What is here presented unto thee (Christian Reader) being a True and Faithful Relation, &c. (as the Title beareth, and will be further cleared by this Preface) though by the carriage of it, in some respects, and by the Nature of it too, it might be deemed and termed, A Work of Darknesse: Yet it is no other then what with great tendernesse and circumspection, was tendered to men of highest Dignity in Europe, Kings and Princes, and by all (England excepted) listened unto for a while with good respect. By some gladly embraced and entertained for a long time; the Fame whereof being carryed unto Rome, it made the Pope to bestir himself, not knowing what the event of it might be, and how much it might concern him. And indeed, filled all men, Learned and Unlearned in most places with great wonder and astonishment: all which things will be shewed and made good (to the utmost of what we have said) in the Contents of this book, by unquestionable Records and evidences. And therefore I make no question but there will be men enough found in the world whose curiosity will lead them to Read what I think is not to be parallell'd in that Kind by any book that hath been set out in any Age to read: I say, thought it be to no other end then to satisfie their curiosity. But whatsoever other men, according to their several inclinations, may propose to themselves in the reading of it, yet I may and must here professe in the first place, in Truth and Sincerity, that the end that I propose to my self (so far as I have contributed to the Publishing of the Work) is not to satisfie curiosity, but to do good, and promote Religion. When we were first acquainted with the Book, and were offered the reading of it, having but lately been conversant in a Subject of much Affinitiy; to wit, of Mistaken Inspiration and Possession, through ignorance of Natural causes (which labour of ours, as it was our aime at the first in publishing of it, to do good, so we have had good reason since to believe, that we did not altogether misse of what we aimed at) we could not but gladly accept of it. And as we gladly accepted, so we read unto the end with equal eagernesse and Alacrity: Which when we had done, truly it was our Opinion, That the Publishing of it could not but be very Seasonable and Useful, as against Atheists at all times, so in these Times especially, when the Spirit of Error and Illusion, not in profest Anabaptists only, even of the worst kind that former Ages have known and abhorred, doth so much prevail, but in many also, who though they disclaim and detest openly (and heartily too, I hope, most of them) the fruits and effects that such causes have produced in others, yet ground themselves neverthelesse upon the same principles of Supposed Inspiration and immaginary Revelations; and upon that account deem themselves, if not the Only, yet much better Christians then others.
How the precepts are to be observed in the operation of all Arts.
Observe the moon in every operation of Theology. Exhibit that operation with efficacy every quartam lunam; and diligently look into the books and writings of those Arts; if thou doubt of any of the Chapters, they are to be pronounced, as is taught of the superiour Chapters; but know this, that these Holy Words of Orations, we appoint to be said before the bed of the sick, for an experiment of life or death. And this thou maist do often, if thou wilt operate nothing else in the whole body of Art: And know this, that if thou hast not the books in thy hands, or the faculty of looking into them is not given to thee; the effect of this work will not be the lesse therefore: but the Orations are twice then to be pronounced, where they were to be but once: And as to the knowledge of a vision, and the other virtues which these holy Orations have; thou maist prove and try them, when and how thou wilt.
These precepts are specially to be observed.
But when thou would'st operate in Theology, observe only those dayes which are appointed; but all times are convenient for those Notes and Operations, for which there is a competent time given; but in the pronounciation of the three liberal Arts, or in the inspection of their Notes, perhaps thou maist pretermit some day appointed, if thou observe the rest; or if thou transgress two dayes, leave not off the work, for it loseth not its effect for this, for the Moon is more to be observed in the greater numbers than the dayes or hours. For Solomon saith, if thou miss a day or two, fear not, but operate on the general Chapters. This is enough to say of them: but by no means forget any of the words which are to be said in the beginning of the reading to attain to Arts; for there is great virtue in them. And thou maist frequently use the Holy Words of the visions: but if thou wouldst operate in the whole body of the Physical Art, the first Chapters are first to be repeated as before are defined. And in Theology, thou must operate only by thy self: Often repeat the Orations, and look into the Notes of Theology: this produceth great effects. It is necessary that thou have the Note of the 24 Angels alwayes in Memory; and faithfully keep those things, which the Angel reveales to thee in the vision.
As the Air is of absolute Necessity to Animal Life, so it is necessary that it should be of a due Temporament or Consistence; not foul, by reason that suffocateth; nor too rare and thin, because that sufficeth not: with Examples of each of which, I shall a little entertain the Reader. In one of Mr. Hawksbee's Compressing Engines, I closely shut up a Sparrow without forcing any Air in; and in less than an Hour the Bird began to pant, and be concerned; and in less than an hour and a half to be sick, vomit, and more out of Breath; and in two hours time was nearly expiring.
Another I put in and compressed the Air, but the Engine leaking, I frequently renewed the Compressure; by which means, (although the Bird panted a little after the first hour,) yet after such frequent Compressures, and Immission of fresh Air, it was very little concerned, and taken out seemingly unhurt after three hours.
After this I made two other Experiments in compressed Air, with the Weight of two Atmospheres injected, the Engine holding tight and well; the one with a Great Titmouse, the other with a Sparrow. For near an Hour they seemed but little concerned; but after that grew fainter, and in two Hours time sick, and in three Hours time died. Another thing I took notice of, was, that when the Birds were sick and very restless, I fancied they were somewhat relieved for a short space, with the Motion of the Air caused by their fluttering, and shaking their Wings, (a thing worth trying in the Diving-Bell,) I shall leave the ingenious Reader to judge what the cause was of both the Birds living longer in compressed, than uncompressed Air; whether a lesser quantity of Air was not sooner fouled and rendered unfit for Respiration, than a greater.
Now as I have said unto thee, the Olde Ones bestow great and potent powers upon those of men which please Them; and these dread and awful abominations be neither gods nor devils, but are beyond all limitations of good or evil even as of time or space. They are immortal and eternal and undying, and They abide from everlasting to everlasting, for They are not composited of mater as it we know, and neither are They in their origins true inhabitants of this world at all, but in the beginning were native to another. They gave us and all around us to the Earth and They shall take us and all around us back again. They have shewn me the way of all things except that whence They came. Each night my dreams take me to Their moment of self creation but I know that I shall not learn the final secret until the moment of my demise. I know too that my supreme moment of knowledge will not be long in coming. I have felt my body opened by Their power in my dreams and trances long passed. It will happen by day, and it is a day I fear, but still I dream and write, knowing as I know all but the ultimate final thing, that when the stars are right and the sleepers awaken, it all must happen in a prescribed manner. Know this well, seeker: herein lies the numbered plan for the day of the Forgotten Ones and all must happen as writ in Nyarlathotep his book of Light and Darkness. Many shall try to rush the time, but they are fools and dreamers of false dreams. The true dream ends with silent witness over all the Earth. Travellers will appear through gates in time and leave again after doing what they have come to do, but they will not live to see that time again. All is gone. Man began in the workshops of the Star Race when the Faceless One screamed and awoke the first homunculus, which was soon killed and eaten. We are Their food, both physically and spiritually, and the first sign shall be man’s flesh covering the globe. We are stalks of wheat and They will awaken with Their scythes at the ready for the harvest, for the quality of the Forgotten Ones is Hunger. When They are called forth They must be appeased and their table is flesh and fear and sorrow.
O, Sorceror, when They are called They have much to give and to teach, but Their appetite is strong, and will take Their tongues away from talk. They may be distracted, for as we know Them by a foulness we may send a vibration through webs of correspondence with certain oils, unguents and incense that, as They mask Their odour from our nostrils also fools Their otherworldly senses so that They will smell not our humanity, but instead will sense another like unto Themselves. In the day and hour of Mercury with the Moon in her increase, thou shalt take equal parts of Myrrh, Civet, Wormwood, Assfœtida, Galbanum, and Musk, mix well together and reduce all to finest powder. This will make a rich and powerful incense for aid in performing the works. Place the so assembled elements enscribed with the characters of Mars and Saturn. Elevate the vessel to the four winds and cry aloud the supreme words of power thus:
ZIIMVORSOBET NOIJM, ZAVAXO
To the East:
QUEHOIJ, ABAWO, NOQUETONAIJI
To the South:
OASAIJ, WVRAM, THEFOTOSON
To the West:
ZIJORONAIFWETHO, MVGELTHOR, MVGELTHOR-YZKE
Cover the vessel with a cloth of black velvet and set aside. For each of seven nights thou shalt bathe the vessel in moonlight for the space of one hour—keeping it concealed beneath the cloth from cock-crow until sunset. All this being accomplished the incense shall be ready for use and possessed of such virtue that he that useth it with knowledge shall have power to call forth and command the infernal legions. Wot ye—when employed in the ultimate Rites the incense may be rendered the more efficacious by the addition of one part of powdered mummy ægypticus. The characters of Mars are as this:
(Insert occult symbols)
And know ye that the characters of Saturn are fashioned thus:
(Insert occult symbols)
