ies were gone through in a regular
way, the interrogatories were truly answered. A caution was offered to
the practiser of this art. The magician of no great experience was
told that if the constellation and position of the stars at his
nativity were not favourable, it would be dangerous for him to
encounter a ghost for fear of being slain, as the ghosts of men could
easily destroy magicians not protected by the stars.

Magicians were instructed how to raise the spirits Paymon, Bathin, and
Barma, and secure their assistance. These spirits, though of various
ranks and orders, were of one power, ability, and nature, and the mode
of raising them is the same. The magician who desired to consult with
these spirits had to appoint a night in the waxing of the moon, when
the planet Mercury reigned, at eleven o'clock at night. But for four
days before the appointed night he was required to shave his beard
every morning, change his linen, and put on a consecrated girdle made
of a black cat's skin. When all was prepared for the summoning of the
spirits, the magician was instructed to enter a dark parlour or
cellar, to light seven candles, and draw a circle with his own blood.
When the candles were lighted, it was essential for the magician to
protect himself with two drawn swords, and consecrate the circle, so
that all evil spirits might be expelled. Everything being ready, the
conjuration commenced in these words: "I conjure and exorcise you, the
three gentle and noble spirits of the power of the north, by the great
and dreadful name of your king, and by the silence of the night, and
by the holy rites of magic, and by the number of the infernal legions,
I adjure and advocate you that without delay ye present yourselves
here before the northern quarter of the circle, all of you, or any one
of you, and answer my demands." This, we are informed, had to be
repeated three times, and then the three spirits appeared, or one of
them by lot, if the others were engaged elsewhere. Before their
appearance, they sent in advance three swift hounds in pursuit of a
hare, which ran round the circle for seven and a half minutes. After
this chase more hounds came in, and after all a little ugly
Ethiopian, who snatched the hare from the hounds. Next was heard a
hunter's horn, and a herald on horseback came galloping swiftly with
three hunters behind him upon black horses. After riding round the
circle seven times, they stood at the northern quarter.