(Shax, from Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal, 1863)

"Shax, alias Scox[or Shass or Shaz], is a darke and a great marquesse, like unto a storke, with a hoarse and subtill voice; he dooth marvellouslie take awaie the sight, hearing and understanding of anie man, at the commandement of the conjuror: he taketh awaie monie out of everie kings house, and carrieth it backe after 1200 yeares, if he be commanded, he is a horssestealer, he is thought to be faithfull in all commandements: and although he promise to be obedient to the conjuror in all things; yet is he not so, he is a lier, except he be brought into a triangle, and there he speaketh divinelie, and telleth of things which are hidden, and not kept of wicked spirits; he promiseth good familiars, which are accepted if they be not deceivers, he hath thirtie legions." (Scott, Discoverie of Witchcraft, pages 222-3)

The meaning of this convoluted bit of prose seems to be that Shax is generally regarded as faithful in all dealings, except that he will lie if given the chance. To forestall this single weakness of character, he must be first put into the ritual triangle, and then he is constrained to speak the truth. It is difficult to judge how much utility there is in a demon who only fetches the money he stole after twelve centuries have elapsed - presumably it depends on how frequently he steals, and over how long a protracted span of time. For example, if he steals every day for twelve centuries, then he may be expected to come up with a treasure every day upon request.

Collin de Plancy must have been amused by the description of Shax as a horse thief, since he caused this feature to be played up in the illustration for his book. In the Lemegeton and in Mathers' edition of the Goetia, it is said that Shax "appeareth in the forme of a Stock-Dove" (Sloane 2731). A stock dove is a European wild pigeon. Collin de Plancy obviously agreed with the version of the text given in Scot. There is nothing remotely pigeon-like about the demon's beak in de Plancy's picture, but the bird does vaguely resemble a stork.