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From: Caduceus Books <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, 3 February, 2011 21:33:30
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] CFP: Satanism conference (Stockholm University, Sweden, Sept 25-27, 2011)

Dear Emma,

> Interesting post re the late 17th century French 'literate practitioner
> of folk magic'. I wonder if he was invoking the Devil as a shock
> cure, or whether he was doing so simply because he believed that
> the Devil, as a powerful master of the natural world, would be
> skilled at curing animals?

Looking at it some more, probably more the latter. There is a spell to stop horses where the horse is identified with a demon and then controlled as such, by calling upon the infernal powers that rule it. In later times this spell was augmented with a sigil used to make familiars obedient.

Curiously, in this case, Christian powers are not used to control the infernal powers. In fact the practitioner is required to eschew any Christian acts whilst the spell is prepared.

> The spell using obscenity also sounds fascinating. Not being well
> versed in literate magical practices, I am wondering whether this
> instance is unusual or whether obscenity and/or revulsion was
> more widely used in elite magic of the period - either to curse or
> cure.
This material is very much folk magic. It is just that the person whose practice it records was, I presume, literate as he mentions contemporary magical texts. Concerning obscenity, I have come across description of men in Ireland who believed themselves afflicted being cured by a woman who would expose herself (sorry I don't have  a reference for that). In Ireland, of course, Sheila-na-Gigs acquired apotropaic associations whereas they were originally simply representations of sin.

> I was also wondering whether you have a source for these
> references!
The material is actually very available, having been appended to the Grimoire of Pope Honorius in its first edition that bore the date 1670, to subsequent editions of Honorius and other French grimoires. I will be very soon be publishing a new translation of the Norman French of the first edition (and the first translation of the Latin) together with a commentary later this year. The commentary will note how the material changed in subsequent publications.

There is one point that I have struggled to may sense of and would welcome assistance (which will of, of course, be credited). A spell to protect horses appears to invoke no Christian powers, but I have not been able to identify all the beings that are being called upon. Any pointers would be most welcome.

The main name is Crouay

His name is used to conjure:- Don, Satan, Leot, Valiot

They provide the practitioner with two servants:- Rou and Rouvayet who, presumably, effect the protection

In a related spell, Heliot is also mentioned, who appears to be on the same level as Valiot and Reveillot is also mentioned.

As previously mentioned the original language is Norman, or Old, French

With my best wishes

Ben
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Ben Fernee
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