The Book of Pentacles: Sibley and Scott

 There are two authors through which a small part of our elusive treatise entered the more recent manuscript tradition. Usually these can be found with other printed materials copied for private use in manuscripts beginning with the 16th century, therefore, any such instances will be independent of manuscript lineages of the ”Book of Pentacles” itself. Usually such manuscripts borrow heavily from Pseudo-Abano, Agrippa and the Arbatel and are quite easy to spot.

Reginald Scott

(1584)

Reginald Scott`s work The Discovery of Witchcraft needs no introduction to the readers of this blog, I believe. The work was published in 1584 and reprinted with expanded material in 1665. My source was the 1665 edition, made available in high resolution scan freely by the Bibliotheque National Francaise, but the 1584 edition seems to contain the pentacles we are looking for, as indicated by the excerpts published by Joseph Peterson. 

On page 243 of the 1665 edition we find the above illustration, which reproduces 3 pentacles that have a direct correspondence with the Folger pentacle section. 

Fig.1

These Figures are Called the Seals of the Earth, without which no Spirit will ap-pear, except thou have them with thee.

Legenda: Panthon Vsyion Messyas Sother Emmanuel Sabaoth Adonay.

+ Laptenop + Rynthaoth + Datthagen 

In Folger, Figure 22 bears the closest resemblance, without the writing, but the description is consistent. 

Fig.2

Who so beareth this sign about him, all Spirits shall do him homage.

Cf. Folger, fig.10

Fig.3

who so beareth this sign about him, let him fear no fo, but fear God.

Cf. Folger, Fig.8

So far, we don t have a clear idea of what was the source Scott used, but between his variants and the ones from Folger there are enough differences to allow us to think that between the two there might be at least one missing manuscript, if not several.  

Ebenezer Sibley 

(1795)

Ebenezer Sibly (1751-1800), was famous 18th century British astrologer, magician, freemason, accountant and book collector. His 1795 work, A New and Complete Illustration of the Occult Sciences, in four books, deals mainly with astrology. The fourth volume (digital editition thanks to Joseph Peterson), does deal with magic, and features a redrawn version of Scott s magical implements. 

Fig.1

Fig.2

Whosoever beareth this Sign, all Spirits will do him homage. 

Fig.3

Whosoever beareth this sign need fear no Foe.

Sibley does not embellish much from Scot, except a few superficial modifications in the figures 2 and 3. The only things that differ are the wordings, but keeping the sense intact.  Figure 1 however, has two errors compared to Scott: Asyon instead of Vsyon and Dattbagen insead of Datthagen. 

It s safe to say that Scott was the source for Sibley, and bearing in mind this fact, it s still fascinating to observe the liberties taken in transcription of both the graphical elements and descriptions.