Tuesday 18 April 2023

The Throne of Bartham

 


In our last episode we were discussing an experiment used to conjure a powerful spirit inherited from the Arabic tradition, Barqan, present in one Italian manuscript under the names Barcan, Barcon and Baracon, and one Hebrew manuscript also under the name of Barakon. In this episode we will meet him and three of his ministers in a German manuscript, the famous Munich Handbook, under the name of Bartham.

 

One of the most important texts published in the field of academic study of magic is Richard Kieckhefer`s 1988 book Forbidden Rites: a Necromancer`s Manual of the Fifteenth Century, which I have in a cheap, ugly paperback reprint but that dealt a massive blow to my grimoire studies. In it, as many of you know, professor Kieckhefer transliterated almost the entire CLM 849 manuscript, and translated large portions of it.

Large portions of course, but not all. One of the experiments that he described in one chapter but never translated in full would be number 15: To obtain a flying throne.  My endeavor here is not the Latin transliteration, but the translation and commentary.  And yet, without proffesor Kieckhefer s edition, this translation would not have been possible.

 

The exact manuscript pages, as well as proffesor Kieckhefer`s text is on my blog, as well as my translation and notes. However, a full PDF of this, along with my commentary and graphics, will be available on Patreon for my Subscribers.

Fol.34r


Fol.34v

Fol.35r

Fol.35v




Vade ad locum secretum et altum, tempore sereno et absque ventu, et dic:

 

 

Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis, Secundum magnam misericordiam, cum Gloria Patri totum, In manus tuas, domine, commendo spiritum et totum spiritum et corpus meum, Domine deus, Pater omnipotens, [et] Iudica me

 

 

Postea fac talem circulum vt inferius designabitur, cum ollis, et [34v] pone in ollam septentrionis cinerem et farinam, et in orient[al]em ignem cum sale, in occidentalem aquam et calcem. Et sede in medio circuli et verte te versus septentrionem, et voca regem nubium, nomine Bartha, vt mittat 3es de ducibus qui habent posse [super] nubibus et ventris, scilicet Saltim, Balthim, Gehim, qui ducent te absque lesione et absque periculo tui corporis et anime ad locum quem volueris. Et tunc apparebit tibi parua nubes, et de tribus ollis exibunt tres alie olle, dicen[te]s, Ascende, ascende, ascende. Tunc autem inperterrite ac et cum audacia parate

sellam magistro, hec dicas ter. Tunc videbis kathedram in medio nubis, et tu ascende illam, et dic,

 

Rex Bartha, et duces Saltim, Baltim, [et] Galtim, portate me placabiliter, sine timore et inpedimento et periculo aliquo mei corporis  et anime, vsque ad talem locum, et suauiter me leuate et suauiter me deponite. O tu rex Bartha, et o vos principes Saltim, Balthim, Galtyra, vos potenter invoco vt cito et velociter me ducatis vsque ad talem locum sine omni timore et periculo mei corporis et anime, et ad hoc  vos invoco et coniuro potenter et exorziso per hec angelorum nomina altissima qui in aere sunt potentes:

 

Mastiesel (Masciesel), Emedel, Emethel, Sangel, Eymeal, Venoel, Gerbon, Seutan, Ty- [35r] robay, Teneyn, Teregey, Gerebon, Gamelorum, Tubairum, Ficary, Gysay, Austeron, Boreal, Gemeloy, Garoen, Sypro, Ebely, Aurora, Subseloy, Siego, Afonei, et Zephirim, Boreoth, Beolthoray, Aforax (Afforax), Aquelyo, Eureal, Fauelyon.

 

Per hec nomina vos invoco et coniuro et exorcizo et constringo, vt sine mora veniatis ad me existentem in hoc loco, et multum me suauiter et benigne deferatis et ducatis ad talem locum, sine omni timore, lesione, et periculo mei corporis et anime. Sic fiat, fiat, amen.

 

Vade securus et non timeas, quia portabunt te quo volueris. Si forte socios habere volueris in via et in opere, oportet quod sitis impares,

tamen plus. Hec nomina dices, scilicet Semegibetelye, Sabolaay, Saroten, Saramey, Cerbelli, Tyaurax (Tyanrax).  Et sic ire poteris in omnem partem et terram securus quo volueris. Si quis tibi forte nocere voluerit vel attemptauerit: Si a parte septentrionali senseris kathedram descendere, dic,

 

 

 

O Balthym, te invoco, coniuro, et constringo vt vindices me de isto qui michi nocere temptatur, per hec septem nomina que in omnibus potestatem habent, scilicet Flegely, Stygeloy (Scygeloy), Melyon, Babaia, Regale, Setgaboy, Guitipabey,    

et statim veniet tempestas super eum et timeas.  

 

Si vero a parte occidentali quis tibi nocere temptauerit, dic audacter:

 

O Saltim, coniuro et constringo te per ista semptem nomina, [35v] scilicet Sebegyol,

Sebely, Serbaton, Tymelyy, Gerotal, Tyboel, Galtym. Fiat vt sit pluuia et nubes super illum, in tantum quod non possit videre nubem.

 

Si vero ex parte orientali quis temptare voluerit, dic,

 

Veniatis, Galtym [et] Baltym, per ista nomina, scilicet Flegely, Stygeloy, Melyon,

Barbaia, Regale, Segaboy, Guitipabey, et cadant tonitrua super illum

et nubes et tempestas, ita [quod] me temptare non audeat.

 

Si forte in via videris super te tempestates uel serpentes aut aues aut alia terribilia, quibus forte posses terreri, dicas:

 

 O tu rex Bartham, ego te invoco et coniuro et constringo, rex sapiens et fortis, per hec nomina, scilicet Alrogen, Segeuratetho, Spitalote, Frigonay, Gebelsey, vt hec terribilia  facias protinus remoueri statim.

 

 

Dictis hiis verbis, sine mora recedent, et vltra non habebis contrarium.

Hic circulus debet fieri ad istud opus, etc.

Go to a secret and high place, on calm weather without wind, and say:

 

-Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis[1]

-Secundum magnam misericordiam[2] with

-Gloria Patri[3] entirely

-In manus tuas, domine, commendo spiritum et totum spiritum et corpus meum[4]

-Domine deus, Pater omnipotens[5] [et]

-Iudica me[6]

 

Then make that certain circle that is described below, with jars, and [34v] put in the northern jar ash and flour, and in the eastern one fire with salt, in the western one water and lime. And place yourself in the middle of the circle and turn towards North, and call upon the king of the clouds, named Bartha, that will send three of the dukes that have power  over the clouds and the winds, that is Saltim, Baltim[7], Gehim, that will carry you without any harm and without any danger to your body or soul to the place which you will desire. And then shall appear to you a small cloud and from the three jars shall come out three other jars, saying: Climb up, climb up, climb up! Then therefore arm yourself with daring, without fear in the master`s chair and say this three times.  Then you shall see a throne in the midst of the cloud and you shall climb in it, and say:

 

King Bartha, and dukes Saltim, Baltim and Galtim, beare me appeasingly, without any fear and hinderance and danger to my body and soul, to such-and-such place, and gently lift me and gently lower me. O thou king Bartha, and o thou princes Saltim, Balthim, Galtyra, I more forecefully invoke and call upon thee, and quicker take me to such-and-such place without fight or danger to my body and soul, and at once I invoke thee and conjure thee more strongly by the names of these most high angels that are powerful in the air:

 

Mastiesel (Masciesel), Emedel, Emethel, Sangel, Eymeal, Venoel, Gerbon, Seutan, Tyrobay, Teneyn, Teregey, Gerebon, Gamelorum, Tubairum, Ficary, Gysay, Austeron, Boreal, Gemeloy, Garoen, Sypro, Ebely, Aurora, Subseloy, Siego, Afonei, et Zephirim, Boreoth, Beolthoray, Aforax (Afforax), Aquelyo, Eureal, Fauelyon. 

 

By these names I invoke and conjure and exorcise and constrain thee, that thou should come to me in this place without delay, and carry me most gently and kindly and take me to such-and-such place, without any fight, harm, or danger to my body and soul. So shall it be, shall it be, Amen.

 

Go untroubled and be not afraid, for they shall carry you where you will want. If by any chance you wish to have companions on the way and in the operation, you must be odd in number, however more. Say these names, that are: Semegibetelye, Sabolaay, Saroten, Saramey, Cerbelli, Tyaurax (Tyanrax).  And so you will be able to go to every part and land in safety, wherever you want. If any force would want or attempt to harm you: If you will feel that the throne descends from the part of the North, say:

 

 O Balthym, I invoke, conjure and constrain thee that thou might avenge me of this that has tried to harm me, by these seven names that have power in all things, that be Flegely, Stygeloy (Scygeloy), Melyon, Babaia, Regale, Setgaboy, Guitipabey,

that at once shall come upon them storms and let them fear.

 

If ideed from the part of the West might something try to harm you, say boldly:

 

O Saltim, o conjure and cinstrain thee by these seven names [35v] that be Sebegyol,

Sebely, Serbaton, Tymelyy, Gerotal, Tyboel, Galtym, let there be  rain and clouds upon them, such that they will not be able to see the cloud.

 

If indeed from the part of the East something might tempt you, say:

 

Come ye, Galtym and Baltym, by these names, that be Flegely, Stygeloy, Melyon,

Barbaia, Regale, Segaboy, Guitipabey, and let thunder fall upon them and clouds and storms, so that they that tempt me might not hear anymore.

 

If indeed in your way you will see storms or serpents or birds or other terrible things that you might fear, say:

 

O thou king Bartham, I invoke and conjure and constrain thee, wise and powerful king, by these names that be Alrogen, Segeuratetho, Spitalote, Frigonay, Gebelsey, that thou might remove at onve these frightful faces from before me.  

 

Having said these words, they will depart without delay and you shall have no hinderance from then on. 

This circle must be made in this working, etc.

 

 



[1] A verse from Ave Maria, perhaps meant to indicate the whole prayer.

[2] Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam, Psalm 50 (Vulgate)

[3] Unidentified by Kieckhever, Gloria Patri is the Lesser Doxology.

[4] Luke 24:46

[5] Unidentified by Kieckhefer: Dómine Deus, Rex caeléstis,
Deus Pater omnípotens, patrt of tyhe Greater Doxology

[6] Iudica me Psalm 42 (Vulgate)

[7] Kieckhefer reads Balthim followed by a redundant Baltim, My Reading: Baltim followed by Balthym.


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