Post by swampiewolfess on Jan 22, 2008 8:08:16 GMT -5
The Witches Sabbath
On Hallowe'en night, the witches ride their broomsticks through the countryside, causing mischief and mayhem wherever they go. But this is after they celebrate the Witches Sabbath, a wild and mysterious ritual in which they pay homage to the Devil, their god, and dance the Danse Macabre with the witches and demons in human and animal form. Here are two accounts of the Black Sabbath as it was performed in the 16th century.
Mr. C. J. S. Thompson (renowned expert in magic lore) relates: In the midst of the field a throne was built very sumptuously, on which stood a great and mighty Ram goat to whom at a certain hour of the night they all went to do reverence.
'The reverence and homage which they do unto him is by turning their shoulders and bowing down their heads as low as they can. He which is newly assumpted into this brotherhood doth first with words wicked and abominable, blaspheme and renounce all, the holy points and mysteries, vowing unto the devil his faithful service for ever with many other execrable ceremonies, vows and oaths, which being accomplished, they mingle themselves together and many devils with them in likeness of young gentlemen and beautiful dames without shame or respect.
There are certain oyles and oyntments with which they anoynt themselves, which deprive them of their right sense, making them imagine they are transformed into birds or beasts, deceiving not only themselves with this error, but oftentimes the eyes of others, for the devil and other enchanters so dazzle and deceive our sight, turning and transforming men into beasts to the seeming of those which behold them, though in truth it was nothing so, but the sorcerers think themselves in their imagination to be transposed. Sometimes they anoynt themselves with other oyntments whose operation maketh them think they are like fowls and can fly in the air. '"
(intervening account above quoted from Alonso de Castro, 16th Century, Italy)
Mr. Thompson continues with an account from De Lancre (also 16th century) describing the devil as he presides at a Sabbath gathering of witches :
'He is seated on a black chair, with a crown of black horns, two horns on the back of his neck, and one on the forehead which sheds light on the assembly; the hair bristling, the face pale and exhibiting signs of uneasiness, the eyes round, large and fully opened, inflamed and hideous, with a goat's beard. The neck and rest of the body deformed, and in the shape of a goat; the hands and feet of a human being.'
The oath to the demon had to be pronounced in the centre of a circle traced on the ground, accompanied by the offer of some pledge, such as the garment of the novitiate. The edge of the circle was supposed to establish a mark which the demon could not cross. Heavy perfumes, such as vervain, with burning incense and lighted tapers, always formed part of the ceremonial. The smoking brazier, which entered largely into the ritual, was believed to act on the demons, and was constantly fed with all kinds of those vegetable and animal substances that would produce the most smoke. The presence of toads or familiars, which were sometimes dressed up by the witches in scarlet velvet with little bells, is mentioned in connexion with the Sabbaths."
Source: C.J.S. Thompson, Mysteries and Secrets of Magic; Witch
On Hallowe'en night, the witches ride their broomsticks through the countryside, causing mischief and mayhem wherever they go. But this is after they celebrate the Witches Sabbath, a wild and mysterious ritual in which they pay homage to the Devil, their god, and dance the Danse Macabre with the witches and demons in human and animal form. Here are two accounts of the Black Sabbath as it was performed in the 16th century.
Mr. C. J. S. Thompson (renowned expert in magic lore) relates: In the midst of the field a throne was built very sumptuously, on which stood a great and mighty Ram goat to whom at a certain hour of the night they all went to do reverence.
'The reverence and homage which they do unto him is by turning their shoulders and bowing down their heads as low as they can. He which is newly assumpted into this brotherhood doth first with words wicked and abominable, blaspheme and renounce all, the holy points and mysteries, vowing unto the devil his faithful service for ever with many other execrable ceremonies, vows and oaths, which being accomplished, they mingle themselves together and many devils with them in likeness of young gentlemen and beautiful dames without shame or respect.
There are certain oyles and oyntments with which they anoynt themselves, which deprive them of their right sense, making them imagine they are transformed into birds or beasts, deceiving not only themselves with this error, but oftentimes the eyes of others, for the devil and other enchanters so dazzle and deceive our sight, turning and transforming men into beasts to the seeming of those which behold them, though in truth it was nothing so, but the sorcerers think themselves in their imagination to be transposed. Sometimes they anoynt themselves with other oyntments whose operation maketh them think they are like fowls and can fly in the air. '"
(intervening account above quoted from Alonso de Castro, 16th Century, Italy)
Mr. Thompson continues with an account from De Lancre (also 16th century) describing the devil as he presides at a Sabbath gathering of witches :
'He is seated on a black chair, with a crown of black horns, two horns on the back of his neck, and one on the forehead which sheds light on the assembly; the hair bristling, the face pale and exhibiting signs of uneasiness, the eyes round, large and fully opened, inflamed and hideous, with a goat's beard. The neck and rest of the body deformed, and in the shape of a goat; the hands and feet of a human being.'
The oath to the demon had to be pronounced in the centre of a circle traced on the ground, accompanied by the offer of some pledge, such as the garment of the novitiate. The edge of the circle was supposed to establish a mark which the demon could not cross. Heavy perfumes, such as vervain, with burning incense and lighted tapers, always formed part of the ceremonial. The smoking brazier, which entered largely into the ritual, was believed to act on the demons, and was constantly fed with all kinds of those vegetable and animal substances that would produce the most smoke. The presence of toads or familiars, which were sometimes dressed up by the witches in scarlet velvet with little bells, is mentioned in connexion with the Sabbaths."
Source: C.J.S. Thompson, Mysteries and Secrets of Magic; Witch
