The Sevils Chaplain:!Rev Robert Taylor

 

Reverend Robert Taylor

The Devil’s Chaplain

The life of Reverend Robert Taylor (1784–1844) remains one of the most provocative chapters in the history of nineteenth-century freethought.

 Known by the evocative nickname "The Devil’s Chaplain," Taylor was a man of immense erudition and ecclesiastical standing who turned his back on the Anglican orthodoxy to become a radical critic of Christianity. His journey from the pulpit to the prison cell serves as a powerful case study in the volatile intersection of religion, science, and the law in Regency-era England.

The man they tried to silence in prison: twice!

Controversy and "The Devil’s Chaplain"

Taylor was not merely a quiet scholar; he was a flamboyant performer. He began delivering lectures at the Rotunda, a radical theater in London, dressed in full episcopal robes. These performances were part intellectual lecture and part theatrical satire, earning him the "Devil's Chaplain" moniker—a title he wore with a mixture of irony and pride.

His activities did not go unnoticed by the authorities. Taylor was prosecuted for blasphemous libel multiple times:

1. 1828: Sentenced to one year in Oakham Gaol.

2. 1831: Sentenced to two years in Horsemonger Lane Gaol.

These imprisonments were intended to silence him, but they had the opposite effect. During his time behind bars, he wrote extensively, and his "Devil's Pulpit" sermons were smuggled out and published, circulating widely among the working classes and radical reformers.

Legacy and Influence

Robert Taylor’s influence extended beyond the radical circles of London. He was a primary influence on the young Charles Darwin, who was a student at Cambridge when Taylor’s trial was the talk of the university. 

While Darwin moved toward biological evolution rather than mythological deconstruction, the atmosphere of skepticism fostered by Taylor helped pave the way for the secularisation of the Victorian mind.

Taylor eventually retired to France, where he practiced medicine and lived a quieter life until his death in 1844. He remains a pivotal figure for his role in:

• Challenging the Blasphemy Laws: His trials highlighted the tension between state-mandated religion and freedom of speech.

• Comparative Religion: Though some of his specific astronomical theories are now considered fringe, his core methodology of comparing Christian motifs to earlier mythologies was ahead of its time.

The Evolution of a Radical

Taylor began his career conventionally enough. Educated at St. John’s College, Cambridge, he was ordained as a priest in the Church of England. However, his tenure as a clergyman was short-lived. Influenced by the works of Thomas Paine and the burgeoning field of comparative mythology, 

Taylor began to publicly doubt the historical accuracy of the New Testament.

By 1824, he had moved to London and founded the Christian Evidence Society. Despite its pious-sounding name, the society was a platform for Taylor to challenge the divine origin of Christianity. He argued that the religion was not a unique revelation but rather a synthesis of earlier pagan myths and astronomical observations.

The Mythicist and "The Diegesis"

Taylor’s most significant contribution to radical literature was his 1829 work, The Diegesis. Written while he was imprisoned for blasphemy, the book is an exhaustive attempt to prove that Christianity was derived from Egyptian, Greek, and Hindu mythologies.

• Astro-theology: Taylor was a pioneer of the "astro-theological" interpretation of the Bible. He argued that Jesus Christ was a personification of the Sun, and the twelve apostles represented the signs of the Zodiac.

• Historical Skepticism: He contended that there was no contemporary historical evidence for the existence of Jesus, suggesting the narrative was constructed by the Gnostics and later literalised by the early Church.

“The Diegesis remains a monument to Taylor's defiant scholarship, blending deep classical knowledge with a biting, satirical wit that infuriated the religious establishment of his day."

Robert Taylor was a man of contradictions: a priest who preached against the church, a scholar who used satire as a weapon, and a prisoner who found intellectual freedom in a cell. His life reminds us that the quest for truth often requires the courage to be an outcast. Be like him; question everything and find out for yourself how this world really works.

 

The Nine Herbs Charm

The Nine Herbs Charm (Nigon Wyrta Galdor) is a 10th-century Anglo-Saxon metrical charm recorded in a medical manuscript called the Lacnunga. It is one of the most significant pieces of Old English literature because it preserves a rare blend of Christian influence and ancient Germanic paganism.  

The charm was designed to treat poisoning, infections, or skin issues (symbolised as a "serpent's venom") through a combination of herbalism, ritual chanting, and divine invocation.  

The Ritual and the Legend

The text tells a mythic story: a serpent crawled to a man and bit him. In response, the god Woden (Odin) took nine "glory-twigs" and struck the serpent, shattering it into nine pieces.  

To perform the charm, a practitioner would:

1. Chant: Recite the poem over the herbs before they were processed.  

2. Prepare: Crush the nine herbs into a powder and mix them with old soap and apple juice to create a salve.  

3. Apply: Sing the charm into the patient's mouth, both ears, and onto the wound itself before applying the salve.  

The Nine Herbs

While scholars debate some of the Old English names, the most commonly accepted list of the  ( modern named here) nine herbs is:

• Mugwort 
• Plantain
• Watercress / Bittercress
• Betony 
• Chamomile 
• Nettle
• Crab Apple 
• Chervil
• fennel 

Why it Matters Today

• Sacred Numerology: The charm focuses heavily on the numbers 3 and 9, which are sacred in Norse and Germanic traditions (representing the Nine Worlds).  

• The "Flying Venom": The charm mentions "nine venoms" and "nine flying things." In the Anglo-Saxon worldview, disease wasn't just physical; it was often seen as "elf-shot" or invisible darts of poison flying through the air.  

• Woden’s Appearance: This is one of only two places in Old English poetry where Woden is explicitly mentioned as a healing/magical figure, marking it as a crucial piece of pre-Christian history.

Fun Fact: The charm specifically addresses the herbs as living spirits. It speaks to the plantain, reminding the plant of how it has withstood the wheels of carts and the breath of bulls, essentially "cheering on" the plant's spirit to fight the patient's illness.

Create your own Nine Herbs Salve

Creating a modern version of the Nine Herbs Salve is a beautiful way to connect with ancestral healing traditions. The original recipe calls for "old soap," "apple grime/juice," and "ashes," but we can adapt these into a shelf-stable, skin-friendly ointment while keeping the spirit of the ritual intact.

1. Gather Your Modern "Nine"

Some of the original herbs are hard to find. Use this guide to gather your ingredients

Base Ingredients:

• 1 cup Carrier Oil: (Olive oil or Jojoba work best)

• 1/4 cup Beeswax: (Replaces the "soap" as a hardening agent)

• A splash of Apple Cider Vinegar: (Representing the apple and the acidic purification)

2. The Infusion (The "Medicine")

1. Prepare the Herbs: Finely chop or grind your nine herbs. If using fresh herbs, let them wilt for 24 hours first to reduce moisture (this prevents mold).

2. Slow Heat: Place the herbs and carrier oil in a double boiler (a bowl over a pot of simmering water).

3. The Chant: As the oil warms, this is where you perform the Galdor (the chant). Traditionally, the charm is sung into the mixture nine times. You can recite the poem I mentioned earlier or simply speak to each herb, acknowledging its power (e.g., "Mugwort, oldest of herbs, bring your protection here").

4. Strain: After 2–3 hours of low heat, strain the oil through a cheesecloth into a clean jar, squeezing out every drop of "glory."

3. Creating the Salve (The "Body")

1. Melt the Wax: Return the infused oil to the double boiler and add the beeswax pellets. Stir gently until melted.

2. The Apple Element: Add a few drops of Apple Cider Vinegar. It won't fully mix with the oil, but it honours the original instruction of "apple-grime."

3. The Test: Drop a spoonful onto a cold plate. If it’s too soft, add more wax; if too hard, add a splash more oil.

4. Pour: Pour the liquid into small tins or jars.

4. The Final Ritual

According to the Lacnunga, the magic isn't finished until the salve is "activated."

• Sing into the Jar: Once the salve is set, sing the charm over it one last time.

• Application: When applying it to a scratch or skin irritation, the ancient text suggests singing the charm into your own mouth, then into each of your ears, and finally over the wound before rubbing the salve on.

Safety Note: This salve is for external use only. While these herbs are traditional, always patch-test a small area of skin first to ensure you don't have an allergic reaction—modern skin can be more sensitive than 10th-century skin!

Mineral Marvels: Calcite

 

Calcite

Planet ( depends on colour) : Moon,Venus, Saturn, Mercury 

Sign (also colour dependent) Cancer, Virgo

Deities ( check for colour variations) : Hathor, Ra, Osiris , Sekhmet , Aphrodite, Venus, Apollo, Dionysus , Innana, Ishtar, Enlil, Enki, Hermes, Mercury, Brigid and Persephone. 

Chakra: 

• Red/Orange — Root and Sacral chakras, vitality and creativity

• Yellow — Solar Plexus, confidence and willpower

• Green — Heart chakra, emotional healing

• Blue — Throat and Third Eye, communication and intuition

• Clear/White — Crown chakra, spiritual connection

• Black — Grounding 

Metaphysical Properties

Calcite is widely regarded in crystal healing traditions as a powerful energy amplifier and cleanser. 

Key beliefs include:

Energetic qualities

• Amplifies energy, making it popular for use in meditation and healing work

• Said to clear stagnant or negative energy from a space or the aura

• Associated with accelerating spiritual growth and raising consciousness

• Considered a stone of motivation and inner clarity

Emotional & mental associations

• Linked to emotional intelligence — helping process feelings without being overwhelmed

• Thought to boost memory, learning, and mental discernment (especially yellow and orange calcite)

• Blue calcite is associated with calm communication and soothing anxiety

• Green calcite is connected to the heart chakra, compassion, and releasing old patterns

Medicinal & Scientific Properties

From a scientific standpoint, calcite (calcium carbonate, CaCO₃) has several well-established and researched uses:

Established medical uses

• The primary ingredient in many antacid medications (e.g., Tums), neutralising excess stomach acid

• Used as a calcium supplement to support bone density and prevent osteoporosis

• Applied in some pharmaceutical manufacturing as a filler or binder in tablets

Traditional/folk medicine (not scientifically validated)

• Historically used in various cultures to treat digestive complaints, skin conditions, and as a general tonic

• Some traditional Chinese medicine systems use Long Gu (fossil bone/calcite compounds) for calming the nervous system

Geological & industrial relevance

• Key component of limestone and marble, used in construction and sculpting

• Used in water treatment to raise pH and reduce acidity

Calcite’s abundance, workability, and chemical versatility made it one of the most consequential minerals in human civilisation — touching architecture, art, science, agriculture, and medicine across virtually every major culture in history.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Historical Uses of Calcite

Ancient Construction & Architecture

Calcite and its rock forms (limestone and marble) are among the most extensively used building materials in human history.

• The Egyptian pyramids at Giza are largely constructed from limestone, with the Great Pyramid originally cased in polished white Tura limestone (a fine-grained calcite)

• The Parthenon in Athens and countless other Greek and Roman monuments were built from marble, a metamorphic form of calcite

• Ancient Mesopotamian civilizations used alabaster (a calcite variety) for decorative panels and sculpture

Art & Sculpture

• Alabaster was prized in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Renaissance Europe for carving statues, canopic jars, and decorative objects due to its soft, workable nature and translucent beauty

• Iceland spar (optical-grade transparent calcite) was ground into pigments and used in early artistic works

• Roman and Greek sculptors favored fine marble for its ability to take incredibly detailed carving

Navigation

One of the more surprising historical uses involves Viking navigation. Iceland spar (transparent calcite) is believed to have been used as a “sunstone” — a polarising crystal that could locate the position of the sun even on overcast days or below the horizon, allowing Norse sailors to navigate the North Atlantic with remarkable accuracy. Archaeological evidence from a 16th-century shipwreck has lent credibility to this theory.

Writing & Record-Keeping

• Chalk, a soft form of calcite, became one of humanity’s most enduring writing tools — used on blackboards from the 19th century well into the modern era

• Ancient peoples also used chalk and limestone surfaces for cave markings and early inscriptions

Optics & Science

• In the 17th century, the Danish scientist Erasmus Bartholin discovered the phenomenon of double refraction (birefringence) using Iceland spar calcite — a landmark moment in the history of optics

• Christiaan Huygens and later scientists used calcite to develop the wave theory of light

• Calcite crystals were used in early polarizing microscopes and optical instruments well into the 20th century

Agriculture

• Ground limestone (calcite) has been used for thousands of years to neutralize acidic soils, a practice documented in ancient Rome by writers like Pliny the Elder and Columella

• Crushed shells and chalk (both largely calcite) were spread on fields across medieval Europe to improve crop yields

Medicine & Alchemy

• Ancient and medieval physicians used prepared chalk and calcined (heated) calcite compounds to treat digestive ailments — a tradition that directly prefigures modern antacids

• Alchemists were fascinated by calcite’s transformations under heat, and it featured in early proto-chemical experiments

• In traditional Chinese medicine, calcite (Fangjieishi) has been used for centuries to clear heat, reduce phlegm, and calm the mind

Care and cleanse 

Avoid Prolonged Water Exposure

Instead, clean calcite with a soft, dry cloth or a slightly damp cloth if necessary. Refrain from using household cleaners, as they often contain acids that can easily damage calcite's surface. Always store calcite in a dry place to maintain its natural beauty and integrity.

Disclaimer 

Note: These properties come from folklore, herbalism traditions, and modern pagan/witchcraft practices. They are not scientifically proven and are meant for spiritual or symbolic use. Always forage or use ethically (with permission from the land/owner), sustainably, and respectfully. If using internally (e.g., bark tea), consult a qualified herbalist, as willows contain salicin (aspirin-like) and have contraindications. This article is not intended as medical advice. ALWAYS consult a medical professional before using any herbal or alternative medicine.