Transcribed from British Library, Additional manuscript 36674.

Edited by Joseph H. Peterson, Copyright © 1999. All rights reserved. Updated May 30, 2019.

The present text is a sixteenth century English translation of the Key of Solomon, the most famous of Grimoires, or handbooks of magic.

In producing his 1889 edition of the Key of Solomon, three manuscripts escaped S.L. Mathers' attention, or he chose to neglect them. They are Sloane 3645, 3847, and Additional Ms. 36,674. All three are in English. It is not clear to me why he did not mention them, but they do not in fact seem to have been used by him, as the wordings and layout are quite different. Mathers' translation seems to be mainly from the Colorno class of manuscripts written in French.

The following is a complete transcription of the English Key of Solomon from Add. 36674, with alternate readings from Sl. 3645. The Add. manuscript dates to mid- to late-16th century. Add. 36674 also appears to be in the same hand as that found in the beginning of Sloane 3854. Sl. 3645 is dated 17th century [1], and seems to be based solely on the earlier manuscript. The drawings included here are based on those in the Sloane manuscript, as they are more legible, and were copied very closely from the older manuscript.

The catalog entry reads as follows:

Contrary to what the catalog entry states, nearly all of this text does in fact closely parallel Mathers' edition, although the wording is simpler in the present text.

It is also full of Christian references which are absent in Mathers' edition and other manuscripts of the Clavicula.

Regarding the third early English translation, Sloane MS 3847, although it has many parallels with the two English manuscripts represented in the present text, it does not seem to be directly related. Rather, it appears to be an independent translation, probably from the Italian or Latin. It is not included in the present edition.

I have taken the liberty of moving the table of contents for book 2 to the beginning of this transcript for convenience.

[5r]

[5v is blank]

Yf then they appeare showe them the pentacles, If then they appear, show them the pentacles.

but yf they wyll not, let the Mr (betinge the ayer about hym on euery syde) hiss wth his voice, and his companions prayinge, lett hym say wth A cleare voyce. But if they will not, let the master (beating the air about him on every side) hiss with his voice, and his companions praying, let him say with a clear voice:

Behould, I coniure you, I call you, I exorcyse you, by the mighty greate, and stronge name, Hel ; I coniure you, and commãnd you, by the wonderfull Berlayne , holy greate and iuste, that you tarrye not, but come wthout any noyse, and wthout any [7v] deformyty, Behold, I conjure you, I call you, I exorcize you, by the mighty, great, and strong name, Hel . I conjure you, and command you by the wonderful Berlayne , holy great and just, that you tarry not, but come without any noise, and without any deformity.

I coniure you, and wth power commaunde you, by hym wch speaketh, and yt is holy, and by all his names, In the name Adonay, Aloe, Alnon, Sabaoth, Saday, Also, I commaunde you by this booke, and by all the powers therof, that you come to vs, not deformed, but in A very faier shape; We coniure you wth power, by the name Yr, and Vr, wch Adam harde and spake; or by the name Gyn, wch Noe harde, and spoke wth theight family after the flodde: And by the name, Y, et N, et X, wch Abraham harde, and knewe allmighty god; And by the name Joth, wch Jacob harde, of the Angell speakinge wth hym, and was deliuered from the hands of his brother Esau ; And by the name, hely, Ane, heye, wch Moyses harde, in the hyll of god, horeb : and obtayned to speake wth god, and heare god hym selfe speake in A flame of fyer: And by the name Elaye wch Moyses named, and all the dust of the earthe was strickenn, and knatte weare made amongst the menn, the oxenn, and cattle of the Ægyptians ; wch dyd destroy them and there corne; And by the name Arphicerie wch Moyses namyd, and sente all kynde of flyes into Ægypt , to destroy there fruyte, And in the name, Phaicon , wch Moyses namyd, and there was made darkenes 3. daies and 3. nightes in Ægypt and all weare almost deade for feare: And by the name Arymon , and in the name Arymon , wch Moyses named at mydnight, and all yt fyrst borne in Aegipte dyed: And by the name Gemaron , and in the name Gemaron , wch Moyses named, and the redd sea was dyuyded, and he deliuered the childreñ of Israel , out of captyuity: And by the name Symagogion , wch Elias named, and the heauen dyd giue rayne, and thearth brought forth fruite: And by the name Athanatos , wch Jeremias namyd before the captiuity of Jerusalem ; And by the name, α et ω, wch Danyel named, And by that destroyed Bel , and slewe the Dragon , And by the name Emanuel , wch the 3. chyldrenn Sydrac, Mydrac , & Abednago , songe in the whote ouenn of fyer, and weare not hurte; By these names and by all other names of the almighty, only, and true god, by whome you weare throune doune, out of the hyghe throne into the place of banishmente; We coniure you, and commaunde you, by hym wch speaketh and it is done; to whome all creatures doe obaye, And by the Angellicall potestates of heauenn, And by the greate prouydence of almighty god, and by the seale of Kynge Solomõ ; wch he receyued of that allmightye; Come therfore prsently before us, to fulfill our desier: I conjure you, and with power command you, by him which speaketh, and it is holy, and by all his names. In the name Adonay, Aloe, Alnon, Sabaoth, Saday, . Also, I command you by this book, and by all the powers thereof, that you come to us, not deformed but in a very fair shape. We conjure you with power, by the names Yr, and Vr, which Adam heard and spake; or by the name Gyn, which Noah heard and spoke, with theight (?) family after the flood. And by the name Y, et N, et X, which Abraham heard, and knew Almighty God; And by the name Joth, which Jacob heard of the angel speaking with him, and was delivered from the hands of his brother Esau; And by the name, hely, Ane, heye, which Moses heard in the hill of God, horeb : and obtained to speak with God, and hear God Himself speak in a flame of fire; And by the name Elaye which Moses named, and all the dust of the Earth was stricken, and gnats were made amongst the men, the oxen, and cattle of the Egyptians, which did destroy them and their corn; and by the name Arphicerie which Moses named, and sent all kinds of flies into Egypt, to destroy there fruit; and in the name, Phaicon , which Moses named, and there was made darkeness three days and three nights in Egypt and all were almost dead for fear; and by the name Arymon , and in the name Arymon , which Moses named at midnight, and all the first born in Egypt died. And by the name Gemaron , and in the name Gemaron , which Moses named and the Red Sea was divided, and he delivered the children of Israel out of captivity. And by the name Symagogion , which Elias named, and the Heaven did give rain, and the Earth brought forth fruit. And by the name Athanatos , which Jeremiah named before the captivity of Jerusalem. And by the name, ALPHA & OMEGA, which Daniel named, and by that destroyed Bel , and slew the Dragon . And by the name Emanuel , which the three children Sidrac, Midrac, and Abednago sung in the hot oven of fire, and were not hurt. By these names and by all other names of the almighty, only, and true God, by whom you were thrown down out of the high throne into the place of banishment; we conjure you, and command you, by him which speaketh and it is done; to whom all creatures do obey. And by the Angelic potestates of heaven, and by the great providence of Almighty God, and by the seal of Kinge Solomon, which he received of that Almighty. Come therefore presently before us, to fulfill our desire.

I coniure you by that most holy name Joth, Hebay , wch ar wryttenn in hebrewe letters, and by the holy name, Prymeunaton , wch Moyses named, and the bottome of hell swallowed upp, Tathon , and Abyran ; vnles you doe as we commaunde you, we curse you by the vertue of that same name Premeunaton , euen into the bottome of hell, and we will send you to yt farthyst parte therof, yf you wyll rebell against us; and [8r] wthstand these our holy words. So be yt, so be yt, so be yt , Amen. I conjure you by that most holy name Joth, Hebay , which is written in Hebrew letters, and by the holy name, Primeumaton , which Moses named, and the bottom of Hell swallowed up, Tathon , and Abyran ; unless you do as we command you, we curse you by the virtue of that same name Primeumaton , even into the bottom of Hell, and we will send you to that farthest part thereof, if you will rebel against us and withstand these our holy words. So be it, so be it, so be it , Amen.

Yf as yet they doe not appeare, lett the coniurer make the signe of the  . vppon his forehed, and saye - If as yet they do not appear, let the conjurer make the sign of the cross upon his forehead, and say:

Agayne, I coniure you, you Spyrytts, in what place soeuer you bee, that you come to see the consecrated signes and names, of the most mighty Tryumpher, and we charge you by his vnity to obaye us, And by hym we wyll compell you, against your wyll, for all thinges be true, wch haue proceaded out of this worke: And there shall proceade fier, wch shall burne you continuallye; And they be the wordes, by the wch all the worlde doth tremble, Stones ar rowled backe, the water doth not flowe, nor the fier burne. Again I conjure you, you spirits, in what place soever you be, that you come to see the consecrated signs and names of the most mighty Triumpher, and we charge you by his unity to obey us. And by him we will compel you, against your will, for all things be true, which have proceeded out of this work. And there shall proceed fire which shall burn you continually. And they be the words by the which all the world doth tremble, stones are rolled back, the water doth not flow, nor the fire burn.

Than yf they weare tyed wth chaynes of yron, they wyll streight waies come, or ells sende there messyngers; yf they doe not, then lett the Mr aryse stronglye, and comfort hys fellowes, and turninge him selfe into the 4. partes of the world, lett hym beate the Ayer, afterwards lett hym kneele towards the Easte, and his fellowes wth hym, and saye wth an humble voyce. Then if they were tied with chains of iron, they will straight ways come, or else send their messengers. If they do not, then let the master arise strongly and comfort his fellows, and turning himself to the four parts of the world, let him beat the air. Afterwards, let him kneel towards the East, and his fellows with him, and say with an humble voice:

Where bee you spyritts wch were ons, Angells of the 9. orders; come and see the heauenly sygnes, and the ineffable names of or creator, and the names of the Angells, whose fellowes you weare once, we coniure you againe and againe, and commaund you by the triumphãt, mighty, and stronge name of god, hel , wch is wonderfull, glorifyed, and vertuous, and terrible; we coniure you, and cõmand you, that wthout any delay, and wthout all deformity you come and appeare before us. Where be you spirits which were once angels of the nine orders? Come and see the heavenly signs, and the ineffable names of our Creator, and the names of the angels, whose fellows you were once. We conjure you again and again, and command you by the triumphant, mighty, and strong name of God Hel , which is wonderful, glorified, and virtuous, and terrible; we conjure you, and command you, that without any delay and without all deformity you come and appear before us.

Yf yet they be dysobedient and wyll not come, then lett the Mr reforme all his circles, and make A cros in the Ayer wth the aforesayde knyfe, and makynge A hyssinge in the 4. parts of the world, let hym knele towards the North, and say --

If yet they be disobedient and will not come, then let the master reform all his circles, and make a cross in the air with the aforesaid knife, and making a hissing in the four parts of the world, let him kneel towards the North, and say:



In the name of Adonay, Aloyn, Sabaoth, Saday, wch is lord god, high god, and allmighty kynge, we beseche thé that we may bringe to passe or desyer, and that we may prosper vppon all the workes of our handes: And the lord in this hower, and in all the reste, be in our mouthe, and our harte. In the name of Adonay, Aloyn, Sabaoth, Saday, which is Lord God, High God, and Almighty King, we beseech thee that we may bring to pass our desire, and that we may prosper upon all the works of our hands. And the Lord in this hour, and in all the rest, be in our mouths, and our hearts.





Afterwarde let hym aryse, stretchinge his armes as thoughe he would embrace the Ayer, and say --



Afterwards, let him arise, stretching his arms as though he would embrace the air, and say:

Againe we coniure you, and exorzyse you, by these letters herein expressed, by whose vertue and power, fier is extinguished, and all thinges ar made in remenbraunce of them, and they call truly vppõ there creator, and prayse hym, wch accordynge to ye truth ar these -- Veriton, Adyreon, Biraretro, Gyariton, Gyamerion, Celamia, [8v] Cheamagi, Rechnaya, Eapmegia, Aderyan, Malchia, Mana, Gana, Roachia, laba, Cosia, Boalia, Dorenia, Canco, Galgala, Bache, Baya, Amanua, Cathia, Bachuaya, Geredia, Nyera, Penthohahia, Arathana, Redosta, Calchia, Semeforab, Anare, Neron, Joosar, by the vertue of these we exorzise and coniure you, and by the most blessed god, and by hys Impery, and euerlastynge glorie; And by the holy name of the holy fayth Adonay, Eloe, wch is to say, lord god of Sabaoth; ffurdermore, we coniure you, and we bynde you, by the seale of the sonn, the mone, and the starrs, and knowe that vnles you come wthout any deformity you shall haue noe rest by day, nor by night, whersoeuer you bee: And you shalbe condemned into the flame of fier, and of sulphur; we wyll burne you and yor figures for euer and euer; Also that you departe not, tyll you shalbe lycensed; ffurdermore, we coniure you, by this name Bel , and in this name Ia, Ia, Ia, wch is god; and in this name, Vau, Vau, Vau, wch is, I am that I am; ffynally, we coniure you, by all the dynyne [divine] power of god, that you presently come before vs in comely wyse. Again we conjure you, and exorcise you, by these letters herein expressed, by whose virtue and power fire is extinguished, and all things are made in remembrance of them, and they call truly upon their Creator, and praise him, which according to the truth are these: Veriton, Adyreon, Biraretro, Gyariton, Gyamerion, Celamia, Cheamagi, Rechnaya, Eapmegia, Aderyan, Malchia, Mana, Gana, Roachia, laba, Cosia, Boalia, Dorenia, Canco, Galgala, Bache, Baya, Amanua, Cathia, Bachuaya, Geredia, Nyera, Penthohahia, Arathana, Redosta, Calchia, Semeforab, Anare, Neron, Joosar, by the virtue of these we exorcise and conjure you, and by the most blessed God, and by his impery, and everlasting glory; and by the holy name of the holy faith Adonay, Eloe, which is to say, Lord God of Sabaoth. Furthermore, we conjure you, and we bind you, by the seal of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars, and know that unless you come without any deformity you shall have no rest by day nor by night, wheresoever you be, and you shall be condemned into the flame of fire and of sulphur; we will burn you and your figures for ever and ever. Also that you depart not till you shall be licensed. Furthermore, we conjure you, by this name Bel , and in this name Ia, Ia, Ia, which is God, and in this name, Vau, Vau, Vau, which is, I am that I am; finally, we conjure you, by all the divine power of God, that you presently come before us in comely wise.

When this is doñe you shall see them cume, and there lordes as greate menn ar wonte, and when they shall see the Mr, they obay hym in all poyntes. When this is done, you shall see them come, and their lords as great men are wont, and when they shall see the master, they obey him in all points.

Afterwarde, when thou hast doñe all thou wylte, commaund euery one to returne peaceably into his place, And saye: Afterwards, when thou hast done all thou wilt, command everyone to return peaceably into his place, and say:

Peace bee betwene you and me. Peace be between you and me.

After this let the coniurer say St Johns Gospell, and the 12. Artycles of the Crede, and goe out of the cyrcle, and let them wash there faces wth holy water. After this, let the conjurer say Saint John's Gospel, and the twelve articles of the Creed, and go out of the circle, and let them wash their faces with holy water.

Obserue here that noe spyrytt dare tarry away, And yf some chaunce to tarry, write there names in paper, and couer yt wth yearthe, and kyndle A nue fyer, and putt brymstone vppon yt, and say as followeth. Observe here that no spirit dare tarry away, and if some chance to tarry, write their names in paper, and cover it with earth, and kindle a new fire, and put brimstone upon it, and say as followeth:

I coniure thé fyer, by hym, of whome all the world is susteyned, that thou burne thes spyrytts, after that sorte, that they may fele yt perpetually; I conjure thee, fire, by him of whom all the world is sustained, that thou burn these spirits after that sorte, that they may feel it perpetually.

Then caste the paper into the fyer and saye: Then caste the paper into the fire and say:

Cursed and blasphemed be you for euer, let there be noe rest to you any hower, any day, or any nighte, because you haue not obayed the wordes, wch were spokenn of the mighty maker of all thinges, wch names ar these: Ameteñeton, Io, Ahac, Pater, Semiphoras, Alleluia, Aleph, Beth, Gymel, Daleth, he, [Vau,] sayn, Cleth [Cheth], Teth, Jod, Caph, Lamed, Mem, [Nun,] Samech, Ain, Pe, Tsade, Coph, [Resh,] Sin, Tau, Cursed and blasphemed be you for ever, let there be no rest to you any hour, any day, or any night, because you have not obeyed the words, which were spoken of the mighty maker of all things, which names are these: Ameteñeton, Io, Ahac, Pater, Semiphoras, Alleluia, Aleph, Beth, Gymel, Daleth, he, [Vau,] sayn, Cleth [Cheth], Teth, Jod, Caph, Lamed, Mem, [Nun,] Samech, Ain, Pe, Tsade, Coph, [Resh,] Sin, Tau,

we curse you and depriue you of all yr power, and strenght, by the vertue of these names, sendinge you to be burned euerlastyngly in fyer and brymstone world wthout end. We curse you and deprive you of all your power, and strength, by the virtue of these names, sending you to be burned everlastingly in fire and brimstone, world without end.

Wch done they wyll come, Which done, they will come.