The Ars Notoria, the magical art of memory, ... was a process by which the magician could instantly gain knowledge or memory of all the arts and sciences. Each branch of knowledge or subject was assigned a set of magical seals or characters, known as notae. To set the process into operation, the appropriate notae were contemplated whilst reciting angelic names and magical orisons. However, it was regarded as a diabolic form of magic, since the knowledge was quickly acquired from 'demons' without honest study. |
That thow wilt mercifully with the Father, illustrate my Minde with the beams of thy holy Spirit, that I may be able to come and attain to the perfection of this most holy Art, and that I may be able to gain the knowledge of every Science, Art, and Wisdom; and of every Faculty of Memory, Intelligences, Understanding, and Intellect, by the Vertue and Power of thy most holy Spirit, and in thy Name. (pag. 5 van de Turner vertaling) |
Here beginneth the first Treatise of this Art, which Master Apollonius calleth, The golden Flowers, being the generall Introduction to all Natural Sciences; and this is Confirmed, Composed, and Approved by the Authority of Solomon, Manichæus, and Euduchæus. (pag. 6). |
There is so great Vertue, Power and Efficacy in certain Names and Words of God, that when you reade those very Words, it shall immediately increase and help your Eloquence. |
It being a Science of so Transcendent a purity, that it hath its Original out of the depth and profundity of the Chaldee, Hebrew, and Grecian Languages; and therefore cannot possible by any means be explicated fully in the poor Thread-bare Scheme of our Language. (pag. 6). |
Assaylemath, Assay, Lemeth, Azzabue, AZzaylemath, Lemath, Azacgessenio, Lemath, Sebanche, Ellithy, Aygezo. (pag. 9) |
a Servant of his House having found this book by chance, and being too much overcome with Wine in the Company of a Woman, he presumptuously read it; but before he had finished a part thereof, he was stricken dumb, blind and lame, and his Memory taken from him; so he continued to the day of his death: and in the hour of his death, he spoke and said, that four Angels which he had offended in presumptuous reading so sacred a mystery, were the daily keepers and afflicters, one of his Memory, another of his speech, a third of his sight, and the fourth of his hearing. (pag. 18) |
But if thou desirest to understand any book, ask of some that hath knowledge therein, what that book treateth of: This being done, open the book, and read in it; and operate as at first three times, and alwayes when thou goest to sleep, write Alpha and Omega, and afterwards sleep on thy right side, putting the palme of thy hand under thy Ear, and thou shalt see in a dream all things thou desirest; and thou shalt hear the voyce of one informing and instructing thee in that book, or in any other faculty wherein thou wilt operate: And in the morning, open the book, and read therein; and thou shalt presently understand the same, as if thou hadst studyed in it a long time: And alwayes remember to give thanks to God, as aforesaid. (pag. 43) |
Het staat vast dat er Ethiopische wijzen naar Italië, Spanje, Frankrijk, Engeland en al die Christenlanden, waar zich goede vliegende draken bevinden, zijn gekomen. Zij lokken de draken uit hun holen en vliegen erop met hoge snelheid door de lucht om het vlees van de draken zachter te maken. Zij gebruiken dit drakenvlees als middel tegen veroudering en om het intellect te scherpen. Want er is geen onderwijs beschikbaar, dat een dergelijke wijsheid verschaft, als welke het eten van drakenvlees geeft. Dit leerden wij uit zeer betrouwbare bron. Aldus Roger Bacon, de 13e eeuwse franciscaan. |