The Excellences of Christo-Judaic Magick

The Excellences of Christo-Judaic Magick was written in the seventeenth century by a man who, according to Gilbert Norrell, "was a liar, a drunkard, an adulterer and a rogue." (All very deplorable, yet we may ask — what is that to do with his skill as a magician? Do we not daily see such irregularities in the conduct of our noblest families and those who direct our affairs as a nation? and yet we do not deny them respect or high office.)

As to his book, it is a manuscript written on the backs of used pieces of paper (predominantly ale-house bills) which has since been bound.* The volume is an autobiographical account of a magician of minor power who undertook adventures of astounding magnitude; it was written as the magician was anticipating his ultimate defeat at the hands of the various enemies he had made over his career [1].

Notes

*. The fact that it was written on what are purported to be ale-house bills gives some credit to Mr Norell's evaluation of this work. Indeed, it was more likely a counterfeit meant to defraud some credulous gentleman, for paper was far too dear to be put to such a base use as presenting a bill to a customer in this age. Tavern-keepers relied on marks on boards, or tally sticks, or their own memories to settle their patrons' accounts, and would not use such an extravagance as a paper record in this manner.