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66 away and join the other beings in their revels.

A witches' party was conducted in this way. The wretched women who had sold their souls to the Devil, left a stick in bed which by evil means was made to have their likeness, and, anointed with the fat of murdered babies flew off up the chimney on a broomstick with cats attendant. Burns tells the story of a company of witches pulling ragwort by the roadside, getting each astride her ragwort with the summons "Up horsie!" and flying away.

"The hag is astride This night for a ride, The devils and she together: Through thick and through thin, Now out and now in. Though ne'er so foul be the weather.