilled the commands or
mandata seu voluntatem Magistri will of the Master, they should be
adimpleverint licentientur modo dismissed in the following way:

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sequenti:

Valedictio Spirituum. The Dismissal of the Spirit.

Hæc fit sicut Vocatus per Tubam Speaking as before through the Horn of ,
hisce verbis:Norcados Fenoram say these words:"Norcados Fenoram
Anosiren (vocetur hic Spiritus suo Anosiren (here one should call the spirit
nomine semel et pergatur) Oparcliim once by his name and continue) Oparchim
Amosan Zezaphilos Aspairath Amosan Zezaphilos Aspairath Anthyras
Anthyras Zyriffon. Zyriffon.”

His auditis Spiritum mox fient When they have heard these words, the
invisibiles et magistro facta pro libitu Spirits will immediately become invisible,
benedictione e Circulo egredi est and the master may leave the Circle after
licitum. he has spoken whatever benediction he
wants.

Quæ ulterius adhuo in operatione Other things that should be paid attention
observanda sunt. to during the work.

Si cum sociis fiat experimentum Ille If the experiment is carried out with other
tantum unicus loquatur Spiritibus, qui people present, only one person, who acts
Magistrum agit, et illos advocat, reliqui as Master and does the Calls, should
omnes silentium observent. Quod si speak with the Spirits. All others should
Spiritus ad adferendum Thesauros et remain silent. If the Spirits are forced to
nummos compellantur sic pecuniis vel bring treasures or coins, one must place
Thesauro imponi debet, Sigillum ex the Seal of on the treasure and
post evacuetur Thesaurus ex vasibus afterwards empty the treasure out of its
suis et in aliud vas novum prius containers and transfer it into a new
perfurmatum et benedictum container that has previously been
transferatur. Hisce igitur libello nostro perfumed and consecrated. Thus with
finem imponimus. Tu vero amice these bits of advice we end our little book:
Lector! de ejus abusu cave quæ hic Guard yourself, beloved Reader, from its
scripta sunt bene perpende ne quid misuse; think carefully about the things
obliviscaris attendas et si quid agis written here; make sure that you have not
prudenter agas atque animo forgotten anything; and whenever you do
imperterrito et constanti perficias et something, make sure that you behaved
magno tibi erit utilitati et solatio. Ast wisely and carry it out with an
unicum adhuc restat te admoneamus ut unfrightened and firm mind; and great
in bono operis successu pauperum benefit and comfort will result. One thing
quam optime benefaciendo sis memor. still remains that we must remind you
Et sic tum in hac tum in altera vita about, and that is that should you have a
beatus eris at propitius erit omnibus great success with the work, the best thing
nobis ille qui venturus est judicare to do is to remember the poor through
vivos et mortuos cujus Regni non erit charitable works. And thus you will be
Finis. happy in this life as well as in the next,
and he will be merciful to us all, who will
come to judge the living and the dead,
whose Kingdom will have no End.

Index

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Notes

[1] Dee, John. 1990. Das Büchlein der Venus (“Libellus Veneris Nigro Sacer”): eine magische Handschrift
des 16. Jhrs. Trans. and commentary by Jörg M. Meier. Bonn.

[2] Meier, Jörg M., 1990a, “Kommentar zum Text,” in Das Büchlein der Venus, Bonn p. 49.

[3] Meier, Jörg M., 1990b, “Text und Überstzung,” in Das Büchlein der Venus, Bonn p. 23.

[4] Grammatically, these words should read LIBELLUS VENERI NIGRÆ SACER rather than NIGRO, yet it
appears this way in the four main versions examined by Meier (1990b p. 22), perhaps as a play on
nigromancy.

[5] Pertaining to the underworld and/or River Styx; also, a pun on stiga, witch.

[6] Inhabitant, with the sense of “resident alien.”

[7] Tuba refers most directly to the straight bronze war-trumpet of the ancient Romans, yet the graphic shows
the horn as curved, like a shofar. See further discussion in article. Tuba certainly also also puns upon the
tuba-tree in the Koran, the tallest and most beautiful tree in Paradise viewed by Idris/Enoch. In Sufi poetry
the tuba-tree, or tree of life, is often where the soul alights like a Phoenix.

[8] We use dæmon rather than demon throughout to evoke both the meaning “evil spirit” associated with
“demon,” and the older meaning, from Greek , of a supernatural being, spirit, or “genius” whose
nature is between that of gods and men. Using “æ” as a false archaism was done often in the literature of the
era to suggest older meaning (as Spenser does in titling his poem the Færie Queene .)

[9] “You” may be read as a direct address of Venus, the reader, or both.

[10] Vocatus: invocations, (ceremonial) calls or conjurings.

[11] Siggilum: often written as “sigil” in other magical / astrological texts, but translated here as “Seal” to
match Dee’s English usage.

[12] While this might be translated as “black art” or even “alchemy,” we used a term more contemporaneous
with Dee to draw on the connotations of his time rather than ours. Notably, one of the later manuscripts
examined by Meier use the Latin necromanticæ instead of negromanticæ (see 1990b p 22, 30).

[13] Using the Greek numbering system. In most modern Biblical translations, this Psalm—praising the
restoration of Jerusalem—is Psalm 147.

[14] According to Meier 1990a, in the Warburg manuscript, the lines are red and the other designs are green,
on a light green background. In the Munich manuscript the left seal is black on reddish brown and the right
black on green, showing a scribe not aware that that this was supposed to be the front and back of the same
seal.

[15] Cornu . Note Dee uses cornu for this type of horn and tuba for the other, although a cornus could also be
a curved musical horn.

[16] According to Meier 1990a, in the Warburg manuscript the names of the Archangels, Evangelists, and the
twelve crosses in the outer circle are in the same brown as the text, while all other names and crosses are red.
In the Munich manuscript, the outer ring of the circle is red, the middle ring black, and the inner ring green.

[17] Libellus Veneri nigræ Sacer: compare to title and note 4.

Index

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