generously gave Burton a merk, to keep the fifteen pounds whole.  In observing on Satan’s conduct in this matter, Master George Sinclair observes that it is fortunate the Enemy is but seldom permitted to bribe so high (as L15 Scots); for were this the case, he might find few men or women capable of resisting his munificence.  I look upon this as one of the most severe reflections on our forefathers’ poverty which is extant.

In many of the Scottish witches’ trials, as to the description of Satan’s Domdaniel, and the Sabbath which he there celebrates, the northern superstition agrees with that of England.  But some of the confessions depart from the monotony of repetition, and add some more fanciful circumstances than occur in the general case.  Isobel Gowdie’s confession, already mentioned, is extremely minute, and some part of it at least may be quoted, as there are other passages not very edifying.  The witches of Auldearne, according to this penitent, were so numerous, that they were told off into squads, or covines, as they were termed, to each of which were appointed two officers.  One of these was called the Maiden of the Covine, and was usually, like Tam o’ Shanter’s Nannie, a girl of personal attractions, whom Satan placed beside himself, and treated with particular attention, which greatly provoked the spite of the old hags, who felt themselves insulted by the preference.[65] When assembled, they dug up graves, and possessed themselves of the carcases (of unchristened infants in particular), whose joints and members they used in their magic unguents and salves.  When they desired to secure for their own use the crop of some neighbour, they made a pretence of ploughing it with a yoke of paddocks.  These foul creatures drew the plough, which was held by the devil himself.  The plough-harness and soams were of quicken grass, the sock and coulter were made out of a riglen’s horn, and the covine attended on the operation, praying the devil to transfer to them the fruit of the ground so traversed, and leave the proprietors nothing but thistles and briars.  The witches’ sports, with their elfin archery, I have already noticed (page 136).  They entered the house of the Earl of Murray himself, and such other mansions as were not fenced against them by vigil and prayer, and feasted on the provisions they found there.

[Footnote 65:  This word Covine seems to signify a subdivision or squad.  The tree near the front of an ancient castle was called the Covine tree, probably because the lord received his company there.

“He is lord of the hunting horn,
  And king of the Covine tree;
He’s well loo’d in the western waters,
  But best of his ain minnie.”]

As these witches were the countrywomen of the weird sisters in Macbeth, the reader may be desirous to hear some of their spells, and of the poetry by which they were accompanied and enforced.  They used to hash the flesh of an unchristened child, mixed with that of dogs and sheep, and place it in the house of those whom they devoted to destruction in body or goods, saying or singing—­