Ralph Stokesey
Ralph Stokesey was a notable Aureate magician from Exeter, the county town of Devon*, where he lived in a house across from the Cathedral.† He was assisted in much of his magic by his fairy-servant, Col Tom Blue.
Stokesey was apparently a man of very eager temperament. Gilbert Norrell refers to tales that he indulged in magical duels with other magicians, including the ruler of Athodel [63]: Jonathan Strange recalled how Stokesey boldly dogged Col Tom Blue to his very brugh and fairly tricked him into becoming his servant [54]. Indeed it was said that in point of reckless temper and freaks of humour there was not a pin to choose between Stokesey and his fairy companions.
Like many of his fellow Aureates Stokesey wrote nothing about magic and nothing about himself; or at least nothing has survived. This negligence in his case is the more culpable inasmuch as Stokesey, unlike many magicians, had attended grammar school and knew Latin [1].
Notes
*. Although Stokesey himself is a Devonian born, his father or grandfather was presumably from Shropshire, since that is where the village of Stokesay is found. Yet more proof — if such were needed — that Jonathan Strange is not the first Salopian with a natural bent towards magic.
†. Stokesey's house is no longer in the Cathedral close, having long ago vanished with its master [69].