The Life of David Murgatroyd:
His Life and the Michael Scot Invocation

The Life and Spells of David Murgatroyd: Compendium of Unnatural Black Magic

APPENDIX IV
in
James Wood Brown, An Enquiry into the Life and Legend of Michael Scot
(Edinurgh: David Douglas, 1897), pp. 270-274.

Text in the author's possession.—Ms. in 4 to perg. saec. xvi. vel. xvii., red, black, and green ink.

Interpretacio et Instruccio pro Discipulis seu Amatoribus Artis Magice pro iis scilicet ad quorum manus post obitum meum libellus iste fortuito aliquando perventurus est.

Parvi licet Compendii libellus iste sit, magni tamen momenti esse eundem experieris. Nam scias velim, Curiose Lector, opus hoc in Arabica lingua conscriptum esse cuius ego per multos quidem annos possessor virtutis in eiusdem ob linguae insciciam ignarus semper permanseram; donec tandem auxilio Rabbi cuiusdam extraneam hanc linguam optime callentis ad genuinum verborum sensum, rerumque contentarum noticiam pervenissem Quae autem exinde expertus et adeptus sum et tu experiri adipiscique poteris si vir constans et intrepidus sis moreve prescripto processeris. Ast cum spiritibus astutissimis et humano generi infensissimis tibi agendum est: Quare cum previa sane mentis deliberacione et cautela maxima procedas necesse est. Quod si vero rem rite tractaveris grandia et mirabilia perpetrare poteris. Reliqua te opus ipsum satis docebit. Unum hoc ultimatim te enixe adhortamus ut libellum istum optime custodias, ne in manus curiose juventutis seu ignorancium hominum incidat. Siquidem per eius lecturam, nisi more prescripto fiat, funestissime tragedie orirentur. Quare ipse autor in prima pagina admonet ut in silencio legatur. Nemo igitur quiscumque sit absque circulo clara et alto voce insertas Spirituum citaciones legere presumat nisi miserrimum sui detrimentum et interitum preceps ruere velit. Quapropter quicquid agis prudenter agas et respice Finem. Vale. Michael Scotus Prage in Bohemia pridie Id. Febr. Anno mcclv.

Sequitur interpretacio tocius operis.
Aspice Inspice pervolve alta sed
legere voce omnino cave.

[Murgatroyd’s Interpretation- Though this little book is of small size, yet you will find the same to be of great importance. For I should like you to know, Curious Reader, that this work was written in the Arabic language; and that though I was indeed in possession of this work for many years, I had remained unware of its worth owing to ignorance of the language; until at length, by the help of a certain Rabbi, who had great skill in this foreign tongue, I reached an accurate knowledge of the meaning of the wors and of the contents. What indeed I then had experience of and attained you too will be able to experience and attain if you are a determined and dauntless man and proceed in the manner laid down. (sic) but you must deal with very subtle intelligences (spirits) who are most hostile to the human race; wherefore, you must proceed with previous deliberation of mind and the greatest caution. But if indeed you manade the matter duly, you will be able to schieve mighty and wondrous things. The work itself will sufficiently instruct you in the rest. This one last point we urgently exhort you to observe: guard this little book extremely well, so that it does not fall into the hands of curious youth or ignorant men. For through the reading of it, unless this is done in the manner laid down, most dreadful tragedies may arise. Wherefore the author himself on the first page warns that it should be read in silence. Let no-one therefore, whoever he is, presume to read the inserted citations (summonings?) of Spirits outside the circle in a clear, loud voice, unless he wishes to run headlong into the most wretched harm for himself and his own destruction. Wherefore, act prudently in all you do, and have regard for the  End. Farewell. Michael Scott, Pragu in Bohemia, 12th February, in the year 1255.

There follows the interpretation of the whole work.
Regard, look into, reflect on deep things but
Beware above all of reading aloud.^[1]]

PREPARATION: Almuchabola Absegalim Alkakib Albaon i.e. Compendium Magie Innaturalis Nigre, continens Citaciones et Vincula diversorum Spirituum.

Primum et maxime necessarium requisitum in experimentis Magicis Composicio Circuli est. Nam sine eo nemo a malis Spiritibus tutus foret. Quare Magister ex pelle caprina i.e. charta virginea faciat Circulum in latitudine novem pedum ad quem cum sanguine Columbe scribi debent nomina que videntur in figura pag. iij. (this refers to the other quire containing the Arabic original which alone has illustrations). Quodsi vero illum forcius munire cupis poteris pro lubitu addere plura ex sanctissimis Dei Nominibus Hebraicis v.g. Elohim Adonai Zebaoth Agla Jehovah, item nomina iiij Evangelistarum et iiij Archangelorum et adhuc alia que ex rituali Ecclesiastico sive aliis libris sat colligas. Secundo habeatur baculus qui abscindatur Corilo in quem inscindi et cum sanguine columbe inscribi debent verba et nomina in figura pag. iij indicata. Tereio fiat Mitra pariter ex pelle capre Alba posterior Nigra et scribantur m. ad illam cum sanguine columbe nomina que habet figura pag. iiij. Quarto Magister habeat habitum nigrum longum usque ad pedes super habitum vero Scapulare sive pentaculum factum ex ante dicta charta virginea et iterum cum sanguine columbe scribantur ad illud nomina, uti monstrat figura pag. iv. Proinde omnia hec predicta requisita debent preparari in novilunio in diebus Mercurii et Veneris horisque hisce Planetis propriis. Que autem sint hore Planetarum ex libris Astrologorum satis aliunde patet. Quinto formetur Sigillum sive titulus characteristicus illius Spiritus quem citare intendis: debet autem scribi cum sanguine corvi nigerini ad pellem capre nigre factam et appendatur ad baculum quoque abscissum corilo erigaturque ad margines circuli uti docet figura pag. v. Sexto Magister sive debet esse solus sive si velint esse plures sit numerus semper impar. Septimo requiritur locus securus absitus et solitudinarius quod si in domo fiat operacio habeat cubile aptum versus Orientem et relinquatur sive porta sive fenestra aperta; nec sint plures in domo persone quam que ad operacionem pertinent; quare semper melius et securius est ut experimenta fiant sub celo, in eremis, silvis, pratisque desertis nullorumque hominum conspectui et auditu obnoxiis. Octavo experimenta fiant in diebus Mercurii sive Veneris sive in prima hora noctis sive in sexta post solis occasum; de die autem debent fieri in ipsissimis horis Planetarum Veneris seu Mercurii. Nono Magister ante Operacionem bene deliberet quale negocium tractare velit cum spiritibus ne medio experimenti fiat confusio seu perturbacio. Magistrum itaque oportet esse virum gravem animosum, qui in lingua et pronunciacione non paciatur defectum. Socii omnes nec verbum loquantur sed solus Magister cum spiritibus tractare audeat. Hiis omnibus denique bene preparatis et ordinatis Magister adhibeat fumigia ex sequentibus speciebus:

R: Semen papaveris nigri

Herba Cicuta

Coriandrum

Apium et crocus et hec in equali pondere.

Decimo si Magister rem habet quam Spiritus adimplere resisterent, accipiat baculum et cum eo feriat eorum Sigilla, sed si nimium pertinaces forent, appropinquet ea ad carbones cum quibus fumigatum est, faciat quasi assare et successive ardescere velit et statim eos obedientes habebit.
Circulum cum Sociis ingressurus dicat:

Harim Kasistacos Enet miram Baal Alisa mamutai arista Kappi Megiarath Sagisiya Suratbakar.

Sequuntur Citaciones Nomina et Sigilla Spirituum qui per hoc opus advocari et citari possunt.

Sigillum primi Principis vid. pag. viij.

THE INCANTATION IN ABBREVIATED FORM:^[2]

ClTACIO PRIMI ALMUCHABZAR

Asib Hecon Anthios Rarapafta Kylim Almuchabzar alge Zorionoso Amilech Amias Segir Almetubele Halimasten Rarapafta Kylim O Almuchabzar horet Kylim.

ClTACIO SECUNDA PRIMI PRINCIPIS

Aritepas Oulyri Hecon asib alperiga O Almuchabzar! Rabet Almetubele Syrath alecla icarim alderez Aldemel met cadir Measdi Algir aleclar Ryia sothus Alchantum ioradio Ealusi Amilkamar Alenzod:

ClTACIO TERCIA ALMUCHABZAR

Albantum alenzod Almuchabzar! Hecon asip Amilcamar alperiga algir filastaros aleclar Syrath asyngarum berumistas legistas Ruppa sastaraya aronthas Baracasti hemla Omisyrath abdilbak Amilkamar alcubel taris Algir alasaff megastar Magin horet Karapatta Kylim O! Almuchabzar.

Quam primum apparent Spiritus in forma humana visibili Magister eos interroget utrum isti sint qui ab eo fuerunt citati? et si spiritus hoc iureiurando cum iureiurando (sic) cum imposicione manuum super baculum [qui ex circulo iis porrigi debet] confirmaverint; salutet eos et sistat modo subsequenti in fine pag. xv. et pag. xxxv. Hunc Principem vero modo sequenti:

Alkumkazar medidosta Asaristatos falusi algir abdilbak = karis helotim latintos O Almuchabzar! milasarintha iubarath mimas Amka Solit karytos Faribai aliasi miron kylim arastaton tyrantus Almuchabzar.

His dictis Spiritus ipsum interrogabunt quare fuerint vocati?etc. Magister illis negocium proponat et si adimpleverint dimittat illos prout sequitur in fine pag. xv. et pag. xxx istum vero specialiter sic:

Sarmistaros labyratha Asanta bartha Megimaia karapatta horet kylim O Almuchabzar!

SIGILLUM ACHUNCHAB vid. pag. xi.
Citacio.

Asip hecon anthios karapatta kylim Achunchab Perificanthus alasaff haram astarladip Megastar hagiasesta parit hemla pantustata amagarim kalip kisolastar aleclar elgir altemel alperiga Horet kylim O Achunchab!

SIGILLUM AGHIZIKKE vid. pag. xii.
Citacio.

Hamagit hecon asip Kampatta kylim Aghizikke sisalmaz alenzod alcubel algir sarmistaros alasat Abdilbak Guscharasch heam diadrasas dalasai Betaran herik iulem Megastar Helib istam horet kylim O Aghizikke!

SIGILLUM BALTUZARAZ vid. pag. xiii.
Citacio.

Megaras Galim asip hecon kylim Baltuzaraz negyrus haleai amith aresatos gimastas permasai alar aluhazi Hacub salataya almetubeli algir Abilbak mirastatos Alenzod medagasti O Baltuzaras kylim horet.

Sequuntur alia adhuc sigilla aliquorum Spirituum qui per subsequentem coniuracionem advocantur. Sigilla vide pag. xiiij. Nomina eorum numeres secundum ordinem sigillorum a manu dextra ad sinistram suntque sequentia:

KAPULIPH, SUHUB; GALHABARI ET ALMISCHAK.
Citacio.

Mabgatusta berenata sarmistaros gorisgatba Helotim latintos aciton Axagiatum amka iaribai artas gilgarkipka Selingarasch alberalabon gimistas Kateraptas amogiorith miagastos Diadrasi Radistar dalasa hagaigia Belzop hecon asip Karapatta kylim O Suhub Galhabari O Almischak Kapuliph antios guschorasch Alcubel alenzod algir Kabet almetubele Abdilbak mirastatos alasaff algir megastar ioradip faluli zorionoso alget kapkar imat Abdilbaim eralim fiascar albirastos perifiantus Berapkukagapharam Abdilbaim erasin Zakarip Aresatos Talmasten Karapatta kylim horet kylim.

INSTICIO SIVE CONSISTENCIA SPIRITUUM.

Harim kelit Amogar Bail namutai aristakappi Megiarath agualim Segirit beranabtar Cesastus megarustat amargim Bargastaton ioratkar Karistacao Alim Miron anasterisatos horet kylim.

VALEDICCIO SPIRITUUM.

Bedarit labyratha Asonta barda Meles kalas hemastar Bemtsstaras Bedarit Enet elmisistar Almiranthus.

Quando Magister cum Sociis egreditur circulo dicat hec sequentia verba vide pag. xvi.

Begarsten alengip Harim Gantalsa stai Becekym Dingiltas Mecarkayrup Hermagastus aganton Badaky Gragaim Bemdastoras Argint.

FINIS.

~o~

The ‘Longsburgh’ Manuscript
from
Robert Naumann, Serapeum: Zeitschrift fur Bibliothewisseuschaft, Handschriftenkunde und altere Litteratur
(Leipzig: T. O. Weigel, 1844), pp. 65-76.

Notes

1. Murgatroyd, The Shadow of The Golden Fire-Paperback, 42.

2. For possible explanations why this version was abridged by Brown see the introductory article.