black cloak, came out of the water, seized the unfortunate convivialist, and pitched him into the river, wherein, as it was very deep, he would infallibly have been drowned, had he not previously managed to secure one of the small wooden bowls, in which the baker was wont to bake his rolls, which kept him afloat, until the watch passed by, and dragged him out, somewhat sobered, doubtless, on which the discomfited nixy plunged into the water.

Hildebrand in his Sorcery laid bare mentions a great number of sinful practices of these water nixies, which we do not intend to refer to. If we are met by a denial that this Saint of the Romish Church deals in speculations just as impure as those of the renowned Peter Dens, all we can say is that we can produce chapter and verse to the point.

One reason, doubtless, why witches were so common in Germany, is, that they have a particular penchant for mountains, and that country abounds in them, the most famous one being

that of Blocksburg, which can be seen for about sixteen miles from every direction. Here on the 1st May, (which is the witches' Sabbath,) we have the authority of Johannes Prætorius, for asserting that the witches hold their Sabbath. But, as they require some sort of conveyance to take them thither, all sorts of animals and inanimate things are pressed into the service, such as rams, he-goats, swine, calves, wolves, cats, dogs, &c, and bakers' rakes, distaffs, bakers' pitch and dung forks, shovels, broomsticks, &c. This is confirmed by Bodinus, in his 2nd book on Demons, chap. 4; and Hildebrand, in his Theurgia, fol. p. 117.

But the great abomination of these witches is, not that they thus imitate the Christian Sabbath, but that they carry their impiety so far as to ape the sacrament of extreme unction in the Romish Church, by anointing their bodies with an ointment given them by the Devil, although their enemies acknowledge that this ointment is absolutely necessary to supple their bodie, as they have to whisk through keyholes, besides enabling them to endure the fatigues of their journey through the air. Baldinnus, in his Cases of Conscience, book 3d, chap. 5, case 7, writes :"It cannot be denied that the Devil can at times bring the bodies of his slaves into other

places, and that the journeys of the witches are performed in the body." The author of the Hundred lively Hours demonstrates, from many examples, both in profane and sacred history, adding thereto that the weight of their bodies is no let nor impediment to the same, any more than their opposition and reluctance, for the Devil's power and might are much superior, so that he can remove a whole mountain from its place. Neither should men allege against this belief the extreme swiftness of the flight, whereby a very great distance is accomplished in a very short time.

Several examples thereof, quoth Dr. Drunner, are to be met with in profane history. P. Grillandus, quæst. 7 de sortilegio, tells of a woman in the parish of Saint Sabine, near Rome, who had become a perfect mistress in the black art. On this account, she fell under the suspicion of her husband, but, though he spoke her fair, for once a woman was found who could keep a secret, this set his wits to work, and he determined to discover it by strategy. One night, when he pretended to be fast asleep, he saw his wife get out of bed, and, after she had anointed herself with a certain ointment, fly out of the window into a neighbour's house. He followed her immediately, but could not find her; and,

moreover, observed that all the modes of ingress and egress were securely fastened, which puzzled him sadly. The next night he questioned her again, narrating what he had seen, but could not obtain a word of explanation from her. Nothing therefore remained for him, but a resort to the argumentum baculinum, and he seized a stick accordingly and thrashed her soundly. This brought her to her senses, she made a full confession, and implored his forgiveness, which he granted, on condition of her taking him along with her on her next expedition. The Devil's permission having been obtained, he went with her to the assembly, and saw all their sports, dances, &c. At length, they sat down to supper, and it appears that the proverb that "the Devil sends cooks" has really something solid to rest on, for the man found every dish so exceedingly unsavory that he begged for a little salt, an article which does not enter into diabolonian cookery. It was a long time before he could procure any; but, at last, the Devil's politeness, or a desire to conciliate a new subject, induced him to call for it; and on its being brought, the guest took the little pinch of it that was given to him, exclaiming like a good Roman Catholic, but in very indifferent Italian, "Hoc laudato sia Dio pour venne questo sale,"