The Law was made and ordained of old.
The Law was made for the Wicca, to advise and help in their troubles.
The Wicca should give due worship to the gods and obey their will, which they ordain, for it was made for the good of Wicca as the worship of the Wicca is good for the gods. For the gods love the brethren of Wicca.
As a man loveth a woman by mastering her,
So should the Wicca love the gods by being mastered by them.
And it is necessary that the Circle which is the temple of the gods, should be truly cast and purified. And that it may be a fit place for the gods to enter.
And the Wicca shall be properly prepared and purified to enter into the presence of the gods.
With love and worship in their hearts, they shall raise power from their bodies to give power to the gods.
As has been taught of old.
For in this way only may men have communion with the gods, for the gods cannot help man without the help of man.
High Priestess and High Priest
And the High Priestess shall rule her coven as the representative of the Goddess.
And the High Priest shall support her as the representative of the God.
And the High Priestess shall choose whom she will, be he of sufficient rank, to be her High Priest.
For, as the God Himself kissed Her feet in the five-fold salute, laying His power at the feet of the Goddess because of Her youth and beauty, Her sweetness and kindness, Her wisdom and justice, Her humility and generosity,
So He resigned all His power to Her.
But the High Priestess should ever mind that the power comes from Him.
It is only lent, to be used wisely and justly.
And the greatest virtue of a High Priestess be that she recognize that youth is necessary to the representative of the Goddess.
So she will gracefully retire in favour of a younger woman should the Coven so decide in council.
For a true High Priestess realizes that gracefully surrendering pride of place is one of the greatest virtues.
And that thereby she will return to that pride of place in anotherlife, with greater power and beauty.
Security
In the old days, when witchdom extended far, we were free an worshipped in all the greater temples.
But in these unhappy times we must celebrate our sacred mysteries in secret.
So be it ordained that none but the Wicca may see our mysteries, for our enemies are many and torture loosens the tongue of man.
So be it ordained that no Coven shall know where the next Coven bide.
Or who its members be, save only the Priest and Priestess and messenger.
And there shall be no communication between them, save by the messenger of the gods, or the summoner.
And only if it be safe may the Covens meet in some safe place for the great festivals.
And while there, none shall say whence they came nor give their true names.
To this end, that if any be tortured, in their agony, they may not tell if they do not know.
So be it ordained that no one shall tell anyone not of the craft who be of the Wicca, nor give any names or where they bide, or in any way tell anything which can betray any of us to our foes.
Nor may he tell where the Covendom be.
Or the Covenstead.
Or where the meetings be.
And if any break these Laws, even under torture, THE CURSE OF THE GODDESS SHALL BE UPON THEM, so they may never be reborn on earth and may remain where they belong, in the hell of the Christians.
Disputes
Let each High Priestess govern her Coven with justice and love, with the help and advice of the High Priest and the Elders, always heeding the advice of the Messenger of the Gods if he cometh.
She will heed all complaints of all Brothers and strive to settle all differences among them.
But it must be recognized that there will always be people who will ever strive to force others to do as they will.
These are not necessarily evil.
And they oft have good ideas and such ideas should be talked over in council.
But if they will not agree with their Brothers, or if they say,
"I will not work under this High Priestess,"
It hath ever been the Old Law to be convenient to the Brethren and to avoid disputes.
New Covens
Any of the third may claim to found a new Coven because they live over a league away from the Covenstead or are about to do so.
Anyone living within the Covendom and wishing to form a new Coven, shall tell the Elders of their intention, and on the instant avoid their dwelling and remove to the new Covendom.
Members of the old Coven may join the new one when it is formed. But if they do, they must utterly avoid the old Coven.
The Elders of the new and old Covens should meet in peace and brotherly love to decide the new boundaries.
Those of the craft who dwell outside both Covendoms may join either but not both.
Though all may, if the Elders agree, meet for the great festivals if it be truly in peace and brotherly love,
But splitting the Coven often means strife, so for this reason these Laws were made of old and may the CURSE OF THE GODDESS BE ON ANY WHO DISREGARD THEM. So be it ordained.
Grimoire
If you would keep a book, let it be in your own hand of write. Let brothers and sisters copy what they will, but never let the book out of your hands, and never keep the writings of another.
For if it be found in their hand of write, they may be taken and arraigned.
Let each guard his own writings and destroy them whenever danger threatens.
Learn as much as you may by heart and, when danger is past, rewrite your book, an it be safe.
For this reason, if any die, destroy their book an they have not been able to.
For, an it be found, 'tis clear proof against them.
And our oppressors know well "Ye may not be a witch alone".
So all their kin and friends be in danger of torture,
So destroy everything not necessary.
If your book be found on you, 'tis clear proof against you alone, you may be arraigned.
Persecutions
Keep all thoughts of the craft from your mind.
If the torture be too great to bear, say "I will confess. I cannot bear this torture. What do you want me to say?"
If they try to make you speak of the Brotherhood, do not.
But if they try to make you speak of impossibilities such as flying through the air, consorting with a Christian devil or sacrificing children, or eating men's flesh,
To obtain relief from torture say "I had an evil dream, I was beside myself, I was crazed."
Not all magistrates are bad, if there be an excuse, they may show mercy.
If you have confessed aught, deny it afterwards, say you babbled under torture, say you knew not what you said.
If you are condemned, fear not.
The Brotherhood is powerful and will help you to escape if you stand steadfast, but if you betray aught there is no hope for you in this life or in that to come.
Be sure, if steadfast you go to the pyre, drugs will reach you, you will feel naught. You go to death and what lies beyond, the ecstasy of the goddess.
Tools
To avoid discovery, let the working tools be as ordinary things that any may have in their houses.
Let the pentacles be of wax so that they may be broken at once or melted.
Have no sword unless your rank allows it.
Have no names or signs on anything.
Write the names and signs on them in ink before consecrating them and wash it off immediately afterwards.
Let the colours of the hilts tell which is which.
Do not engrave them lest they cause discovery.
Conduct
Ever remember ye are the hidden children of the Goddess so never do anything to disgrace them or Her.
Never boast, never threaten, never say you would wish ill of anyone.
If any person not in the Circle, speak of the craft, say, "Speak not to me of such, it frightens me, 'tis evil luck to speak of it."
For this reason, the Christians have their spies everywhere. These speak as if they were well affected to us, as if they would come to our meetings, saying, "My mother used to worship the Old Ones. I would I could go myself."
To such as these, ever deny all knowledge.
But to others, ever say, "'Tis foolish men talk of witches flying through the air. To do so they must be as light as thistledown. And men say that witches all be blear-eyed old crones, so what pleasure can there be at a witch meeting such as folks talk on ?"
And say, "Many wise men now say there be no such creatures."
Ever make it jest) and in some future time perhaps, the persecution may die and we may worship our gods in safety again.
Let us all pray for that happy day.
May the blessings of the Goddess and God be on all who keep these Laws which are ordained.
Valuables
If the craft hath any appanage, let all guard it and help to keep it clear and good for the craft.
And let all justly guard all monies of the craft.
And if any Brother truly wrought it, 'tis right they have their pay, an it be just. An this be not taking money for the art, but for good and honest work.
And even the Christians say, "The labourer is worthy of his hire," but if any Brother work willingly for the good of the craft without pay, 'tis but to their greater honour. So be it ordained.
Quarrels
If there be any dispute or quarrel among the Brethren, the High Priestess shall straightly convene the Elders and inquire into the matter, and they shall hear both sides, first alone and then ogether.
And they shall decide justly, not favouring one side or the other.
Ever recognising there be people who can never agree to work under others.
But at the same time, there be some people who cannot rule justly.
To those who must ever be chief, there is one answer.
"'Void the Coven or seek another one, or make a Coven of your own, taking with you those who will go."
To those who cannot rule justly, the answer be, "Those who cannot bear your rule will leave you."
For none may come to meetings with those with whom they are at variance.
So, an either cannot agree, get hence, for the craft must ever survive. So be it ordained.
Curses
In the olden days when we had power, we could use the art against any who ill-treated the Brotherhood. But in these evil days we must not do so. For our enemies have devised a burning pit of everlasting fire into which they say