The Wagstaff miscellany. Contains excerpts of historical tracts, medical recipes, charms, prayers, notes on parliament, philosophy, and dream interpretation, proverbs, poems, notes on horses and hunting, and excerpts from astronomical and religious tracts.
Date: s. xv, s. xiv
Scribes:
Medieval owners: Whittokesmede? (written in red on fols. 59r and 101v)
Original location or linguistic profile: possibly Southwest Midlands
Magic Category: charms, medical
Specific magic texts: A charm to staunch blood (“Rogers blode”) and another whose purpose is unclear that uses words and characters written down, as well as the name of the patient (fol. 14v). A charm for general protection that has been partly crossed out and rewritten at the end (fol. 15r). Verse charm against thieves (see below) titled “Coniuracio contra latrones” (fols. 15v-16r).
Charm motifs: Almighty God in Trinity
Online Information: Manuscript description and digitisation at the Beinecke library website
More complete description from the Beinecke library
Digitised: Yes, images available here.
Bibliography: Kurt Bühler. “Middle English Verses Against Thieves.”Speculum 33 (1958): 371-2.
Late Medieval English Magic 