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.
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[200r]
Here begins
the explanations of the miraculous signs and seven planets of the sage
Mescalach.
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[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.
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[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.]
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[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
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[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.
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[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:
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[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:
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Igitur ad operandum cum hoc annulo ieiunes dies Solis usque ad noctem; in nocte
sacrificium facies de ave non domestica prope aque litus discurrente cum 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
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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.
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[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:
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[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:
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[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:
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[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 animal 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:
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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:
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[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:
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[7]Annulus Jovis fac ut
super, fiat sacrificium de gallo karacteres et nomina angelj scribe in pelle
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[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:
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[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:
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[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:
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[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:
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[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:
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[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:
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[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:
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[202 r]
Nomina Angelorum
-Jovis: Phytones :~
-Solis: Ocarat:~
-Lunae: Carmelan:~
-Martis: Cocazim:~
-Mercurii: Ypaton:~
-Veneris: Abhanci:~
-Saturnis: Gilgheti:~
-Capitis Draco: Orthorix:~
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[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.
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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 eius
would 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 charta
usually is the term used for paper, from the Greek χάρτης (khártēs, “papyrus, paper”).
4. Synthetic chart
Ring
|
Planet
|
Angel
|
Metal
|
Sacrifice
|
Place
|
Parchment
|
Wrapping
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1
|
Sun
|
Ocarat
|
Gold
|
Wild fowl
|
River bank
|
Virgin paper
|
-
|
2
|
Moon
|
Carmelan
|
Silver
|
River eel
|
A place
Where
3 ways
meet
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Whelp skin
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Eel skin.
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3
|
Mars
|
Cocazin
Cocazim
|
Bronze
|
Animal of
prey
|
Indoor
fire
|
Paper (?)
|
-
|
4
|
Mercury
|
Ypaton
|
Copper
|
Fox
or cat
|
-
|
Kidskin
|
-
|
5
|
Jupiter
|
Phitones
Phytones
|
Electrum
|
Cock
|
-
|
Calfskin
|
-
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6
|
Venus
|
Abhanzizi
Abhanci
|
Lead
|
White dove
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Green
meadow
|
Hare`s
skin
|
-
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7
|
Saturn
|
Golghit
Gilgheti
|
Iron
|
Young goat
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Brambles
|
Old
parchment
|
-
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8
|
Head of
Dragon
|
Orthorix
|
Steel
|
Dog
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Cross-
oads
|
Kidskin
|
-
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5. Comparative seals chart
Nice.
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