Brian Johnson
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bjohnsonfreelance.bsky.social
Brian Johnson
@bjohnsonfreelance.bsky.social
Literary, nonfiction, and TTRPG editor | Humanities research consultant | Former CRM archaeologist | Translator of grimoires | Scholar of the arcane

https://bjohnsonfreelance.com/
I don't believe there's anything book-length, but there is a solid chapter: "A biography of Edward Kelly, the English alchemist and associate of Dr. John Dee" by Michael Wilding, in _Mystical Metal of Gold: essays on alchemy and Renaissance culture_ edited by Stanton J. Linden.
February 16, 2026 at 1:40 AM
While many of the divergences are inexplicable, it seems very likely that Nacdyras/Nacclyras is the result of "cl" being read as "d" (or vice versa). On the other hand, Hacaptena and Sachocych are identical in both manuscripts, and so probably correctly represent their archetype.
February 13, 2026 at 9:21 PM
...and moreover, that at least one of these scribes has mis-copied parts of it.

Abguitasy = Abguytay or Abguytas
Karasceman = Karacemoy
Nacdyras = Nacclyras
Petharcetays = Petarcechar or Pecatycayg
Hacaptena = Hacaptena
Yegnypedaya = Yeguepedagh or Yegnypedays
Sachocych = Sachocych
February 13, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Each set, taken in isolation, might at first glance appear legible (if not easily so) and textually independent, though one scribe does offer alternative readings of several names. But, when we begin comparing the series, it quickly becomes clear that they must derive from a common source...
February 13, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Medieval scribes were clearly no less susceptible than modern scholars to the confusion that could arise from sloppy handwriting.

Here we see two copies of the same litany of divine names, taken from manuscripts both produced roughly some time in the 15th century.
February 13, 2026 at 9:21 PM
And image #3 depicts the insuperable conundrums this state of affairs causes when attempting to transcribe other names in 14 B 36 which don't appear in plut. 89 sup. 38.
February 11, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Image #2 depicts that name in the same passage of text in MS Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Sachsen-Anhalt, 14 B 36.
February 11, 2026 at 9:15 PM
This image depicts the name "Valendy" (highlighted in red) in MS Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, plut. 89 sup. 38. (click to expand)
February 11, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Just to help clarify, the light blue dot under "share" at the bottom of the blog post is a twitter link. Probably a bit of old code that hasn't been updated.
January 31, 2026 at 9:25 PM
...or fails to limit ICE and Border Patrol’s ability to conduct dragnet arrest operations and target people based on their race, language or accent, place of employment, or location at the time of the apprehension. 5/5
January 24, 2026 at 6:23 PM
It is to prevent this outcome that I ask you to refuse to vote for any FY2026 appropriations bill that includes increased funding for ICE or Border Patrol, including funds for detention... 4/x
January 24, 2026 at 6:23 PM
...but we have every reason to believe it is only a matter of time before the Trump administration decides to wield this unaccountable force as a weapon of terror against "Democratic" cities in our state as well. Tragedies like the murder of Renee Good can happen here. 3/x
January 24, 2026 at 6:23 PM
The bill fails to place any checks upon the ongoing illegal violence, intimidation, and other excesses of the ICE agency; ICE has not yet been directed to focus those tactics on [your state] in the same way it has in Illinois, Minnesota, and elsewhere... 2/x
January 24, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Hello Senator [name],

As you know, the House of Representatives has recently passed an appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security. As one of your constituents, I urge you to vote NO on this bill in its current form when it reaches the Senate. 1/x
January 24, 2026 at 6:23 PM
So, in the meantime, I have taken it upon myself to upload the images, to which I have access, in pdf format to the Internet Archive. They should thus be available for scholarly reference in perpetuity. archive.org/details/staa... 3/3
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, MS Germ. Fol. 903: Summa Sacre Magice, Book 3 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
A 16th-century German translation of book 3 of the Summa Sacre Magice, originally composed in Latin by Berengar Ganell circa 1346. Digitized by the Berlin...
archive.org
January 22, 2026 at 6:11 PM