In response to the enquiries about who are the seven sisters, and are they fairie queens, or figures from Celtic myth, I decided the best thing to do was to quote directly from the manuscript, so people can see for themselves the context of the names:
“Those Kind of Terrestrial spirits are vulgarly Called of all people generally Fairies or Elves, and the natures and Quality of them are well Known to many, those spirits there are too who are Set over the Hierarchy as the Supreme head thereof, whose names are Mycob and Oberion, under whom again are Seven Sisters, placed as the next principal, whose names, are, Lilia, Rostilia, Foca, Folla, Africa, Julia, Venulla, under whom again are many Legions as Subjects and Subservient &c: who (as aforesaid) wander to & fro upon the Earth, and have the Keeping also of many Treasures that are hidden or Buried, especially such as are hidden in those places that they frequent, inhabit, or Delight in.”
Interestingly the conjuration that follows includes the use of the famous Sator square in an unusual form. A very interesting comment from Sloane MS 3825, reproduced in The Keys to the Gateway of Magic, declares:
“The nature of those spirits, or Elves is, they are affected with and Love all those that Love them, & hate all those that hate them”
This is something worth remembering when going out into the woods or wilds to try and commune with the fairy realms!
