Sir John Harington’s naughty joke.

>[**King**] [James](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/JamesIEngland.jpg) pressed [Harington](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Sir_John_Harington_%281561-1612%29.png) hard for his opinion, “touching the power of Satan in the matter of witchcraft,” and asked him gravely if he knew why it was that the Devil so often worked in old women. >Harington confessed to Sir Amias Paulett that at this point he could not resist “a scurvy jest” and replied that “we were taught hereof in scripture where it is told, that the Devil walketh in dry places.” __________________________ **Source:** Lisle, Leanda De. "The Truth of God and Time." *After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England*. New York: Ballantine, 2005. 282. Print. __________________________ **Further Reading:** [James VI and I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_VI_and_I) [John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harington,_1st_Baron_Harington_of_Exton)