Page:Witch-Cult in Western Europe (1921).djvu/125

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THE RITES
125

between the two classes of meetings, but at the same time he seems to have realized that a certain order was followed:

'Satan calleth them togither into a Diuelish Sinagoge, and that he may also vnderstand of them howe well and diligently they haue fulfilled their office of intoxicating committed vnto them, and whõ they haue slaine: wherefore they meete togither in certen apointed places. … Whẽ they meete together he appeareth visibly vnto them in sundrie fourmes, as the head and chiefe of that congregation. … Then doe they all repeate the othe which they haue geuen vnto him, in acknowledging him to be their God, thẽ fal they to dauncing … Whiche beeing all finished, then he demaundeth agayne of them what they woulde require of him. … Vnto some he geueth poysons ready made, and others he teacheth howe to make and mingle new. … Finally, if in any thing they neede his presence and helpe, by couenant he promiseth to be present with them.'[1]

Boguet (1589) is more exact, as he obtained his knowledge at first hand:

'Les Sorciers estans assemblez en leur Synagogue adorent premierement Satan … ils luy offrent des chandelles, & le baisent aux parties honteuses de derriere. Quelquefois encor il tient vne image noire, qu'il faut baiser aux Sorciers. … Les Sorciers en second lieu dansent. … Les danses finies, les Sorciers viennent à s'accoupler. … Les Sorciers, apres s'estre veautrez parmy les plaisirs immondes de la chair, banquettent & se festoient. … Les Sorciers rendent conte à Satan de ce qu'ils ont fait dés la derniere assemblée. … Il fait renoncer de nouueau à ces miserables, Dieu, Chresme, & Baptesme. Il leur fait rafraischir le serment solennel qu'ils ont fait.'[2]

The English account is put together from foreign sources to a great extent:

'They are carryed out of the house, either by the Window, Door, or Chimney, mounted on their Imps. … Thus brought to the designed place, they find a great number of others arrived there by the same means: who, before Lucifer takes his place in his throne as King, do make their accustomed homage, Adoring, and Proclaiming him their Lord, and rendring him all Honour. This Solemnity being finished, they sit to Table where no delicate meats are wanting. … At the sound of many pleasant Instruments the table is taken away, and the pleasant consort invites them to a Ball. … At

  1. Danaeus, ch. iv.
  2. Boguet, pp. 131-9.