An Evil of Nature

Ashmodai

Angel of death
Prince of injustice
Demon of wrath
Opponent of God
Destroyer of light
Author of evil
Servant of fraud
Ruler of our world

Bring down the deceiver of this land
Know not his language; defy his command
He that is called the great dragon
Shall be cast down and his angels with him

Retainer of dark
Judge of disease
Spirit of sins
Kinsman of filth
Ally of harm
Destroyer of faith
Crown of disdain
Commander of all hate

Bring down the deceiver of this land
Know not his language; defy his command
He that is called the great dragon
Shall be cast down and his angels with him

 

Spirits of Deceit

The first is the spirit of life, with the constitution of man
The second the spirit of sight, with which ariseth desire
The essence of sins through fondness for pleasure
The third is the sense of hearing, with which cometh teaching
The fourth is the sense of scent; with which tastes are given
By breathing, fragrances enter in

Seven spirits are employed against man; leaders in the works of youth
Joined with fantasy; darkening his mind from the truth

The fifth is the power of speech, with which cometh knowledge
The sixth is the sense of taste, with which cometh ingestion
For in feast is the foundation of strength
The seventh the spirit of lust, which is filled with ignorance
It leadeth the youth astray, as a blind man to a pit
As a beast to a deadly precipice

Seven spirits are employed against man; leaders in the works of youth
Joined with fantasy; darkening his mind from the truth

Love the truth, and it will preserve you
Pay no heed to the face of a woman
Nor associate with another man’s wife
Nor set your mind on their affairs
Walk in singleness of the heart in fear of the Lord

Seven spirits are employed against man; leaders in the works of youth
Joint with fantasy; darkening his mind from the truth

 

Place of No Return

Does it please you to oppress me,
To spurn the work of your hands,
While you smile on the plans of the wicked?
Are your days like those of a mortal
Or your years like those of a strong man,
That you must search out my faults and probe after my sin

Your hands shaped me and made me
Will they now turn and destroy me?
You molded me like clay just to turn me into dust

Let me go to the place of no return; to the land of deepest night;
Where Death projects his shadow; intercepting life and light
The poor and the rich are there; the beggars and the kings
Without order, no arrangement; no distinction of beings
Their bodies in equal corruption and disgrace
Dwelling in the darkest embrace

You gave me life and showed me kindness
And in your providence watched over me
But this is what you concealed in your heart and mind
If I sinned, you would be watching
My offense would not go unpunished
I am full of shame and drowned in my affliction

You bring new witnesses against me
And increase your anger towards me
Your forces come against me wave upon wave

Let me go to the place of no return; to the land of deepest night;
Where death projects his shadow; intercepting life and light
The poor and the rich are there; the beggars and the kings
Without order, no arrangement; no distinction of beings
Their bodies in equal corruption and disgrace
Dwelling in the darkest embrace
Their bodies in equal corruption and disgrace
Dwelling in the absolute embrace

 

Vision of the Four Beasts

I saw in my vision by night
Winds of heaven stirred up the sea
Four great beasts came up out of the water
Different from one another

The first one was just like a lion
With eagle wings plucked off
Lifted up to stand on two feet
And the mind of a man was given to it
Another beast just like a bear
Elevated up on one side
Three ribs in its mouth between its teeth
It was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’

I saw in my vision by night
Winds of heaven stirred up the sea
Four great beasts came up out of the water
Different from one another

The next one like a leopard in shape
With wings of a bird on its back
Crowned with many heads
Dominion was given to it
Then I saw the fourth beast
Terrifying, dreadful and exceedingly strong
With iron teeth it broke in pieces
And stamped, what was left, with its feet

I saw in my vision by night
Winds of heaven stirred up the sea
Four great beasts came up out of the water
Different from one another

It was different from them before it
And it had ten horns, and behold,
There came up among them a little horn,
Before which three of the first
Were plucked up by the roots
In this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man
And a mouth speaking of great things

 

Ghostly Paramour

These bowls I deposit and sink down
With the work I operate against evil
The virtue of words from words from letters
Whereby swallowed up heaven and earth
The mountains are displaced and uprooted
And by them the peaks melt away
I have mounted up to celestial heights
Brought a destroyer to destroy you

By adjuration of holy angels; hosts of fire in spheres
The Chariots before them; the adversary of fears
A plea to all her spirits; cut off the Countercharm
Leave the clean alone from your devastating harm

All Blast-demons and evil Injurers
With names recorded in these bowls
Oh, sit down here, and ye shall be cast down
You are bound, suppressed and laid away
Remove the Curse and the evil Dreams
Charmed; fortified and confirmed
Corroborated, strengthened and sealed
Wired and guarded with these bowls

By adjuration of holy angels; hosts of fire in spheres
The Chariots before them; the adversary of fears
A plea to all her spirits; cut off the Countercharm
Leave the clean alone from your devastating harm
Through the holy angels; hosts of fire in spheres
The Chariots before them; the adversary of fears
By worshipping the beasts in the fire of the throne
In the name of all redemptions; leave the pure alone

 

Habit and Repute

The prisoner was under evil report
A rank witch, by habit and repute
No specific act was charged against her
The indictment of crime was general

She was ignorant and vulgar
And had used threatening terms
Against persons at enmity with her,
Afterwards visited with loss of health

The victim in her last dotage,
So silly that she was delighted
To warm her wrinkled hands at the fire,
Which was to consume her

As the crowd would pray for execution,
She repeatedly said, that such a good blaze,
And many neighbors gathered around it,
Made the most cheerful sight

Statements of ill fame
Testimonials and signs of guilt
Are to be punished by death

 

The Process

Sorcery, healing and fortune-telling
Cursing and quarrels
Association with a witch
Collection of evidence
Summons to kirk session

Reputation
Counter accusation of slander
Accusation
Flight, appeal, suicide, banishment

Inquisition, punishment, sleep deprivation
Torture and torment
Pricking for mark
Denial, confession
Summons to kirk session

Arrest
Death in prison, suicide
Evidence
Commission, trial, execution

Incrimination of others

Reputation
Counter accusation of slander
Accusation
Flight, appeal, suicide, banishment
Arrest
Death in prison, suicide
Evidence
Commission, trial, execution

 

Origin of All Sin

There is no head above the head of a serpent
No wrath above the wrath of a woman
Rather dwell with a lion and a dragon
Than keep house with a wicked female

She either loves or hates as there is no third grade
And the tears of her are a deception,
When a woman weeps, she weaves snares
When a woman thinks alone, she thinks evil

What else is woman but a foe to friendship
An inescapable punishment, a necessary evil,
A natural temptation, a desirable calamity,
A domestic danger, a delectable detriment,
An evil of nature, painted with fair colors

She is feebler both in body and mind,
And turns fast to the usage of witchcraft
She seethes with anger and impatience
Just as the heaving tides of the sea

The root of the woman’s vices is avarice
She is quick to abjure the faith
The lusts of a man lead him into one sin,
The lust of a woman leads him into all sins

What else is woman but a foe to friendship
An inescapable punishment, a necessary evil,
A natural temptation, a desirable calamity,
A domestic danger, a delectable detriment,
An evil of nature, painted with fair colors

 

The Seventh Seal

A giant mountain, all aflame, was thrown into the sea
Creatures died and the ocean was turned red
A blazing star just like a torch fell into the rivers and springs
Poisoning all that drank from the bitter waters

The sun was struck and the moon and stars turned dark
A third of the day, and the night, was without light
The pit of the abyss was unlocked and opened up
Smoke rose out of it like from a great furnace

When the seventh seal was opened, there was silence in heaven
Followed by thunder, rumblings, lightning and earthquakes
Hail and fire mixed with blood was hurled down on the ground
A third of the Earth was burnt up, a third of the Mankind killed
By the three plagues of fire, smoke and brimstone

The sky and air were darkened by the ashes from below
Locusts descended with tails and tormenting stings
Their wings sounded like thundering hooves rushing into war
Told to harm all without the seal on their foreheads

Angels released by a voice from the great throne
Riders came forth holding shields in many shades
The number of mounted troops was two hundred million
On horses with lion heads and tails like snakes

When the seventh seal was opened, there was silence in heaven
Followed by thunder, rumblings, lightning and earthquakes
Hail and fire mixed with blood was hurled down on the ground
A third of the Earth was burnt up and third of the Mankind killed
By the three plagues of fire, smoke and brimstone