The Witch-cult in Western Europe: A Study in AnthropologyMurray, Margaret Alice
Religion
The Witch-cult in Western Europe: A Study in Anthropology
Murray, Margaret Alice
Ethnology; Witchcraft -- Great Britain
'First the hagges and witches, who are people of a sordid and base
condition, are the first that come to adore the Prince of the
Synagogue, who is Lucifers lieftenant, and he that now holdeth that
place is Lewes Gaufridy: then they adore the Princesse of the
Synagogue who is a woman placed at his right hand. Next they goe and
worship the Diuell who is seated in a Throne like a Prince. In the
second place come the Sorcerers and Sorceresses, who are people of a
middle condition, and these performe the same kind of adoration with
the former, kneeling vpon the ground, but not prostrating themselves
as doe the other; although they kisse the hands and feet of the Diuell
as the first likewise doe. In the third place come the Magicians who
are Gentlemen and people of a higher ranke.'[486]
Isobel Gowdie of Auldearne in 1662 said, 'Somtym he vold be lyk a stirk, a
bull, a deir, a rae, or a dowg, and he vold hold wp his taill wntill we
wold kiss his arce.'[487] The explanation of this rite is given in the
French authorities:
'Le Diable estoit en forme de bouc, ayant vne queue, & au dessoubs vn
visage d'homme noir, où elle fut contrainte le baiser.—[Elle] depose,
Que la premiere fois qu'elle luy fut presentee elle le baisa à ce
visage de derriere au dessoubs d'vne grande queuë: qu'elle l'y a baisé
par trois fois, & qu'il auoit aussi ce visage faict comme le museau
d'vn bouc.—Il a vne grande queuë au derriere, & vne forme de visage
au dessoubs: duquel visage il ne profere aucune parole, ains luy sert
pour le donner à baiser à ceux qui bon luy semble.—Es festes
solemnelles on baisoit le Diable au derriere, mais les notables
sorcieres le baisoient au visage.'[488] The two faces are thus
distinctly vouched for, and the use of them seems to have been to
distinguish the position of the witch in the society. The mask or
disguise is clearly indicated in the evidence of Isaac de Queyron, who
with others 'le baiserent á vne fesse qui estoit blanche & rouge, &
auoit la forme d'vne grande cuisse d'vn homme, & estoit velue'.[489]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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