On the Nunnery of North Berwick, by Dr. J. Stuart. 85 



said erlis eares, lie entred in ward within the castell of Eden- 

 brough, desyring to be tryed, alleging that the deuell, wha was 

 a Iyer from the begynning, nor yet his sworn witches, aucht not 

 to be credited. Specially ane renowned midwyf, callit Anny 

 Sampsoun, affirmed that she in company with nyn uthers witches, 

 being convenit in the nycht beside Prestounpannes, the deuell 

 ther maister being present standing in the midis of them ; ther a 

 body of wax, schaipen and maid be the said Anny Sampsoun 

 wrappit within a lynning claith, was first delyverit to the 

 deuell ; quhilk efter he had pronouncit his verde, delyverit the 

 said pictour to Anny Sampsoun, and sche to hir nyxt marrow, 

 and ea every ane round about, saying this is K. James the Sext, 

 ordonit to be consumit at the instance of a noble man Francis 

 Erie Bothwell. Efterwart again at ther meeting be nycht in the 

 kirk of Northberick, wher the deuell, cled in a blak gown with a 

 blak hat upon his head, preachit unto a gret nomber of them out 

 of the pulpit, having lyk leicht candles rond about him. The 

 effect of his langage was till knaw what skaith they had done, 

 whow many they had won to their opinion sen ther last meeting ; 

 what success the melting of the pictour had tane, and sic vain 

 toyes. And because ane auld felz pure plowman callit Grey 

 Meill chancit to say that ' nathing ailit the king yet, God be 

 tbankit,' the deuell gaif him a gret blaw. Then dyvers among 

 them enterit into a raisonyng marvelling that all their 

 deuellerie culd do na harm to the K. as it did till others dyvers. 

 The deuell answerit 'II est un home de Dieu.' And certainly 

 he is a man of God, and dois na wrang wittingly, but is inclined 

 to all godlynes, justice, and vertu, therfore God hes preserved 

 him in the midis of many dangers. Now efter the deuell had 

 endit his admonitions he cam doun out of the pulpit, and caused 

 all the company to com and kiss his ers, quhilk they said was 

 cauld lyk yce ; his body was hard lyk yrn, as they thocht that 

 handled him : his faice was terrible, his noise lyk the bek of an 

 eagle, gret bournying eyn: his handis and legis wer herry, 

 with clawes upon his handis, and feit lyk the griffon, and spak 

 with a how voice." (p. 395.) 



