• Includes the story of Merlin’s birth as the son of a demon, how he was born already able to speak, how his magic ensured he was not killed by his babysitter, and details of his affair with the Lady of the Lake

• Shares stories of Percival’s first contact with the Grail and King Arthur’s connection with the legendary mystical king Prester John

• Includes early Welsh prophecies attributed to Merlin, prophecies compiled by historian Geoffrey of Monmouth, and the letter of Prester John that inspired Columbus

Maarten Haverkamp acquired a French book from 1498 titled The Prophecies of Merlin that claimed to be prophecies given by the legendary magician. The book was really a compilation of documents collected by an unknown 13th century monk. Working with John Matthews, Maarten spent 5 years translating the mysteries hidden in this obscure book.

Presenting their translation and commentary, the authors share forgotten stories of early Arthurian literature and magic. They share the tale of Merlin’s birth from a demon, how he was born able to speak, and how his magic ensured he was not killed by his babysitter. Merlin’s affair with the Lady of the Lake is detailed, ending with his imprisonment in a tomb. Other stories include Percival’s first contact with the Grail and King Arthur’s connection with the mystical king Prester John. To reveal the esoteric meaning of this work, the authors include Welsh prophecies attributed to Merlin (translated by Matthews), other prophecies attributed to Merlin that were compiled by Geoffrey of Monmouth, and the original letter of Prester John that inspired the Polo family and Columbus to search for India.

Revealing connections to Jewish Kabbalistic sources, the cosmological model of the Theli, and real life magic, the authors also show how The Prophecies of Merlin sheds new light on the world of King Arthur and the women who learned magic from Merlin.

John Matthews is a teacher and authority on Arthurian tradition. He has authored and coauthored many books, including The Book of Merlin, The Complete King Arthur, and The Lost Book of the Grail. Maarten Haverkamp is a senior lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. He’s been collecting medieval books for more than 20 years.