Definition: The Grimorium Verum (The True Grimoire) is a notorious handbook of black magic. It is one of the few grimoires that openly deals with spirits of darkness and provides methods for commanding and dismissing them.
Historical Context:
Supposedly based on the methods of King Solomon, who had a reputation for commanding demons since ancient times.
Older related texts include the Testament of Solomon (1st-3rd century) and the Clavicula Salomonis (Key of Solomon).
The term Clavicula is derived from Latin (clavis/key + cula/diminutive), strictly meaning "Little Key."
Major Editions and Sources:
Alibeck (1817, falsely dated 1517): The primary French source, though considered defective and incoherent in parts.
Simon Blocquel (ca. 1830): A French edition with stylized differences and color illustrations.
Italian Editions: Bestetti (Milan, 1868) and Muzzi (Florence, 1880). These editions contain more material, often drawn from the Grimoire of Honorius.
Lansdowne Manuscript 1202 (L1202): A version in the British Library with distinct variations in spirit names and sigils.
General Methods and Prerequisites
Mechanism of Control: Mages control spirits through divine/angelic supplication, magical words, Psalms, symbols, ritual tools, pacts (implicit or explicit), and the threat of pain to the spirit's subtle body.
The Lamen: A primary requirement; it is a sacred figure written with blood or engraved on stone worn on the person for protection.
Ritual Timing: Use ofplanetary powers is essential. Powers from the stars and planets are "drawn down" and "fixed" into tools during specific planetary hours.
The Great Wheel: A diagram showing the planets assigned to each hour of the week. For example, the first hour after sunset on Saturday is assigned to Saturn.
Operator Preparation:
Aperiod of $3$ days of austerity, abstinence (particularly from women), fasting, and prayer.
Daily recitation of specific orations during planetary hours: once at Prime (sunrise), twice at Terce, three times at Sext, four times at None, five times at Vespers, and six times before bed.
The Hierarchy of Spirits
The Three Powers:
Lucifer: Emperor of the spirits. Appears as a handsome boy; turns reddish when angry. Rules over Europe and Asia.
Beelzebuth: Prince. Often appears as an enormous fly, a calf, or a goat. Vomits flames and howls like a wolf when angry. Rules over Africa.
Astartoth: Grand-duke. Appears in black and white human form, or as an ass. Rules over the Americas.
Chief Subordinates:
Under Lucifer: Put Satanakia and Agalierap.
Under Beelzebuth: Tarchimache and Fleruty.
Under Astaroth: Sagatana and Nesbiros.
The Eighteen Lesser Spirits (Duke Syrach's Command):
Clauneck: Power over goods and riches; loved by Lucifer.
Musisin: Power over great lords; teaches state secrets.
Bechaud: Controls winds, storms, lightning, and rain.
Frimost: Power over women and girls.
Klepoth: Shows all types of dances.
Khil: Produces earthquakes.
Merfilde: Instantaneous transport.
Clistheret: Makes it day or night at will.
Sirchade: Shows all kinds of animals.
Segal: Shows marvels and natural/supernatural chimeras.
Hicpacth: Brings distant persons instantly.
Humots: Brings any desired books.
Frucissiere: Can resuscitate the dead.
Guland: Causes diseases.
Surgat: Opens all locks.
Morail: Renders persons invisible.
Frutimiere: Prepares feasts.
Huictiigara: Causes sleep or wakefulness.
Ritual Tools and Implements
Construction Timing: Most metal tools (knife, burin, lancet) are made on the day and hour of Jupiter with the moon waxing.
The Knife: Used for sacrifice. Engraved with the name AGLA on the blade. Handle characters are spirit-specific (e.g., Bechard).
The Wand and Staff:
Wand: Hazel wood that has never borne fruit, cut in a single blow in the hour of Mercury.
Staff: Elder wood, cut in the hour of the Sun (Sunday).
Virgin Parchment: Prepared from the skin of a lamb or young goat. Requires salt exorcism and soaking in quicklime and exorcised water until hair falls off.
Exorcised Water Oration:
\text{O Lord God Adonay… bless + and sanctify this water…}
Ink and Pen: Quill prepared with specific words (Ababaley, Samoy, Escavor, Adonay). The inkpot must be bought in the hour of Mercury and inscribed with the names: Jod, He, Vau, Hemitreton, Jod, Cados, Eloym, Sabaoth.
Rare and Surprising Secrets (Part 2)
Mirror of Solomon: A polished steel plate used for divination. Requires $45$ to $48$ days of prayer and the invocation of the angel Anael.
Uriel's Divination: Use of a glass bottle of water and a young boy (9-10 years old) to see the angel Uriel, who answers questions.
Invisibility: Requires seven black beans and a human skull. The skull is buried for nine days and watered with brandy until the beans mature.
Hand of Glory (Wealth): Pulling the hair of a mare in heat and placing it in an earthen pot to generate a small serpent-like animal that doubles any money placed in its box.
Travel Garters: Creating garters from white ribbons inscribed with blood to travel at high speeds.
Nailing: Using nails from an old coffin and striking them into a footprint to harm a specific person.
Additional Secrets and Cures (Part 5)
Gambling Profit: A fern-plant bracelet made on the eve of St. John the Baptist day.
Protection against Firearms: Inscribing Armisi, Farisi, Mestingo on grey-white paper.
Revealing Thieves: Writing names on paper and throwing them into a tin basin; the thief's name will float.
Speaking with the Dead: Attendance at a midnight Mass of the Nativity, followed by a ritual in a cemetery involving a five-thousand nine hundred ($5,900$) step journey west.
Canine Rabies Cure: Encasing ten specific words (Zioni, Kirioni, Ezzeza…) inside a crabapple and sitting it in an open field overnight.
Foretelling Successors: Mention of alectromancy (divination by a rooster selecting grain over letters).