The Sabbat lasted till cock-crow, before which time none of the assembly was suffered to withdraw, and the advowal of Louis Gaufridi, executed at Aix, 1610, seems somewhat singular: “I was conveyed to the place where the Sabbat was to be held, and I remained there sometimes one, two, three, or four hours, for the most part just as I felt inclined.”[26] That the crowing of a cock dissolves enchantments is a tradition of extremest antiquity. The Jews believed that the clapping of a cock’s wings will make the power of demons ineffectual and break magic spells. So Prudentius sang: “They say that the night-wandering demons, who rejoice in dunnest shades, at the crowing of the cock tremble and scatter in sore affright.”[27] The rites of Satan ceased because the Holy Office of the Church began. In the time of S. Benedict Matins and Lauds were recited at dawn and were actually often known as _Gallicinium_, Cock-crow. In the exquisite poetry of S. Ambrose, which is chanted at Sunday Lauds, the praises of the cock are beautifully sung: Light of our darksome journey here, With days dividing night from night! Loud crows the dawn’s shrill harbinger, And wakens up the sunbeams bright. Forthwith at this, the darkness chill Retreats before the star of morn; And from their busy schemes of ill The vagrant crews of night return. Fresh hope, at this, the sailor cheers; The waves their stormy strife allay; The Church’s Rock at this, in tears, Hastens to wash his guilt away. Arise ye, then, with one accord! No longer wrapt in slumber lie; The cock rebukes all who their Lord By sloth neglect, by sin deny. At his clear cry joy springs afresh; Health courses through the sick man’s veins; The dagger glides into its sheath; The fallen soul her faith regains.[28] A witch named Latoma confessed to Nicolas Remy that cocks were most hateful to all sorcerers. That bird is the herald of dawn, he arouses men to the worship of God; and many an odious sin which darkness shrouds will be revealed in the light of the coming day. At the hour of the Nativity, that most blessed time, the cocks crew all night long. A cock crew lustily at the Resurrection. Hence is the cock placed upon the steeple of churches. Pliny and Ælian tell us that a lion fears the cock; so the Devil “leo rugiens” flees at cock-crow. “Le coq,” says De Lancre, “s’oyt par fois es Sabbats sonna̅t la retraicte aux Sorciers.”[29]