KS * w?n-. -^^-.r PERKINS LIBRARY Duke University Rdre Books THE CHEATS I L L U S^I O N S O F Romijh Priep and Exorcijls. Difcover'd in the H I S TO R Y OF THE BEYlLSo^ LOU DUN: Being an Accounc cf the Pretended PolfeiTion URSULINE NUNS^ A N D O F The r^ondemnation and Puni(hment ofj VkBAN GRANDIER a Par- fon of the fame Town, f^^ ^ ; ^^ j; . TanUne Jnimk Cdefiibus Ird ? Virg. LONDON, Printed for W. Turner, at the Angel at Lincolns-Inn Back_-Gate, and R,BaJ)Ht, at the Mitre by the Inner-Temple-Gafe m feet- ftreep. 1703. I- AH 4^ T O H I S GRACE The Moft Reverend Father in G O D THOMAS, By Divine Providence, L'^- Archbidiop of CaHterbury, May it pleafe Your G R A C E j THE following Sheets contain an Account of a moft Remark- able Paffage that happen'd in France during the Miniftry of Cardinal cle Tvicheliett j and which gives us a Sketch of the Arhitrar'wej's of that Haughty^ Vefignmg Prehte ; of the Malice and Revengeful Spirit of Popijh Priefts -^ A 2 , and 41C988 Epiftle Dedicatory. and of the Sinifter and Diabolical Me- thods whereby a Convent of IJrjnlim N/z/zj- eftabliih'd themfelves in the Town of LoHclu^/. This Hiftory \, which was original- ly written in French ^ has met with . a very favourable Reception abroad : And 'tis juftly prefum'd ^ That a • Tranflation of it will not only be Entertaining^ but likewife Ufeful to an EngUfh Protejiant Reader : Efpecially at this Time of Day ^ when the Rejilefs PapiBs^ and their Cahal^ are fccretly endeavouring to undermine our Happy Settlement ^ and to di- vert the Courfe of the Succeffion to the Imperial Crown of thcfe Realms^ from a Lawful ProteTiant Heir^ to a Popifj Frenchified Pretender : In Order to bring in Popery^ and its infepa- rable Companion^ Arbitrary Sway^ a- mong us. The Author of this Tranflation^ (who is a Presbyter of the Church of Epiftle Dedicatory. of England) having defir'd me to take Care of its Publication^ and to procure it a Patron^ I thought I could flot better difcharge this lat- ter Part of my Truft^ than by lay- ing thefe Sheets at Your GRACE's Feet ; whofe Zeal for the Advance- ment and Defence of the T^rue Keli-^ gion did glorioufly Shine ^ notwith- ftanding the Thrcatning Storms from a Popipj Court^ not only in the Ereft- ing a Free-School at St. Martins^ a- dorn d with a Choice Library^ in Op- pofition to the College of the Jejuits in the Saz^^oy ^ but aUo in Unravelling and Defeating the fubtle Diabolical Arts^ whereby thofe Minifters of Hell and Tyranny endeavoured to lead aftray 'V77ivary Frotcfiant Tonths, Every Bo- dy will eafily apprehend ^ that by this I mean the Famous Conference Your GRACE had with Fulton^ the Jefnit ^ wherein Your G R A C E's Learning, Strong Reafons, and Solid Judg. Epiftle Dedicatory. Judgment^ gain'd aii Immortal Tri- umph over the Obftinacy and Noife of a bold fallacious Ca^z'iUer. 'Twas this ApoHolical Zeal, exert- ed in the moft diflicult Times^ toge- ther with your Exemplary Piety ^ Goodnefs ^ Charity^ and Forbearing Temper^ that gain d Your GRACE the entire Confidence and Efteem of Two of the Befi Princes that ever fway'd the E}:gl2fl'j Scepter ^ King W I L- Ll AM and a^een MAKT^ of ever BleiTed and Pious Memory : And which induc'd his Late Majefty ro raifc Your GRACE to that Su- prcam Station you hold in the Church : That by this very Choice all £;/g- la?7d might be convinc'd ^ how tru- ly he w^fli'd ^ and carneftly endea- vour'd by all Gentle and Chrijiiari ^ ("which certainly are the moft E^ca- cictii) Methods to bring Thofe over to the Eftablifli'd Religion^ whofe J3irth and Education has infcnfibly Epiftle Dedicatory. led them to Diflent from it. And indeed^ as long as your GRACE is alive ^ that Great and Good K/;/^ is Aire to have^ here on Earthy an unexceptionable Witnefs of his Moral and Chrijiian Virtues , The Liberties of E?igla?2dy a Firm Support • And the Churchy a Wife and Vigihnt Dire6ior^ and a mofi: Tender Father. That thefe Blelfings may be long continued to this Happy and Flou- riihing Nation^ is the moft Fervent Wifli of him^ who mofi: gladly lays hold on this Opportunity to fubfcribe himfelf^ May it pleafe Your GRACE, Tonr G R A C EV Moji BifMble, mofi Faithful^ and mofi Obedient Servant, ^ THE HISTORY O F T H E Or, ail Account of the PofTcirion of the Vrfuline Nuns. AND THE Condemnation ar-d Punirtimenc of VRBAN GRJNDIER , a Parfon of the lame Town. BOOK I. SeH-. 1 . ^•'— ^— ^Hcre is no doubt but that par- ticular ReUtions of the nature of thofe which are ccntai?id in this Book , would have been much better received , and have iTiaJe more imprelTion, whilfl: they had the grace of Novelty, than when after a long courfeof -time thevfcem to have been buried in Darknefs and '- ' B Obli-- z The Htprj of Oblivion. Nevcrthelefs it may not now be thought improper to produce and revive them, fince they dcferve it, both by their In.portance, and their Sin- gularity ; and the only reafon why they were bu- ried in Silence,is,becaufeArbitrarincrs and Tyranny have Itopt the Months of thole who would have at- tempted to entertain the Publick with them,andfet the Truth thereof before their Eyes. Tis upon this .Motive, thatbecaufeat this tin cone may fpeak freely, and without conftraint, that now are pub- liih'd the long and fatal Intrigues of" a Convent of Nuns, and a great number of Ecclefiafticks, fup- ported by a party of the Magillrates and Inhabi- tants of a Town, and favoured by the Court. Thefe Intrigues have been of great Confequence \ forafmuch as they have caus'd a Parifh Priefl to be Condemn'd to be Burnt alive *, and that they teaded to eftablifh in France certain Maxims which would fubjed the People to a real Inquiijtion. They have been peculiar, and of a flrangc lingularity, feeing that Devils are immediately concern'd, or that 'tis pretended that they did intermeddle, and_ that they have pofTefl and caus'd all thefe Nuns to ad their part. In fine, this Hillory appears ^o much the more coniidcrable, that the Fads it re- lates have been continued a great many years, that - they have had for Spcdators and Witnelfes, a Number of Perfons illuflrions by their Rank, and by their Merit ^ that there was never a Relation of the fame Nature, more clofely furnifh'd with Citcumflances, nor better attended with all necef- fary Proofs *, and that it gives a clear and exadt Idea of the Sentiments that one ought to have of the pretended Diabolical Poileflions, of the Appa- ritions of Devils, and- of the Miracles that were done upon thefe Occafious. It difcovers alfo at the i fame I the Devils of Loudun. j time the Obliquity of Mans Nature, and how far 'tis capable to go, when 'tis once engaged in an evil Defign. Sf, w^hence this Order fpreading it felf by de- grees through all the Kingdom, there was eftabli- fh'd in the Year 1625. a Convent at Loitdiw^ which is a large Town, tho' ill peopled \ fituated between the Provinces of Pohoit^ Tonrain and Anjoii^ and which feparates them ail three, without having anciently made any part of them, or having had dependance upon cither of them. SeEi. 3. In this Place this Society, although as yet very fmall, was in great want, and very deflii- tutc of neceffary conveniencies for their fublifrance. It was then part of an Order, fo little diilant from its Birth, that it was i^otio rich and wealthy, as now it is at this Day, fince a few more years has given it the leafure to ^onfidev of its Affairs, and to provide more advantageouHy for its eflablifh- ment. It was compos'd of Maidens of very good Families, Noble and Ignoble, but vvho were not rich, or who would not give conliderable Portions to thofe, whom they put out of their Houfes to eafe B 2 them- 4 The Hijlo^j of tlicmfelves of the Charge. Therefore thefe Maid- ens were lodg'd in a hir'd private Hon fe, which was of no great extent, and according to their Inllitution, took Boarders to teach them, and from their Pcnlions drew part of their Maintenance. The Houfe where they dwelt beloag'd zo.ModffaHt dii Frefne. The Prior Mottjfaut his Brother, was their firfl Confeilbr, but was not long fo, for he died fome time before the difcourfe begun, con- cerning the Diabolical Poflcffioii, of which we are to treat. Scch. 4. The younger fort of tiiefe Maidens, who wcreof a very cbearfulSpirit,aad who fought nothing but to divert themfelves, as much as thecompafs of their Confinement would allow •, took an Occa- jion by this Mans Death ( and the Conceit which fo.r.c Perfons had, thut Spirits haunted the Houfe where they dwelt) to rife in the Night, and make aNoifein the GranAries^ and to-giv^e tbcmfelves the Pallime to fright the young Boarders ^ Some alfo of the more liniple and aged of the Nuns (10 whom the others had not dar'd co difcover the fportj conceiv'd a great deal of fear : This en- courag'd the Acrrelles even to get upon the top of the Houfe, which was uot difficult at Loaditn^ where mort. of the Pvoofs are built in fuch a man-, rier 5 that they admit of an cahe accefs. They came at length to enter into the Chambers of the Board- ers, to take their Petticoats off from their Beds*, - andatlait to practice every thing that might ferve to give them a Divc/tifement, and to befool the Boardersaad the otacrNuns. Oneof the Board- ers at that tim.e between Seventeen and Eighteen years of Age, r;am'd Mary Aahin^ who was ad- mitted into the Pleafures and Secrets of thefe Ad- reiTcs, ferv'd to terrific the others by the fear which (he the Devils of Loudun. 5 fhe feem'd to have, efpecially when thcfe Sprights came into their Chamber, the Doors Vv' hereof had been well bolted, but they had fince be^n fofrly opea'd by her, who conflantly related this l^rai:]; after the fame manner, to her mofb intimate Friends, till (he was almoll Sixty Five years old, when fhe died. Sect. 5. After the Death of .3/;;.-(7;wvr, 'john A-lg- fion^ Prie/t and Canon of the Collegiate Church of Saint Croffc^ in I,oi^:h:?^^ was chofen to be the Co.;- fclTor of the Vrfi'lhies, The Elder fort of tiiem ex- prefl: to him the caiife of their Fear, and tl;e Ycun- ger made him a Confident of their Spoit. This Man was an Intriguer, Malicio.s and Ambitions, and had then dilTerent PaHlons working in hiiii. He propos'd to hirnfeif, not only to fiifTer the fport to continue, but to Authorize it, and to lend it a helping Hand, and to try if he could not make ufc of it, which might fcrvc him to revenge himfelf of his Enemies, and to gain a reputation of Piety and fandfity, to which he was a great Pretender. But that the Dcllgnsof the Contrivers of this Tragical Piece, may more throughly be diP^over'd, we mulL- bringthe principal Perfon on the Stage, who was mollly concernd in the lYagedy. Se^. 6. Vrb.m Cran£cr was a Priell, Born of an honefl: Family, the Son of Peter Gr,indier^ and Nephew of CUnaiu^ Grandlcr^ who was alfo a PritH:. Thefe Vrfnlim Nuns, in the time of their being pofTefs'd, f^\dj that VrkinGya^idicr had learnt Ma- gic k of his Father, andhisUnclcii but the Inhabi- tants of Xaintes^ where they had dwelt, diflipatcd this (lander by the good Telli-mony they gave of theirUves andConverfation.He periwm'd thecor-rfc of his Studies under the- Jefuits of BoareUiZux^ v;ho. obferving ia him very confiderable Endowments, B 3 took 6 The Hi (lory of tookan affedionto him, and procur'd to him the parfonageof Saint Pcm-, in the Market of Loudutiy which is in the prcfentation of the Jefnits of Pot- Ellers, He had alfo obtain'd a Prebend in the Chap- ter of the Church of Saint Cr^jf^. The unithig of thefe Benefices in one Perfon, who was not of that Province, expos'd him to the Envy of many Churchmen, who would have been well fatisfied with one of the two. This he was fufhciently fenlibb of, when he favv himfelf accused, for he crlen faid to his Friends, that one part of thofe of th^t Order, who had dcciar'd themfelves againll him, had aQ]iarrel v;ithhis Benefices, rather than hi, Perfon. He was of a tall Stature, and of a good | Prefence, of a fteady Mind, and fubtil Wit, al- ways Comely and well dreil, never going but in a long Garment^ this outward neatnefs was accorm- panied with a polite Wit \ He exprefc himfelf with much Eifeaad Eloquence *, He preach'd often, and acqu'red himfelf in that Employment incompara- bly better than mofl of the Monh who went up into th'- Pulpir. There is a F///7r?-«7 Oration of his, upon the Death of the llluftrious ScevoU of Saint Aiirtha^ which is a very Eloquent Piece, and fcts forth the finencfs of his Genius. He. was gentle and courteous to his Friends, but proud and haughty towards his Enemies. He was Jealous of his Rank, and never yielded any thing of his inte- relts, repelling injuries with fo much vigour, that he exafperated the Spirits of thofe whom he might have gain'd by taking other Methods. In the mean while he was expos'd to many Enemies, his haughti- nefs had rais'd him a great number, and the cx- tr.iordiaary inclination he had to the Courting of Women, had made hiin ftill many more : It was"" not the Rivals chat he was to fear, but the Fathers ''■■-■ and The Devils of Losiinn. j and the Mothers provok'd and enrag'd by the E- vil Reputation, which his frequent Vifits had drawn upon their Families. SeB. 7. In the year \6oi he had a Procefs be- fore the Official of P^mf>v againfl a Priefl na:n'd le AdoHTiier^ and the Twenty Firll of Jpil in the fame Year, he obtaia'd a Sentence againft him, whicli he caus'd to be executed with much Kigour, to the end that he might terrifie thofe that fhould attempt to give him Trouble in time to come^ whereat le Afonnicr continued fo much provok'd, that when he fawhim accus'd of Sacriledgc and Ir- religion, he became a Witnefs himfelf, and even thunder'd out Monitories againU him by the Or- ders of Lduhdrdemont^ a CommiHary fcnt by 'the Court, to take Cognizance of this Aflair. Scti, 8. Some time after Grarid'ur had another Suit againft xA\tCanons^ ofSt.Cr^/^^upon theoccafion of a Houfe whi^h he contended for with the Chap- ter^ yl^/^«i>;7 powerfully opposd his Pretenlioas, who was'in Credit for the fake of his Family, and he was well skill'd in Matters Beniliciary, and had conceived a great jcaloufy againil Gran- dier^ whofe Proceedings he always oppos'd. But although this Canon had foUicited the Suit with much Heat, the Chapter notwithilanding loft their Caufe. Crandier triumphed and infulted o- ver Mlgnon with fo much Pride, that he had a fenfible Refentment of it. SeEt. 9. Barot ^ the Uncle oi Mignon^znd. Prefl- dent of the General AfTeflbrs, a rich^Man, and Childlefs, and by Confequence much refpeded and car effed by his Heirs, had alfo a Quarrell with' Grandter^ who treated him with theutmoft Haugh- tinefs, and as a pitiful Fellow, which caus'd Ba^ r ch-prieft^ and in his abjence to the Prior of Chaf- feignes ^ Having alfo feen the Condafions of oitr Pro^ moter i herenfon : We have ordairid^ and do ordain^ that the f aid Grandier, fo accnsd^ be brought withoHt Tum/dt into the Prifon of onr Epifcopal Palace at Poi- tiers, if he can be apprehended^ if not^ he fljall be cited at his Hoiife by the chief Apparitor ^ Prieft or Clark ton^ furate^ to appear within Three Days *, And moreover by the chief Sergeant Royal^ with the Recjuefl of the fe-- CuUr Arm : and to whom^ and to every one of tkem^ we give Power andCommandrtient to perform the fame^ what To ever Op fo fit ions or Appeals notwithftanding^ con- cernifg this Matter^ and the faidGr andicT being heard^ to ta^^e by onr Promoter fitrh Conclufions agaitift him^ as hejhallfee fit to be done. Given at DifTai the Twen^ ty Second Day of Odobef. i629- Thus fign'd in the Original^Hcnry Lewis Bijlwp of Poitiers. SeB-, 14. Grandier was then at P^m, when the War- The Devils of Loudun. 1 1 Warrant was delive'd out againfl: him, he had caft hirnfelfat the King s Feet, and complaiu'd of the Blows with the Cane, which Difbithant had given him publickly ^ The King had referr'd this Affair to the Parliament, that a Proccfs might be made and concluded againft DHthlhant^ his Adion having appear'd very infolent and worthy of a feyere Ccrredion ;, but he msde ufe of violent Re- criminations againft his Adverfary, he accus'd him of being a Scandalous Peifon, of an ill Life, and very Criminal, and produc'd for the Proof of thefe Accufations,,the Warrant for this Appre- benfion which was newly granted by the Bifhop of of Poitiers^ which was the Caufe that the Court, before Juflice was done, fent Grandier back to the Bifhop, to clear himfelf of the Crimes laid to his Charge. He returned to Loiidnn^ and in a few Days came to Poitiers^ to pii t himfelf into a Condition for his Defence, but could not do it : for he was no fooner Arrived, but he was arreted Prifoner by an Uiher of the Court, named Ch^.tri. Although it was the Fifteenth of November^ and that the Bi- fhops Prifon was cold and dark, he remain'd howe- ver there more than two Months,and began to be- lieve, that he would never get out of this Affair. His Enemies at lead feem'd very much induc'd to think fo-, Duthihaut thought himfelf fecurM from hisProfecutions, the IfTue whereof could not but be very troublefome to him ^ and Barot causd a De- volution to be executed upon his Benifice, to the Profit of Jfmael BoulieaH a Priefl and one of his Heirs. SeElr. 15. In the mean while, the eagernefs of the Confpirators happen'd to abate, for fear of theExpences ^ for altho' they were all very Weal- thy, yet each of them excus'd themfelves, as much 'as 12 The Hijlory of as 'twas pofTible, from defraying the Charges, which could notbe.fmaH, the Inltruvltiori of the Proccfs being made at Poitiers •, where the Wit- neflbs were oblig'd to rp?kea pcrfoaal Appearance, to give their Iniorniations, and to be confronted to the Perfon Accns'd. B^t the Animollty of Trinqnant was more powerful than than of all the rcfl:^ he in the end overcame thofe Difficulties, and aded fo, that his AlTociates contributed to the Expcnce as well as himfelf, and that the Pro- fecution was not given over Seclr. 1 5. The principal Article of the Accufa- tion could not be made good. It was laid to Grizndier's charge, That he had Debauch'd Wo- men and Maidens, but there were no Plaintiffs produc'd \ thefe Women and Maids were not nam'd^ there was not any Witnefs that Swore dircdly to this Fad; and the greater part ac- knowledged, at lafl, That they never heard a word concerning many things which they found writ in the Informations. At lalt, it being n^ct^^- ry to proceed to the Judgment of the Procefs ^ there was admitted into the number of the Judges, the Advocate Richard^ who was innciuant's Kiiif- man; and thcBifhop was befet by the fccret Ad- verfaries of Grandler^ who CeasM nottofet him out in the blackeft Colours, and who knevy how to mix fo much Probability with their Calumnies, that on the 3d of "January 1 630, he was Con- demn'd to Fait with Bread and Water, by way of Penance, every MV^jV during three Months; and interdidcd from Divine Offices, in the Diocefs of Poitiers^ for -five Years ; and in the Town of Lou- dim^ forever. SeH:. 17. On both fides there was an Appeal from this S^nl^XiCQ -^Grmdier appeal'd to the Arch- bifhop the Devils ^/ Loudun. ij bifhop of Boiirrdeaiix ^ and his AdveiTarics, in the Name of the Promoter of the Oificiality, by Writ of Error, to the Parliament oi Paris -^ to the intent only to Perplex him, and to bring him into fucli a Condidoii, as not to be able to undergo the burden of all the Affairs, with which they fought to overwhelm him. But they fliccecded not as they delir'd *, for he. prepared himfeif, and had his Caufc Pleaded before the Parliament. But it be- ing neceflary to hear yet a greater num];er of VVit- nelfes, who dwelt in a Place very far ofl', the Court remitted the Cognifance thereof to the Prefidial of Poitiers^ to judge definitively. The Licurenant Criminal of Poitiers^ gave Inftructioa for renewing the Procefi, as well by the Re-examination and Confronting of the WitneiTcs', as by the Fulmina- tion of a Monitory. This Inllruclion was not fa- vourable to his Accnfers \ there were found Con- tradidions in the WitneiTes, who would yet per- fift \ and there were many others, who ingenuoufly ncknowledg'd, That they had been tamper'd with : One of the Accufcrs defiited Irom the Action which he had begun ^ and declared, with fome Witneflcs, who alfo gave over. That they had been put on, and folicited by Trinqiuim, At the fame time, it came to the knowledge of Mechin and BeulieaH Priefts, That they v;ere made to iay, in their Depofition, things that they had never thought of ^ they were defirous to difown them by Writings under their Hands ^ and that of Me- chin being found, we need not fear to infert it here, altho' it be long, as well as fome other Wri- tings, which fhall be inferted hereafter*, becaufe we believe that this Exadlnefi will contribute to the Satisfadion of the Reader, and leave no caufe to doubt of the truth of thofe things which are containM in this HiHory. Se^. 14 The Wftory of SeHr. i8. ^M Gervafe Mechin Pricft, Vicar of " the Church of St.Peter^ in the Market of Lo«- " dim^ do certifie by this prefeiit Writing, and " Sign d with my Hand for the difcharge of my " Confcience, upon a certain Rumour which is " causd to be fpread abroad, That in an Informa- '^ tion made by Giles Robert Archpriefl, againfl " Vrhan Grandier Prieft, Parfon of St. Peters ^ in '^ which Information, the faid Robert folicited me ^' to dcpofe, that I have faid, That 1 found the " faid Grandier lying with Women and Maids all " at length in St. Ftterh Church, the Doors being '^ fhut : Alfo, That feveral times, at undue hours, '^ both by Day and by Night, I had ^t^n Maids '' and Women come to find the faid Grandier in. *' his Chamber ^ and that fome of the faid Women *■' continued there, from one of the Clock in the '' Afternoon, till two or three in the Morning \ " and caus'd their Suppers to be brought thither " by their Maid-Servants, who immediately re- " tir'd : Alfo, That I had feen the faid Grandier " in the Church, the Doors being open; and fome *'• Women being entred there, he fhut them. Not " deiiring that fuch Reports fhould any longer " continue, I declare by thefe Prefents, That I *•' have never fQen^ nor found the faid Grandier '' with Women, or Maids, in the Church, the ^' Doors being fhut 5 nor alone with them by *' themfelves, but when he has fpoken to them, " they were in Company, and the Doors wide " open : And as touching the Poflure, I think it " fufEciently clear'd by myConfrontation,and that " the faid Cra?idier and Women were fat down a " good dillanceone from the other: As alfo, I " never faw Women and Maids enter into the faid " Orandierh Chamber, neither by Uay nor Night. Indeed, the Devils Jnjoyning him, that he behave himfelf or- " derly and modcftly in his Charge, according to " the Holy Decrees, and Canonical Conflitutions, " without Prejudice to his Recovery of Satislaclion "for Danaages, and Intere(l:s,and Reflitution of the " Profits of his Benefices, in inch manner as he fnall " think good. Made by us at our Palace belonging " to the Abbey of Saint Jonin les A^fames^thc Twen- " tic th . of Novembfr, 1 63 I . Signed Henry de SoHr^ ^' ^iV Archbilhop of Bonrdeakfx^ and pronounc'd by " us the Regiiler, to the faid Cr^indUr^ who was " then in the fame Abbey the Ds^Y and Year above " mention'd. Se^. 21. The Archbifhop confidering the ani- mofity, and; contrivances of the Enemies of Cirandier^ 2ir^ having an efteem forhim, for the £ike of his good qualities, advis'd hini to change his Benefices, and to withdraw himfelf from a )V^^^^t where fo powerful a confpiracy was G made 1 8' The Hipry of made againft him. But he was not capable of following fuch wholefome advice, both Love and Hatred had too much blinded him, he hated his Enemies with too great a paffion to fatisfic them in that Point •, But he was yet more violently pofTell by Love ^ and although this was divided towards different Objects, there was one neverthelefs, which was the true Subjed of his tender AfTedi- ons, to which his Heart was ty'd by fuch llrong bands, thatfar from being able to break them, he had not the power to remove himfelf any diHance from her. He return'd then to Loudiw^ with a Branch of Laurel in his Hand, as an Enfign of his Vidory. SeCt, 11, Perfons that were indifferently concern'd, were fcandaliz*d at his Condud, wherein he ft^ew'd fo little Modeff:y \ his Enemies were enrag'd, and his own Friends diiapprov'd it. He took polTeflion of his Benefices, and fcarcely gave himfelf Leifure to breathy- fo that being wholly fill'd with the Refentment of the Injury that had been done him by DMhibaut^ he begun his Suit againff: him, and drove it fo far, that he obtain'd a Decree from the Chamber of ToHrnellcy whither DnthbAut was fent for, and reprov'd, and was condemned to divers Fines and Reparations, and to pay the Charge of the Procefs, Se^. 23. C r an diers not hoxng fatisfied with the right he had done himfelf in this Affair, refolv'd to carry on his Revenge, as far as he could legally do it, and he began to fue his Secret Enemies for his Reparations, Damages and Interefts, and fjr the Refl:itution of the Profits of his Benefices, accordmg to the Sentence of the Archbifhop of BoHYcieaHx. It was in vain that his principal friends would the Devth of Loudun. 19 would have difTwaded him upon the Confideratiori of what had already happen d to him, which ought to make him know what his Enemies were like to do, if he attempted every way to drive them to Extremities, and to intereft their Purfe, at which they would not be lefs fenliblc, than they had fhew'd themfelvesin what conccrn'd their Reputa- tion: But his Stars drew him to a Precipice •, Di* vine Providence, whofe Way5 are impenetrable, would punifh him for his Pride and Debauchery, and fuffer, at the fame tine to appear upon the Theater of the World, one cf the Tragical Ads, which ftlfe Zeal, 01 Impiety caufe to be rc- prefented there from time to time^ and which ne- ver fail to find in the Credulity of the People an Approbation and Applaufc,which X.\^^ E xperience ofwhat is pafl, ought to hinder them fi*om giving fo lightly, and which are the evident Signs of the Weaknefs of Man's Underflanding. SeU:, 24. When there was to be chofen a new Con- fellbr for the Vrfnlijie Nmis^ Gr^indicr had been pro- pos'd ^ His Enemies nois'd it abroad, that he was very defirous to be pitch Yl upon ^ but that he was rejefted becaufc of his evil Manners, and than the Priorefs had a greatDifpute with one of his in- timate Friends upon that Subject. Buttheie are many Perfons who writ to the contrary, and that the Nuns had caus'd him to be treated with, upon the deiign they had to dellre him to be their Con- felTor, which he abfohitely refus'd, although he had been very much follicitcd. It is at leaft certain that thefe Maidens had dwelt Seven or Eight Years at LoHditn^ without his having given them any Vi- fif, and in the Year 1^3+, when he ar^d they were brought Face to Face, it appeared that they had never fecn him. Father Tranquille has alfo own'd C X , it 20 The Hijlory of it ill one of bis Books, that GrandUr had never in- termeddled Iq their Concerns. There is then no Likelihood that after he had fo exceedingly High- tizd I hem, he (Viould have a Defign to become their ConftflTor, or that he ever proposed it to them. Sect. 25. The Report of the PoiTcflion was a great while whisper'd about the Town, before it broke out. 1 he Secret could not be fo well kept, but that fome Knovvlcdge ofwhatpafl within the Convent fpread abroad ; There was made the Ex- l^eriment of all the Sleights of managing the Body, whith they intended tomakeufeof^ There ^z^- r0 2 fet in order the Springs of his Intreagues to l^ave them pliy, when they (hould be in a Con- dition ^ He caui'd his Schollars to be exercis'd in feigning to fall into Convul[ioriS,to make Contor- lions and Pollures of their Bodies, to the End they might gain a Habit, and he forget nothing for their Inftrndion, to make them able to appear irue DemoTJiach, 'Twas believ'd that he kept fome of rhelimple and overcredulousA"//,7j in their Error, and in the Fear which they had at firil, and that by Degrees he iafiniiated into them that which he was defirous they fliouid at laftllrongly believe, and which 'twas thought they really did fo ♦, How little Refemblance foever of Truth there might be in this Impoflure , He drew others into the Par- ty, who had no Knowledgeof it in the Beginning; He fecur'd himfelfof the Fidelity of all thofe who were engaged as well by Oaths, as by the Confidc- ration of the Intereft of the Glory of GO D, and the Catholick Church, perfuading them, that it would draw gi eat Advantages by this Enterprize, which would ferve to contbund the Heretich^ of whom the Town was very full ^ and be rid of a Fer*iicous Curate, who by his Debaucheries had dif- the Devils of Loudun. 21 dilhonour'd bis Charadkr , wbo was alfo a Secret Heretich^ and who drew a Numcrcus Com- pany of Soiils into Hell ^ Adding, that tlicir Coi^ vent would not fail, to obtain by this ^>ea^ys ?.i extraordinary Reputation, and that Gifts and Alms that would be bcdow'd, would bring a great Plenty, which was then wanting *, In a Word, he forgot nothing that he believM would contribute to his Defigns, and when be faw that the Euii- ncfs was very near to the Point of Perfeflion which he wifh'd, he began to excrcife the Superior, and Two other A'7/;7j • He cail'd at fir ft to his Exor- cifns only P^r^r ^^rr^, Curare of Saint J^tw^.f of Chinon^ and Canon of Saint Afctne He was a Bigot and an Hypoalte^ almoR- of the fame Charadcr with Afijrnon^ but much moie Alelancholick and more Enthufiaftick, and who pradis'd a 1 hcufand Extravagancies, that he might pafs for a Saint. He came to Loudnn at the Head of his Parifliicners, w^hon he led in Procefiion, coming all the Way on Foot, that he might the better put a Glofs up- on his Hypocrify After that thefe Two pretend- Exorcifts had bulled themfclvc'i together very pri- vately for Tea or Twelve Days, they beiitvd this Ad was in a Condition to be cxpos'd upon the Stage to the Eyes of the Publick and for this Ef- fed, they refolv'd to inform-the Magiftratc of the Lamentable Conditioji of thefe AWf, to whom they employed Granger Curate of P^cmcr^ a Man malicious and impudent, fear'd and hated of all thePrieflsin the Country, becaufe being in Fa- vour with the Bifhop of Poitiers^ he many times did them ill Offices with him*, He had never any Difference with 6>^;7J;>/-, But had even received fome Services of him, which did not hinder him from fuffering himfclf to betamper'd with by M.g- C 3 hvn 22 The Hijiory of non and Trinquafit^ and" entring openly into the League with them. He went then on Monday the Eleventh oi Othober^ 1532, to find William dc Ceriz^al de la GucrirAere Bailiff of the Loitdnnois^ and Levnis Chanvet Lieutenant Civil, and he in- treated them, on the 4^ehalf of the Exorcifts, to come to the Convent of the Vrfidincs to fee the Two Nitns pofleifed by evil Spirits, rcprefenting to them th.it it concera'd them to be prefent at the Exorcifms, and to fee the ftrange and almoft incredible Efieds of this PofieFion. He told them, that there was one who anfwerM in Latin to all Queftions that could be put to Her, although fhe had no Knotvledge of the Language before this Accident. The Two Magidrates w^ent to the Convent, either to aflifl at the Exorcifms, and to Authorize them, if they found themfelves oblig'd, or to Hop the Courfe of this Illulion, if they judg'd the Polfcilion to be feign'd and counterfeited. Ailg- mn met them attir'd with his Surplice and Tippit, He told them that the lSJnns had been diflurb'd for Fifteen Days with Apparitions and frightful Viri- ons, aqd that after that, the Mother Superior, and Two other l^ims had been vifibly poficll for Eight or Ten Days by evil Spirits, but that they had been driven out of their Bodies, as well by the Minillry of him. asof5./?o« and Grander into an upper Chamber, funiifli'd with Seven lit- tle Beds, in one of which lay the Lay Sifter, and the Priorefs in another. This laft was encompafs'd with fbme Carmelites^ with fome of the Nans of the Convent, with Mathurin Rojfeau Prieft and Canon of Saint Crop^ and Aimouri the Chirurgion. The Superior had no fooner difcover'd the Two Magiftrates, but ftie had violent Commotions, and perform'd ftrange Adions^ She made a Noife which was like to that of a Pig \ She funk down into the Bed , and contraded her felf into the Poftures and Grimaces of a Perfon who is out of his Wits^ A Carmelite Friar was at her right Hand, and Migmn at her left, the laft of thefe put his Two Fingers into her Mouth and prefuppo- ling that fhe was poflefs'd, us'd many Conjurations, and fpake to the Devil,who anfwer'd him after this Manner, in their Firft Dialogue. Migmn deman- ded, Prtp^^r <^«^«i Caufam ingreffus esin Corf us hujus f^irginis ? For what Reafon hafl thon ^titer^d into tht Body of this Virgin ? Anfw. Caiifa u^nimoftatis ; V^on the Account of Animojity. Q. Per qHodFaUam <* By what Pa^J ? A. Per Flores^ By Bowers, Q. Qjta- C 4 Us f 24 The Hijtory of hs? IVh^t Fhrrers ? h.Rofas. Rofcs. ^ Qnis mlft? 1Vho/e?7t them ? A. Vrhanns. Vr^an. She pionounc'd not this Word before fhe had ftammerd many times, as if fhe had done it by conflraint. Q_ Lie Cogno- men. Tell his Surname. A. Grandier. This was a. f.aia a Word which fhe pronouncVl not, till fhe had been very much urg'd to Anfwer. (i Die cjuallta- um\ A^entionhis Qudity. A. Sacerdos^ ji Prlefi. Q_ Chjh^ Ecdefiae ? of what Church? A. Snrj[l i Pe- tri^ Of Saint Peters. She uttet'd thefe lall Words very boldly. Q^ Qucc Perforja attidit flares ? What Pirfon brniight the Flowers f A. DUbollc^y a Diaho^ ileal Per fen. She camc to her Senfes after this la/l AnTTV^r, She pray'd to GOD, and ihc cryed to €at a little Bread which was brought her.:, fne put it from her however a little after, faying Ihe was not able to fwallow it bccaule it was too dry. There was brought to her Liquid Sweatmcats of which fhe eat but very little, becaufe fhe was frequently per- plexU^by the Return of her Convulilons. The BailiPi and'Lieutenant who flood near her, and ob- ferv'd with good Attention that which pall, feeing- that they gave no niore any Sign of a PofTeflion, withdrevr towards the Windovy \ Alignou came near them and faid, that in the Adion which was prefented, there was fom.ethmg like the Hiftory of Peter Ca?ifredl.;\Nho was put to Death by Virtue of a Decree of the Parliament of yjlx m Pruvl;;.e \, to whom there was no Anfwer made, but the Lieute- nant Civil'told him, thxt it would have been pro- per to urge the Priorels upon this Caufe of Auimo- lity, whereof Ihe had fpoke in her Anfwcrs, upon tHs he txcus'd hiinfelf, that he was not allow'd to niake any Qiieflions of Curiojity. The Lay Siller h;id alfo fcvtral Convuliions, and the motions of jfiCY Bociv fcemd v^ry extraordinary. They were deli* The Devils of Loudun.. 2J d-efirous to propofc fome Qjiellions to her, b t fne cry'd out Twice, To the other ^ to the other ; which was interpreted, as if (he had been willing to fay, that 'twas only the Supei ior, who was folh^ientlv inflrucled to anfwer. T he Judges retivxl, and underftood the fame QiielHons had been already put divers times to the N/ws^ efpecially in the Pre- fence of PaidGroHar^ijudgG of the Provoftfhip at Lou- dim^ and of Trinquaut the King's Attorney, of . which, and all other things they had feen and heard, they drew up a Verbal Procefs, and fign'd it.. Se[f. 26. The Noifc which this Pcfeflion began to make, produc'd different Opinions •, the Devout Souls who regarded with relpedt and veneration, the Miniflers of the Church, and who were ih-^ clin'd to receive blind-fold, and without inqiiiry all that was prefented to them on their part, co:.ld not perfwade themfelves that Bane^ Mlgnorf^ the CarmtUtes^ VrfHlines^Pritfij^ Friars Vind xV;//7.f, could pofTibly be the Authors of fo wicked a Contrivance, or invent fo deviliOi an Impofture. But the World- lings not judging fo charitably, were more ihclinM to fufpedl the wholes they could not apprehend how thefe Devils, who happen'd to go out at one Door, did as quickly re-enter at another, to the confufionof the Miniflers of him, by whofe Au- thority they had been dif])oirefl: They were alto- nifh'd, that the Devils of the Superior fpake Latin, rather than that of the Lay Siller •, and that (he fpake not better than a Scholar of the fecond Form. They made refleftions upon this, that Mignon had not been willing to interrogate her upon the caufc of the Animofity, of which he himfelf had fpo- ken, and they concluded that it was becaufe the Deiil was at the end of his Leilon^ that he had not as yet learnt any further, and that he was o- blig'4 26 The Hijlorj of bligM to play the fame part before all forts of J^pedators, feeing he had fpoke nothing before the Baylin^, but what he had already faid before the Judge of the Provoftfhip *, they were not ignorant, that fonie time before, there had been a meeting of all the molt violent Enemies of Grandier^ at the Village of ruidardanc^ in one of t\{QTrlrjquam''s Houfes, and there found a great deal of probabi- lity, that what was aded there, had a Relation to the PoiTefllon. They could not alfo relifli that Mlgnon had fo readily explain'd himfelf upon the conformity which he faw in his Affair with that of Gaufredy the Priefl executed at Aix, And in fine, they had rather that other Friers than Carmelites had been caird to their Exorcifms, becaufe the Qiiarrels of thcfe good Fathers with Grandier^ had been known to all the World, by the Sermons which he had made againfb a priviledgcd Altar, of which they fo much boafted, and by the contempt which he publickly (hew'd of their Preachers. Sect, 27. The next Day after, being the Twelfth of OUobcr^ the Bayliff, and the Lieu- tenant Civil accompanied with the Canon HoitjfaH^ and follow'd by their Regifter, return'd to the Convent of the VrfuUrjcs^ upon the Knowledge that they had, that they did continue the Exor- cifms. They call'd Mignon afide, and remonftra- tedtohim, that this Affair would be henceforward of fuch importance, that it was necelfary that they, the Magiftrates, fhould be acquainted when. they would proceed in it ^ they added, that it was convenient that he Ihould forbear to Exorcife, ^nd that other Exorcifts, fhould be call'd by thofe of the Magiftracy, to avoid the fufpitions of Sug- geftion, which his quality, of being Confcffor, might jullly give, by reafoa of the Mortal ha- The Devils of Loudun. 27 trcd which had been between him, or his near Kin- dred, and Grandier^ who had been nam'd by the Su- perior as the Author of the Pad and Magick which was now in QpclHon. Migmn anfwer'd ihem,thac neither he, nor the Nuns, would be againfl their being prefent at the Exorcirins;s, and dcclar'd to them that Bayre had exorcis'd that Day, but he did not promife not to Exocrife any more for the fu- ture, although fmce that time he had always ab- flain'd from exorciilng in Publick. Barre draw- ing near, told the Magiilrates, th^t m thisexor- ciling, there paft very furprifing things \ That he had learnt from the Superior, That there were in her Body Seven Devils, whole Names he had taken in writing \ That Afiaroth was the firll: in order *, That Grandler had given the Padl, between him and the Devils, under the Symbol of Rofes, to one named Jane Pivart^ who had put them iato the Hands of a Maiden, v/ho had broisght them to the Convent, over the Walls of the Garden ^ That the Priorefs had faid, that this happen'd to her on Saturday Night, Hora, Sec ^n da Nolturra^at tvco of the Clock in the Mornings which were the very Words fhe us'd. That fhe would not Name the Maiden, but had nam'dP/z/*2r/ ^ That he demanded of her who that Vivan was ? And that f],e anfwer'd him, eft pauper A'fagm^ 'tis a poor A^agictan \ That he had urg'd her upon this Word, Magm^ Aingicidn \ and that fhe repli'd Maglclanm & Civis^ Magktan and Citiz^en, After this^Difcourfe, the Magiftrates went up into the Chamber of the poflefTcd, which they found fiU'd with a great Number of inquifi- tive Perfons ^ fhe made not any Wry-Face, nor did any Adion of a Perfon pofTell^ neither during the Mafs which ///^wo^ celebrated, nor before nor after the Elevation of the Sacrament j They Sung • alfQ a 8 The Hipry of alfo with the other Nuns \ the La 7- filler only being fat down by the help of thofe who were neareft ' to her, had a great trembling in her Anns and Hands. This is all that was obferv'd, and thought worthy to be inferted into the Verbal Procefs of the Morning Work of that Day. Seci. 28. The Delign of the Judges being to take an exad Account of this Affair, return'd to the Convent about Three or Four of the Clock in the Afternoon, with htncvu of Saint Marte^ the Sleur Deflntmcaax \ They found the Chamber again fill'd with People of all conditions ^ the Superior had at hrfl great Convulfions in their prcfcnce \ fhe thruft out her Tongue, (he Foam'd and Froth'd at the Mouth, well nigh as it fhe had been really in a Fit of Madncfs, or was tormented by an Evil Spi- rit. Barre demanded of the Devil, when lie would go out? Thofe that were near, heard this anfwer, Cras mane^ to Morrow Morning. The Exorcift in- fill ed,and ask'd him why he would not go out of her then ? The Anfwer was PaU:um^ a Ccntra^t^ or it is a Contracl. The word Sacerdos^ Pricfl^ was after- wards pronounced, then that of Finis^or Finit^anend^ or does end ; for this good Nun, or the Devil fpoke between their Teeth, and 'twas not eafie to under- Itand her \ Prayers were made, and Exorcifms, and Adjurations, but fhe anfwer *d nothing. The Pix was put upon her Head, and this Adion was ac- companied with Prayers and Litanies, which had no eflefl*, only fome People obferv'd, fhe was tor- mented with more Violence, when the Names of certain Saints were pronounc'd, as Saint Au^ cuftlne^ Saint ^erom^ Saint Anthony^ and Saint Mairy Magdalene, Barre commanded her at that time, ( as he did very often fince ) to fay that fhe gave her Heart and S^ul to G O D ^ fhe did it freely, the Devils of Loudun. 29 freely, and without conftraint : But when he bid her fay, that fhe gave her Body, fhe made refill- ance, and feem'd not to Obey, but by force; as if ihc were willing to fay, the Devil pofTefl her Body, but not her Soul. After fhe h?.d made this lafl An- fvver, fhe recovcr'd her natural condition \ her countenance was alfo Fleafant and Calm, as \t /he had not undergone any extraordinary Agitation ; and looking upon Bane^ with a finiiing Counte- nance, fhe told him, Ih.^t there was ?ion> no more o[ SjLtAn inhtr. She v.'as ask'd whether fhe remem- b'red the Quellions which had been put to her, and her Anfvvers? /he replied no. Afterwards Ihe took fonic Food, and told the Company, that the fir II Pad had been given her about Ten a Clock at Night •, That fhe was then in Bed, and that there were feveral Nuns in her Chambf^r •, (he felt that fomcthing took one of her Hands, and after having put into ic Three Black Thorns, they clos'dit; That this being done, without her ha» ving feen any perfon, fhe was troubled, and feiz'd with a great Terror, which made her call the Nuns . who were in her Chamber *, That they came near her, and found the Three Thorns in her Hand. As file continued to fpeak, the Lay-Siller had fome t Convullions, the particulars whereof the Judges i could not take notice, becaufe this happen'd whihl B they went nigh the Superior, and were attentive to I her Difcourfe. This Day's work concluded with ' an Adventure pleafant enough ^ whilft Bane made 1 lis Prayers and Exorcifms, there happen'd a great Noifeamongll the Company; and fome faid that they faw a Cat come down the Chimney *, This ^at was caretully fcarch^d for, throughout the T-hamber; it threw it felf upon the Teller cf the -^ed ; it was catch'd upon the Superiors Bed, vhere Barre had made many Signs of the Crofs •, upon ^o The Itifiory of , | upon it, and added fcveral adjurations, but at laft ' it was known to be one of the Cats of theCoa- vent, and no Magician, or Demon. • Sett. 29. The Company being ready to with- draw, the Exorcift faid that it was requifite to burn the Rofcs, where the Second Pad had bcea put •, and in c Jeft he took a great Nofegay of White Musk Rofes, already wither'd, and caft them into the Fire ^ there happen d no Sign upon this occafi- on, and the Rofes caus'd no ill fmell in burning. Ncverihclefs, they promifed the Company that next Day they fhould fee wonderful Events, That the Devil fhould go out^ That he Ihould fpeak more plainly than he had hitherto \ and That they would urge him to give fuch convincing and mani- fell Signs of his going out ^ that no Body fhould be able to doubt of the Truth of this Pofleflion. Rene Herve the Lieutenant Criminal, faid that he ought to ask her concerning the Name Pivart *, Barre anfwer'd in La tine, & hoc dicet^ & pHelUm rjomirjahlt^ pje JJjall tell it ^ and Name the Maicl^ - meaning to fpeak of her, who had brought the Rofes. Selh 30. Grandler^ who at firft made a. Mock at thcfe Exorcifms, and the Teflimony of thefe pre- tended Devils, feeing that this Affair was pulh'don : fofar, prefcnted a Petition to theBaylif! the fame Day, being the Twelfth of OEioUer^ by which he remonflrated to him. That Adignon had exorcis'd thefe Nuns in his prefencc \ That they had nam'd him as the Author of their PoIFeflion ^ That it was ^ an Impoflure and a perfect Calumny fiiggeflcd a- gainil hisHonour,by aManwho rais'd another falfe Accufation againft him, of which he had cleared himfelf^ That he requcftedhim to fequefler thefe Nuns, who pretended tobepofleft-, and caufe them to the Devils of Loudun. j i to be examined feparately ^ That if he found any appearance of PoflefTion, he would be pleas'd to nominate fome Ecclefiaflical Pcrfons, of a requifite Ability and Honefty, not fufpcded by hini the Petitioner, as Mignon and his Adherents were, to exorcife them if there were occafionT and to make his Verbal Procefs of that which Ihoiild pafs at the Exorcifms, to the end, that be the Petition- er might be able afterwards to provide as he fliould feecaufe. The Bayliffgave GV^W/Vran A;/r ^r /^ 0///c^, Prefidentof the General AfTefrors, Grarj'rer^ Curate Ot lu'iiier^ VMhlbdut and Ba-'jt: Bat that which did terrifie him moil, was this ; That he had undcrilood, that they had en- gagd on their lide Ktne Mcmin Sltirr deSllly^ Major of the Town, a Man who had very much^ Credit^ as well for his Riches, as the liiany OiKces he pollcft^ and above all for his Friends, amongfl whom might be reckoned Cardinal /?ic/;c'/V//, who bad not forgot many ungular kindnelTenyhich here'- tofore he had recciv'd of him in the Country, whea he was but a Curate or Prior, and which had con- tinued even lince his Elevation, and principally at the time of his firft Difgrace. All thefe coniide- rations oblig'd Grandier not to negled this Affair ; and to this effect, believing that he was tacitly re- ferr'd by the Bailiff of Londi-n^ to the Biihop of PoWers^ he went to find him at Dijjlil^ wliithcr he' was accompanied by a Prielt of Loudurj^ nam'd John Enron, The Steward of theBifhop who was call'd du Pid^ having told him that the Bifiiop was indifpos'd, he addrell himfelf to his Almoner, and pray'd him to let him under (fand, that he was come to prefent him the Verbal Procelles; which the Officers of Londun had made of all things which had paft in the Convent of the VrfuUnes ; and to complain of the impoftures and calumnies which were difperll againft him. The Almoner return- ing told, on the behalf of the Bifhop, in the pre- sence of dit Pifiy Bnror?^ and the Si^tir de la ^'^ofl^e^ that he was to Addrer:> himfelf before the Judges Roy ah, and that he fliould" be 'i^cry glad that he had JuRice done Y'-ri ia. this AffaiV* GrA?Td rr having been able to do nothing moie V^'ltH " • D ths j4 The Hijlorj of ^lie Biihop. rctiirn'd to Londm^ and applied himfclf again to the Bailiff^ He acquainted him with that which befel him in his Journey to Dijfai^ reite- rated his Complaints of the calumnies which were iadultrioufly promoted againft him , and be- fought him to acquaint the Kings Jullices with the Truth of this bufmefs, protcfting that he would make application at Court to obtain a Com- inillion, to bring an Information againfb Alignon and his Complices, and demanding to be put under the protedion of the King, and fafcguard of JuHice, feeing that his Honour and Life were at- tempted. The Bailiff gave him an Adt of his Protellations, with prohibitions to all forts of Per- fons to fpeak ill of him or to hurt him, this Order was of the Twenty Eighth of OEhoher^ 1(^32. SecL 33. Mlgnon feeing himfelf accus'd in his turn for having Plotted a Contrivance to deflroy Crandler^ came to make his Declaration to the Bailiff, without allowing his Jurifdid;ion ^ That G randier and he being Priefls of the Diocefs of Fodiiers^ he ought not to addrefs himfelf to other Judges than their Biihop to accufe him of the moil horrible of all the Calumnies that Hell hath ever produc'd, and that he was ready to render himfelf to the Prifou of the OfEciality, to make known to all the World, that he did not fhun the Light of JuHice : He added, that he had protefted his innocence the Day before, by Swearing on the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, in the prefencc of the Jullices themfelves, that he had never thought of the Calumny for which he was com- plained of, that he had given Grandier notice to put himfelf on his part, in a condition of defence^ and to forbear in the mean time to accufe him of hdug a Calumniator •, of which Word^. and Pro- ^ teftatioas the Devils of Louduri." 3 ^ teftations, the Bailiff decreed him an Ad, which he cans'd to be fignified to his Adverfary. SeU:. 34. Since the Thirteenth of OEider^ that Barre had boaded of having expelfd the Devih out of the Two Nuns *, they pafl fome time without any talk of the Pofleflion , Grandler however inclined not to believe that the bufinefs would Hop there, nor that there had a Deilgii to let him be quiet ^ he imagia'd that thefe Maids took time to fludy their part, and to exercifc thcmfelves in the prefence of the Di- redlor of the Work, in order to ad their parts the better, when it fhould be time to rcprefent the other Ads of this Comedy. He fail'd not in his conjcdnre : for Rene MannoiiYi the Chirurgecn was fent the Twenty Second of November^ to Gafpard Joabcrt a Phyfician, to pray him to come to the Convent of the VrfiiUncs^ and to get himfelf accompanied with the other Fhyficians of Loudurf^ in order to vifit two Nuns who were again tor- mented by evil Spirits ? Jonbert being a Frank Man, and an Enemy oflmpofture, and unwilling to go upon this occafion,but under the ftandard of Juftice, wentfpeedily to find the Bailiff, to know, if it was by his order, that Mnmiourl had call'd him ? The Bailiff anfwered that he had not, and ^^^t for MannoHri to know of him himfelf, by whofe order he had fpoke to Jonhert •, Man" noun declar'd , that the Maid belonging to the Convent , came to his Hor.fe , and told him that the poffefled had never been fo ill treated as they were then ^ and that the Nuns pray'd him to get all the Fhyficians of Londun^ and fome Chirurgeons, to come to the Cofivent. Upon which , the Bailiff fent for Cranditr to tell him , that as he was nam'd the Au- D 2 thor 36 The Hiftory of thor of the bewitchiflg of the Nuns, he thought himfelf oblig'd to give him notice, that Barre was retun'd from Chimn the Day hcfore, to re- new the Exorcifms, and that the Report went about, that the Superior, and the Siller CUir^ were a new tormented with Evil-Spirits, as they had been before. Grandier reply'd, that it was a continuation of the Confpiracies which had been made againfl him, which he had complain'd of at Court, and would again complain ^ That in the mean while, hebefonghthim tc rcfort always to the Convent with the other Oi^icers to afTifl: at the Exorcifms, and to call thither the Ph/Hcians ^ and that if they faw any Appearance of PoiTefTion- he would be pleas'd to fequeller the Nuns, and to have them interrogated by other Exorciils, than Mlgnon and Bmre^ againit whom he had very jull Caufes of Sufpition. The Bailiff fent for the Kings Attorney, who gave his conclullons i Whereupon the Clerk was. fent to the Convent, to know of Mignon and Burre if the Superior was again pofTellj and in cafe they anfwer'd affirm a- tively, he was orderd to tell them they were for- bidden to proceed ciandeflinely in the Exorcifms and that they were cnjoyn'd to advertifethe BailiiT to the end that he might be there with the Phyfil Clans whom he would call, and the Officers whom he ihould think proper to accompany him, and all upon the Penalties thereunto belonging, without prejudice to the right of GrancUer^ upon the rcquelt made by him, for the fequeltration of the pofleiied and nomination of unfufpeded Exorcifls. Mi^^ non and B^rre having heard the readine of this Order declar'd, without allowing the lu- nfaidion ot the Bailifi, that they were again call'd by the Nuns, to affift them in the continuation of I the Devils of Loudun. 37 a flrange Difeafe, which they fuppos'd to be a Pof- fefTion of the Evil Spirits;, that they had exorcis'di even to the prefent Day, by Virtue of aCommiflloii from the Biiliopof PoiSliers^ the Date whereof was not yet expir'd, which Bilhop they had ncverthe- lefs judg'd requisite to inform with the State of the Bminefs, to the intent that he might come him- felf, or feadfuch Exorcilts as he fiiould think good to ad by his Orders, and to judge judicially of the prefent PoirefTion, which had been treated as an impoilure and illufion, to the great comtempt of the Glory of G O D, and the Catholick Religion ^ although the Maids who had been tormented, during the fecond PofTeflion, had been vilited by many Doctors of Phyfic,and by Chirur«;eons and Apo- thecaries, who had all alike given their atteftations ; and alfo a great many Perfoiis of Honour and Piety had feen the Wonders of G O D. Infum, that they fhould not hinder the Bailiff and other Officers, accompanied with Phyficians, from com- ing to the Nuns, whilll they waited for the Bifhop's aniwer , which they hop'd to receive the next Day, and that they confen ted that the Gates fliould be open'd, if it would pleafe the Ladies to open them. They repeated once agaiii, that they did not acknowledge the Bailiff for their Judge, and that they did not fuppofe that he could hinder them from executing the Commands of the Bifhop of Poitl^iersy as well in the matter of exorcifing, as all other acts which depended on his Eccienaftical Jurifdictions. In fine, they protefted, that if thcfc Maids fhotild be violently Tormented, they fhould proceed to exorcifmg for their relief^ and that the Bailiff and the Officers, and Phyficians might affift there, if it feem'd good to them, to fee if the D 3 t'oflef- 38 The Hifiory of Poffcflioa were an impoflnre, or a truth. Tha Bailjif hav/ng rcceiv'dthis A nf vver,deferr'd till the Day following ill the xMorning, to make his Vilit, hoping that the BiQiop would come, or at leall that he would fend other Ecclellafticks who were not fufpeded. As foon as the Morning was corae, he repaired to the Convent, where he waited in vain, till Noon ; after which, to do right upoa another Petition prefented to him, by Gra?j^ Ser^ He order'd that Prohibitions fhoitld be made to Bavrc and all others^ to pitt Queflio7is to the Shporior and other Nims^t ending to bUckcn the Petitioner or any other perfon^ Vfhofoever it wa<^ upon the Penal^ ties that jhoidd fall thereon. This Order being ligni- fied to Barre^ and to one of the Nuns, for all the reft, Barre continu'd to Anfvver, that the Bailiff could not hinder him from executing the Orders of the Biihopi and that he declared, that he would ex- orcife hencefbrwards by the advice of the Eccleli- afticks, without calling Lay-perfons thither, but only as far as he ifhould think it nccefTary, for the greater Glory of GOD-, That he would complain of the great violences , which he had {^^n in the Morning , and of the obllacle tthat was p^C to the Continuance of the Ex- brciflns, the Bailifl' having not been willing to fuf- fer, that he fhould reiterate to the Evil Spirit, the command to fpcak the Truth, upon a Queftion that liid been propos'd to one of the polTeffed^ when fhe was brought into the Choir ofthe Church ; That be declar'd neverthelefs, that he would exe- cute that which he had faid, till the coming of the Bifhop or his Orders •, Adding, that the Nuns de» fir'd that he would continue to execute his Com- Jiuffionfor their Relief^ ^nd-that 'twas fufficient that The Devils of Loudun. $9 that the Order of the Bailiff had been notified ua- to them. Sett. 34. The Day was almoft gone, and the Bifliop not arriv'd, nor was there any Proba- bility that he would give himfelf the Cognizance of an Affair , with which he feem'd to look oa as a trifling Matter. This gave Graadier Oc- cafion to pvefent at Night another Petition to the Bailiff, who Tent for all the Officers of the Baili- wick, and thofe belonging to the Law to commu- nicate it to them. The lalt of which declin'd the taking Cognizance of it ^ The Advocate, becaufe he was fenfibly provok'd and offended with the Scan- dalous Difcourfe whi^h the Petitioner made in his Prefeuce againft Migmn^ whofe near Kinfman he was^ And the Attorney , becaufe he was Coufm- German to the fame Mignon by his Wife, who was theDaughter of Tm7(j//^/;f, whofeOffice he had late- ly taken Poffeffion of ^ and becaufe he had fevcral Quarrels with Grandier for the lafl Six Months, and that he had obtain'd of the Bilhop oi Poitliers aDifpcnfation not to acknowledge him for his Par- fon. Each of them declaring that they humanely believ'd that the Nims were really poffefs'd by the Devils, being convinc'd by the Tclfcimony of the Phyficians from other Towns who had feen them, and by that of divers Eccleliafficks, Seculars and Regulars, and yet without having a Thought that Grandier was the Author of this Fatal Accident. Their Declarations being writ and fign'd, the Judges ordered that the Superior and Lay Sifter fhould be Sequeflred and put into a Citizens Houfe, That each of them fhould have a Nun to keep her Company *, That they fhould be affifted as well by their Exorcills as by Women of Honelly and Qua- D 4 lity 4^ The Hijlory of' lity,andby Phyricians and other Perfons whom they them felves vvoi.id appoint to have the Charge of theni^ Forbidding all others, without PermifTion, tocome near the^Ti. The Regifter was fent to the Convent with an Order to declare this Senteiice to the Nuns. The Superior having heard it read, an- fwer'd as well for her felf a^ tor all theSociety,That flic did not ac,kno.w ledge the Jurisdiction of the BailiiT^ That there was a CornmiiTion of the Piifhop of Poicljers^ dated the Eighteenth of November^ iinporthig fuch Orders as he delir'd fhould be held in the Prelcnt Aflair, and that flie was ready to put a Copy .of it into his Hand, to the End that Tie might p.ot plead Ignorance^ As for the Sequeflnrtion, that Hie did oppofe it, becaufe 'twas contrary to the Vcv/ of perpetual Confinement, for which fhe coiild not be dilpcnc'd with but by the Bidiop. This O|^ofitioa having been made in the Pr^fcnce of the Lady de Cii>,irtut:^iPJ^ Aunt by the Mothers Side to Two A"/.'/;.-, and in that of the Chirurgion Mannonri^ Brother-in-iaw toanotiier, each of them.JoynM together and protefled againit the Proceeding, if the Baililfwonldgo on further ^ and alfo to v\\^ it upon themfelves in i;iicir pro- per and piivaa^ Names. The Act was llgn'd , and carried by the Regilfer to the Bailiir^ who or- derM' that the Partys fiiOuld provide themPeives fora SequefLration, and that he would come to the Convent next inorniijg being the Twenty fourth q{ Novcmbir^ to a iafc at the Exorcifins. He went thither at vli^ Hour appointed, and having Pent ior D.r/iUi Roger Vincern dc t'ai:x^ G aj far d J unhurt^ and Maiihcn'' L'^aitoo Phyficiaas, he told them that he would tak'c their Oaths wheii they made their Report, and commanded them in the meaa Ahile that they would atteativeiy coafider the The Devils of Loud urn 41 Two Nms who fhoiild be fhew'd to them^ and to examine if the caufcs of their Difeafe were Natural or Supcrmtural -^ They were plac'd near the Altar,which was feparated by aGrate from ihtChoir^ where the Nnns did ufuaiiy Sing, and ov«r againfl which the Superior was a little after laid upon a Couch ^ She had great Convulfions whilft Barre faid Mafs, her Arms and Hands were diftorted, her Fingers were half Shuf, her Cheeks feem'd to be much fwoH'n, and only thewhite of her Eyes was to be ^ttw ; The Friars and .Nims ftood about her, and aflllted her, and there wa-s a great Num- ber of Spectators in the OWr and. near the Al- tar. Mafs being ended, Barre czvat ni^hher to giveher the Communion, and to exorcife her, and holding the Sacrament in his Hand, he fpake to her in thefe Words, Adora Deum luiim^ Creditor em tunm. Adore thy God^ thy Creator \ floe betn^ urg'd anfwer^d^ Adcro ff, 1 adore thee. OHcmadsra^ <* IVhom doft thou adore / faid the Exorcift feveral times, JeJ'us Chrifl^ //i,reply'd fbe ^ making Motions as if fhe had fuffer'd Violence.-D^;7/f/ i^roA'/?;, Aflelfor oftheProvoftfhip, could not forbear faying aloud. Here's a Devil who is a bad Latimft. Barre changing the Phrafe, de- manded of the pofiefs'd, Onis eft ifte cjitem adoras ^ Who is he rvhom thou adore fl f he hop'd that Ihe Would fay again Jefns Chrift^s^ but fhe anfwer'd Jefn Chnftc j Then there was heard a greatNoife of theAffiHants who cry'd out this is ill Latine, ^^rr^ maintained boldly that fhe faid Adoro tc Jefn Chrifte^ I adore thee^ O JefHs CJjrifl. There was afterwards put to her fome Queftions concerning our Saviour, to which fhe made this anfwer, Jefns Chriftus eftfnb^ ftantia Vatris^ Jefns Chrift is the Snbftance of the Fa^ ther-j Look you here is a Devil who is a great Di- vine, faid the Exorcift. Kcxt after, he demanded the 42 The Hiflory of the Name of the Devil, to whom it was anfwer'd, after great Urgency and violent Convulfions, that c was call'd Afmoice ^ He enquir'd alfb what were the Number of the Devils who were in theBody of the PofTeded, flie anfwer'd Sex^ Six, The Bailiff requir'd of Barre^ that he fhould ask Afmodcc how many Companio ns he had, which was done, and the iV/f/2 anfwer'd Quinque ^ Five\ But when he was adjur'd, upon the Requeft of the faid Bailiff to tell in Greek, that which Ihc had faid in Latin, Ihe made no Anfwer, though the Adjurations were often repeated, and fhe alfo prefently return'd to her natural State. The Exorcift ask'd her again, by the Order of the Bailiff, if flie remembred what had pafl during her Convulfions, Ne^faidjlie , / do not Kemember any thing ; At leaftreply'd the Bailiff, you mi]fl needs remember the things which pafl at the Beginning of your Agitations, feeing that ihc Ritual enjoyns the Exorcifts to demand of the pof- feffed what are the Inclinations of your Bodies and Minds in the beginning of them*, fhe anfwer'd, that ilie had a Defire to Blafphemej The fame Day there was produc'd another young Nun^ who twice pronounc'd the Name oi G randier ^hm^ing out into a Laughter, then turning towards the Company, fhe {■a\6.^Allyot4 do is nothingto the Purfofe, Barre drew near her to give her theCommunion,but he believ'd that he ought not, becaufe fhe ceafed 'not to laugh. Afterwards flic retir'd to make Room for the Lay Sifler who was calledSifterC/^/V.As foonas fhe came into the Choir fhe made a kind of fighing, and when they had laid her upon a Couch, fhe faid laughing, Grandier^ C randier you muft buy it in the Market, Barre being come near to exorcife her, fhe made a Show as if fhe would fpit in his Face, and fhe often held up her Nofe in token of Derifi- oij I The Devils of Loudun. 45 on; She made wanton Motions, before ail the Speftators, and feveral times pronounc'd an ob- fccne beaftly Word. The Exorcills having adjur'd her to tell the Nine of the Devil who polTefs'd her, fhenam'd at firfl Grandier^znd when he iirg'd her further, fhe nam'd at lafb the Devil Elomi^ butlhe would not tell the Number that Ihe had in her Body \ He demanded of her alfo in Latine, Quo faEio iiigrcjfHS cfl D