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The Rings of Messalah: Rawlinson Version

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Table of names and seals of the spirits
Rawl.Ms.D.252, p.182
courtesy of Joseph H.Peterson


1.Source

A short version of our treatise is also contained in Bodleian Library Ms. Rawlinson D. 253, pp.177-182, edited and published by Stephen Skinner and David Rankine in A Cunning Man`s Grimoire (Golden Hoard Publishing, 2018). 



I`d like to acknowledge Stephen Skinner`s support in this matter, whom I must thank for allowing me to transcribe the relevant portion here, and as well acknowledge the help of Joseph Peterson in offering pertinent comments on the manuscript and a valuable preview and Daniel Clark for offering a microfilm version.   



Rawlinson D.253`s date of redaction is not known, but the most likely date seems to be 1647 (op.cit., p.23). The following version is unedited by myself in way and keeps the printed version as faithfully as possible, with the exception of the planetary siglae which have been spelled in square brackets. 

I have taken the liberty of adding pertinent notes wherever the text presented variations from the older versions or where the phrasing is unclear. 

2. Text


[I. Magical Rings]


• Rings of the 7 Planets not as formerly concerne[d with] Visions, but for other purposes

• This Ring of the [Sun] is of pure gold to increase all goodnesse & honour,  &
to have a wonderfull horse to beare [you] whether you wilt in a moment.

• Fast [on] the Sunday night1, then with the bloud of any wild fowle
whatsoever,  if it of a white collour2, & by the brinkeside of a river write
this character of the [Sun]  & the Name of the Angell Acarax, Antatax in
virgin parchment in the bloud of the sayd fowle & beare it with thee
[178] when you wilt work the experiment for thy selfe or any other.

• [Margin note:] Some say that any white foule may serve but I suppose it
is meant any wild foule [fowl], etc.




Figure 22: The Character of Acarax to make a black horse appear.

• Then make the character heare set downe, in the Earth, & the N[ame]
of the Angel Carax, or, Tantax, & beare the writ[ing] in thy right hand, &
the ring on thy lit[t]le finger on thy left hand. These things forget not, &
call the Angell in the N[ame] of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost3,
having first made prayer unto god & there will appeare to thee a black horse to beare thee whither you wilt.

• Or aske any other thing lawfull to know or have, & through god's helpe
it wil[1] be don[e], calling the N[ame] of [the] Angell.

• This following circle serves for all these 7 Rings of the Planets:

Iste circulus servit, pro omnibus annulis predictis et debes intrare morie tali 
parte[m], et recedere in occidental parte[m], et characters et Nomina Angeli 
debent scibi infra circulum et habebis annulis prius factes et parastos antequam accedas. Ad opus sed indusis ves[t]ibus novis et mundum euis et dicas
commu[t]ationem communiente aud opus tuum et perficies.


 Fig.23: The Circle used for the consecration of all Planetary rings.

The circle ought to serve for making of all rings for the aforesaid matters.
You must enter by the East and move back towards the West. You must inscribe
the characters and Names of the Angel on the rings which have been made
earlier and prepared, before entering the circle. You must have new very clean
unworn clothes for this work, and you will make the charge together before your work, so that you might complete it.  


 [179] ► The Ring of the Moon which is the Pl[anet] bearing rule on Monday,
& begins her rule the first houre of the day, viz. at sun rising, viz. lunae
hora prima in ortu solis funde nulum Lunae de puro Argento cum characte Lunae, viz. in the day & houre of the Moon beginning at the rising [of the sun] make
this ring of the Moon in pure silver, or quicksilver made hard, with the
character, then fast the Monday till night, then in the night with the bloud
of an eele where 3 ways meet or come together, write this character &
the Name of the Angell Camelion or as on[e] write[s] it Camillion, in a
welp's skin or a young cat' skin, then wrap it up in the skin of an eele, & keepe it. 


Figure 24: The Character of the Angel Camelion. 

• & when you wilt worke, to make water on into a house & ships
fighting to appeare, it cause[s] trees [to] beare fruit, in season & out of
season, then write the Name of the Angel & his character in the Earth,
then taken the writ & hold it in thy right hand & call the Angell Camillion
& name what you wilt appeare to thee, & it will appeare to thee. Aske
what you wilt & he shall tell thee wonderfull things.

• & when you wilt have it vanish as it was, hold thy writ on thy head &
the writing or letters & he will passe away & be as it was at the first.

• But always write the Name of the Angell & then his character & so in
all other experiments.

[180] • The Ring of Mars is to make kings & armed men in castles to appeare
doing battaill armed, or unarmed, etc., or of victory, etc.

• When you wilt worke, fast Tuesday till night & then in thy house with
the bloud of a raven write the N[ame] of the Angell Coringer & his
Character in Earth, viz, as is heare written on the right hand side [below]
& call the Angell & say what you wouldest have.

Figure 25: The Character of Coringer.


• & when you wilt have it vanish close thy writ before made, & he shall
passe away & be don[e].

The Ring of Mercury is made of copper for skill, victory & all kind [of] play,&
favour of Lords & greate men that they hurt thee not, etc.

• Fast Wenseday [Wednesday] till night & in the night with the bloud of
a fox or catt, write the N[ame] of Angell Yparon in the skin of a goat & the character heare set or written.

Figure 26: The Character of Yparon.

& being to come before a Lord or Judge write the N[ame] of Angell
Yparon in thy bre[a]st with his character, & hold the foresayd writ in thy
right hand, & he shall not hurt thee nor condemne thee.

• & in thy working aske what you wilt, calling [the] Angell, etc. 

The Ring of Jupiter is made of gold, & silver equally mixed in the day &
houre of Jupiter for winnings & profits & to deliver men condemned, & cause expenses [to] be recovered againe.

• Which to doe, fast Thursday till night, then with bloud of cock or buck,
[181] write the N[ame] of the Angell Philomens or Philomons, in the skin
of a calfe & [..]re off make a purse & put therein you wilt, & calling the
Angell it shall [..]m againe, as I found it writte it doe you noe
unriteousnesse, but leave sin & eschew evill & do good, nor let wicked
men see these sacred things. 

[seal missing in text]

 • The Ring of Venus is to be made off lead in the day & houre of Venus for love of all men, & women, & to make a woman fol[low] thee whither you wilt, etc.

Fast Fryday until night, & in the night with the bloud of a culver or dove
in a pleasant greene [meadow?] full of herbes or fruits write the Name of
Angel Abanixtra in the skin of a hare & keepe in greene cleane silk, & as
often as you shewst it to a w[oman], calling the N[ame] of the Angell, she will let thee have thy will of her.

• But doe not you [do] it [if it is a] sin, but if thy wife be not loving [as]
she should, you maist pick her but noe other, etc. Within the red lines is
the character of the Angell of Venus for this purpose etc.


Figure 27: The Character of Abanixtra.

[Margin note] But feare you the true undoubled god of truth &
righteousness & doe nothing that is evill, for god will judge thee
according to thy evill deeds, there[fore] eschew evill & do good, & god
will bless thee, etc.4


• The Ring of Saturn is made of white tyn [tin]5, or iron, for the day & houre of
5 to bynd tongues from wicked slaunderous speech; & to speed [182] in
hunting, etc.

Fast the Saturday, till night & in thy house with the bloud of a raven
[write] the N[ame] of the Angell Calatyne or Galatyne & his character in
paper & not in parchment, & keep it, & when you wilt prevaile in
hunting, etc., call the Name of the A[ngel] & N[ame] [of] thy desire, then
cast the writ into the fire. This is the character heare written on the right
hand [below], but keep the ring still with thee.

Figure 28: The Character of Galatyne.

[Characters of the Angels called by the rings according to the days of the
week]

Heare followeth other characters of each Planet & Angell to the same
purposes before sayd set in the order of the days of the weeke.




5. Notes:

1. The text implies fasting on a Sunday night but we know other versions as for fasting until night-time, that is, fasting from sunrise to sunset, as it is practiced in the Islamic faith.

2. The color of the wild fowl is not mentioned by older texts, but the compiler does record in one note this difference, hinting us to believe he consulted more than one version of this text.

3. The Trinity, does not appear in the older versions, it might be a way of counterbalancing the presence of a clearly demonic being (the black horse) or of adapting the recipes to the compiler`s Christian faith.

4. In some cases, such as the ring of Venus or Jupiter, the compiler gives the use of the ring but then takes precaution to add moral advices (like causing love or lust only in your wife, and no other woman). These are not contained in the older texts, and all the experiments are treated as neutral, practical, and void of any moral ambivalence, including sacrificing animals.  These additions might indicate either the compiler`s moral stature and upbringing, either a precaution to make the treatise more palatable to the Christian reader.

5. No other older versions require tin for Saturn, this is a late interpolation coming from the post-agrippan literature, much as the ring of Mercury is also to be made of fixed quicksilver. 

6. Synthetic chart:

Ring
Planet
Angel
Metal
Sacrifice
Place
Parchment
Wrapping
1
Sun
Acarax
Antatax
Carax
Tantax

Gold
White
wild fowl
River brinkside
Virgin parchment
-
2
Moon
Camelion
Camilion
Camillion

Silver or
Hardened
Mercury
River eel
A place
Where
3 ways
meet
Whelp skin
Young cat s
skin
Eel skin.
3
Mars
Coringer

Bronze
Raven
House
-
-
4
Mercury
Iparon
Yparon

Copper
Fox
or cat
-
Goatskin

-
5
Jupiter
Philomens
Phelomens
Philomons
Philonions

Electrum
Cock
or buck

-
Calfskin
-
6
Venus
Abanixtra
Lead
Culver
or dove
Green
meadow
Hare`s skin
Green silk
7
Saturn
Galytyn
Galatyne
Calatyne
White tin or iron
Raven
-
Paper
-

The Rings of Messalah: Kassel Version

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1. Source

Kassel University Library 4° Ms. chem. 66, fols.200r-202r. So far I have no date for this manuscript, but a quick look over its content and hand would suggest the late 15th - early 16th century. Any information in this direction would be welcomed. 

The manuscript is available HERE but lately I have had trouble accessing the website, so I`ve decided to put the edited manuscript pages here:


200r

200v


201r


201v


202r

2. Text and translation

Transcript and translation by myself. I have updated the punctuation, spelled out in full the abbreviations including the astrological siglae and added rubrication. 

[200r]

Incipiunt explanationes signorum mirabilium et septem
planetarum sapientem Mescalach. 

 [200r]

Here begins the explanations of the miraculous signs and seven planets of the sage Mescalach.

[1] Dixit Mescalach: Incipiam cum adiutorio Altissimj explanare signi mirabilis experimentum, dicitur autem mirabile eo quod ipsem mirabilia operantur.  Nominatur aut breve signum quia per ipsum multa breviter possunt sciri, quoniam et ipsius opera consumauerunt que scire non poterant si post multorum librorum nigromantiarum et astronomorum noticiam et est signum istud mirabili valde mirandum in quo sunt secreta altissimj, Signum est per quod omnia pre interpossunt effici, ad honorem, ad divinitas, et ad amorerem, ad odium, ad fruitus producendos, cum non sit tempus fructum, ad invisibilitatem, ad aquarum concursus in locis siccis.


[1] So sayeth Mescalach: We begin, with the help of the Most-High [God], the explanation of the wonderous experiments of the miracle, having called  wonderous that by which miracles are worked. It is to be called the minor miracle because through it many minor things can be made known, forasmuch its workings may come to pass that cannot be known unless after taken heed of  many books of the nigromants and astronomers and this is a miracle that is quite wonderful and marvelous in which there are the secret of the Allmighty, this miracle is one through which all can be accomplished, for honor, for divinity, for love, for hatred, for producing fruits when it is not the time of the fruit, for invisibility, for making water flow in a barren place [etc.]


[2] Annulus Solis ex auro; Lunae, ex argento; Martis, ex ere; Mercuris, ex cupro; Jovis, ex electro; Veneris, ex plumbo;  Saturnis, ex ferro; Capitis Draconis, ex calibe.1


[2] The ring of the Sun [is made] in gold; of the Moon, in silver; of Mars, in bronze; of Mercury, in copper; of Jupiter, in electrum; of Venus, in lead; of Saturn, in iron; of the Head of the Dragon, in steel.


[3] Annulus Solis fit hoc modo:  in die dominica ieiunabis usque ad noctem, et tunc hora eiusdem facias fierj annulum, in quo sculpes karacterem et nomen Angeli eius2 hoc modo. Hunc annulus serva cum mente curiosa et serva in loco mundissimi et involue in serico rubeo.  Hec sunt eius opera:

[3] The ring of the Sun is made in this fashion: on the Lord`s Day you shall fast until nightfall, and in then in its hour the ring should be made, in which you shall engrave the character and the name of its angel in this fashion.  Guard this ring with a dilligent mind and keep it in a most-clean place and wrap it in red silk.
These are its works:

  


Igitur ad operandum cum hoc annuloieiunes dies Solis usque ad noctem; in nocte sacrificium facies de ave non domestica prope aquelitus discurrentecum eius sanguine scribe karacterem Solis et nomen angelj eius3 in carta virginea4 et tecum porta, et cum volueris de una[201r]terra transire ad aliam, karacterem Solis et nomen angeli eius depingi in terram et veniet tibi niger equus qui te turbine quo volueris ducet
dextra habens cart chartham, sinistra annulum.


Therefore, to work with this ring, you shall fast on the Sun`s day until nightfall; during the night, make a sacrifice of a non-domestic bird near the water, on the bank of a river. With its blood write the character of the Sun and the name of its angel in virgin paper and bear it with you, and when you will want to pass from one land to another , draw the character of the Sun and the name of its angel on the earth and a black horse shall come to you and shall bear you upon a whirlwind to where you will desire to go, having the paper in the right hand and the ring on the left.



[4] Annulus Lunae hoc modus fit sicut annulus Solis, sculpando secundum karacterem et nomen angeli eius in annulo die Lunae et hora eiusdem. Ad operando cum hoc annulo aportet te ipso die ieiunare usque ad noctem, nocte autem facies sacrificium de anguilla fluvialj; cum eius sanguine scribe in pelle catuli, nomen angeli et karacterem eiusdem et in pelle anguille involue et reserua, et cum volueris ut apparent flumen ver arbor cum fructu scribe in terram nomen angeli et karacterem et nomina quemque vis invocans angelum aperi chartam ut appareat; ut non apareat,claude eam. Hic est annulus:


[4] The ring of the Moon is made in the same fashion as the ring of the Sun, engraving afterwords the character and the name of its angel in the day of the Moon and in its hour. To work with this ring it is necessary that you fast on this same day until nightfall and during the night make a sacrifice of a river eel; with its blood write upon the skin of a whelp the name of the angel and its character and wrap it in the skin of the eel and keep it, and when you wish to make appear a river or a tree bearing fruit, draw on the ground the name of the angel and its character and name what you wish while invoking the angel. Open the paper (skin) in order to make it appear and to make it dissapear close it. This is the ring:




[5]Annulus Martis fier ut superiors, facto annulo cum  volueris aliquid probare primo sacrificio de animalia rapaci, intraque  domum ad ignem scribe nomen et karacterem ut supra cum sanguine eiusdem animalis, et cum volueris ut appareant milites armatij et castello et turres in ludo et civitates in prelio,scribe karacterem et nomen in terra, carta aparte, nomina quod vis et hac accipes ut habeat claude. Hic este annulus:


 [5] The ring of Mars is like the above, make this ring when you want to try [its virtues]: first make a sacrifice of a bird of prey inside your house, in the fire, write the name and the character as above, with the blood of the said animal, and when you will want to make appear armed soldiers and a castle with towers in a siege(?) and people fighting, write the character and name on the earth, open the paper and name what you want and [to dissapear] close it.  This is the ring:



201r
[6] Annulus  Mercurii hoc modo fier sicut fiunt alij fier sacrificium  de vulpe vel de cato in loco diserto scribens karacteres et nomina angeli eius in pelle edj de sanguine ipsius animalis tingens cum accessoris ad Judicem, scribe karacteres et nomina angeli et in fronte tinge et non condempnaberis, cartam habens in manu. Hic est annulus:


[6] The ring of Mercury is in this fashion made, like all the others: make a sacrifice of a fox or cat in a deserted place, write the caracter and name of the angel in kidskin with the blood of that animal and touch it with it. Should you be with your fellows before a Judge, write the character and the name of the angel and touch it to your forehead and you shall not be condemned, while holding the paper in your hand. This is the ring:




[7]Annulus Jovis  fac ut super, fiat sacrificium de gallo karacteres et nomina angelj scribe in pelle vitullj vituli in qua si involueris  denarium, quocies erogaueris ipse reuertetur. Hic est annulus:


[7] The ring of Jupiter ist to be made as above, make the sacrifice of a cock, write the character and the name of the angel in calfskin in which, if you shall wrap a coin, it will return to you.  This is the ring:



[8] Annulus Veneris: fit sicut supra, fiat igitur sacrificium de columba alba in loco virentj  karacteres et nomina in  pelle leporis, quoties in manu tenueris si
mulierj ostenderis  sequar  te nihil loquens. Hic est annulus:


[8] The ring of Venus: do as above, and make therefore a sacrifice of a white dove in a green place, [write] the character and the name in a hare`s skin which, if you will hold in your hand and show to a woman she will follow you without speaking. This is the ring:



[9] Annulus Saturni fier ut supra, fier sacrificium de capreto intra vepres, karacteres et nomina angeli scripte in pergame [201v] no vetori; cum inter duos vis  miscere odium, ipsorum  nomina in pergameno scribe et karacteres et nomina angelj et in  ignem pones nomina que vis. Hic est annulus:


[9] The ring of Saturn is as the above, the sacrifice is of a young goat among brambles, the character and name are to be written in old parchment; When you will want to put hate between two people, write their names and the character and the name of the angel in the parchment and place in fire the names you want. This is the ring:




[10] Annulus Capitis Draconis: fiat sacrificium de cane inquadriuio;  karacteres et nomina angelj in pelle capreto; cum  aliquod volueris intoxicare, in potu eius intinge annulum. Hic est forma annuli:


[10] The ring of the Head of the Dragon: make a sacrifice of a dog at a crossroads; the character and name of the angel [are to be written] on kidskin; when you want to poison someone, touch his drink with the ring. This is the ring:




[11] Sequitur de generalibus mandatis. Primum annulus, Solis,  habendus et in parvo digito sinistre  manus in omni sacrificio et nomina angeli eius et nomen planete pro quo fit tam in memoria quaque in lingua teneatur; carte mundissime reseventur nec appareant noctis tempore nis necessitus ingrueris.

[11] Here follow the general rules. The first ring, that of the Sun, once had, it is to be worn on the little finger of the left hand in all the sacrifices and keep the name of the angel and of the planet for which [the sacrifice is made] both in your mind and upon your tongue.  The paper must be kept in utter cleanliness and you shall not open during the night unless the need will overcome you.


[12] Infra talem circulum et fiat sacrificium et cum scripsisti karacteres et nomina angeli in subiectij predictis tum intra circulum prescriptum et dic hanc invocationem: “O, Tu angele .N. sacrificium tue laudis suscipe!” et hoc dicto probiu cartas extra circulum.


[12] Beneath is the circle and make the sacrifice and once you write the caracters and the names of the angels above-mentioned, you shall then enter the circle described above and say this invocation: „O, thou angel, N., receive this sacrifice made to your praise!” and this being said, throw the papers outside the circle.



 

[202 r]
Nomina Angelorum

-Jovis: Phytones :~
-Solis: Ocarat:~
-Lunae: Carmelan:~
-Martis: Cocazim:~
-Mercurii: Ypaton:~
-Veneris: Abhanci:~
-Saturnis: Gilgheti:~
-Capitis Draco: Orthorix:~

[202 r]
The names of the Angels:

-Jupiter: Phytones .
-Sun: Ocarat.
-Moon: Carmelan.
-Mars: Cocazim.
-Mercury: Ypaton.
-Venus: Abhanci.
-Saturn: Gilgheti.
-Head of the Dragon: Orthorix.




3. Notes:

1. It must not surprise us that the Caput Draco is treated as a planet and given a ring as well. As we have seen in later editions, it is eliminated, but Arabic astro-magical recipes will often list it as such.  Also, the metallic attributions must not vex us, as there was no proper consensus of one general way the metals were attributed to celestial bodies, before Cornelius Agrippa and Paracelsus. As we can see here, while the Sun and the Moon keep gold and silver throughout, the lesser planets vary greatly, which lead modern authors to deem them as mistakes. We must not make the mistake to judge one scale of attribution as the correct one just because it became more popular since the 15th century onward.

2. The expression karacterem et nomen Angeli eiuswould lead us to think that both the character and the name belong to the same angel, ruled by the Sun.

3. The expression karacterem Solis et nomen angelj eius  would lead us to think that the character belongs to the Sun and the name to the spirit, quite a different logic from the phrase used above.

 4. It is hard to ascertain carta virginea truly means virgin (unused) paper or virgin parchment. The consensus is that parchment is rendered either as pergameno or as pelle (skin), followed by the animal of origin, while unborn parchment would be vellum. Carta or chartausually is the term used for paper, from the Greek  χάρτης (khártēspapyrus, paper).



4. Synthetic chart



Ring
Planet
Angel
Metal
Sacrifice
Place
Parchment
Wrapping
1
Sun
Ocarat
Gold
Wild fowl
River bank
Virgin paper
-
2
Moon
Carmelan
Silver
River eel
A place
Where
3 ways
meet
Whelp skin
Eel skin.
3
Mars
Cocazin
Cocazim
Bronze
Bird of
prey
Indoor
fire
Paper (?)
-
4
Mercury
Ypaton
Copper
Fox
or cat
-
Kidskin
-
5
Jupiter
Phitones
Phytones
Electrum
Cock
-
Calfskin
-
6
Venus
Abhanzizi
Abhanci
Lead
White  dove
Green
meadow
Hare`s
skin
-
7
Saturn
Golghit
Gilgheti
Iron
Young goat
Brambles
Old
parchment
-
8
Head of
Dragon
Orthorix
Steel
Dog
Cross-
oads
Kidskin
-


5. Comparative seals chart 




The Rings of Messalah: Rawlinson 252 Fragments

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Rawlinson Ms. 252, fol.80r

1. Source 

Bodleian Library Manuscript Rawlinson 252, known in the literature as the Rawlinson Necromantic Manuscript, is a 15th century fascinating collection of experiments and magical treatises in Latin and English, excerpts of which can be found in Frank Klaassen`s Transformations of Magic  and Richard Kieckhefer`s Forbidden Rites.

Only three fragments from our treatise are contained in it, namely the rings of Jupiter and Mercury and the planetary consacration, the latter being very seldom met with in English versions, corresponding closely to the Darmstadt text. 

I am indebted to professor Frank Klaassen and to Joseph Peterson for their kind help in supplying information used to write this article, whom I duly thank. 



2. Text and translation 


[79v]
Annulus [Jovis] fit ergo una parte de [Solis] et alia parte de lune et fiat dies [Jovis] et eius hora. Iste annulus est bonum ad omninos lucrationem ad deliberandum homines qui sunt condamnati et eciam ad omninos accionem, ad faciendum eam monetam quam trades aliam alteri venire ad te vel quecumque alius dederis. Quando volueris hoc experimentum facere, ieiuna die [Jovis] vsque ad noctem, et in nocte cum sanguine galli fac istum karacter

[79v]
The ring of [Jupiter] is made of one part [Sun/gold] and the other part Moon [silver] and it is to be made in the day of [Jupiter] and in his hour. This ring is good for all workings and for freeing men that are imprisoned and also for all actions, and for making a coin that you or another has spent come back to you or whomever gave it. When you wish to make this experiment, fast on the day of [Jupiter] until night-time and at night make this character with the blood of a cock



et scribe nomen angeli quod est phitonias1 in pelle vitulli et fac bursam inde vel aliter ponem in ista cedula qualcumque volueris moneta vel alius qud vis rehabere statim et da et statim ad te reveniet.2


and write the name of the angel that is phitonias1 in calfskin and make a pouch where you or another will put this document whenever you or some other will wish to get the coin back immediately, and give it and immediately it shall return to you.


[80r]
Anulus mercurij debet fieri de cupro sicut est mars, ad habendum
omnem scientiam et victoriam in omni placito cuiuscunque domini, et quod non condempnaberis ab aliquo iudice. Quando vis operare, sis ieiu[n]us die .[mercurii]. usque ad noctem. Eodem nocte, cum sanguine vulpis vel mureligi, fac istum carecterem


[80r]
The ring of Mercury ought to be made from copper, just like Mars, in order to have all knowledge and victory in every struggle with any lord, and that you will not be condemned by any judge. When you wish to operate, fast on the day of Mercury to the evening. That same night, make this character with the blood of a fox or cat on the skin of a he-goat



et nomen angeli, quod est yparon in pelli hirci, et quando venis coram
iudice vel aliquo alio homine, [80v] scribe hunc karacterem in pectore tuo vel in fronte cum nomine Angeli, et tene cedulam in manu tua, et ipse non habebit potestatem condempnandi te, et facies anulum in die [mercurii] et eius hora.3


and the name of the angel, which is Yparon, and when you come before the judge or any other man, [80v] write this character on your chest or forehead with the name of the Angel and hold the document in your hand, and he will not have the power to condemn you, and make the ring in day of Mercury and his hour.4
Consecratio planetarum

Exorcizo vos creaturas planetarum dedicatas eorum spiritibus et in earum horis fabricatas et earum potencia factas, per Vryel, Salatiel, Acoel, et per potenciam, que vobis condonata est in creacione vestra in principio, quibus dicens Relinquo munera que sunt preciosa, ita quod vos ad illa adiuuetis que desiderare volo et patere, et quod tale adiuuamentum prebeatis ad quales particlos, estis fabricate vel scripte estis per virtutem per quam vos constrinxi estis, prestante deo in secula seculorum amen.5



Consecration of the planets

I exorcise you, creatures of the planets, consecrated to their spirits and constructed in their hours and made by their power, through Uryel, Salatiel, Acoel, and through the power which was bestowed upon you in your creation in the beginning, saying to them: “I relinquish gifts which are precious” so that you may furnish benefit to those things which I wish to desire and seek, and so that you may furnish such benefit to those particulars, you [i.e., the rings] were constructed or you were inscribed through the power by which I have constrained you: you exist with God disposing forever and ever, amen.5




3. Notes

1. Possibly phitomians.
2. Transcription and translation of the Jupiter portion by myself. 
3. Klaassen, p.239, note 81.
4. op. cit., p.144.
5. op. cit., p.239, note 82.



4. Comparative seal chart



The Rings of Messalah: The Darmstast Version

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Seals of the eight rings, extracted from the magical circle 



O. Disclaimer: 

Since the publication of the fragments pertaining to this work I have been asked several naïve questions pertaining to the efficacy and validity of the results obtained by these experiments. I feel it is necessary to mention that this is merely a historical study of the magical methods described in such texts and not a practical manual. This editor makes no claims about their efficacy, veracity and does not wish to debate the morality of the results or of ethics of ritual animal sacrifice. Except for people who steal my work, both texts and images, without my consent, I do not like no to hex, curse or slaughter and exsanguinate living beings. 



1. Source


After my blog post on the Darmstadt manuscript, I interrupted work on it, until the present article. Researching it further, I came upon an article by Mario Ponzi  mentioning it, but more importantly, quoting Vittoria Perrone Compagni on it. She seems to validate my assessment that the manuscript is from the 15-16th century, more precisely to the first half of the 16th century, with the addition that it was most likely written or compiled in Florence, according to the filigranological evidence. 

In Hs.1410, on fols.14v-19r, we have the most complete version (so far, at least) of the Liber Annulorum Septem Planetarum Sapientem Messahala, that is, The book of Ring of the Seven Planets of the Sage Messahala, about 4 or 5 times larger than the longest version, with countless detail that help us complete the puzzle of this often overlooked work.  


2. Text and translation


[14v]
[1] Incipit liber Annulorum Septem Planetarum Sapientem Messahala Philosophum Prologus.
Signi Admirabilis Incipit Experimentum. Et dix Messahala: Indus Incipiam cum adiutorem Dei altissimi explanare signum admirabilis explanationem. Dicitur autem admirabilis quia per ipsum mira breviter fiera poterunt nec per librorum nigromatorum et astrologorum noticiam sed in isto libro non est necesse ad tale quod considerare et propter hoc signum est mirabile in quo secreta sunt altissimi et in quo tanta vis philosophorum consista. Et est [15r] signum per quod omnia possunt fieri breviter et sciri fiat ad amorem, ad nuptias, ad honores, proferendo fructus cum non sit tempus et ad invisibilitatem et concursus aquarum in locis sicis. Operatur namque per illud indi, caldei, egiptij et prudentes babilonis.

[14v]
[1] Here begins the book of the Seven Planetary Rings of the Sage Messahala, with the philosopher`s prologue.
This experiment starts with an admirable sign. And so sayeth Messahala: We begin therefore with the help of the most-high God, detailing the admirable sign`s explanation. We shall say of it admirable for through it, concise wonders can be brought forth, that I have not found neither in the books of the necromancers nor those of the astrologers, but solely in this book, and there is no need to consider others because this sign that is close to us is most  wonderous, and contains in it the highest secrets and constitutes a great power of the sages.  And it is [15r] the sign by which all can be made to come to pass quickly or to be known, be it for love, for marriages, for honors, for producing fruits when it is not their season and for invisibility and for making water flow in barren places. By this the Indians, and the Chaldeeans and the prudent Babilonians have worked.


[2] Primus annulus est Solis et fit ex auro die Solis et hora Solis, cum karactere Solis1  et nomina angeli eis Cyrorax, eadem hora perfectus.


[2] The first ring is that of the Sun and is to be made in gold, on the day of the Sun and at the hour of the Sun1, with the character of the Sun and the name of its angel Cyroarax, to be finished in the same hour.


[3] Secundus annulus est Lune. Fit ex argento die Lune et hora Lune, cum karactere Lune et nomen angeli eius Cameleon, eadem hora perfectus. 


[2] The second ring is that of the Moon. It is to be made in silver, on the day of the Moon and hour of the Moon, with the character of the Moon and the name of its angel Cameleon, to be finished in the same hour.


[4] Tertius annulus est Martis et fit ex ere, die Martis et hora Martis cum karactere eiusdem et nomen angeli eius Corniger2, eadem hora perfectus.  
        

[4] The third ring is that of Mars and is to be made in brass, on the day of Mars and at the hour of Mars, with its character and the name of its angel Corniger2, to be finished in the same hour.


[5] Quartus annulus est Mercurij et sit ex cupro3, die et hora Mercurij cum karactere eius et nomen angeli eius Ypaton, eadem hora perfectus.    


[5] The fourth ring is that of Mercury and is to be made in copper3, the day and  hour of the Mercury with its character and the name of its angel Ypaton, to be finished in the same hour.


[6] Quintus annulus est Jovis et fit ex argento vel stanno vel electro, hora Jovis et die eius, cum karactere eius et nomen angeli eius Phytoneus, eadem hora perfectus.


[6] The fifth ring is that of Jupiter and is to be made of silver or tin or electrum, in the hour of Jupiter and on its day, with its character and the name of its angel Phytoneus, to be finished in the same hour.


[7] Sextus annulus est Veneris et fit ex plumbo, die et horaque Veneris, cum karactere et nomine angeli eius Abanystra, eadem hora perfectus.    


[7] The sixth ring is that of Venus and is to be made of lead, [on the] day and hour of Venus, with it character  and the name of its angel Abanystra, to be finished in the same hour.


[8] Septimus annulus est Saturni et fit ex ferro, die Saturni et hora eius cum karactere et nomine angeli eius Galatia, eadem hora perfectus.    


[8] The seventh ring is that of Saturn and is of iron, [on the] day of Saturni and its hour, with the character and the name of its angel Galatia, to be finished in the same hour.


 [9] Annulus Capitis Draconis fit ex calibe, die Solis et hora eius cum karactere et nomine angeli eius Arcaryamanan, eadem hora perfectus.  


[9] The ring of the Head of the Dragon is of steel, [on the] day of the Sun and its hour, with the character and the name of its angel Arcaryamanan, to be finished in the same hour.

[10] Primus annulus valet ad omnium bonorum augmentum et ad habendum equum mirabilem que ubique te portabit.


[10] The first ring serves in all good augmentations and for having a miraculous horse that will carry you anywhere.

[11] Secundus annulus valet ad omne opus quod exercetur in aquis et super aquas et ad arbores fructificandas cum non fit tempus.


[11] The second ring serves in all works that are done in water or over waters and in making trees bear fruits when its not their time.

[12] Tertius annulus valet ad omne opus prelij movendi et ad milites imperandos.  


[12] The third ring serves in all works of making battle and in commanding soldiers.

[13] Quartus annulus valet ad omne opus licitum vel illicitum obtinendum et ad omnes ludos ludibros soluendum et faciendum et ad tradita alias perdita recuperandum.  


[13] The fourth ring serves in all works of obtaing by licit or illicit means and in ceasing all mockeries and in revealing or getting back all lost tings. 

[14] Quintus annulus valet ad faciendum redire omnes denarius quos expendideris vel quecquid aliud dederis.


[14] The fifth ring serves in making all coins that you or any other have spent come back.

[15] Sextus annulus valet ad omnis persone amorem subito obtinendum. 


[15] The sixth ring serves in immediately gaining the love of any person.


[16] Septimus annulus valet ad discordia et odium seminandum inter quoscumque.


[16] The seventh ring serves in sowing discord and hatred between whomever.

[17] Octavus annulus valet ad personam qualibet infortunandam et ad potum venenandum.


[17] The eighth ring serves in [making] any person unfortunate and in poisoning drinks.

[18] Annulus Solis habeatur in quolibet sacrificio et annulus uniuscuiusque planete ad opus uniuscuiusque et nomen spiritis planete et karacter angeli itaque tam in memoria quem in lingua continue habeantur4. Item omnem sacrificium fiat intra circulum qui infra reperitur cum suis karacteribus et nominibus et in medio sedens magister dicat sic orando:
“O tu angele N. sacrificium tue laudis suscipe.”
Et hec dicens perijciat holocaustum5 extra circulum et in qualibet oratione nomen angeli invocetur. Item caute et mundissime teneatur; nec in die nec in nocte aperiatur donec operis necessitas inveniet item omne experimentum [15v] fiat luna crescent pari numero die6 et hora debita scilicet hora planete et die cuius opus est.


[18] The ring of the Sun you shall have in all sacrifices, with the ring of each planet at the work of each one and you shall keep the name of the spirit of the planet and its angel`s character in your mind as well as upon your tongue continuously4. Also all sacrifices shall be inside the circle that is shown below, wuth its characters and names and in its midst shall the master being seated, thus praying:
“O thou angel N., receive this sacrifice made to your praise!”  
And saying this, throw the burnt offering5 outside the circle and in each oration invoke the name of the angel. Also, keep [the seal] carefully and clean, and do not open it neither by day nor by night until the work requires it, and also look that in all experiments [15v] the Moon be waxing, and the day be of an even number6 and the hour be proper, that is, the hour of the planet and the day [of the planet] of whose work it is.


[19] Experimentum primum. Prima operatio horum praeceptorum  scilicet: Si volueris habere equum qui te vel alium nuncium tuum7 portet in momento quocumque volueris et reportet, ieiuna in die dominico usque ad noctem. In noctem vero facias holocaustum de ave non domestica prope littus aquae currentis et cum sanguine eius scribe karactere Solis in carta virginea et tecum porta et cum volueris operari per te vel alium experimentum hoc, depinge karacterem Solis in terra et nomen Angeli eius et veniet equus niger qui te portabit quocumque volueris tene tamen cartam suprascriptam in manu tua dextra et annulus in digito quarto manus8 tue sinistre.


[19] The first experiment. The first operation of these precepts, that is: if you want to have a horse that will carry you or any other messanger7 of yours in a moment wherever you want and return, fast on the Lord`s Say until nightfall. At night truly, make a burnt offering of a non-domestic bird near the bank of a flowing water and with its blood write the character of the Sun on virgin paper and bear it with you and when you want to operate for you or for any other this experiment, draw the character of the Sun on the earth and the name of its angel and a black horse shall come to you which will carry you wherever you want, nevertheless holding the above-said paper in your right hand and the ring on the fourth finger8 of your left hand.  


[20] Experimentum secundum seu: cum ergo volueris hoc experimentum operari ieiunabis in die lune usque ad noctem; in nocte vero facias holocaustum de anguilla fluvial in trivio9 et cum sanguine eius scribe karacteres et nomen angeli lune et in pelle catuli involue et in pelle anguille et serva. Cum autem volueris que appareat flumen vel arbor cum fructibus vel naves pugnantes scribe in terra nomen angeli lune et karacterem eius et nomina ea quae volueris nominare anguille carta10 aperta et apparebunt tibi. Cum autem volueris que dispareant, claude cartam et non apparebunt amplius donec renoves experiment.


[20] The second experiment or: when therefore you will want to work this experiment, fast in the day of the Moon until nightfall; at night truly, make a burnt offering of a river eel at a threefold crossroads9 and with its blood write the characters and the name of the angel of the Moon and in a whelp`s skin (sic) and [wrap it] in eel skin and keep it safe. However, when you will want to make a river appear, or a tree bearing fruits or fighting ships, write on the earth the name of the angel of the Moon and name that which you want to name with the paper10 opened and it will appear to you. However, when you want it to disappear, close the paper and and it will appear to you non more until you renew the experiment.


[21] Experimentum tertium. Tertia operatio istis artis est ad faciendum apparere quando volueris homines vel milites armatos vel non armatos et castra pugnatia et etiam ludos omnes ludibiles velut si veritas esset. Cum ergo volueris operari ieiunabis in die Martis usque ad noctem; in nocte vero facias holocaustum de animali rapaci11 infra12 domum aliquam, ad ignem et scribe de sanguine animalis eiusdem nomen angeli et karacteres martis in pelle animalis et cum volueris operari scribe karacteres et nomen angeli eius in terra et carta aperta nomina quod petis et apparebit statim et cum volueris que dispareat claude cartam.


[21] The third experiment. The third operation of this art is for making armed or unarmed men or soldiers appear, and fighting encampments and also all kinds of and games mockeries you would want, as if they were real.  Therefore, when you will want to operate, you will fast on the day of Mars until nightfall; at night truly make a burnt offering of a prey animal11 beneath12 someone`s house, over a fire, and write with the blood of this same animal the name of the angel and the characters of Mars in the skin of the animal (sic) and when you will want to operate write the characters and the name of the angel on the ground and open the paper and name what you are asking for and it will immediately appear and when you will want it to disappear, close the paper.


[22] Experimentum quartum. Quarta operatio est artis huius ut nunque possis ab aliquot domino vel judice condempnari vel etiam superari13.  Cum ergo volueris hoc facere ieiunabis in die Mercurij usque ad noctem. Nocte vero facias holocaustum de vulpe vel de gatto14 in loco deserto et scribe karacteres et nomen angeli eius in pelle hedi de sanguine recent ipsius vulpis vel gatti et cum accesseris ad judice scribe karacteres et nomen Angeli eius in fronte vel pectore et tunc cum carta in manu et non condempnaberis unquem ab aliquo viuente.


[22] The fourth experiment. The fourth operation of this art is that no judge or lord will ever condemn you and you will never upset him13. Therefore, when you will want to do this, you will fast on the day of Mercury until nightfall. At night truly make a burnt offering of a fox or a cat14 in a deserted place and write the characters and name of the angel in kid`s skin with the recently obtained blood of the fox or cat and when you appear in front of the judge write the characters and the name of the angel on your forehead or chest and with this paper in hand he will not condemn you as elong as either of you shall live.


[23] Experimentum quintum. Quinta operatio huius artis est ad faciendum redire ad te omnes denarios15 quos unquem dabis alicui vel quicquid aliud dederis6. Cum ergo volueris operari hoc ieiunabis in die Jovis usque ad noctem; in nocte vero facias sacrificium de gallo et scribe de sanguine eius karacteres et [16r] nomen angeli eius in pelle vituli et omnes denarij quos in pelle illa inuolues reuertet ad te et quicquid inuolueris et dederis reuertetur ad te cito et illi dicuntur debere portari in novo marsupio ad hoc deputato.


[23] The fifth experiment. The fifth operation of this art is for making return to you all coins15 that you will ever give to someone or someone else will give6. Therefore, when you will want to work this, you will fast on the day of Jupiter until until nightfall; at night truly make a burnt offering of a cock and write with its blood the characters and [16r] the name of its angel in calfskin and all coins that you shall wrap in this skin shall return and whatever you shall wrap up in it and give away will return to you quickly, and of it it is said that you must carry it in a new pouch made for this.


 [24] Experimentum sextus. Sexta operatio est ad faciendum mulierem te sequi quorumque volueris, ieiunabis in die veneris usque ad noctem. Nocte vero facies sacrificium de columba in loco virenti et de sanguine eius scribe karacteres et nomen angeli eius in pelle leporis et quotiens in manu tenueris et mulieri ostenderis te velociter sequitur.





[24] The sixth experiment. The sixth operation of this art is for making any of the women you want follow you. At night truly, make a sacrifice of a dove in a green place and with its blood write the characters and the name of its angel on hare`s skin and whenever you shall hold it in your hand and show it to a woman, she will quickly follow you.

[25] Experimentum septimum. Septima operatio est ad faciendum odium inter quoscumque volueris. Cum operare volueris ieiunabis in die sabbati usque ad noctem; in mane (alia nocte) vero facies sacrificium de capro venerio (alia virgineo) inter vespem alius vespes seu veptes16  et scribe karacteres et nomen angeli eius in pergameno vituli et cum volueris ponere inter duos odium scribe eorum nomina et karacteres et nomen angeli eius et nominando ponem in ignem.


[25] The seventh experiment. The seventh operation of this art is for making hatred between whomsoever you want. When  you will want to do this, you will fast on the day of the Sabbath until nightfall; in the morning(another: night) truly make a sacrifice of a kid goat of Venus(another: virgin) among wasps (another: wasps or veptes)16 and write the characters and name of its angel in calfskin and when you want to put hatred between two people, write their names and the characters and the name of its angel [on the parchment] and naming them, put it in a fire.


[26] Experimentum octavum. Octava operatio huius artis est ad intoxicandum quoscumque volueris. Cum ergo volueris operari ieiunabis in die domenico usque noctem. In nocte vero facies sacrificium de cane in quadriuio et cum sanguine eius scribes karacteres et nomen angeli eius in pelle caprina17 et cum volueris aliquem intoxicare intinge in potu eius annulum et intoxicabitur.


[26] The eighth experiment. The eighth operation of this art is for poisoning whomever you want. Therefore, when you will want to work this, you will fast on the Lord`s day of until nightfall. At night truly make a sacrifice of a dog at a crossroads and with its blood write the characters and the name of its angel in caprine skin17 and when you want to poison someone dip this ring in his drink and it shall be poisoned.


[27] Item nota quod in qualibet loco ubi operabitus debet fieri talis circulum sicut hic dimoneratur in quo fier introitus eius ab oriente exitus vero ab occidente et scribantur in terra karacteres et nomina angelorum.


[27] Note therefore, that whichever place you shall work there must be a certain circle which I shall represent here in which it is to be entered from the west and verily exited by east and you must write on the earth the characters and names of the angels.

[28] Item qualibet annulus debet sua die in crepusculo noctis diei attribute consecrari et sic fit consecratio. Fac circulum qui inferius est descriptus et scribe karacteres et nomen angeli eius per quo annulus consecratur  et accipe carbones in vase vel olla de quovis ligno sive accensos sive mortuos si tunc essent mortui  carbones fac ita que bene accendantur sine flamma et pone super illum ignem thimiama storacem calamitam et mumiam vel peoniam18 tantum de vno quantum de altero. Pone de predictis rebis in tanta quantitate quo fiat magnus fumus et tene cum manu sinistra annulum vel annulos que consecrator si plures vis consecrare eiusdem materie et teneantur super fumum. Et cum manum vero dextra tene cartam exorcismi donec totum exorcismum dixeris super ignem: Qui exorcismus sic incipit:


[28] Thus, each ring must be consecrated in its day, namely at the dawn of the night of its attributed day and such is the consecration. Make the circle that is described below and write the characters and the name of its angel by which you shall consecrate the ring and take coals [and put them] in a vessel or pot, whichever wood would it be, either lit or dead [smouldering] and when the coals will be dead, make them smoulder well without flame and put upon this fire incense of storax, calamis and mumia or peony18, of each one as of the others. Put the afore-mentioned things in such a quantity that there shall be a great smoke and hold with your left hand the ring or the rings that are to be consecrated if you want to consecrate more than one of their matter and hold it [or them] over the smoke. And verily with your right hand hold the paper of the exorcism while you say the whole exorcism over the fire. Which exorcism thus begins:




[29] Exorcismus:“Exorcizo vos creatures planetarum spiritis dedicatos horisque eorum fortitudinis fabricatos per Vryel, Salquyel, Atroel19 et per fortitudinem magni principis vostri et per corona capitis eius20 et per omne robur voluntatis vobis principibusattributum quorum dominijs innumera exibentur preciosa vt valeatis quibus valere vos cupio et auxilium prebeatis ad qualia estis fabricate, per virtutes quae vos constringunt in secula seculorum amen.“ 21


Item nota que omnis carta virginea22 debet sacrificari antequem operator sicut sacrificitur predictis annulis.


[29] Exorcism:“I exorcize you, creatures dedicated to the spirits of the planets, forged in their most powerful hours, by Vryel, Salquyel, Atroel19and by the power of your great prince and by the crown upon his head20 and by all the strengths of the wills that your princes assigned you, whose preciousness countless lords hold forth, I desire to rule those that rule you and be granted the assistance you grant towards which you were fashioned, by the virtues that bind you onto the age of ages. Amen”21

Also note that all of the virgin parchment22 must be sacrificed beforehand by the operator just like the sacrifices of the rings.


[16v] 

[30]
forma circuli.


[16v] 

[30]
the shape of the circle.




[Introitus ab Oriente.
Exitus ad Occidente.

Saturni character et nomen angelus eius. Galaton.
Jovis character et nomen angelus eius. Phytoneus.]
Martis character et nomen angelus eius. Corniger.
Solis character et nomen angelus eius. Cyrorax.
Veneris character et nomen angelus eius. Arbanistra.
Mercurij character et nomen angelus eius. Ypaton.
Lune character et nomen angelus eius. Cameleon.
Capitis Draconis character et nomen angelus eius. Ortaryaran.]23


[Entrence in the East
Exit in the West.

The character of Saturn and the name of its angel.Galaton.
The character of Jupiter and the name of its angel. Phytoneus
The character of Mars and the name of its angel. Corniger.
The character of the Sun and the name of its angel. Cyrorax.
The character of Venus and the name of its angel. Arbanistra.
The character of Mercury and the name of its angel. Ypaton.
The character of the Moon and the name of its angel. Cameleon.
The character of and the name of its angel. Ortaryaran.]23


[31] Intentio et expositio libri preciosi de annulis septem planetarum est talis ut tibi dicant. Scias primo que debes purus esse et vite virtuose atque prudentis et hoc ut differas a vita vulgarum quacum hoc que sunt idiote in specialibus sunt stulti in nominibus virtuosis et ad hoc vt tuum opus et tua verba recipient gracias et ultro sapientes et virtuosi que sunt angeli celi et spiritis subdicti24 eius ad quos in hoc libro habes tu dirigere tuum opus et a quibus debet recipe tuum honorem ad quem intendus Deo primo et premio in omnibus existente.


[31] The purpose and exposition of the precious book of the rings of the seven planets is that which I have told you. Know that first of all, you must be pure and lead a virtuous and prudent life, and this is how your life will differ from that of the vulgar, who are thus idiots and are especially stupid under the names of the virtuous, and by this shall your work and your words receive grace over the wise and the virtuous who are the celestial angels and their subservient spirits24 to which in this book you shall direct your work and from whome you must receive your honors, as God ordained first and foremost in all that is.


[32] Cum ergo fueris purus fac fieri similiter octo annulos puros de metallis que determinat libellus et temporibus et horis quas determinat idem; determinat enim que annulus Solis fiat in die Solis et hora Solis taliter quod totus annulus fiat in eadem hora et nihil de facture annuli reseruetur ad aliam usque ad similem horam qua ita expositum est, quod in prima hora potest fieri annulus vnus et similiter annulus lune in die lune et hora lune fiat et perficientur et sic de alijs vniuersis dum eis fit annulus factor et magister puri et animosi existentes debent continue nominare in lingua atque in memoria haberem angelum pro quo annulus fit vt si fiat annulus Solis debent in facture continue nominari lingua et memorari hic spiritus qui Cyrorax appelatur et si sit annulus martis hic spiritus qui Corniger vocatur et sic de alijs.


[32] When you are therefore pure, likewise make eight pure rings of the metals that are set forth in this booklet and in the hours and times that are also set forth. It is set forth that the ring of the Sun in to be made in the day of the Sun and in the hour of the Sun and likewise that all the rings are to be made in their own hour and no ring is not to be made in the hour reserved for another but [you must wait] until a similar hour that it is thus set forth, so in the first hour you can make the ring of one and likewise the ring of the Moon in the day of the Moon and the hour of the Moon and you shall finish, and so forth with the others, each one in each one`s [time] shall the rings be made and the master must be pure and vehement and must continuously name in his tongue as well as have in his mind the angel for whome the ring is made, so if it is the ring of the Sun, he must -in its making- continually name with his tongue and keep in his mind this spirit who is called Cyrorax and if it is the ring of Mars, this spirit who is called Corniger and so forth of the others.

[33] Ista autem nominatio et memoratio fit vel fieri post dupliciter sapientem que cuilibet magis placet [17r] vno modo solum nomen proferendo et memorando vt de Sole Cyrorax etc, continuando vel de marte Corniger Corniger Corniger etc, et sic durando quem dum durat facture annuli.

[33] However, this nomination and memoration is made or is to be made by the sage afterwords, however the magician preffers, [17r] one way only speaking and remembering the name, of the Sun, Cyrorax etc, or continuing with that of Mars Corniger Corniger Corniger etc and so doing as long as the making of the rings will take.

[34] Alio modum orationem seu postulationem sibi faciendo sic: “O Cyrorax angele Solis facio opus tuum et tue potentie et honoris annulum preciosum inspira ergo eum et dirige opus meum.” et sic de alijs continue.


[34] Another way of praying or requesting is to be made thus: “O Cyrorax, angel of the Sun, make your work, and breathe therefore into this precious ring your power and your honor, and guide my work.” And continue likewise with the others.


[35] Vel O Corniger angele Martis facio tuum et opus et tue potentie annulum et tui honoris pretiosum Inspire ergo eum et dirige opus meum  et sic de alijs continue in facture orationem eadem resumendo diligentia operis habita. Et non per secularia desideria interpositaserata quia angeli cum sunt sapientes perfectum modum operandi et opus intentionis volunt et non modum tediosum et otiosum et incuriosus curant. 


[35] Or “O Corniger, angel of Mars, make your work, and breathe therefore into this precious ring your power and your honor, and guide my work.” and continue likewise with the others in making the prayers, resuming afterwards the work with the usual diligence. And do not interpose worldly pleasures, for the angels being wise, will work in a perfect way and according to your work`s intent and shall not run in a  tedious or idle or careless way.


[36] Et scias que quando annulus est factus karacteres debent sculpi  in nodo et in virgule25 nomen angeli eius totum hoc in eadem hora vt dictum est preficiendo et non a parte interior sed a parte exterior ita sculpi debent eo que instum opus anima tuum est non est opus orationis.


[36] And know that when the characters are made, you must engrave the names to the point and to the line25, all in the same hour and you will finish, and not on the inside part but on the outside part you must engrave them, for it is a work for your soul not for your speaking.

[37] Quando vero isti annuli sunt facti in pixide munda et noua cum mundis inuolutionibus reponantur et non amplius inde extrahantur nisi operationis causa; quia ista talia frustra sive gloria vana non haberit locum.


[37] When verily these rings are made, you shall put them in a clean and new  box with clean wrappings and you shall not take them out if you will not wish to cause a working, for in this, frustration and vanitous glory have no place.

[38] Et scias que non sufficit que in factura ipsorum que fiat in die et hora planete eius sunt imo requeritur que sit luna crescens et in numero pari sed quod luna sit 2a, 4a, ut 6a, et sit de alijs vt dicit libellus, sed ego non dico sed credo que sufficit que sit crescens et tempus bonum et tranquillum et sicut dicitur de isto annulo Solis ita debet intelligi simili modo de annulus Veneris vt que annulus Saturni fiat in prima hora diei saturni vel sabbati, vel in octaua hora quae est similiter Saturni et que luna sit crescens et que tempus sit bonum et tranquillum et his omnibus sufficienter obseruantis et perfectis annuli erunt perfecti et perfecte fabricati et his et aliquibus horis absentibus erunt inperfecte facti et sic inutiles erunt operationi vere et desiderate. Nec fiant hi annuli in loco privatie gentum nec in loco imundo quia munditia et secretum sunt de necessitate in omnibus operationibus tuis aliter hic liber subalternaretur.


[38] And know that it is not sufficient that their making should be during the day and hour of their planet, but the Moon should be waxing and [the lunar day be] of an even number, that is when the Moon is in the second [day], the fourth [day], the sixth [day] and so of the others, as the booklet says, but I do not say this, but believe it suffices that it is waxing and the weather is good and calm. And as we speak of this ring of the Sun it is to be understood in the same fashion of the ring of Venus, as the ring of Saturn is to be made in the first hour of the day of Saturn or of the Sabbath, or in the eighth hour that is also that of Saturn, and the Moon be waxing and  the weather be good and calm and this in all is sufficient to be observed and finish the ring when it ends and it shall be perfectly made and if it made in the other absent hours it shall be imperfectly made and thus, useless in true and desired operations.  Neither let this ring be in [near] man`s private parts, nor in an unclean place, for cleanliness and secrecy are necessary in all your operations or any that this book shall subordinate.


[39] Item scrias que non est vis si annuli hi fiant fundendo vel malleando solus que karacteres et nomina fiant sculpendo et totum in eadem hora terminetur sed tam sculptio quem fusio vel malleatio solum tuum que karacteres et nomina fiant sculpendo et que totum in eadem hora terminetur ut supra26, annulis autem factis vna die dicito cum luna erit crescens vt dictum est ieiunabis et hora prima vel octaua scribes cum incausto planete in pergameno virgineo exorcismum illum qui est in libello et incipit:


[39] Also know that it is not powerfull if a ring is to be cast or hammered unless the characters and names are engraved and all finished in the same hour, or that the carving or melting or hammering be done only by you and that the characters and names  be engraved and that all in the same hour be finished as above26, the rings being made in a day as said, with the Moon waxing as we have said, you shall fast and in the first hour or eighth hour write will the paint [ink] of the planet on virgin parchment that exorcism that is in the booklet and begins thus:


[40] “Exorcizo vos creaturas planetarum spiritibus dedicatas horasque earum fortitudinis descriptus eis vt valeatis quibus vos valere cupio:[17v] et auxilia prebeatis ad qualia vos estis sacramenta descripte per virtute eis”.27 Nisi que scias quod hi exorcismi sunt hic positi per habenda scientia tota. Sed quando fit opus particulare sicut illud de Sole de quo modo loquimur ab vtrasque istorum debes vnum particularem exorcismum extrahere sic:


[40]I exorcize you, creatures dedicated to the spirits of the planets, described in their most powerful hours, I desire to rule those that rule you :[17v] and be granted the assistance you grant towards which you were fashioned, by their virtues“27 Except you should know that this exorcisms are thus placed for having the whole of the  knowledge. But when there be a particular work, like trhat of the Sun of  which we shall speak, for each one of these you must extract a particular exorcism:


[41] “Exorcizo te creatura Solis planete et spiriti eius dedicatam per Vryelem etc, vt valeas quibus te valere cupio: et auxilia prebeas ad qualia tu es annulus fabricatis  per virtutes quae vos constringunt in secula seculorum, amen.


[41] “I exorcise thee, creature dedicated to the planet of the Sun and to its spirit, by Uriel etc, I desire to rule those that rule you and be granted the assistance you grant towards which you, ring,  were fashioned, by their virtues that bind you onto the age of ages, amen.”


[42] Similiter alter exorcismus ehtrahitur sic:
Exorcizo te karacterem Solis planete sacri eiusque spiritui dedicatum horaque fortitudinis eius descriptum per Vryelem etc., ut valeas quibus etc., et auxilia prebeas ad quae tu rest sacra carta descripta per virtutes quae te constringunt in secula seculorum, amen.


[42] Likewise extract another exorcism thus:
“I exorcise thee, creature dedicated to the sacred planet of the Sun and to its spirit and to its prescribed horary power, by Uriel etc, to rule those etc., and be granted the assistance you grant towards which you sacred paper were written, by the virtues that bind you onto the age of ages, amen.”


[43] et quando tu scripseris tuos exorcismos continue cogita: et profer in illo ieiunio nomen angeli planete et karacteres eius et tene te multum per silencitum illa die et cum erit nox et crepusculum cape vestes lineas mundas et accipe olla nouam de terra et suffumiga quando ponuntur in caracteribus et sigillis et ensem vel gladium28 clarum benedictum et pergamenum virgineum et aliam pellem in qua precipitur scribe karacteres in libello predicto et sacrificium sicut precipit libellus vt puta auem domesticam in ope solis et tunc vade ad littus aque currents et ibi cum ense vel clauo fac unum circulum cuius dyametrum sit nouem pedum dicendum orationem predictam scilicet:


 “O Cyrorax angele Solis facio tuum opus etc.,” Nisi que ibi dicebatur annulus preciosum modo dic circulum et fac alium circulum intis illum distantem ab illo primo pedem vnum quo facto fiat diametrum transuersalem que respiciat orientem et occidentem quo facto sub illo diametro transuersali pertrahe aliam lineam transuersalem distantem ab illa per pedes vnum quia inter illas duas lineas debet fieri introitus scilicet ab ortu et exitu ab occasu quio facto teneas faciem versus pretem illius planete cuius est opus scilicet solis in quo loquimur modo, qua pars orientalis est solis, Consolaria Jouis, Auerana Martis, Noegalma Mercurij, Occidens lune, Frigecap vero veneris29 Invocatio Christi. 30



Tunc ergo te respitiente versus partem Solis cuius operis puta Cyrorax in preposito que est angelus solis dehinc karacteres Solis uel eiusdem planete operis versus partem sub nomine angeli sui infra circulos ambos quo facto, cape ollam et carbones et accede eos sinem flamma et pone eos in olla intra circulos sub karactere in centro circuli vel iuxta existente et in omnibus istis debes habere continue in lingua et in memoria  nomen angeli thematis. Quo facto pone suffumiga in olla super primas et ponas satis ita que faciat [18r] fumum magnum. Tunc cape annulum in manu sinistra et exorcismum annuli in dextra. Tunc tene annulum super fumum et lege exorcismum bis vel ter, qui satis debet esse sedendo in medio circuli tibijs plintis et cancellatis, quo facto pone annulum in digito quarto manus sinistre et hoc facto cape auem domesticam et macta eam in aliquot vase vitreo vel ligneo nouo et polito vel terreo vitreato sanguinem colligendo. Hoc facto perijce extra versus parte orientalem in preposito in alijs versus partes suas animal mortuum demactatum dicendo: 




”O tu angele Cyrorax sacrificium tue laudis suscipe et hoc opus tui honoris amen.”

Hoc facto cum pluma eiusdem auis scribe in carta virginea nomen angeli Solis Cyrorax vel illius planete cuius est opus et karacteres eius cum sanguine in vaso vitreo seruato.

Hoc facto iterum ponem suffumigium in vase vel olla et fac satis de fumo et cum sinistra manu tene annulum super fumum et cartam istam virgineam dicendo exorcismum totum in dextra qui est exorcismus carte et lege eam bis vel tres. Quo facto repone annulus et cartam inuolutos in panno mundo in pixide noua qui pannus sit rubeus et nouus si sit opus solis ut predictum est et similiter plures annulos vniusque planete consecrare posses et cartas sicut vnum vel vnam si velles.


 Sed si essent diuersorum planetarum non posset nisi vnum in vnam operationem. Tunc ille annulus solis et illa carta sunt consecrate ad operandum et equum habendum faciendo sicut dicitur in libello, nisi que prima vire operatio ista Solis fiat ad habendum equum et sic omnis operatio cuiuscumque planete quae est operatio prima post consecrationem facienda, et debet fieri die et hora eiudem planete cuius est opus, et luna crescent etc.


 Tempora predicta eligendo sed in alijs viribus postquem equus fierit semel advocates et habitus non oportet expectari tunc tempus quando tibi placet vnde in circulo non oportet scribe aliud nisi karacteres solis et nomen angeli eius ut dictum est.


[43] and when you will write your exorcisms continually think and pronounce in your fasting the name of the angel  of the planet and its characters
and hold yourself silent for that day and when night will fall and be dusk, don new linen clothes and take a new earthen pot and suffumigate when you put in the characters and the sigils and a bright and blessed sword or gladius28 and the virgin parchment and other skins in which you must write the characters of the planets as it is said in the booklet, and the sacrifice that is described in the booklet, namely the domestic [sic!] bird in the work of the Sun, and go then to the bank of the river and with the sword or a nail make make a circle of a diameter of nine feet, saying the aforementioned oration:

“O Cyrorax angel of the Sun, I perform your work, etc., All you will say in [the makig of ] the precious ring, you will say [in the making] of the circle, and make another inner circle, it being distanced from the first one by one foot, that you shall make having a transverse diameter that will go from the East to West, and make under this transversal diameter the other transversal lines distanced by it by one foot, that between these two lines must be entered from the Sun-rise and exited by the Sun-set, and these being made, face towards that same planet of which the expreriment is, that is, of the Sun, in this fashion we shall speak of, that the Orient is of the Sun, the Consolaria is of Jupiter, the Averana is of Mars, the Noegalma is of Mercury, the Occident is of  the Moon, Frigecap truly of Venus29, Invocation of Christ30.
Then direct yourself therefore to the part of the Sun, whose work is ordained to Cyrorax, who is the angel of the Sun, towards the characters of the Sun or the work`s planet, under the name of the angel that is beneath the two circles you have made, take the vessel and the coals and light them so that there is no flame and put them in the vessel between the circles under the character, in the center of the circle or next to it and in all these you must have upon your tongue and mind the name of the designated angel continuously.  This being done, put the suffumigations in the vessel over the first ones and put enough so that it will make [18r] much smoke. Then take the ring in the left hand and the exorcism of the ring in the right hand. Then hold the ring over the smoke and read the exorcism twice or thrice, this being done enough you must take a seat in the center of your circle, raised and covered,  this being done put the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand and this being done, take the domestic bird and sacrifice it some glass vessel or new vessel made of polished wood or earthen glazed vessel, to collect the blood. This being done, throw it outside towards the East and in all abovesaid in each of their directions, saying:
“O thou  angel Cyrorax, receive this sacrifice to your praise and in your honor in this work.”

This being done, with the quill of the same bird write in the virgin paper the name of the angel of the Sun, Cyrorax, or of the planet whose work it is and its characters with the blood kept in the glass vessel.
This being done, put therefore suffumigations in the vase or pot and make plenty of smoke and with the left hand hold the ring over the smoke and this paper, that is to say, the exorcism, also in the right hand that is the exorcism of the paper and read it twice or thrice.  This being done, place once again the ring and paper wrapped in a clean cloth in a new box, which cloth is to be red and new if the working is that of the Sun as before mentioned, and likewise for the other rings, each planet with its own, being consecrated and their papers as this one, if you want.
If there is to be for a different planet, you can do but one in one operation. Then will the ring of the Sun and its paper be consecrated to work and you can make the [experiment with the] obtaining of the horse like it is said in the booklet, for the first operation of power is of the Sun, to obtain the horse, and likewise for all the works of each of the planets of which first work is to be done after the consecration, and it must be in the day and hour of that planet whose work it is, and the Moon be waxing etc.,
The aforementioned times being chosen, you will not need to wait for other powers once you have called and retained the horse once, but whenever it will please you,  and you will not need to write in the circle anything but the character and the name as it is said.  

[44] Si vero opus, si alterius planetem quem solis debet scribe in circulo character et nomen solis versus orientem et nomen angeli eius scilicet alterius planete in quo operaris versus aliam partem sibi scilicet pertinentem sicut versus Consol si opus fuerit Jouis et versus frigicap si opus fuerit Mercurij et sic de alijs. Ita que ea quae sunt solispraecipiuntur  in omni opere nisi quando opus est alterius planete annulus alterius planete debet poni in digito quarto dextre manus31 et facies et  sacrificium et exorcismus debent fieri versus partem illius planete cuius est annulus et nomen Solis et annuli mutari ut debet et nota que quando fit operatio similis cuiuscumque planete debet angelus illius inuocari vt verbi gratia quando iam vis que [18v] per solem veniat equus vt dicit liber ponitur annulus auri in digite quarto sinistre manus et teneatur carta in dextera et depingatur karacter in terra cum nomine angeli Solis et dicitur sic:


[44] If you truly work this, or another planet than the Sun, you must write in the circle the character and the name of the Sun towards the East and the name of its angel or another planet which you wish to work likewise towards that part, like towards Consol if it were the work of Jupiter, and towards Frigicap if it were the work of Mercury, and so forth of the others.   Thus take in all works all that it is [required] of the Sun, so when the work is that of another planet, the ring of this other planet is to be placed on the fourth finger of your right hand,31 and your face and the sacrifice and the exorcism must be towards the part of that planet who`s ring it is, and change the name of the Sun and the ring as needed, and note that when there will be a similar work of each of the planets, you must invoke its angel and speak its might when you will want it by which [18v] by the [might of ] Sun the horse came, as the books says, and put the ring of gold on the fourth finger of the left hand and holding the paper in the right and having had drawn the character on the earth with the name of the angel of the Sun, and [sic] say this:

[45] “O Cyrorax angele Solis equum velocitatis mihi mittere et opus tuum honoris comple nunc in hora, amen.”

Tunc statim veniet equus niger, et sine terrore eum cape et coniura sic:

“Coniuro te o bone eque quod sine terrore et sine lesionem corporis et anime mee nunc infra istam horam me sanum et saluum portes usque ad talem locum N. per virtutem et potestatem angeli Solis Cyrorax et per Vryelem et Barachielem et Acroelem et per fortitudinem principis vostri et per coronam capitis eius et per omne robur voluntatis a principio attribute et per et per virtutes que te constringunt in secula seculorum.” 32


[45] O Cyrorax angel of the Sun, send to me a horse of speed and complete your work in this hour, Amen.”
Then there will quicly come a black horse and without fear seize him and conjure as follows:
“I conjure thee, o, good horse, that without fright and without harm to my body and my soul, now in the space of this hour bear me whole and healthy towards this place N. by the virtue and power of the angel of the Sun Cyrorax and by Uriel and by Barachiel and by Acroel and by the strenghth of your prince and by the crown upon his head and by all the strengths of the wills given at the beginning and by the virtues that bind you onto the age of ages.”32

[46] Hoc dicto, salias sursum et vade in pare nil boni vel mali loquendo vsque ad terminum tuum intra illam horam cogitarem tuam potes quecquid vis. Idem est precessus in qualibet angelorum inuocatione nisi varitatis variandis que sunt iam dicta.


[46] This being said, jump up [on the horse] and be on your way speaking neither good nor evil, until the end in that same hour, but you can think whatever you wish. Likewise are things to be done in all of the angel`s invocations, only changing that which is said to be changed.


[47] Quod sequitur iam nota quod in libello in quo est particula preciosa vna prestigiorum planetarum tres  operationes sunt vna operacio est. Prima facto vt angelorum virtutibus superiorum homo sit specialibus annum angelorum omnibus quia amicitiam impetrat ab eis mira quodam.
Secunda operatio est consecratio annulorum et karacterorum in circulo rationem cuius consecrationis introducitur forma in materia annuli nominis et karacteri, que forma non est aliud quam confirmatio virtutis originalis date nomini similiter ab initio munda.

Tertia operatione est finalis ad quam due predicte finaliter ordinantur. Item nota que per positionem annuli in digito et per operationem carte et descriptionem nominis similiter in Terra et petitionem que fieri debet efficitur res mira et desiderata per qua est tota operatio elaborate.


Item nota quod sicut precessista in secunda operationem tuum operationum similiter debes precedere in alius operationibus aliorum planetarum nisi que mutetur dies ieiunij vt dicit liber et locus vbi debet fieri circulus ut dicitur super et sacrificium illiud fiat ut dicit auctor super, sed idem est modus pertrahendi circulum in omnibus et scribendi.


[47] What follows now, take heed, that in this booklet there is a precious part, consisting of the fact that each planet`s effect three works are indeed one. The first is made to the virtues of the angels that are superior to man, according to their appointed times, of all the angels whose friendship we beseech of them a certain miracle. The second operation is the consecration of the rings and the characters in the circle, by whose reason of consecration introduces the forms of the names and the characters in the matter of the ring, which form is nothing else but the confirmation of the original virtue given to the name likewise, in the beginning of the world.  The third work is the final one,  to wich end the two aforementioned are ordained. Therefore take heed that by the placement of the ring upon your finger and by the work of the paper and the depicting of the names likewise on the earth and the petitions that are to be made, wonderful and desired things will be accomplished, for which the whole work has been elaborated.
Therefore take heed that the way you proceeded your second work you must proceed in all the works of the other planets, only changing the day of the fasting as the book says, and the place where the circle is to be made as said above and its sacrifice that is to be made, as the author says above, so this is the way to draw the circle and write in all of them.

[48] Nota similiter quod in vna operacione circuli actualis nunquem debent scribe nisi si duo scilicet nomen et karacteres similiter et nomen angeli Solis et alterius planete  cuius est opus. Et nomen similiter ad illias partes mundi quae attribuntur planetis eisdem quam annulus Solis in operationem est necessarus et nomen solis in circulo superdicto super cartam cum penna eiusem auis de qua sit sacrificium si auis sit, si vero non cum penna auis sacrificij licet non sit hoc de necessitate positum sed de bene esse sed bene melius esset quem aliter.


[48] Take heed also that in one actual operation you must never write anything except two things, those being the name and the characters, like the name of the angel of the Sun [sic] and of the other planet whose work it is. And the name likewise, in those parts of the world that are attributed to its planet, so that the ring of the Sun in the work is necessary and the name of the Sun in the above-mentioned circle, over the paper with the quill from the same bird that is sacrificed, and if not truly possible with a quill of the sacrificed bird, it is not necessary in order to be good, but it is better than any other.    
    

[49] Hoc opus est magne virtutis et certitudinis per quod poteris te felicem in hoc seculo seculorum. Si ordinibus superius [19r] seruatis maxima cum mundicia et silencio feceris et sine vana gloria.  Et hic sicut liber de annulis nominibus et karacteribus septem planetarum33 ad laudem dei omnipotentis.


[49] This work is of great virtue and certainty, by which you can be made joyous onto the age of ages, if you shall keep the orders described in it [19r] with utmost cleanliness and conduct them silence and without vane glory. And so of the book of the rings, names and characters of the seven planets33, to the praise of the Omnipotent God.


[50] Et ecce oratio preparatiua quam similiter dico ad bene esse.

“O angeli sancti et potentes in terra, aere et abisso Captiel  Satquiel Samael Raphael Anael Michael et Gabriel domini septem celorum et planetarum per Saday gloriosum qui ab initio vos constituit super celestes angelos saturnales, joviales, martiales, solares, venereos, mercuriales, et lunares et super vniuersos que sunt in igne et super omnes que sunt in aere et super cunctos que sunt in terre et aquis, ego adiuro vos per domini viuente On Ely Agla hatyonadabazar  et precor vos per deum et dominus nostrum Iesum Christum Homo, Petra, lapis, Redemptor, leo, lux, Gloria, Sanctus, ac postulo a vobis per septem cellos et omnes virtutes eorum et per quatuor mundi partes et per omnes habitants in eisdem et per virtutes influentes luces lucentes, et per incorruptibilem dominem Athanatos, intangibilem et permanentem quod mihi N.f.N.34 immittatis applicetis  ac partier obedientes faciatias vel obedificetis hos septem alia octo angelos subditos vestros scilicet Cyrorax, Phytoneus, Corniger, Arbanistra, Cameleon, Ypaton, Galatyn, Ortaryanan pro isto facto et miro opere ipsorum que quidem incipio et facere volo de octo sacris annulis et karacteribus eorum vt predestinatum et ordinatum est ab incomprehensibili profunditatis sapientie et scientie dei omnipotentis sic ut cum ego N. sicuti operates ero quod debuero ipsis, ipsi mihi quod debuerint operator per vim ac virtutem inuictissimi et iustitiam dei omnipotentis eterni et inexistimabilis. Amen”. 35   ~Explicit~


[50] And here is a preparatory oration that you must likewise say for all being well.
O thou holy angels and powerful over the earth, the air and the abyss, Captiel  Satquiel Samael Raphael Anael Michael et Gabriel, lords of the seven heavens and the seven planets, by Saday the glorious who from the begging constituted you over the celestial angels, saturnials, jovials, martials, solarials, venerials, mercurials and lunarials, and over all that are in fire and over all that are in the air and over those who are in the earth and waters, I adjure you by the Living God On Ely Agla hatyonadabazar and beseech you by our Lord and God Iesum Christum Homo, Petra, lapis, Redemptor, leo, lux, Gloria, Sanctus, and entreat you by the seven heavens and all their virtues and by the four parts of the world and by all their inhabitants and by the virtues of the influences of the shining lights, and the incorruptible God Athanatos, intangible and permanent, that you render to me N. son of N.34 and make humble and obedient and serving the seven or eight to-be-named angels Cyrorax, Phytoneus, Corniger, Arbanistra, Cameleon, Ypaton, Galatyn, Ortaryanan, for this wonderous work of theirs, of whose beginning and making of the eighth sacred rings and their characters  is predestined and ordained from the imcomprehensible deapth of wisdom and knowledge of the allpowerful God, such as I N. work it as I should, so to me it should be made to work, by the might and virtue of the unconquered and right justice of the allpowerful, eternal and inestimable God. Amen” 35~End~




3. Notes


 1. As stated in Kassel Version notes 2 and 3, the treatise varies in the attribution of the character: sometimes the character is attributed to the planet and separate of the angel, sometimes the character and the name of the angel are called together, indicating that the character is proper to the angel.

2. Corniger appears in the Sworn Book of Honorius (Peterson, Joseph, Ibis Press, 2016, p.279 ):Cornigerrex meridionalis, et habet 4 ministros in 4 mundi partibus. // Trocornifer in oriente. // Malafer in occidente. // Euiraber in meridie. // Mulciferin septemtrione. Et quilibet habet legiones centum, et in qualibet sunt demones 4500, qui omnes istis 4 obediunt et subduntur. Et isti 4 sunt qui possunt omnes alios spiritus a thesauris absconditis fugare ligare et constringere, et sunt ministri infernales. [Corniger is king of the southand he has four attendents in the four parts of the world: Trocornifer in the East, Malafer in the West, Euiraber in the South, Mulcifer in the North. And each of them has hundreds of legions, and in each legion is 4500 daemons, who all obey and are subject to these four, and these four are able to drive away all other spirits from hidden treasures, to bind and to constrain, and they are the ministers of Hell.] We must therefore question the angelicity of the spirits names in this treatise.

3. Cf. Kassel Version, note 1. Metallic attributions vary in Arabic magical texts and do not correspond to the classical attributions popularized by Cornelius Agrippa.

4. While invocating and chanting names are common in such texts, it is very rare that a mental attitude is advised, to compliment the oral element.  In later versions this part is completely overlooked.

5. While later texts only mention sacrifices (sg: sacrificium), this version is the first, to my knowledge, to also call them burnt offerings (sg: holocaustum). This, along with the the other ritual prescriptions, change our view of the sacrifices made to accompany these consecrations: the first set of sacrifices are to be made to obtain the skins, that once cured in lime and dried procured the magician with the parchments, while the second set is of the animal prescribed in the experiment, presumably decapitated, drained of blood in a glass or earthen vessel (which blood was to be kept, consecrated and used for writing on the parchments), burned on the fire and tossed outside the circle while entreating the planetary angel to accept the offering, a much more complete and complex image than one would have suspected while reading the later versions of this text. Whilst we can assume that sacrifices were made to demons exclusively if judging from a biased and modern stance, older texts, such as the Sepher Ha Razim, contradict this.

6. The phase of the Moon (increasing) and its age (exclusively even days, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16) are generally mentioned in ritual and astral magic books (most notoriously in the Lemegeton and the Thesaurum Spirituum) but are laking in later versions.

7. The text makes a point in stressing, especially with the rings of the Sun and Mercury) that the efficacy of the experiments are not reserved solely to the operator, but might be employed by any any person the magician wishes and have the same effect as for himself, presumably to offer some sort of objective veridicity of the phenomena obtained through them.

8. The fourth finger beginning with the index, presumably, as other texts specify the little finger explicitly.

9. A triviais a short Latin word equivalent to the long English expressions crossroads where three ways meet, much like the quadrivia is the crossrads where four ways meet.

10. Countrary to earlier conclusions drawn for later texts, carta is not the paper material per se, further reading revealing the necessity of properly sacrificed parchment, but the parchment inscribed with characters, the document (cedula).

11. The scribal abbreviation āīā commonly replaces the word animalia. The Kassel version keeps this sense, but British versions (Camdrige) substituted avia (bird),and thus the expression animalia rapaci (animal of prey)became avia rapaci (bird of prey), simplified even more in Rawlinson 252 as raven.

12. infra (under)became corrupted to intra (inside).

13. The verb superaremight mean two different things: the standard meaning would be to go above orto go over someone, to bypass their authority, while the most common use of the word, perpetuated in other Romance vernaculars, would be to make someone mad, to enrage or to cross someone. I have decided to go with the latter here, although the former might also be accurate.

14. Gatto is an Italian word for cat, not Latin, supporting the manuscript`s Florentine origins.

15. Although one might be tempted to make assumptions, the use of the word denarius is not of much help in placing the origin of the text, as the Roman denarius was the model of the Italian denaro, the Spanish dinero and the Arabic dinar. The word is an umbrella-term for all coins, not a specific historical numismatic unit.

16. The compiler clearly used at least two texts, writing parallel variations to what he considered flawed portions. Thus, the operator must not sacrifice a venereal kid-goat among wasps, in the morning, but a virgin kid-goat among brambles, at night.

 17. Caprina could mean a young female goat on one hand, or a general name for all animals in the caprine family.

18. Storax is a resin extracted from Liquidambar orientalis. Calamis refers to sweet reed root, Acorus Calamus. Mumia is hard to pinpoint precisely, since it was both the name of bitumen and that of a ground up or liquid powder obtained from actual Egyptian mummies. The fact that it is to be replaced with Peonia (a large number of fragrant flowers in the Paeonia genus) makes one wonder about the strictness of this incense`s recipe. 

19. Vriel, that is, Uriel, is generally called upon in this treatise in a trinity of angelic powers: Vryel, Salquyel, Atroel [29], Vryelem etc [41, 42], per Vryelem et Barachielem et Acroelem[45]. This parallels The Sworn Book of Honorius, where Uriel rules over the Jovian and Venerial spirits, and Hocroel over the lunar spirits, and is also the angelic teacher of the same Honorius . It is to be noted that in both Catolic and Eastern Orthodox tradition, Uriel and Barachiel are celebrated as archangels. Salquiel is more than likely a corruption of Satquiel, angel of Jupiter. In the Rawlinson 252 fragment, the triad is Vryel, Salatiel, Acoel.

20.magni principis vostri et per corona capitis eius is a phrase that enforces upon the rings the authority of a power that rules directly over the eight astral spirits. The Prince and the Crown upon his head might send readers wondering if this is to be understood as a demonic power or an angelic power. The only angelic authority that is called singularly in conjurations and has a lance and a crown, and also rules over planetary spirits in Arabic magic, would be Metatron. Although not very proeminent in Western magic, Arabic magic treatises  (such as Shams Maarif, Manba Usul Al-Hikmah, Al-Ajnass or Kitab Shumus al-Anwar etc) often employ him as an authority over the seven terrestrial kings of spirits, a category to which our “angels” might better be a part of.  Metatron`s crown is known to have been the subject of apocryphal and magical authors. (Orlov, Andrei: Yahoel and Metatron: Aural Apocalypticism and the Origins of Early Jewish Mysticism, Mohr Siebeck, 2017, p. 156).The Sworn Book, where Cornifer is a demon, has a similar hierarchy of planetary spirits, and they are conjured (p.270-271) per capuum principis vostri belzebub, cui debetis obedire [by the head of your prince belzebub which you must obey.] and, in another segment, this very expression is used, p.246-247: Capud et corona principis vestri belzebut[the head and the crown of your prince belzebut.] My personal lenience is towards Belzebut but until we might find solid textual evidence that this prince is either, I reserve judgement.

 

21. The last part of the conjuration might keep an echo of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite`s celestial hierarchy, where Domini might be Dominations, Principis might be Principalities and Virtutes might be the Virtues, but this is conjectural.

22. In this small and seemingly insignificant note, two things are clarified: carta, which would normally be paper, and so translated in the other versions, is clearly indicated here as obtained via sacrifice, so ordinary paper is ruled out, leaving only parchment. The second thing is that this parchment is obtained not by purchase or regular parchment-making, but it is to be obtained by a similar ritual sacrifice, much like the virgin parchment obtaining procedures delineated in theHygromanteia (The Magical Treatise of Solomon, Skinner, Marathakis, Golden Hoard, 2012). Cf.note 2.

23. The legenda of the circle does not appear in the manuscript itself, I have edited it in for clarity, since the names of the angels do differ slightly from the text. The characters have been isolated and presented in an appended chart. One peculiarity of this arrangement is the order: while the text always presents these in the week order, the circle presents the planets in the Chaldeean order (Saturn-Moon plus Caput Draco), beginning in the Northern cusp.

24. Altough being called angelsthroughout, the spirits that are the aim of the rituals contained in the book are subjected to the angels, thus they are a different class of beings, much like the Kings of the Air in The Sworn Book and the Heptameron, and presumably demonic, or at least neutral.

25. The expression in nodo et in virgule can be translated both figuratively and literally. The figurative meaning is precisely, to the point, exactly, while the literal meaning is that the letters are to be engraved my marking the points of the letters with ample points or knots and uniting them with small lines, which will produce letters that are similar to the characters that can be seen on many Gnostic gems and rings, later developing into magical scripts like Malachim. I find that the expression to the point and to the line answers the needs of both meanings equally well.

26. The two variants given for the jeweler-haruspice seem identical, being a ring cast, hammered, refined and engraved in the same planetary hour,  but I suppose that the second set of instructions is meant to indicate that the ring may be worked in the space of an hour if the work is too complex, and finished in the next planetary hour by engraving. In all fairness, forging a ring and engraving it and performing a sacrifice and writing an amulet with its blood, all in the same hour, does seem like a laudable feat for any man, no matter the skill attained in each of these arts.

27. Short form of the exorcism. For the full version see [29]

28. Both ensis and gladiusare rendered in English as sword. The ensis is much closer to the image of the classical sword, usually with a long, double blade and a cruciform guard, while the gladius is a short and robust sword, used since Antiquity, especially by Celts, Germans and popularized by Romans.

29. The list of the names of the cardinal directions is truly strage and does not appear in any classical author with one exception The Sworn Book (Peterson, op. cit. p.241). The appended table shows the directions named in TSB in chapter CXXVIII, with their proper planetary rulers.

30. This reading proved problematic both for me and others, and if deciphered incorrectly, I am open to suggestions. The Scribal note is

31. Quite possible an error since all instructions thus far and subsequent ones  require the left.

32. Almost identical formula, albeit shorter, to the exorcism in [29].

33. The name of the explicit is almost identical to the Cambridge version, Liber de Angelis, Annulis, Karecteribus & Ymaginibus Planetarum.
34. N. filius N. N. son of N. is the most common reflexive appellation in Arabic magic as well as other Orienthal practices, the operator being named as son of his mother.

35.  In the last portion of the text, the seven lords of the planetary heavens are called upon, listed in the Chaldean order: Captiel (Saturn), Satquiel (Jupiter), Samael(Mars), Raphael (Sun), Anael (Venus), Michael (Mercury) and Gabriel (Moon). Since they appear in a conjuration that seems added to the main text, and since the order is different, we might suspect a later interpolation. They make no appearance until the end. The names and attributes however, are consistent with Liber Juratus and the Elucidarium Nigromantiae. 





5. Synthetic charts 

1: General attributions



2. Characters and names of the circle


3.Directions and planets 
Direction
Planetary Ruler
Juratus
Messahala
N
Saturn
Septentrion
Septentrion
S-E
Jupiter
Consul
Consolaria
S
Mars
Meridies
Auerana
E
Sun
Oriens
Oriens
N W
Mercury
Frigicap
Frigecap
S-W
Venus
Noghahem
Nogahel
Nogahem
Nogal
Noegalma
W
Moon
Occidens
Occidens
N-W
Head of Draco (?)
-
-
   



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Unknown seal of Jupiter

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In my researches through the wonderful manuscripts of the Biblioteca Laurenziana Medicea of Florence I`ve come across a manuscripts so far overlooked by scholars of magic (to my knowledge at least) namely Plutei 89sup41. 

It contains a fragmentary version of the Book of the Uses of Psalms (a late version of which was published by David Rankine as the Book of Gold), but also various geomantical and astrological work, including a necromantic experiment I shall treat separately and a curious singular seal of Jupiter, depicted in f.80v, which I have extracted and cleaned: 


The seal is not part of larger work, nor is it accompanied by any indications or prescriptions, which can lead us to two possible explanations:

1. The seal is copied from a larger work because it suited the compilator`s needs, a work so far unknown to me and possibly completely lost.

2. The compiler created the seal, guided by necessity, by collating different seals related to Jupiter. 

The latter possibility seems more probable, since nearly all the elements of the work appear in other works. A curious exception is the triangular figure, so far not known to me from Western manuscripts, but quite common in construction to Arabic and Indian magic texts, using the same principles as the magic squares. 

A closer look at the names and figures? Glad you asked. 



Character set 1

Cedech is a latin deformation of Tzedek, the Hebrew name for Jupiter. 
Astrological signs of Cancer (exaltation of Jupiter), Sagittarius and Pisces (domiciles), with a Jupiter glyph in between. 
Unidentified Hebrew name, [He], [Yud/Vav/Resh/Daleth], [Vav,Zayin], [Thav].


Character set 2
Similar to Agrippa, Characters of Jupiter OP.1, signs 4,3,2 and 1. The numbers 34 and 136 are also Jupiter`s numbers in Agrippa. 


Character set 3
Similar to Agrippa, Characters of Jupiter OP.1, signs 5, 6, 7 and 8. The fifth character is unknown. 



Character set 4
Similar to Agrippa, Characters of Jupiter OP.1, signs 11 and 9. The number 34, associated with Jupiter, and Zadechiel, the angel of Jupiter. The shapes and order of the characters, as well as the forms of the names (Cedech/ Zadechiel) makes us think that the compiler did not use Agrippa directly, but perhaps a manuscript version of it or one of his sources. 



Character set 5
Presumably the seal of Aries (sigla in the outer ring). Part of the Fire Triplicity. Unidentified.





Character set 6
Presumably the seal of Leo (sigla in the outer ring)
Part of the Fire Triplicity. 


Character set 7
Presumably the seal of Sagittarius (sigla in the outer ring), part of the Fire Triplicity. Numbers 294 and 35 do no make much sense in the scale of numbers attributed to Jupiter. The rest of the characters seem Hebrew letters deformed. 

The Names 

Astrades Nascegeon Sexagip Tori Teticiten Filiops Ncrisel are the angels of Jupiter in the widely-distributed work of Zael De Imaginibus, on which I am currently working. For comparison I will reproduce below  the names of the angels of Jupiter  in three other Italian manuscripts:

- F (Firenze BML Plutei.89sup.038) fol.8v
-D (Darmstadt Hs.1410) fol.73v
-I (Paris BnF Ital.1524) fol.72r

Names
Ms. F
Ms. D
Ms. I

Nascegeon
Nastegeon
Nascegeon
Vascegeon
Sexagip
fesagip
Sesigip
Sayagap
Tori
rexs
Tors
Cors
Teticiten
temitcen
Lanetutem
Centucena
Filiops
fulops
Fieliops
Feliops
Ncrisel
Versiel
Nersiel
Versiel
Astrades
Astromdex
Astrandex
Ascrandex






A Necromantic Miscellany: Heidelberg CPG.263

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This manuscript, brought to my attention by Daniel clark if I`m not mistaken, caught my attention a long time ago when my palaeographic talents were nascent, mainly because of its magical diagrams, and did not pay much attention to it, but I believe it to be an important part of many puzzles. 

Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg, Cod. Pal. germ. 263 is fully digitised and the images are in public domain.  Although the quality is not as high as others, it is sufficient to be grounds for research, with a bit of adjustment. 

The drawings presented in this article are raw, keeping the manuscript`s liniation. Once transcribed and reworked I plan to do a full restitution of the graphics at a higher resolution with clean background. 

The writing is a late 15th century bastarda hand, very clean, constant and with little to no contractions or siglae, so a transcription should be fairly easy to produce. 

This fragment is important in many ways

-it contains a version of the Pseudo-Baconian Thesaurum Necramantiae

-it contains many unknown diagrams that have obviously had a wider diffusion, such as the triangle in 271v, which seems as this is the origin of the magical triangle included in the Florentine Seal of Jupiter

-it contains (261r) the names of the angels of the 15 fixed stars, a detailed omitted from the Quindecum Stellis as far as I know, so presumably the seals we all know and love, included those from Agrippa, actually belong to them. 





Magical circle for operations 
260v



Characters for invisibilty 
265r


Characters for compelling a spirit to answer
265v


Characters for obtaining visions 
265v


Characters for uncovering theft
269r


Sigils of the Planetary Spirits
270v


Sigills (magical squares) of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Sun. 270v.




Sigills (magical squares) of Venus, Mercury and Moon. 271r.


An admirable seal.
271v



A seal used to pacify two parties. 
272r



Angelic characters of Gabriel, Racfier and Hamael
274r.


Divine names diagram 
274v



Magical mirror 
275r


Magical Circle.
277r



Contents:

For a comprehensive synopsis of the contents I am greatly indebted to Dr. Karin Zimmermann (Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg). Her full article can be found HERE.  The list was edited and updated by myself, and added English translations. 


-Regule Necessarie ad artem Magicam. Necessary rules of the magical art. (257v) 
-De Consecratione Gladij. Of the consecration of the sword. (257v) 
-De annulo. Of the ring. (258v)  
-De Sceptro. Of the scepter. (258v) 
-Ad propositum. Of the goal. (259r) 
-Coniuratio Obedientiales. The Conjuration of the obedients. (259v) 
-Coniuratio astrictionis. The forcing conjuration. (259vr) 
-Si res erit pro furtu. For stealing (?) (260r) 
-Licentia. Charge. (260v)
-Forma Circuli. The form of the circle.  (260v)
-Expositio siue misterium nominis [AGLA]. The explanation or the mystery of the name [AGLA].(260v)
-Nomina angelorum que presunt faciebus signorum. The names of the angels that are set over the faces of the signs. (260v) 
-Nomina angelorum 16 (sic) Stellarum prime magnitudinis. The names of the angels that are set over the 16 stars of the first magnitude. The list contains the 15 Behenian stars. (261r) 
-Spiritus Somniorum. The spirits of sleep. (261r)
-Spiritus Imaginationum. The spirits of imagination. (261v) 
-Experimenta Necromantica et primo de Inuisibilitate. Necromantic experiments, and the first one, for invisibility. (261r) 
-Licentiatio Spirituum. The charging of the spirits. (263r)
-Eduus [Equus?] Alberti Magni. The horse [experiment] of Albert the Great. (263v)
-Secretum ad inueniendum Thesauros absconditos. The secret pertaining to the discovery of hidden treasures. (263v)
-Visio vnius Spiritus bonj. The vision of a good spirit. (264v)
-Experimentum Inuisibilitatis. Experiment for invisibility.  (265r)
-Ad habendum Spiritum respondentem ad omnia interrogata.  To have a spirit answer to everything it is asked. (265v)
-Alia visio. Another vision. (265v) 
-Visio personalis. A personal vision. (265v)
-Licentia. Charge.(266r) 
-Visio puerilis in Cristallo. A vision in a cristal by means of a young boy. (266v) 
-Licentia. Charge.(266v)
-Alia visio in phiala in die veneris circa meridiem. Another vision, in a vial [of water], in the day of Venus about noon. (266v) 
-Licentia. Charge.(266v) 
-Alia visio facilis in aqua. Another easy vision in water. (267r)  
-Experimenta ad Amorem. An experiment for love. (267r) 
-De Ruta. Of rue.(267v)
-Aliud experimentum. Another experiment. (267v)
-Experimentum de vitinnibus corilinis quibus Maxima secreta possunt explorarj. Experiment of the hazel rod, by which great secrets can be explored.  (267v) 
Ad manifestandum furtum. To make theft known. (269r)
-Ad sciendum secreta. To know secrets. (269r)
-Ad amorem. For love. (269r)
-Ad sciendum mortem hominis egreti. To know of the death of  a man. (269v) 
-Ad maritus citius mortatur Vel vxor. To make a husband or a wife die sooner. (269v) 
-Quedam in naturali magia Et primo de Spiritibus 12 Signorum et Septem planetarum. Certain things pertaining top natural magic, and first, of the spirits of the 12 signs and of the 7 planets. (269v) 
-Demones 12 Signis celestibus subditj. The demons subjected to  the 12 signs. (270r) 
-Planetarum demones. The demons of the planets. (270r)
-Intelligentie Planetarum. The intelligences of the planets. (270r) 
-Sigilla Spirituum Planetarum. The seals of the spirits of the planets. (270v) 
-Sigilla planetarum. The seals of the planets. (270v)  
-Figure amicabiles. Amiable figures. (271r) 
-Ad idem alio modo. For the same, another way.  (271v)
-Ad pacificandum duas Ciuitates. For peacemaking between two paries. (272r) 
-Ad facilitandum partum. For easing childbirth. (272r) 
-Imagines Ptolemej Et primo ad congregandum serpentes. The images of Ptolemy, and first one, for gathering snakes together.  (272r)  
-Vnium Impetentem reddere. For returning one`s attack. (272r)  
-Nauem Immobilem efficere. To make ships stand still. (272r) 
-Seras aperire. For opening locks. (272v)
-Vt Canes non latrent. To stop dogs from barking. (272v)
-Vt Equi stent. To make a horse stand still. (272v)
-Arbores et Vineas destruere. To destroy trees and vines. (272v)
-Serpentes fugare.  To chase away serpents. (272v)
-Vrsos colligere.  To gather together bears. (272v)
-Collumbas colligere. To gather together doves.  (272v)
-Instrumenta musicalia ligare. To bind musical instruments. (272v)
-Muliere in probam Cognoscere. To know a woman under suspicion. (272v)
-Amorem prouocare. To entice love. (273r)
-Parietes et domos destruere. To destroy walls or houses.  (273r)
-Vt mulieres ludam. To make women play. (273r)
-Grandinem incertis locis prohibere. To stop hail from whatever place. (273r)
-Fabres inducere. To make smiths (?). (273r)
-Coruos colligere. To gather together ravens. (273r)
-Oues in uno loco detinere. To keep eggs together. (273r)
-Focum destruere. To quench a fire. (273v)
-Vt homines cantent. To make men sing. (273v)
-Principem, bonum reddere. To receive good things from a prince. (273v)
-Pisces capere. To catch fish. (273v)
-Homines excetare. To entice men. (273v)
-Homines denudare. To make men undress. (273v)
-Vt mulieres cantent et ludent. To make women sing and dance.(273v)
-Contra latrones et fures. Against thieves and robbers. (274r)
-Vasa aque frangere. To break a vessel of water. (274r)
-Ad ligandum Columbas. To bind doves.  (274r)
-Visio Junenilis in aqua. A vision of a youth in water. (274r)
-Visio 27 Angelorum. A vision of the 27 angels. (274v) 
-Forma Speculi. The form of the mirror. (274v)
-Ad Includendum Spiritum. To inclose a spirit. (276v) 
-Septuaginta duo nomina Dei Vera et Justa. The 72 true and right names of God. (277v) 
-Experimentum Securitatis Vt non ledaris ab aliquo. An experiment of safety, that no one should superseed you. (277v) 
-Aliud experimentum. Another experiment. (278r) 
-Aliud experimentum. Another experiment.(278r)


Edit:
A brief presentation was published at OmegaMagick.

Bookshelf: Hazards of the Dark Arts (Kieckhefer)

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The books presented in this series are bought exclusively from Patreon donations. Thank you. 



Although the title is somewhat general, Richard Kieckhefer brings us two very important treatises aimed at the education of princes: Johannes Hartlieb`s "Book of All Forbidden Arts" and Ulrich Molitoris "On Witches and Pythonesses".

Largely forgotten but nevertheless an intellectual force of his time, Johannes Hartlieb is one of those cleric advocates against magic and witchcraft, whose vast knowledge in the field makes us wonder, much like in the case of Abbot Trithemius, if he was a closeted practitioner of the arts he publically denounces. His treatise is dedicated to the Margrave Johann of Brandenburg and seems an unfinished exposition of certain species of magic that was never carried out in full.  Each book discusses seven magical disciplines, more or less accurately, with high empasis on divinatory practices: Nigramancy (calling forth demons and dead people), Geomancy (casting lots), hydromancy (divination and magical experiments by water), aeromancy (the same, involving air), pyromancy (fire), chiromancy (the study of the hand) and spatulamancy (divination via examination of a shoulder blade bone). 

His work is also important for citing contemporary works on magic, much like Trithemius in his Antipalus Malleficarum: The Seal of Solomon, The Key of Solomon, The Hierarchy, Shemhamphoras, Kiranides, De annulis inpensis of Pseudo-Arnaldus, The Consecrated Book, The Ars Notoria, Liber razielis, Picatrix, The Book of the Holy Three Kings and The Book of Lots of Pythagoras.

Hartlieb`s attitude towards these discipline is skeptical and rooted in logic, doubled by ecclesiastical maledictions. When the witches and wizards are not merele tricked by the devil with various illusions, they are mere charlatans. The description of the practices of a certain woman widely rumored to make accurate predictions is scrutinised by our skeptic and concluded as cold reading, one of the first occurrences in history of this technique. 

In the other pole of the spectrum, in his treatise constructed as a dialog between Archduke Sigismund of Austria and himself, Ulrich Molitoris makes claims of the vanity of magic and witchcraft in a more sensationalist manner.


 He quotes biblical passages, legends of saints and even fables or myths to make his point, much to the Archduke`s skepticism, who oftentimes concedes. 
In some cases, such as the interactions between women and demons, he comes to even more complicated conclusions. When his patron inquites if the demons can copulate with mortal women, as many stories attested, including a chapter in Genesis, Molitoris rejects it stating that demons have no semen of their own. When his patron argues that some demonologists tell of demons having sex with men, gathering their seed and copulating with women, thus impregnating them, Molitoris argues that the Devil merely makes the woman think she is pregnant for nine months with "a swelling wind", then come time of birth, the devil steals a baby from some other woman in another part of the world and makes his consort think that it is her offspring. How can that occur? Unbaptised, thus vulnerable babies, of course. A delightful piece of logic of the times. 

While Hartlieb`s logical and healthy-skeptical treatise circulated as a manuscript for a time and was forgotten, the sensationalist and well-illustrated treatise of Molitoris was widely published and distributed. With tragic consequences, oftentimes. 

Richard Kieckhefer`s volume is a must-read for any history student and a must-have for any student of the history of magic and superstition. Not to mention psychologists. 

Planetary Characters from Konrad Gsellius

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The volume Nigromantisches Kunst-Buch (A Nigromantical Manual) was published by Georg Konrad Gsellius in Köln in 1743, at Peter Hammer`s publishing house. We cannot rule out that the author and year of printing is as real as the fictitious Peter Hammer. A translation of this work was recently published by Enodia Press, but since I do not possess it yet, I cannot make any statements that could have been covered by the publisher's preface. 

I have chosen to bring this work to the public's attention both for furthering the editorial efforts of the good people of Enodia Press, but also to present these little known seals. 

Although the book is abundant in such elements, I will only reproduce the planetary characters, with the hope that I will be able to find their sources in the future. 

The first set of planetary characters is problematic, containing errors, and being presented in a vertical table. I have done my best to rearrange them horizontally for practical reasons and clean them to the best of my abilities. 

The second set is complete (the main reason I choose to present it first), the characters being associated to the days of the week and enclosed in double circles. This shape makes us think that they were meant to be either engraved as medals (like Paracelsus or Arnold of Villanova) or made into rings (such as the images of Belenus). The order, as well as multiple instances of the hexagram, would indicate a Jewish oririgin. 

I. Seals of the Days of the Week
(p.59-65)

1. Seal of Sunday (Sun)




2. Seal of Monday (Moon)



3. Seal of Tuesday (Mars)



4. Seal of Wednesday (Mercury)


5. Seal of Thursday (Jupiter)



6. Seal of Friday (Venus)



7. Seal of Saturday (Saturn)



II. Characters of the Planets

1. Characters of the Sun




2. Characters of the Moon




3. Characters of Mars

4. Characters of Mercury missing.
Due to mislabelling, the missing characters seem to be those of Jupiter or Saturn.



5. Characters of Jupiter. 
Quite possibly a misabelling, the final character is Venus.




6. Characters of Venus. 
Quite possibly a misabelling, the final character is Mercury.




7. Characters of Saturn. 
 Due to mislabelling, these may be the characters of Jupiter. 





A true treasure: The Book of Figures Of Hermes

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I've come across this following manuscript completely by accident, and what a wonderful accident it was. 


The Herzog August Bibliothek in Wolfenbüttel uploaded many of its manuscripts, among which is this beauty: Cod. Guelf. 30.1 Aug. 4°

Libri VII experimentorum magicorum Hermetis Trismegisti. Et sunt secreta magica regum Aegypti. Ex thesauro Rodolphi II Romanorum imperatorum dignissimi, that is The Seven Books of magical experiments of Hermes Trismegistus, from the treasury of the most-esteemed Roman Emperor Rudolph II.

The catalogue entry lists it as 17th century (certainly agreeing with the reign of Rudolf as a Holy Roman Emperor , 1776-1612) but most likely of a later redaction. 

The text is so far largely inaccessible to me due to language and script, except for a few more legible parts. 

The drawings are exquisite: 69 figures, mostly antropomorphic, with a very well rehearsed line in ink, with characters and names on their foreheads and chests. 

These are astrological images, inherited from the Arabic tradition, which are to be either drawn, either constructed of other materials, unde clearly indicated astrological times, to obtain specific results.


Fol. 24v



 Detail: Seals of Datsocy. 




Fol.28r


 Detail: Seals of Arornath.
Name on forehead: Hans 





 fol.37r


Detail: Seals of Yeotoreth
Names on forehead: Caros, Karon (Saron?) 


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The Vadian Clavicula: Overview

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 One of the finds of the year comes from Joseph Peterson, whose kind permission was grated to post this. 

Grand Lamen, p. 115


The manuscript he found contains good portions of the Elucidarium Nigromantiae of Petrus de Abano, one of the missing links in the European ritual magic texts, some portions of the Clavicula Salomonis, as far as I can tell, and other interesting experiments extracted from the Iberic tradition. 

Officially known as  Vad. Slg. ms. 334 in  this beautifully penned manuscript can also be seen and downloaded from his website as a PDF


 It s date roughly to 1533-1566. 

Except the graphics presented in this article, I will will make two separate posts, one with all the seals contained therein, and one with the seven angelic seals and a comparison of its versions. 





Contents

Incipit:

 Elenchus, eorum quae continentur in sequenti Lucidario Domini et preclarissimi Magistri Petri de Abbano.

P. 3: 

In nomine Dei omnipotentis. Incipit Lucidarium Magistri Petri de Abbano in arte Magica. Prologus in eodem Libello. Multi experimentatores diuersimode operantur in hac scientia Diuina, etc.

p. 19: 

Semiphoras Moysi. Incipit: Hic habes Semiphoras Moysi, que dici debent post inuocationem angelorum versus quatuor partes mundi.

P. 25: 

Incipit Liber Clauicule Salomonis, filii Dauid Regis Israel etc. The Hebrew lettering is exceptionally well executed. (2 books to p. 125).

Pp. 127-144: 

Ad inveniendum Ugxeazcu [=thesaurum] vel maao [=bona] abscondita.

On last page: 

Sequuntur varia experimenta Regis Alphonsi.

Planetary characters from two sources. P.143

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Seals of the Archangels in the Vadian Manuscript

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 The Vadian Manuscript(VSG) contains one instance of De Abano's Elucidarium Nigromantiae, that means it contains the seals of the archangels popularised by the Heptameron. 

The seals are presented on pages 2 and 3, in weekely order, from Raphael (Sunday) to Cafriel (Saturday).  They have been recorded in a chart by Joseph Peterson, with one minor exception: there is an overlooked seal of Raphael (noted VSG.1.II). On page 16.3, the exemple circle of conjurations contains his seal, but differs slightly from the one presented in the text, hinting to at least two sources employed in the manuscript's redaction. 

Most of the seals bare great resemblance to the Ghent Manuscript variant Seals, showing either direct influence or very close source used. 


The Seal of Raphael (VSG.1.1)

Crude match to GM1 in the terminal portion. 


The Seal of Raphael (VSG.1.2)

Crude match to GM2 overall. 


The Seal of Gabriel (VSG.1)

Close match to GM4 and the Munich Manual.


The Seal of Samael (VSG.3)

Matches superficially all known versions.


The Seal of Michael (VSG.4)

A most unusal version, matches GM7 the most.


The Seal of Satquiel (VSG.5)

Matches to GM9 the most. 


The Seal of Anael (VSG.6)

Novel version with dashed circle, matches the Halle version the most, as Peterson's chart shows (to be published).


The Seal of Cafriel (VSG.7)

Matches GM11 mostly, with features of the last characters shared with the Munich Manual.



Conclusion: Great resemblance to the Second version of the Ghent Manuscript, the Munich manual, Halle Manuscript (to be published) and through these, some versions of the Sepher Urim in the Sepher Mafteach Shelomoh. 




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The Figures of the Hours of the Night (BSG.MS.3163)

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 First of all, a big Thank You to my Patreons, who kept supporting my studies even though visible marks of my work were not apparent. Yes, I kept researching for good content. Yes, I have translated and extracted stuff. Yes, I kept cleaning up old images.   Thank you for sticking around. 


Now then... Earlier this year, a good amount of interesting manuscripts was made available in tremendous quality by the Bibliotheque Sainte Genevieve. 

One of them is a late (17th? 18th? century) translation of the De Viginti Quattuor Horis (Of the 24 Hours), ascribed to Hermes or Balenus.   The work was treated by Ioannis Marathakis in his astounding volume dedicated to the Apotelesmata.

The thing is, the Latin version of this work differs from the Greek. The names of the hours are different and the names of the angels and there are two rectangular seals for each of the 24 hours. This work, along with the seals, is present in the Ghent Manuscript as well as in the Leipzig Collection.

One BSG manuscript, namely MS3163, contains (pp.1-45) a French rendition of this work with partial seals, for the 12 hours of the night, translated from Latin by one Jean Hulet.  

While I will make efforts to transcribe and translate this fragment, I wish to bring to you the seals so far, with their readings, and one mention: these are the original seals and instructions of the Pauline Art.  

Yes, the original version of the Pauline Art was not written by Paul, no, not by Trithemius either, no, the circular astrological seals of the Lemegeton were not the original characters meant to be employed, merely a replacement in lack of any characters since Trithemius did not bother with the seals themselves. 

And yes, Trithemius cites Hermes as a source:

-vt dicit Hermes Hebræus, qui dictus est Salomon, in libro quarto de officiis spirituum (so says Hermes the Hebrew, which is called Salomon, in the fourth book of the offices of spirits.)

-quemadmodum Salomon cognomento Hermes in suo secreto Magicæ testatur. (in this way does Salomon also known by the name of Hermes testify in his Secret of Magic)

 -vt Hermes Hebræus & Raziel Arabs testantur (as Hermes the Hebrew and Raziel the Arab testify)

-Et dicit Salomon Iudæus cognomento Hermes, in libro de natura spirituum (And Salomon the Jew also called Hermes says, in his Book on the Nature of Spirits) 

A volume containing specifficaly the names of the spirits if the hours of the day and night is cited secretum Salomonis, cognominati Hermetis in suo de Magia volumine (the secret of Salomon, also called Hermes, in his volume On Magic).

Trithemius cites such a work in his Antipalus Maleficiorum:

[52] Est porro ex operibus Hermetis liber alius de compositione imaginum, secundum XXIV horas diei et noctis, qui a plerisque Balenitz adscribitur20 sapienti, sed mihi non videtur ejus habere processum. Incipit autem: Dixit Hermes ‘Quicunque voluerit in magnis operationibus’ ( and further of these works there is another book of Hermes on the composition of images, according to the 24 hours of the day and night, also ascribed to the sage Balenitz, but I cannot see it having any finality. It begins thus: So says Hermes: Whomesoever wants in great operations... )


 Since the Lemegeton relies on Trithemius 2 I have chosen to go with the names of the hours and of the angels from T2. Perhaps a later study will include name variants in all Ars Paulina manuscripts. 

This is a side by side comparison of the names contained in our fragment and in the Second book of the Steganographia (with many thanks, as usual, to Joseph Peterson), with the mention that the hour of the night is named first, followed by the governing angel:

Hour

BSG.MS.3163

Trithemius 2

1

 

Omalharien

Sahatan

Sabrathan

2

 

Panezur

Tartis

Tartys

3

 

Quabrion

Serquamith

Serquanich

4

 

Ramerzy

Iesischa

Iefischa

5

 

Sanayfar

Abasdaron

Abasdarhon

6

 

Thaazaron

Zaazenach

Zaazenach

7

 

Venaydor

Pelayam

Mendrion

8

 

Xymalim

Marcoriel

Narcoriel

9

 

Zeschar

Pamiel

Pamyel

10

 

Malcho

Lasquaryn

Iasguarim

11

 

Aalacho

Dardanariel

Dardariel

12

 

Xephan

Sarandiel

Sarandiel


I have done my best to extract the seals, clean them and translate the French description. I also added in parantheses the Legenda, that is, the words contained in the seals, for the sake of legibility). 


Figures of the Hours of the Night 

(pp.36-45)


(1)Figure of the first hour of the night, for enforcing all manners of silencing.

The face of the figure


The back of the figure.
(petras sit mutas, Orifiel, Anael)



(2)Here is the figure of Tartis

The front of the figure

The back of the figure.
(Tartis, Rana, Armayl, Nasiel)



(3) This is the figure of the angel Serquamith

the face of the figure.

the back of the figure.
(Atiel, Serquamith)



(4) Here follows the figure of Iesischa

The face of the figure

The back of the figure
(Belmeniel, Pierre.corde.Anne, Iesischa, Vriel)



(5) Here is the figure of the angel Abasdarhon

The face of the figure

The back of the figure
(Abasdarhon, soit a p~sent ce la fait, Sahatan, baalyn)



(6) Figure of the angel Zaazenach

The front of the figure

The back of the figure
(Zaazenach, DE Ie Lie N. dormant, Sahatan, Bartial, Barucheta)




(7) the figure of the angel Palayam

The front of the figure

The back of the figure
(Pelayam, Louis. N Roy de. N, Zachriel, Michel)



(8) The figure of the angel Marcoriel

the face

the back
(Marcoriel, Pour Garder et Multiplier, Amiel/ Amyel, Ornich)


(9) This here is the figure of the angel Pamiel

The face of the figure

The back of the figure
(Paniel, Le roy Soit enclin: Rusiel, Amon)



(10) This here is the figure of the angel Lasquarin

The face of the figure

The back of the figure
(Lasquaryn. Soit liee la fille. N, Damara, Masala)



(11) This is the figure of the angel Dardanariel

The face of the figure

The back of the figure
(Dardanariel. Pierre. Magdalaine, Mariel)


(12) This here is the figure of the angel Sarandiel

The face of the figure

The back of the figure
(Sarandiel, Baiel, nomos)









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Also, do not steal these images to make keychains and crappy art on Etsy, nor publish them without citing this page as a source. Thank you. If you do otherwise, I will make sure that an angel of wrath will rape your nostrils during the 7th hour of the night, when you ll surely be sleeping. Cheers!


The Book Of the 12 Hours of the Night

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”The fourth hour of the night is called Allachayr or Alayr and the angel of this hour is called Jesischa, who has comand and domination over twelve other princes and their subjects and servants. During this hour the demons, the (10) shadows and the phantasms walk upon the tombs of the dead and show themselves visibly to men in a way which oftentimes, will induce a great horror to them, dread, fear, anguish and apprehention, so much so that the hair upon their heads will stand and they will tremble in fright. In this hour is to be made the figure ...”



My latest book has left my email, going to 16 people only. 
My people on patreon and a few friends that requested it each have a nominal copy, with a number of course. 

All my future patrons will receive it by default. 
If you want to support all the work I do here:


If not, and you still want the book for 10$, no further commitments, contact me. Literally anywhere.

And if you STILL want the book but you are pennyless, I will be releasing it freely in 2022. 




The Italian Source of Sefer Mafteach Shelomoh

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First of all, I would like to acknowledge the immense help and generosity of a man not mentioned enough: Daniel Clark. He edited and saved a vast collection and manuscripts and in some cases, payed a great deal to have some scanned, which were previously unknown to researchers. It is because of this particular friend that I am aware of the manuscript we will discuss below. He found it browsing through catalogues and payed to have it photographed, and later on, considered me the right man to share it with, for which I am greatly indebted. 


The Gollancz Manuscript


Was dated by Herman Gollancz to about 1700 and published it in facsimile in 1917. It is the most known and circulated version of this work. 


The British Library Manuscript

Or 14759 is part of the same Sefer Mafteach Shelomoh. According to the square and semi-cursive Sephardic script, it is dated to the 17th-18th centuries (1600-1799), which is quite the range. According to Rohtbacher, (op. cit. p.129) the original language of the work was Italian, without any doubt. 
 

The Asterdam Manuscript

According to the same study (Rohtbacher, p.129), there is another manuscript of the SMS is Amsterdam, Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana  MS. Ros. 12.,  transcript dated to 1729 by Isaac Zekel ben Yidel Kohen Worms from a copy by Judah Perez in London. Since this copy is not known and since the Gollancz collection was in London, we might speculate weather this Perez copy could be inharited by Gollanz, or be an entirely different work.  Rohtbacher relates it corresponds to the Gollancz manuscript but seems to depend upon different exemplars. If you are looking for a well-put together account of Italian words kept in the SMS, Rohtbacher is a good place to start. 

The Italian Manuscript

The manuscript we are studying has the call number msBF1608.S7, it s dated to circa 1850 and was acquired by the Library of  the University  St. Andrews at the sale of Dr. John Lee's library on 6 April 1861. I had no idea who this John Lee was, but thanks to Dan Harms and his endless generosity with resources, pointed me in the right direction: Dr. John Lee, Scottish academic, polymath and bibliophile, who dies in 1859 and seems to correspond closely to the man we`re after. 

From my point of view, the dating of 1850 seems a bit late judging from the paleography, with such archaic features like U replacing the V and the apostrophe replacing the I. I would have guessed 18th century (1700-1799), but I m no expert. So I contacted two experts in Italian Vernacular scripts, Maddalena Modesti and Armando Petrucci, and am awaiting their reply, if any, to conclude the dating of the script. 


The Sefer Mafteach Shelomoh is quite a colorful treatise, consisting in a mix of works of ceremonial and astral magic of diverse lengths. The longest is the Clavicula Solomonis proper, followed by extracts of Liber Juratus, Book of Raziel, the Heptameron or rather, the Elucidarium Nigromantiae and various small treatises such as Liber Bileth, the Images of Zoel and experiments of various origins.  As previously established by most researchers, chiefly Gershom Scholem, the Sefer Mafteach Shelomoh is not the original Hebrew work that spawned other editions, but rather a 17th or 18th translation of an Italian work. 

My next post will be a full table of contents of the Italian version, compared side by side with Gollancz.    And once I have permission from the St. Andrews University Library, I will reproduce more drawings. 

While the manuscript we are dealing now may be and may not be the direct source of the SMS, it is a more coherently organized work and it may be at least a later copy of the Italian original. 


Illustration Study

In order to ascertain the dependency of one manuscript upon another, script, language and watermaks are used most commonly. But we have one tool more, namely comparing graphical elements that are common to two or more sources. It is impossible to have two identical drawings in two manuscripts, but oftentimes, slight changes to shape or slight overlooked similarities help us pinpoint what manuscripts are truly related.  

The Operation of Simon Magus

Gollancz Version 


Gollancz  fol. 55v

The figure in Gollancz is a circle, centered around a smaller circle with the tag ”Place of the Master”, which are united by four cardinal lines. Each segment contains a seal, repeated four composed of three figures, to which we will refer to, from left to right, as the first character, the second character and the third character. The outer space contains a similar seal, composed of two characters bearing resemblance to the three, one of which (the hexagram) is placed cardinally. Between the seal and the cardinally placed star we have the Hebrew name of each direction. For easy identification, see the chart below.


Inspecting this chart and comparing the seals we find the following characteristics:

-The second character in A1, A2 and A3 face a cross bar terminated with circles, rendered in one scribal motion, while in A4 this. characteristic is reduced, for the sake of quickness, to a horizontal 8. 
-The third character in A1, A2 and A4 feature two distict lines coming from the top circle. In A3, these are conjoined, one line that ascends and descends and is topped by a circle.
-The first character in B1, B2 and B3 begins with the same element (the backwards F figure), while in B4 contains a mistake presumably, an 8 figure.
-The first character in B2, B3 and B4 has a middle section of an hourglass round at the top and flat at the bottom, while in B1 this is rounded at both ends. 

 British Library Version 


Fol.48r

Right away a few visible differences are apparent:
 
-The central circle is blank.
-The four lines are rotated 45 degrees, becoming now an X, displacing the names of the quadrants cardinally. The uppermost quadrant remains East. 
-Only one hexagram is placed adjacent to the cusp of the quadrants, the others being distributed equally in a visual approximation. 



-The second character in all A seals has a wavy line instead of the circled crossbar, much simpler even than Gollancz A4.
-The third character in A1, A2 and A4 feature two distict lines coming from the top circle. In A3, these are conjoined, one line that ascends and descends and is topped by a circle.
-The first character in B1, B2 and B3 begins with the same element (the backwards F figure), while in B4 contains a mistake presumably, an 8 figure.
-The first character in B2, B3 and B4 has a middle section of an hourglass round at the top and flat at the bottom, while in B1 is more of a disjointed, mirrored B.
-The second character in B1 is missing the superior point.



The Amsterdam Manuscript 

The scan I used, provided freely online by the National Library of Israel, was a scan of the microfilm, so the image has serious bleed-throughs and was quite deficient in quality:

AMST.Ros12 fol 51r, unedited

For the sole purpose of this study I have restored the black ink and enhanced the quality of the details in order to better examine the relevant details of the seals. 


Overall, the layout is more akin to the Gollancz  then to the British Library, with the cardinally-oriented cusps and hexagrams and legenda in the middle reading ”Place of the Master”.

Once we isolate the seals, the following chart can be made:


-The second character in A1-A4 has the horizontal line with opposite circles.  
- B4 contains the same recurring mistake, the 8-shape.
-B1 rounded at both ends. 
 

St. Andrews Version 




The traits are quite clear with this image: similarity to Gollancz and Amsterdam and dissimilarity to British Library, cardinal lines and hexagrams, central legenda reads Loco del Maestro (Place of the Master).


-Shockingly, the second character in A1-A4 has the horizontal line with opposite circles. 
 
-Amazingly, B4 contains the same recurring mistake, the 8-shape.

-Breathtakingly, B1 is rounded at both ends.

My take on the dispersion of this work? 
This veritable magical encyclopedia was penned somewhere in Italy in the sixth or seventeenth century.  Two direct copies of this are both Gollancz (1700) and St. Andrews. The presumable Judah Perez copy, if not identical to Gollancz, also uses this text. The Amsterdam copy from 1729 by Isaac Zekel is quite late in the career of this book, while the newest  version seems to be the British Library, that also includes supplimentary material. The path of this work, from Italy to the Lower Countries to England, is highly linked to the diffusion of the Shabbathaist movement. This is to be studied further. 

Until we can find an even older Clavicle with similar structure, this version will serve to explore the Italian source of the SMS.




Digital Sources:

Amsterdam, Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana AMST.Ros.12

Gollancz, Herman: Sepher Maphteah Shelomoh

London, British Library Manuscript Or 14759
http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=or_14759_f001r 


Printed Sources:

Gollancz, Herman: Sepher Maphteah Shelomoh, Teitan Press Facsimile, foreward by Stephen Skinner, 2008, copy 118/ 358  






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My next Patreon Book will be ”Liber Bileth”, contained in this very manuscript. All minimum 5$ patrons will get it when announced. 


Seals of the Seven Archangels in Reicheltus (1676)

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 My appologies for my readers but this has been one of the most taxating years when it comes to my bookbinding work. Nevertheless, a gracious tip of the hat to my Patrons, who stuck by me during this time. 
My next post will be a full reworking of the amulets found in this famous treatise,Julii Reichelti Exercitatio de Amuletis.  But for now, we shall deal exclusively with the seals of the seven archangels contained in the second figure.   
I have excluded from the extraction the usual planetary and zodiacal signs, very familiar to those who know it s source, The Heptameron. Also of note are the names, borrowed from Agrippa.  



MICHAEL (SUNDAY)




GABRIEL (MONDAY)

CAMAEL (TUESDAY)

RAPHAEL (WEDNESDAY)




ZADKIEL (THURSDAY)

HANIEL (FRIDAY)



ZAPHKIEL (SATURDAY)




The Great Seal of Amazarath-Gthul

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 Yeah so I was doing this really intense, ancient, forbidden, ominous rite the likes of which you pewny intellects never fathomed and suddenly I extinguished my blunt and channeled the most intense grimoire ever, featuring 45 ancient timeless demons beyond time spawned by Amazarath-Gthul, this is his/her seal:





I m gonna publish it in 88 limited-edition volumes at GobbleItUpSuckers Press, quite prestigious, very arcane, much dark. Be sure to buy one at 88.88$, they r gonna be pretty expensive later, on Ebay. 

Listen folks, I ve just about had it up to here with people wanting me to set them straight on why their sigil magick spells or invented grimoires don t work. 

Because they re bullshit. 

I pulled this seal out of my creative ass in 8 seconds. Another author will do the same. It will take me 20 minutes to write a complete grimoire, a few hundreds of dollars to have it published and profit in the thousands. 

If I had a nickle for every time I ve been asked ”Mihai, is this grimoire for real” or ”Is this a good investment” AFTER buying these pieces of glittery garbage, I d be richer that the folks making a fortune on Ebay reselling them. 

It`s not a real ancient text, for fuck`s sake! There is no hereditary order of demon-worshipping witches working from a well-guarded family grimoire. There are no 72 powerful jinn that you channeled to give some guy magical squiggles. There are no shortcuts. 

If you have`t read my blog thus far, the study of magic is a bit hard. Manuscripts are rare. And valuable. There`s no old secret arcane manuscript passed from the 1200s to a modern day witch, but there are others, in libraries, that you can see and touch and scan. And that takes time.  And money. And people like Daniel Clark and the late Daniel Schneider are witnesses.

There`s no fucking arcane master that glides his long-black-painted finger nail over a Latin spell  and just translates it in a single breath. It takes wonderful people like Joseph Peterson, Stephen Skinner, Daniel Harms or David Rankine years of work and training and learning to transliterate a Latin text, with all its abbreviations and symbols to do that, and make a good book out of it. 

And in writing a good, reliable book, you need writing skill and editing skill and historical flaire and academic rigor, like Richard Kieckhefer or Frank Klaassen. No, books written by Master Orgasmoroth or DimpleBreath Longingwillow are not reliable books on magic. 

Shiny, thin, large-fonted, flimsy grimoires are the big-promising OnlyFan accounts. And you`re looking for grimoire hardcore porn. 

Stop buying overpriced junk to feed an artsy-farsty-collectors-ego, start looking for the quality hard work put in by serious people who take years of training, writing and editing for one sigle volume. 


Share only if you`re fed up by crap grimoires selling for thousands of dollars wile real historical grimoires make their hard working authors next to nothing.   Love you guys. 

The Seven Kings of the Air in the 17th century

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 Upon browsing the newly-gifted  manuscript Douce 116, I found on page 271 an isolated instance of a diagram associated with the seven aerial kings that we ve seen in our dealigs with The Rings of Messalah .
There is no treatise associated with the figure as far as I can tell, but it is an interesting study on the evolution of these seals, nonetheless.
The processing of this particular manuscript is quite difficult on account of the thinness of the paper and ink bleeds from the verso, but I ve managed to rescue the following diagram:




As we can see, the ”Angels” are not 8 like in the original treatise, but seven, arranged in the Chaldean order. The names of the spirits lack, but the titles do appear in the outer circle (Angelo Saturni et cha: The Angel of Saturn and its character).

Looking through my collection of manuscripts and seals, especially dedicated to the Kings, I ve discovered another diagram that went unpublished so far, from the Sloane Ms. 3824, page 76:


Apart from the trident-shaped cusps and the presence of the names in the inner circle, the diagram is precisely the same, including the missing treatise.
I ve compiled a list of the names and seals for comparison below:








Demonic image magic in Ms. Douce 116

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 Daniel Clark has done it again, and sent me a real jewel: Bodleian Library Ms. Douce 116. It`s a late 17th century magical miscellany with everything you can imagine: Agrippa and Heptameron material, spells and experiments, seals, talismans, characters and just about every occult curiosity possible. 

For now I`d like to pause over two anthropomorphical images: one is widely distributed, one is new to me: Oberion and Astaroth. 


KING OBERION


The image of king Oberion is very well attested in a lot of British manuscripts, one of the most famous being Folger V.b.26, recently edited by Clark, Harms and Peterson.

On page 176 we have the well-known diagram of this king of spirits, together with 5 seals: one of his own, two of the governing angels of the Sun and Moon and two of his counselors:




We might only assume that the dress is contemporary, his head is crownless, his feet are bare and his right hand is holding a scepter. I will ommit the experiment itself, as it is a bit irrelevant to our study. 
The image of Oberion in the Folger manuscript (one of several), page 185, is similar, but strikingly different:




The king still has a contemporary dress, but with stockings, a gold crown and a sword, also noting the abundance of seals that appear now in his proximity.   For the sake of comparison, I ve taken the liberty to isolate the five major seals and the names attributed to them in both works: 
 

KING ASTAROTH

The Second image (p.32) belongs to the demon Astaroth and his ministers, and the experiment (p.30-31) is new to me so I will try my best to transcribe and translate it:


This image belongs to the experiment half before

Emanuell

De imaganibus Tractatus Pro amore


The seals:

Aretz / Astarote


Gninon



Godras



Guinon 



Godras

After writing a few articles on it I ve decided to hold their publication, because this is the very manuscript Daniel Harms has been working on transcribing and editing in his editorial endeavor ”Book of Four Sorcerers”. And quite a proof of sportsmanship to be ok with publishing this! Thank you, Dan!










  

Faustian Seals in a Swedish conjuring manual

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The wonderful and ever so knowledgeable Daniel Clark made me aware of a beautiful Swedish manuscript in the Faustian tradition, housed in the University of Lund and provided freely on their website, called:

Doct: Juliani Cypririani [sic] Practica eller Andars twång, hvarigenom han uti egna rön kallade och twång andarna at de uti all ting har måst efterkomma och utföra hans wilia, skrefven i hans biskopssäte i Carthago i Africa, sedan tryckt i octav i Passau 1410.


A part of the manuscript is structured precisely like an Agrippian book of summoning, namely with the conjuration and seal of the spirit on one side and a drawing of its purported appearance on the other. 

I ll reproduce now only the seals of the six princes mentioned. 


AZIEL 
(5r)



ANIQUEL
(6v)



MARBUEL 
(7v)



AZIABEL 
(8v)



MACHIEL
(9v)



BARUEL
(10v)




I must say, as a passing remark, the the Faustian tradition slowly drifts from traditional seals and characters with crosses and circlets, to more modern looking characters and signatures often written in lone continuous motion. Makes you think this would be the source of Franz Bardon s inspiration, perhaps. 

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The Seven Kings of the Air in the 17th century

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 Upon browsing the newly-gifted  manuscript Douce 116, I found on page 271 an isolated instance of a diagram associated with the seven aerial kings that we ve seen in our dealigs with The Rings of Messalah .
There is no treatise associated with the figure as far as I can tell, but it is an interesting study on the evolution of these seals, nonetheless.
The processing of this particular manuscript is quite difficult on account of the thinness of the paper and ink bleeds from the verso, but I ve managed to rescue the following diagram:




As we can see, the ”Angels” are not 8 like in the original treatise, but seven, arranged in the Chaldean order. The names of the spirits lack, but the titles do appear in the outer circle (Angelo Saturni et cha: The Angel of Saturn and its character).

Looking through my collection of manuscripts and seals, especially dedicated to the Kings, I ve discovered another diagram that went unpublished so far, from the Sloane Ms. 3824, page 76:


Apart from the trident-shaped cusps and the presence of the names in the inner circle, the diagram is precisely the same, including the missing treatise.
I ve compiled a list of the names and seals for comparison below:








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