The eleventh demon named in the Goetia, Gusoin is described as a great and strong duke with forty legions of lesser spirits at his command. Like many demons, he is said to answer questions about the past, present, and future. Additionally, he can reconcile friends and distribute dignities. According to Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft, he appears in the form of Xenophilus. A lot of ink has been spilled over what exactly a Xenophilus looks like, as no descriptions of such an animal, but a proper name. In particular, Xenophilus was a Pythagorean philosopher and musician mentioned in volume two of Plint's Natural History. The fellow was said to hve lived in perfect health until the age of one hundred and five, an impressive feat in the world of the ancient Greeks. The use of this name may be intended to imply that Dusoin appears as an elderly sage, which would be appropriate, considering that most of the Goetic demons were sought for their knowledge and wisdom. Another notable figure to bear the name Xenophilus was a Greek officer in command at the citadel at Susa who eventually defected to Antigonus. Of course, spelling may also be important in understanding exactly what was meant regarding this demon's form. In Wierus's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, Gusoin, spelled Gusoyn, is said to appear in forma zenophali. Zenophilus is still a proper name, but in this spelling, it may refer to a Roman proconsulk active in Christian Africa between 320 and 330 CE. His name appears in the letters of Athanasius and also the Gesta spud Zenophilum. This is part of a Roman dossier recording an investigation undertaken in 320 CE by Zenophilus and others to determine which Christians among the Numidian community had surrendered their copies of the scriptures to the state as part of a Roman effort to curtail the spread of Christianity. If this Zenophilus is intended, then the anti-Christians sentiments associated with his name lend Gusoin a far more nefarious air. In the Goetia of Dr. Rudd, he is sdaid to answer to the angel Laviah. The editors of this text suggest athat Xenophilus may be read as a Greek word, xenophalloi. This gives the term a very different connotation. The Book of Incantations, a Welsh cunning-man's grimoire from the early nineteenth century, explicitly states that Xenophiles was a historic figure reputed to live for 150 years without illness, neatly settling the debate. See also BOOK OF INCANTATIONS, GOETIA, RUDD, SCOT, WIERUS.
THE DICTIONARY OF DEMONS, REVISED AND EXPANDED, M. BELANGER (2021)
