The Rawlinson Necromantic Manuscript

 

Necromancy is the practice of attempting to communicate with the dead, summon spirits, or gain knowledge through the deceased. Historically, it has been associated with magic, divination, and occult rituals. 

 

 

 

The Rawlinson Necromantic Manuscript 

 

 

 

 

 

This manuscript is considered one of the earliest surviving dedicated collections of necromancy in England.

• Contents: It contains over 70 separate items, including spells, conjurations, and invocations written in Latin and Middle English.
• Purpose: The rituals were designed for "professional sorcerers" and covered practical goals like finding lost or stolen treasure, detecting thieves, and summoning spirits or demons to do one’s bidding.
• Provenance: It entered the Bodleian Library in the 18th century as part of the massive collection bequeathed by Richard Rawlinson

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