The witches sailed gallantly through the tempest they had raised, and
landing on the coast of Scotland, took their sieves in their hands and
marched on in procession to the haunted kirk of North Berwick, where the
devil had resolved to hold a preaching. Gellie Duncan, the musician of the
party, tripped on before, playing on her Jew's harp and singing,

"Cummer, go ye before, cummer, go ye;
Gif ye will not go before, cummer, let me!"

Arrived at the kirk, they paced around it _withershins_, that is, in
reverse of the apparent motion of the sun. Dr. Fian then blew into the
keyhole of the door, which opened immediately, and all the witches
entered. As it was pitch dark, Fian blew with his mouth upon the candles,
which immediately lighted, and the devil was seen occupying the pulpit. He
was attired in a black gown and hat, and the witches saluted him by crying
"All hail, master!" His body was hard, like iron; his face terrible; his
nose, like the beak of an eagle; he had great burning eyes; his hands and
legs were hairy; and he had long claws upon his hands and feet, and spake
with an exceedingly gruff voice. Before commencing his sermon he called
over the names of his congregation, demanding whether they had been good
servants, and what success had attended their operations against the life
of the king and his bride.

Gray Meill, a crazy old warlock, who acted as beadle or door-keeper, was
silly enough to answer "that nothing ailed the king yet, God be thanked;"
upon which the devil, in a rage, stepped down from the pulpit and boxed
his ears for him. He then remounted and commenced the preaching,
commanding them to be dutiful servants to him and do all the evil they
could. Euphemia Macalzean and Agnes Sampson, bolder than the rest, asked
him whether he had brought the image or picture of King James, that they
might, by pricking it, cause pains and diseases to fall upon him. "The
father of lies" spoke truth for once, and confessed that he had forgotten
it; upon which Euphemia Macalzean upbraided him loudly for his
carelessness. The devil, however, took it all in good part, although Agnes
Sampson and several other women let loose their tongues at him
immediately. When they had done scolding, he invited them all to a grand
entertainment. A newly buried corpse was dug up and divided among them,
which was all they had in the way of edibles. He was more liberal in the
matter of drink, and gave them so much excellent w