Columcille circul
prose
diagram

A set of Old English instructions, with included diagram, for building a magical device with which to protect a bee-enclosure (apiary). It is attested in a Gallican Psalter from Winchester, where it is part of an Old English gloss that includes various charms for healing animals. The present item follows directly on one for protection from theft of bees. The user is instructed to take a knife and use it to inscribe the circular device depicted in the diagram on a malmstone, along with the Latin words it contains (certain numerals and the words contra apes ut salui [sic] sint et in corda eorum [sic] s[crib]am h[anc]). Next, one is to drive a stake into the center of the enclosure and impose the stone on the stake until only the writing surface remains visible.