works chiefly by night, as when he slew the firstborn of Egypt and the cattle at the stroke of midnight. Exod. 11.Again, the Evil One has clearly shown that he delights in darkness, for he has ever wished that anything which is offered to him should be black, as we are told by Ovid and Alexander ab Alexandro. Fasti, 5.
Genial. III. 12.
De legib. 1.
Rev. 3.That which is white is, on the Contrary, pleasing to God, according to Cicero; for white is symbolical of openness, cleanness, innocence, humbleness and chastity, and therefore it is written in the Apocalypse that he that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment. In this connexion I shall mention that a little before peace was concluded between Louis XI, King of France, and the King of England on the 26th of August, 1475, at Picquigny, Chap. 77.it is reported by Philippe de Commines in his History that a white pigeon came and rested on the English King’s tent.
It is probable also that Satan assembles witches at night so that they may not be recognised; Grilland, de Sortileg. c. 4. num. 3.and for the same reason they dance, at their assemblies, back to back, and are now for the most part masked, as has been confirmed by Clauda Paget, who was called la Foulet.
But always it is a condition of these devilish assemblies at night, that as soon as the cock crows everything disappears. This I know from the statements of those whom I have mentioned, and especially of Clauda Jamguillaume, Antoine Tornier and Jacquema Paget, who said that they had spent hardly any time at the Sabbat because the cock crew as soon as they arrived. Some have thought that the sound of the cock is deadly to Satan, just as it is feared by lions; and in truth, if the Devil is afraid of a naked sword, he may well