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The Grimoire of Arthur Gauntlet: A 17th Century London Cunningman's Book of Charms, Conjurations and Prayers — Grimoires

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The Grimoire of Arthur Gauntlet: A 17th Century London Cunningman's Book of Charms, Conjurations and Prayers

Name: The Grimoire of Arthur Gauntlet: A 17th Century London Cunningman's Book of Charms, Conjurations and Prayers
Price: 63.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Rankine, David
ISBN: 9781905297542

✍️ Rankine, David

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review) 91 sold

$63.99 ~~$75.00~~ Save $11.01 (14%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This remarkable volume unveils the personal working manuscript of Arthur Gauntlet, a London cunning-man operating from Gray's Inn Lane in the 1600s. It offers an unparalleled window into the day-to-day magical and healing practices of a folk magician, blending herbal remedies with Christian prayers, biblical charms, and intricate angelic conjurations. The grimoire reveals a fascinating, eclectic approach to practical magic, addressing common needs like health, wealth, love, and protection, showcasing the spiritual depth and diverse influences inherent in historical cunning-craft.

Rankine, David

📚 all books by this author (11) →

📕

Grimoires

🏛 Avalonia 📅 2011 📖 334 pages 📔 Hardcover 📐 Hardcover ISBN: 9781905297542

Fun Fact

David Rankine's meticulous work on Arthur Gauntlet's grimoire offers an invaluable, unvarnished look into 17th-century English folk magic. It's not a modern 'how-to' guide, but a scholarly treasure for historians, practitioners of traditional witchcraft, and anyone fascinated by the intertwining of religion and magic. While it might disappoint those seeking a beginner's spellbook, it brilliantly illuminates the practical, spiritual, and intellectual landscape of a working cunning-man, cementing its place as a cornerstone text in esoteric studies.

📝 Description: The Grimoire of Arthur Gauntlet: A 17th Century London Cunningman's Book of Charms, Conjurations and Prayers

The Grimoire of Arthur Gauntlet is an outstanding example of a seventeenth century London Cunning-man's book of practice. Cunning-folk were practitioners of magic and herbal medicine who dealt with problems in their local communities. Cunning-man Arthur Gauntlet was based in Gray's Inn Lane in London, and his personal working book contains a fascinating diverse mixture of herbal remedies, prayers, magical and biblical charms, with previously unseen angelic conjurations and magic circles, in an eclectic blend of practical magic for health, wealth, love and protection. This unique manuscript demonstrates both the diverse and spiritual nature of such Cunning-folk's books of practice, as well as their magical emphasis on Biblical scripture, particularly the Psalms, and their opposition to witchcraft, found in charms and conjurations. Arthur Gauntlet worked with a female skryer called Sarah Skelhorn, and drew on numerous preceding sources for his craft, including the Arbatel, the Heptameron, Folger Vb.26, The Discoverie of Witchcraft, the Book of Gold, the writings of the German magus Cornelius Agrippa, the astrologer William Bacon and Queen Elizabeth I's court astrologer Dr. John Dee, as well as other London Cunning-folk. In his introduction, the author provides fresh insights into the hidden world of seventeenth century magical London, exploring the web of connections between astrologers, cunning-folk and magicians, playwrights, authors and church figures. These connections are also highlighted by the provenance of the manuscript, which is traced from Arthur Gauntlet through the hands of such notable angel magicians as Elias Ashmole (founder of the world's first public museum, the Ashmolean in Oxford), Baron Somers (the Lord Chancellor), Sir Joseph Jekyll (Master of the Rolls) and Sir Hans Sloane (founder of the British Museum), as well as the astrologer John Humphreys and the cunning-woman Ann Savadge. This is a unique work which draws attention to the often neglected place of women in seventeenth century magic, both as practitioners (such as skryers and Cunning-women), and customers. It also emphasises the vital and influential role played by Cunning-Men and Women in synthesising and transmitting the magical traditions of medieval Britain into the subsequent centuries, as well as their willingness to conjure a wide range of spiritual creatures to achieve results for their clients, including angels, demons, fairies, and the dead.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This volume is a fascinating archival treasure, meticulously presenting Gauntlet’s personal working notes. However, it is not for those seeking polished, modern spellwork or immediate practical application. The text is dense with historical context and archaic phrasing that may alienate casual readers looking for quick results. It does not suit those who prefer purely ceremonial magic divorced from folk healing traditions. While invaluable for its authenticity, the lack of interpretive commentary might leave novice occultists feeling lost in the specificities of 17th-century London dialect. It is best appreciated as a historical document rather than a contemporary instructional guide.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the tangible, everyday reality of historical magic will find this book invaluable. It offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the life of Arthur Gauntlet, moving beyond abstract theory to show how spells were actually lived and applied for health, wealth, and protection. Ideal for historians, practitioners of eclectic witchcraft, and anyone interested in the syncretic nature of 17th-century spirituality. It bridges the gap between scholarly history and practical occultism, revealing the human desperation and hope behind ancient charms. If you seek to understand the root of Western folk magic and its deep Christian influences, this manuscript provides an essential, grounded perspective on how spiritual forces were harnessed for mundane needs in a turbulent era.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you're captivated by the history of magic, the practical applications of grimoires, or the intricate folk traditions of 17th-century England, this book is an essential acquisition. It offers a rare, authentic glimpse into a working magician's world.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This volume is a fascinating archival treasure, meticulously presenting Gauntlet’s personal working notes. However, it is not for those seeking polished, modern spellwork or immediate practical application. The text is dense with historical context and archaic phrasing that may alienate casual readers looking for quick results. It does not suit those who prefer purely ceremonial magic divorced from folk healing traditions. While invaluable for its authenticity, the lack of interpretive commentary might leave novice occultists feeling lost in the specificities of 17th-century London dialect. It is best appreciated as a historical document rather than a contemporary instructional guide.

❓ Frequently asked questions

A cunning-man, or cunning-person, was a folk practitioner in historical Britain who provided practical services like healing, finding lost items, identifying witches, and offering protective charms, often blending traditional herbalism with Christian prayers and esoteric magic.

The book features a diverse range of practices, including herbal remedies, protective charms against witchcraft, biblical prayers and conjurations, and previously unseen angelic invocations and magic circles, all aimed at practical life concerns.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Cunning-Craft Practice

Explore the pragmatic magic of a 17th-century cunning-man. Gauntlet's grimoire is a testament to how folk practitioners addressed community problems, from illness to lost items, using a blend of charms, prayers, and herbal lore. It illustrates the hands-on, community-focused application of magical arts during a time when such services were essential.

Sacred & Occult Synthesis

Delve into the unique integration of Christian piety and esoteric practice. Gauntlet seamlessly weaves biblical scripture, particularly the Psalms, with angelic conjurations and protective charms. This synthesis highlights a period where spiritual belief and magical operation were often indivisible, offering a rich perspective on historical magical spirituality beyond modern divisions.

Esoteric Lineage & Influences

Uncover the rich intellectual tapestry informing Gauntlet's work. His grimoire draws from an impressive array of predecessors, including seminal texts like the Arbatel and Heptameron, as well as the teachings of influential figures like Cornelius Agrippa and Dr. John Dee. This demonstrates the sophisticated, scholarly roots of even 'folk' magical practice.

📜 Historical context

This grimoire stands as a pivotal document from a fascinating era in English magical history. Emerging from the post-Reformation landscape, it exemplifies how Christian piety, biblical text, and complex angelic magic coalesced in the practice of cunning-folk, who served as community healers and problem-solvers, often in opposition to perceived witchcraft, bridging the sacred and the profane.

📚 Glossary

Cunning-man
Grimoire
Skrying

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might a modern 'cunning-man' or 'cunning-woman' adapt Gauntlet's principles of community service and eclectic practice for contemporary needs?
Reflect on the blend of Christian scripture and magical practice in Gauntlet's grimoire. How does this challenge or confirm your understanding of historical spirituality?
Consider the role of collaboration, like Gauntlet's work with the skryer Sarah Skelhorn, in magical practice. What does this suggest about the solitary versus communal nature of occult work?