A spell that causes partial memory loss and creates a false memory

This is a consummate spell performed by John Uskglass

When restoring Vinculus to life and rewriting his book on his skin John Uskglass is observed by Childermass who, not recognising his King or understanding in the least what is going forward, attempts to interfere. Indeed, he goes so far as to fire a pistol shot in the King's direction. In response Uskglass not only renders the shot entirely harmless but also places Childermas into a sort of peaceful trance in which he remains until the King has thoroughly finished his business and is ready to depart. At this point he returns to Childermass to release him from whatever spell he had cast to keep him immobile.

In addition however he also appears to cast a further spell on Childermass that not only erases his memory of seeing these events at all, but actually replaces it with a false one. Once Uskglass has gone Childermass has no recollection of either his presence or his actions. Instead he believes he came upon Vinculus in time - that he cut him down from the tree before he died ("Someone tried to hang you.... Luckily I found you in time and cut you down"). Even as he says that, however, Childermass does momentarily remember the truth — he has a brief mental image of Vinculus's corpse, and of Uskglass's hand as he was changing the writing on Vinculus's body — but that true memory swiftly slips from his mind.

After he finished rewriting his book on Vinculus's body, Uskglass is described as having licked his finger and drawn symbols on Childermass's eyelids and lips, over his heart, and on the palm of his left hand. It appears this act is part of the spell not only to cause partial memory loss but also to create a false memory in its place[67]. The supreme composure and the casual elegance which with the whole procedure is carried out shows Uskglass' complete mastery of magic.

Mr Norrell's spell that causes partial memory loss is similar but it does not replace the lost memories with false ones. Those upon whom it acts retain a nagging unease, a sense that all is not well with them - as is the case with Mr Honeyfoot and Mr Segundus after their return from their visit to Hurtfew Abbey. (Mr Segundus, indeed, is rendered a little indisposed.)[2] We are left to reflect that after learning his magic from its truest source - fairies - and having refined his art for centuries, Uskglass is a magician whose skills Gilbert Norrell cannot begin to rival.