Treasure hunting with fairies
(Part one of three, from the book Fairy Magic in the Grimoires)
1. Oberon, Mycob, and the 7 sisters (Sloane MS. 3824)
Note: The following text is from MS 3824. I have edited it in a few places for clarity and punctuation.
Operation One
There is also another sort of terrestrial spirits that dwell on the surface of the earth and in the caves and caverns thereof. They haunt houses and other places and have the keeping of treasures that are hidden or buried in these places.
These spirits are somewhat more humane and
courteous by nature than others and are more feminine. They delight in the company of women and children, and more especially of such who are wholly inclined to housewifery as maidservants. But these poor souls, being by fear and ignorance also, are many times frightened and astonished at the least unusual sight or noise made by the spirits and do thereby lose many benefits.
Yet, to those as they bear love and kindness to, they are very benevolent and friendly: and are again as obnoxious and offensive to them as they hate.
And they are evening and nocturnal wandering spirits, who many times will come to some, even from the sun setting to it rising the next morning.
These kinds of spirits are more frequently visible than any others and are the least of the (fairy) hierarchies, and where they haunt or do keep any hidden treasures, they make no great matter of noise or disturbance. Their noise seems as the footsteps of many people, and sometimes as if there were a preparation of some great feast, as if there were two or three cooks at work in the kitchen, the bread rolling to and fro in the oven, and all such kind of noises, as if many folks were all at work. These sorts of things are not so hideous or terrible as what other spirits do.
These spirits may be also called upon in such places where either they haunt or foremost frequent in. The master should wear a white mantle (a religious vest, optional) and the place which is appointed or set apart for action must be suffumigated with good aromatic odours. (Incense)
A clean cloth must be spread on the ground or a table nine foot distant from the circle, upon which there must be either a chicken or any kind of small piece of meat handsomely roasted, a basin or little dish like a coffee dish of fair running water, half a pint of salt in a bottle, a bottle of ale containing a quart, some food, and a pint of cream in a dish.
These ceremonies they are much pleased and delighted with; and it doth allure them to friendly familiarity willingly and readily fulfilling your desires and such without much difficulty.
And some have used no circle at all, to the calling of these spirits, but only being clean and well dressed, sit at another table or place only covered with clean linen cloth, (without food) nine foot distant and so invocate the spirits.
Those kinds of terrestrial spirits are vulgarly called
Fairies or Elves, and the natures and quality of them are well known to many. Of those spirits there are two who are set over the hierarchy as the supreme heads thereof, and whose names are Mycob the fairy Queen and Oberon the fairy king. Under Oberon and Mycob are seven sisters, placed as the next principal spirits, whose names are, Lilia,
Rostilia, Foca, FolIa, Africa, Julia, and Venulla, and under whom again are many legions as subjects and servants.
These spirits wander to and fro upon the earth and have the keeping also of many treasures that are hidden or buried, especially such as are hidden in those places that they frequent, inhabit, or delight in. These treasures are innocently hidden by good honest people either for security or future preservation, and who many times die, and leave it so unrevealed. Then are such treasures seized
on and kept by these terrestrial elves; if ever they happen to come upon where it is.
The magical philosopher who, understanding that any treasures are kept by the terrestrial spirits of this order, and would obtain the same, and would have converse with them, let him observe the foregoing directions, and at the appointed time repair to the place designated for action, and invocate as follows:
I Exorcise, adjure, call upon, urge, and earnestly
require you terrestrial spirits that are the supreme head of the hierarchy of those that are called fairies, and who are called by the names of Mycob and Oberon.
In the name of the Almighty, ever living and heavenly God Jehovah, and of his only begotten and well beloved son Jesus Christ our Lord, Messias, Sother, Emanuel, the high King and Lord of all the world, I do hereby call upon the Spirits Mycob and Oberon, to command the Seven Sisters Lilia, Rostilia, Foca, Folla, Africa, Julia, and Venulla, or some one of them, to appear visibly to us, or in your friendly benevolence, to send someone or other spirit or spirits, of your hierarchy or orders, to accommodate instruct and assist us, in such of our requests wherein they may be.
I confidently and earnestly ask this of you as you are our friends, and we are your friends, and all of us are servants to the Highest in whose name I now call upon you and humbly urge, and most earnestly desire you, to send one of the seven sisters next subservient under you, to appear visibly to us, and to assist us in the obtaining and recovering of their treasures, that are hidden or buried in the house or place, or elsewhere adjacent hereabouts, or to send someone subject subservient of your hierarchy, to assist and help us herein, and also in all such matters and things as we shall desire their instructions and accommodations in.
The magicians may continue this invocation for seven nights from the hour of eleven till two, and invocate nine times an hour, observing that if any apparition or vision should appear, in form and manner, willing to commune with them, they may then cease, and desire to know the name and seal of such spirit.
And when you have taken a note thereof you may
proceed to your demands, which you ought to have fairly written down, because then they are in a greater readiness. And charge not the memory to recollect itself, for being so hobbled in your conceptions, you may chance to lose that opportunity and peradventure your design too.