Making Magic in Elizabethan England: Two Early Modern Vernacular Books of Magic

The Antiphoner Notebook and the Boxgrove Manual are two anonymous and untitled manuscripts of magic produced in Elizabethan England that Frank Klaassen uses to explain how magic changed during this period and why these developments were crucial to the formation of modern magic. The Boxgrove Manual is a work of learned ritual magic that synthesizes material from Henry Cornelius Agrippa, the Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy, Heptameron, and various medieval conjuring works, while the Antiphoner Notebook concerns the common magic of treasure hunting, healing, and protection. Klaassen traces how the scribes who created these manuscripts adapted and transformed their original sources, demonstrating the varied and subtle ways in which the Renaissance, Reformation, new currents in science, the birth of printing, and vernacularization changed the practice of magic.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2021
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

This captivating volume presents meticulously edited editions of two enigmatic and untitled manuscripts of magic originating from Elizabethan England: the Antiphoner Notebook and the Boxgrove Manual. Frank Klaassen, in his insightful analysis, utilizes these texts, which he contends represent the vast majority of practicing magicians, to elucidate the profound transformations that magic underwent during this era and the significant role these developments played in shaping the modern practice of magic.

The Boxgrove Manual, a remarkable work of learned ritual magic, skillfully amalgamates material from various sources, including Henry Cornelius Agrippa's Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy, Heptameron, and various medieval conjuring works. On the other hand, the Antiphoner Notebook delves into the realm of common magic, encompassing practices such as treasure hunting, healing, and protection. This intriguing manuscript blends medieval conjuring and charm literature with materials sourced from Reginald Scots renowned anti-magic work, Discoverie of Witchcraft. Klaassen's meticulous research unveils the intricate processes by which the scribes who created these manuscripts adapted and transformed their original sources. Through this detailed exploration, he showcases the diverse and nuanced ways in which the Renaissance, Reformation, new scientific currents, the advent of printing, and vernacularization impacted the practice of magic during the early modern period.

By shedding light on the creative endeavors of two sixteenth-century English scribes in crafting a book of magic, this volume offers invaluable insights into the broader intellectual milieu that enveloped the practice of magic during this transformative era. It serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of ideas, beliefs, and traditions that shaped the magical world of the past, providing a valuable resource for scholars, enthusiasts, and anyone seeking to understand the evolution and complexities of this fascinating discipline.

Weight: 244g
Dimension: 238 x 279 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271083698