Timeline of English Magic
Here is a timeline of events related to English Magic, before those of the Revival. See also the Timeline of the Revival of English Magic.
Before 1100, AD
Earlier magicians in England include Joseph of Arimathea and Merlin.
1096
Thomas of Dundale disappears at Christmas.
1097
Death of John Uskglass, Norman aristocrat whom the Raven King claimed as his father and whose name he used.
12th Century
1105?
Birth of Thomas Godbless.
1110
Late in the year, a fairy army arrives in England at Penlaw, led by the 15 year old Raven King. In early December, the fairy army arrives at Allendale, having taken Newcastle and Durham; the exsanguination of the maid of Allendale occurs. By 25 December, the fairy host has arrived at York, having added Carlisle and Lancaster to its conquests; Henry I summons the nobility and clergy of England to discuss the invasion.
1111
In January, the fairy host leaves York, heads south, and meets army of Henry I at Newark. Henry I and his army are defeated, and a truce is made giving Northern England to the Raven King.
1124
Seven people are taken by fairies from Norwich.
1138
The Raven King causes the moon to travel through the lakes and rivers of England.
c. 1140
An account of the Raven King’s arrival in England is written by Orderic Vitalis.
1151
Four people are taken by fairies from Aysgarth, Yorkshire.
1156
The Raven King falls ill. A celebration is held after his recovery, at which Thomas Godbless gives him the trees, hills, wind and rain.
1180
Death of Thomas Godbless.
Other Events of the 12th Century
- Beginning of evident rivalry between clergy and magicians.
- The court of Les Cinque Dragownes begins operation.
- Career of Meraud (known for Meraudian Heresy).
- A fairy cast a curse on Robert Dymoke causing him to only sing, not speak.
- The events concerning the story of the daughter (Donata Torel) of the Master of Nottingham (Hugh Torel) and Margaret Ford pass.
13th Century
1201
Twenty-three people taken by fairies from Exeter.
1202
The Raven King quarrels with Winter; Winter is banished from Northern England for four years.
1209
Birth of Catherine of Winchester, who wrote The Book of the Lady Catherine of Winchester.
1230s?
Birth of Alexander of Whitby (known for Whitbyian Heresy).
1232
Joscelin de Snitton poses as cat (Sir Loveday). This disguise is discovered by Walter de Chepe, and Joscelin de Snitton is subsequently tried by the Petty Dragownes of London.
1241
The Raven King disappears on mysterious journey lasting a year and a day.
1243
One person taken by fairies from Hathersage, Derbyshire.
1267
Death of Catherine of Winchester.
1279
A boy is murdered in Alston; the Raven King sends magicians to enchant statues on the church to identify the murderer.
1280
Bristol citizens order their town’s magicians to cast de Chepe's Prophylaxis on the town. The town is completely frozen until the Raven King comes to fix things a month later.
Other Events of the 13th Century
- Early century: career of Walter De Chepe.
- Mid-century: several enemies of the Raven King attempt to form an alliance against him. The Raven King resurrects and tortures Henry Barbatus.
- The court of Les Cinque Dragownes continues operation.
- Exhortations of saints begin appearing in fairy magic, and are later taught to human magicians.
- The government of North England is run mainly by William of Lanchester while the Raven King focuses on magic.
14th Century
c. 1300?
The gentleman with the thistle-down hair encounters William of Lanchester and Thomas of Dundale in London (might instead have been c. 1400).
1302
Death of Alexander of Whitby.
1310
Bloodworth family and neighbors disappear into cupboard provided by Buckler, a fairy.
1345
For thirty consecutive nights in May and June, everyone in Northern England dreams of building a tall black tower. This is apparently the work of the Raven King, and the tower was possibly built in Agrace.
Other Events of the 14th Century
- The court of Les Cinque Dragownes continues operation.
- Exhortations to saints continue appearing in fairy magic, which are subsequently taught to human magicians.
- In Lancashire, a magician causes inconveniences in a town with frequent wishes.
- A curse (possibly by a fairy) causes a magician to have a silver foot.
- A mad boy named Duffy of Chesterfield is befriended by a fairy.
- Rosa et Fons is written by an unknown author.
15th Century
c. 1400?
The gentleman with the thistle-down hair encounters William of Lanchester and Thomas of Dundale in London (might instead have been c. 1300).
1409
Birth of Peter Watershippe, who wrote A Faire Wood Withering, Death's Library, A Defense of my Deeds and Crimes of the False King.
1413
The gentleman with the thistle-down hair visits the recently crowned Henry V, of Southern England.
1434
The Raven King leaves England.
1444
A Faire Wood Withering, by Peter Watershippe, is published.
1448
Death's Library, by Peter Watershippe, is published.
1459/60
A Defense of my Deeds Written while Wrongly Imprisoned by my Enemies in Newark Castle, by Peter Watershippe, is published.
1461?
Crimes of the False King, by Peter Watershippe, is written.
1485
Birth of Martin Pale, who wrote De Tractatu Magicarum Linguarum and Discourses Upon the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness.
1486
Jack Pharaoh is produced by the Earl of Hexham as the Raven King returned.
1487
Pharaoh is crowned in Durham Cathedral.
1490
The Earl of Hexham is murdered on Pharaoh’s orders.
1493
Pharaoh is defeated by Henry VII and imprisoned in the Tower of London.
1496
Birth of Paris Ormskirk, who wrote Revelations of Thirty-Six Other Worlds.
1499
Jack Pharaoh is executed.
Other Events of the 15th Century
- Career of Loveday Ingham.
- Career of William Thorpe.
- The Mirrour of the Lyf of Ralph Stokesie is written by William Thorpe and Col Tom Blue.
16th Century
1507
Birth of Gregory Absalom, who wrote The Tree of Learning.
c. 1510
Martin Pale travels in Faerie, meets Maria Bloodworth .
1518
Birth of Thomas Lanchester, who wrote Treatise Concerning the Language of Birds.
1526
Birth of Jacques Belasis, who wrote The Instructions.
1535
Birth of Nicholas Goubert, who wrote Gatekeeper of Apollo.
1536
Campaign of the Summer King.
1550s
Presumable last visit of Martin Pale to Faerie.
1567
Death of Martin Pale.
1578
Death of Nicholas Goubert.
1587
Death of Paris Ormskirk.
1588
A Basque sailor possibly sees the Raven King.
1590
Death of Thomas Lanchester.
1599
Death of Gregory Absalom.
Other Events of the 16th Century
- A Yorkshire farmer sees the Raven King.
- Career of Francis Pevensey.
- Eighteen Wonders to be found in the House of Albion, by Francis Pevensey, is published.
- The Parliament of Women is written.
17th Century
1604
Death of Jacques Belasis.
1607
Two small armies (of fairies?) intend to fight a battle on a Turkish carpet.
1610
Two maids see a party of dancing ladies and gentlemen on a lawn at Shadow House.
1620
Birth of Richard Chaston, who wrote Liber Novus.
1647
Crimes of the False King, by Peter Watershippe, is published.
1666
Valentine Greatrakes converses with Moses and Aaron at Shadow House.
1667
Aging reflection of a woman in a mirror at Shadow House.
1682
Birth of Francis Sutton-Grove, who wrote De Generibus Artium Magicarum Anglorum and Prescriptions and Descriptions.
1695
Death of Richard Chaston.
1698
The Blue Book: being an attempt to expose the most prevalent lies and common deceptions practised by English magicians upon the King’s subjects and upon each other, by Valentine Munday, is published.
Other Events of the 17th Century
- A glovemaker's daughter in Newcastle sees the Raven King.
- The manuscript The Excellences of Christo-Judaic Magick is written.
- Exercitatio Magica Nobilissima is written.
18th Century
1700
Birth of Thaddeus Hickman, who wrote Life of Martin Pale.
1712
Birth of Charles Hether-Gray, who wrote The Anatomy of a Minotaur.
1735
Three Perfectible States of Being, by William Pantler, is published.
1738
Death of Thaddeus Hickman.
1741
De Generibus Artium Magicarum Anglorum, by Francis Sutton-Grove, is published.
1749
Prescriptions and Descriptions, by Francis Sutton-Grove, is published.
1751?
Birth of Mr Honeyfoot.
1754
The letters of Martin Pale are discovered.
1754
Clegg eats the The Book of Magic.
1758?
Birth of Vinculus.
1765
Death of Francis Sutton-Grove.
early-mid 1770’s?
Birth of John Childermass.
1775
Birth of Jane Tobias.
1779?
Birth of Jonathan Strange.
1780
Fairy bridge built at Thoresby with the aid of Tom Brightwind.
1785?
Birth of Arabella Woodhope.
1789
Death of Charles Hether-Gray.
1799
The article A Complete Description of Dr Pale's Fairy-servants, their Names, Histories, Characters and the Services they performed for Him, by John Segundus, is published.
Other Events of the 18th Century
- Mid-century: career of William Pantler.
- Career of Horace Tott, who planned to write a large book on English Magic.
1800-1806
1801
The Life of Jacques Belasis, by Lord Portishead, is published.
1804
John Segundus meets Vinculus in London.
1805
- The Life of Nicholas Goubert, by Lord Portishead, is published.
- Vinculus exposed as a fraud (Spirit of the River Thames).
1806
Autumn: John Segundus arrives in York.
Other Events of 1800-1806
Court case Tubbs versus Starhouse (the date is uncertain, but the case probably occurred during these years).
For subsequent events, see the Timeline of the Revival of English Magic.