erewith they
anointed themselves. These preparations ended, he brought beasts for them
to ride upon,--horses, asses, goats, and monkeys; and giving them a
saddle, a hammer, and a nail, uttered the word of command, and away they
went. Nothing stopped them. They flew over churches, high walls, rocks,
and mountains, until they came to the green meadow where Blockula was
situated. Upon these occasions they carried as many children with them as
they could; for the devil, they said, "did plague and whip them if they
did not procure him children, insomuch that they had no peace or quiet for
him."

Many parents corroborated a part of this evidence, stating that their
children had repeatedly told them that they had been carried away in the
night to Blockula, where the devil had beaten them black and blue. They
had seen the marks in the morning, but they soon disappeared. One little
girl was examined, who swore positively that she was carried through the
air by the witches, and when at a great height she uttered the holy name
of Jesus. She immediately fell to the ground, and made a great hole in her
side. "The devil, however, picked her up, healed her side, and carried her
away to Blockula." She added (and her mother confirmed her statement),
that she had till that day "an exceeding great pain in her side." This was
a clencher, and the nail of conviction was driven home to the hearts of
the judges.

The place called Blockula, whither they were carried, was a large house,
with a gate to it, "in a delicate meadow, whereof they could see no end."
There was a very long table in it, at which the witches sat down; and in
other rooms "there were very lovely and delicate beds for them to sleep
upon."

After a number of ceremonies had been performed, by which they bound
themselves body and soul to the service of Antecessor, they sat down to a
feast composed of broth, made of colworts and bacon, oatmeal, bread and
butter, milk and cheese. The devil always took the chair, and sometimes
played to them on the harp or the fiddle while they were eating. After
dinner they danced in a ring, sometimes naked, and sometimes in their
clothes, cursing and swearing all the time. Some of the women added
particulars too horrible and too obscene for repetition.

Once the devil pretended to be dead, that he might see whether his people
regretted him. They instantly set up a loud wail, and wept three tears
each for him; at which he was so pleased, that