t of evil. That there might be
no mistake about the bargain, the devil put his mark on Fian's person.
From that time the doctor was a sorcerer: he was often carried away in
the night to visit distant places of the world, and was present at,
and took part in, all the nightly meetings of witches held in the
Lothians. He rose so high in the devil's favour, that he was appointed
registrar and secretary of the conventions. One night Fian was carried
through the air to North Berwick, where he found a number of witches
and sorcerers assembled listening to Satan preaching to them from a
pulpit. He implored them to give up all slavish fears of him; promised
them great rewards so long as they were his servants, and assured
them, that so long as they had hairs on their bodies they would
receive no injury. He exhorted them to do all the evil they could,
and to eat and drink and be merry. One night when Fian was riding home
along a dreary road, in danger of losing his way, Satan came to his
assistance, and put four candles on the horse's ears, which enabled
the traveller and his servant to see as well as if it were day.

The three women mentioned occupied good places in society. Agnes
Sampsoun was known as the wise wife of Keith; she, too, had knowledge
of the healing art. In her confession she said that, after her
husband's death, the devil appeared to her and offered her great
riches if she would abandon all that was good, and serve him, the
lover of evil. At times Satan appeared as a man, but more frequently
like a black dog. On one occasion, when she was attending Lady
Edmestoune, who was unwell, the devil came to her at night in the
shape of a dog, and informed her that the lady would die. He then
inquired where the lady's daughters were, for he wanted to have one of
them. The witch, however, protested against such an outrage as the
carrying away of a dying lady's daughter, and the dog went away
howling into a well in the garden. At a later hour that night, when
the young ladies were walking in the orchard, the evil one, disguised
as before, rushed at them, seized one of them, and attempted to drag
her into the well. Agnes, seeing this, laid hold of the lady, and sent
the dog away howling. On another occasion Agnes and other witches
wanted assistance from Satan at the bridge of Faulstruther, and, to
secure this, they threw a cord into the river while some magical words
were being repeated. Presently the devil seized the end of