touching the ground with her elbow.
Others, when comatose, became supple like a thin piece of lead, so that
their body could be bent in every direction, forward, backward, or
sideways, till their head touched the ground; and they remained thus so
long as their position was not altered by others.
At other times they passed the left foot over their shoulder to the
cheek. They passed also their feet over their head till the big toe
touched the tip of the nose.
Others again were able to stretch their legs so far to the right and
left that they sat on the ground without any space being visible
between their bodies and the floor, their bodies erect and their hands
joined.
One, the Mother Superior, stretched her legs to such an extraordinary
extent, that from toe to toe the distance was 7 feet, though she was
herself but 4 feet high.
But sometime before the death of Grandier, this lady had a still
stranger experience. In a few words this is what happened: In an
exorcism the Devil promised Father Lactance as a sign of his exit, that
he would make three wounds on the left side of the Mother Superior. He
described their appearance and stated the day and hour when they would
appear. He said he would come out from within, without affecting the
nun's health, and forbade that any remedy should be applied, as the
wounds would leave no mark.
On the day named, the exorcism took place; and as many doctors had
come from the neighbouring towns to be present at this event, M.
de Laubardemont made them draw near, and permitted them to examine
the clothes of the nun, to uncover her side in the presence of the
assembly, to look into all the folds of her dress, of her stays which
were of whalebone, and of her chemise, to make sure there was no
weapon: she only had about her her scissors, which were given over
to another. M. de Laubardemont asked the doctors to tie her; but
they begged him to let them first see the convulsions they had heard
spoken of. He granted this, and during the convulsions the Superior
suddenly came to herself with a sigh, pressed her right hand to her
left side and withdrew it covered with blood. She was again examined,
and the doctors with the whole assembly saw three bloody wounds, of
the size stated by the Devil; the chemise, the stays, and the dress
were pierced in three places, the largest hole looking as if a pistol
bullet had passed through. The nun was thereupon entirely stripped,
but no instrument of any description was found upon her. A report
was immediately drawn up, and _Monsieur_, brother of the King, who
witnessed the facts, with all the nobles of his Court, attested the
document.
FOOTNOTES:
[7] Our forefathers, if not more moral than ourselves, certainly
punished immorality, _when discovered_, much more severely, as is
witnessed by the following proclamation:--
"William by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland,
Defender of the Faith; To ... Macers of Our Privy Council, Messengers
at Arms, Our Sherifs in that part, conjunctly and severally, specially
constitute, Greeting: Forasmuch as, notwithstanding of the many good
Laws and Acts of Parliament made against Prophaneness, and for the
restraining and suppressing of Vice and Immoralities, the same do
still abound, to the great dishonour of God, the Reproach of the true
Protestant Religion, and to the hurt and prejudice of the Peace and
Government of the Realm; And We being resolved, as it hath alwise been
Our Care, to have these Laws and Acts of Parliament put in due and
vigorous Execution; And conceiving that the Printing and publishing
of an abreviat of the saids Acts duely collected, and laid together,
for the better Information and Instruction of all Our Judges, Officers
and Ministers of the Law, and also of all Our other good Subjects,
may be of special Use and Advantage, for their better Observation and
Execution, according, to their full Tenor and Intent: Therefore, and
in Answer to an Address, presented to the Lords of Our Privy Council,
by the Commissioners of the late General Assembly of this Church for
that effect; We with Advice of the saids Lords of Our Privy Council,
have thought fit, and do hereby appoint the Abreviat and List of the
saids Acts hereto subjoined to be Printed and duely published at all
the Mercat Crosses of the Head Burghs of the Shires, Stewartries,
Regalities and Baillaries of this Realm: And farder, that in all time
coming, this present Proclamation, with the Abreviat and List thereto
subjoined, be publickly read twice every Year in all the Paroch
Churches and Congregations within this Kingdom, to wit, on the first
Lords Day after each Term of Whitsunday and Martinmas yearly, after
the Forenoons Sermon, and before the dissolving of the Congregation;
and that all Presbyteries be careful to have this Publication
constantly and solemnly made in all Churches within their Bounds,
with suitable and pertinent Exhortations, as they will be answerable;
And We peremptorly Command and Charge, all Judges, Magistrats and
Officers of the Law whatsoever, each of them within their Bounds and
Jurisdictions; and as they are thereto respectively impowered, to be
careful to put the foresaids Laws above, and after mentioned, to due
and exact Execution upon their highest peril. Follows the List and
Abbreviat of the Laws against Prophaneness, and for suppressing of Vice
and Immorality. 1mo. Act twenty one, Charles second, Parliament first,
Session first, Entituled, Act against the Crime of Blasphemy, that
whosoever not being distracted in his Wits, shall rail upon, or Curse
God, or any of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, shall be processed
before the Chief Justice, and being found Guilty, shall be punished
with Death: As also, whosoever shall deny God, or any of the Persons of
the Blessed Trinity; and obstinatly continue therein, being processed
and found Guilty, shall be punished with Death. Item, The Act of Our
first Parliament, Session fifth, Cap. Eleventh, Ratifying the foresaid
Act; And farder Statuting, that whoever hereafter shall in their
Writing or Discourse, Deny, Impugn or Quarel, Argue or Reason against
the Being of God, or any of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, or the
Authority of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, or the
Providence of God, in the Government of the World, shall for the first
Fault be punished with Imprisonment, ay and while they give publick
Satisfaction in Sackcloth to the Congregation in which the Scandal was
committed; And for the second Fault, the Delinquent shall be fined in a
years valued Rent of his real Estate, and the twenty part of his free
personal Estate, the equal half of which Fines to be applyed to the
Poor of the Paroch where the Crime shall be committed, and the other
half to the Informer, besides his being Imprisoned, ay and while he
again make Satisfaction as above; And for the third Fault, he shall
be punished by Death, as an obstinat Blasphemer: And all Magistrats
and Ministers of the Law, and Judges in this Kingdom, are Authorised
and Required to put this Act in Execution as to the first Fault, as
are all Sheriffs, Stewarts, Baillies of Baillaries and Regalities, and
their Deputs, and Magistrats of Burghs, to put the same in Execution
as to the second Fault; remitting the Execution thereof, as to the
third Fault, to the Lords of His Majesties Justiciary. 2do. All Laws
and Acts of Parliament made against Cursing and Swearing, as Act Queen
Mary, Parliament fifth, Cap. Sixteenth, whereby it is Statute, that
whosoever Swears abominable Oaths, and detestable Execrations, shall be
punished with the Pecuniary Mulcts, and other pains contained in the
said Act. Act James sixth, Parliament seventh, Cap. One hundred and
third, ratifying the foresaid Act, with an Augmentation of the Pains,
and that Censors be appointed in the Mercat place of all Burrows, and
other publick Fairs, with Power to put the Swearers of abominable Oaths
in Ward, while they have payed the saids Pains, and find Surety to
abstain in time coming, and that by Direction and Commission of the
Sherifs, Stewarts, Baillies, Provosts, Baillies of Burrows, Lords of
Regalities, and other ordinary Officers; And that all House-holders
delate to the Magistrates, the Names of the Transgressors of this
present Act within their Houses, that they may be punished, under the
pain to be esteemed and punished as Offenders themselves; And that if
the said Magistrats be remiss or negligent in the Execution of this
Act, they shall upon Complaint be called before Us, and Our Privy
Council, and committed to Ward during pleasure, and find Surety under
great Pains at Our sight, for their exact Diligence in executing the
said Act thereafter. Act Charles second, Parliament first, Session
first, Cap. nineteenth, ratifying and approving all Acts of Parliament
against all manner of Cursing and Swearing. And farder declaring that
each Person who shal Blaspheme, Swear or Curse, shall be lyable in
the pains following, each Nobleman in twenty Pounds Scots, each Baron
in twenty Merks, each Gentleman, Heretor or Burges in ten Merks, each
Yeoman in forty shillings Scots, each Servant in twenty shillings
_toties quoties_, each Minister in the fifth part of his Years Stipend,
and if the Party Offender be not able to pay the Penalties foresaid,
then to be examplary punished in his Body, according to the Merit of
his Fault: And this Act is again Ratified, Charles second, Parliament
second, Session third, Cap. twenty two, which contains a distinct and
particular Method, how and by whom, it shall be Execute. 3tio. All Laws
and Acts of Parliament for Observation of the Sabbath or Lords-Day, As
Act James sixth, Parliament sixth, Cap. seventy one, That there be no
Mercats nor Fairs holden upon the Sabbath Day, nor yet within the Kirk
or Kirk-yards that Day, or any other day; and that no Handy-Labour be
used upon the Sabbath-Day, under the pain of Ten shilling Scots; and
that no Gaming, Playing, passing to the Taverns and Ale Houses, or
selling of Meat or Drink, or wilful remaining from the Paroch-Kirk in
time of Sermon, or Prayers, upon the Sabbath-Day be used, under the
Pains of Twenty shilling Scots, and who refuse, or are unable to pay
the saids Pains, shall be put and holden in the Stocks, or such other
Engine devised for publick Punishment, by the space of Twenty Four
Hours; and this Act as to the discharging of Fairs and Mercats holden
on Sabbath-Days, Ratified James the Sixth, Parliament Thirteenth,
Cap. one hundred and fifty nine, and again Ratified against these who
Prophane the Sabbath-Day, by Selling or Presenting Goods to be sold
upon the said Day, and the Pain of the Third Transgression, declared
to be Escheat of their haill Goods and Punishment of their Persons at
our Will; James sixth, Parliament fourteenth, Cap. one hundred and
ninety eight. Item, Act eighteenth Charles second, Parliament first,
Entituled, Act for the due Observation of the Sabbath-Day, Ratifying
and Approving all former Acts of Parliament made for Observation of
the Sabbath-Day, and against the Breakers thereof, and discharging
all going of Salt pans, Milns or Kilns, under the pain of twenty
Pounds Scots, to be payed by the Heretors and Possessors thereof; and
all Salmond-fishing, hiring of Shearers, carrying of Loads, keeping
of Mercats, or using of Merchandice on the said Day, and all other
Prophanations thereof, under the pain of Ten Pounds Scots, the one
half whereof to be payed by the said Fisher, and Shearer hired, and
the other half by the persons Hiring, and if the Offender be not able
to pay the saids Penalties, that he be exemplary punished in his Body,
according to the Merit of his Fault; and this Act ratified Charles
second, Parliament second, Session third, Cap. twenty two. 4to. The
Act Charles second, Parliament first, Session first, Cap. twenty,
Entituled, Act against Cursing and Beating of Parents, whereby it is
Statute, that whosoever Son or Daughter above the age of sixteen years,
not being distracted, shall Beat and Curse either their Father or
Mother, shall be put to death without Mercy, and such as are within the
Age of Sixteen Years, and past the Age of Pupilarity, to be punished
at the Arbitrament of the Judge, according to their deserving. 5to.
All Acts against Drunkards and excessive Drinking, such as the Act
James sixth, Parliament twenty two, Cap. twenty whereby it is Statute,
That all persons convict of Drunkenness, or of Haunting of Taverns and
Ale-Houses after Ten Hours at Night, or at any time of the Day, except
in time of Travel, or for ordinary Refreshment, shall for the first
Fault pay Three Pounds, or if unable, or refusing, be put in Joggs or
Prison for the space of six Hours; For the second Fault five Pounds,
or if unable, or refusing, to be keeped in Stocks or Prison for the
space of twelve Hours; And for the third Fault, to pay Ten Pounds, or
in case foresaid to be keeped in Stocks or Prison for the space of
twenty four Hours: if they transgress thereafter, to be committed to
Prison till they find Caution for their good Behaviour. Item, The Act
Charles second, Parliament first, Cap. nineteenth, Ratifying all former
Acts against the Crime of excessive Drinking, Declaring, That whosoever
shall drink unto Excess, shall be lyable, each Nobleman in twenty
pounds Scots, each Baron in twenty Merks, each Gentleman, Heretor or
Burgess in ten Merks, each Yeoman in forty shillings, each Servant in
twenty shillings Scots _toties quoties_; each Minister in the fifth
part of his years Stipend, and that the Offender unable to pay the
foresaids Penalties be exemplary punished in his Body, according to the
Merit of his Fault. 6to. The Laws and Acts of Parliament made against
Adulterers, as Queen Mary, Parliament fifth, Cap. twenty, whereby it is
Statute, That manifest and incorrigible Adulterers after the Process
of Haly-Kirk, sua far as the samen may extend, is used upon them, for
their Disobedience and Contemption, be denounced Rebels and put to the
Horn, and all their Moveable inbrought as Escheat, and no Appellation
interponed frae the said Censures of Haly-Kirk to suspend the Horning.
Act Queen Mary, Parliament ninth, Cap. seventy four, That all notour
and manifest Committers of Adultery be punished with all rigour unto
the Death, as well the Woman as the Man, after due Monition made to
abstain frae the said nottour Crime, and that for other Adultery the
Acts and Laws made thereupon of before, be put to Execution with all
rigour. And the Act James sixth, Parliament seventh, Cap. one hundred
and fifth, whereby it is declared, That it shall be judged nottour and
manifest Adultery, wordie of the pain of Death, whoever has Bairns
one or moe procreat betwixt the persons Adulterers, or when they keep
Company in Bed together notoriously known, or when they are suspect
of Adultery, and duely admonished by the Kirk, to abstain and satisfy
the Kirk by Repentance and Purgation, yet contemptuously refusing,
are Excommunicat for their Obstinacy. 7timo. All Laws and Acts of
Parliament made against Fornication, as Act Ja. sixth, Parliament
first, Cap. thirteenth, Statuting, That who shall commit the filthy
Vice of Fornication, shall for the first Fault, as well the Man as
the Woman, pay the Sum of Forty pounds, or then both he and she shall
be Imprisoned for the space of eight days, their Food to be Bread and
small Drink, and thereafter presented to the Mercat-place of the Town
or Paroch bare-headed, shall there stand fastned, that they may not
remove for the space of two Hours; For the second Fault, the Sum of
one hundred Merks, or then the forenamed days of their Imprisonment
shall be doubled, their Food to be Bread and Water allenarly, and
thereafter shall be presented to the Mercat-place, and the Heads of
both the Man and the Woman to be Shaven. And for the third Fault, One
hundred Pounds, or else the above Imprisonment to be Tripled, their
Food to be Bread and Water allenarly; And thereafter to be taken to
the deepest and foulest Pool or Water of the Town or Paroch, and there
to be thrice Doucked, and then Banished the said Town and Paroch, for
ever, and how oft any Person shall be Convict thereafter of the said
Vice of Fornication, that so oft the third Penalty be Execute upon
them. Item, The Act Charles second, Parliament first, Cap. Thirty
Eight, Impowering the Justices of Peace to put in Execution Acts of
Parliament, for punishing the persons Guilty of Fornication, and that
they cause them pay the Pecunial Sums following: Each Nobleman for
the first Fault, Four hundred Pounds; Each Baron Two hundred Pounds;
Each other Gentleman or Burges, One hundred Pounds. Every other person
of Inferior Quality Ten Pounds Scots Money, and that these Penalties
be doubled _toties quoties_, according to the Relapses, and Degrees
of the Offence, and Quality of the Offenders; And that they be payed
not only by the Man, but also by the Woman according to her Quality,
and the Degree of her Offence, the one without prejudice of the
other. Item, the said Act Charles second, Parliament first, Session
first, Cap. thirty eight, Statutes, That the Justices of Peace put
in Execution all Acts of Parliament for punishing all persons, who
shall be Mockers, or Reproachers of Piety, or the Exercise thereof,
and cause them pay the Penalties contained in the forementioned Act
of Parliament against prophane Swearing. Item, The Act of our first
Parliament, Session fifth, Cap. Thirteenth, Entituled, Act against
Prophaneness, strictly requiring and enjoining, that all Sherifs and
their Deputs, Stewarts and their Deputs, Baillies of Baillaries, and
their Deputs, Magistrats of Burghs-Royal, and Justices of Peace within
whose Bounds any of the said Sins of Cursing, Swearing, Drunkenness,
Fornication, Prophanation of the Lords Day, and Mocking and Reproaching
of Religion shall happen to be committed, to put the saids Acts to
exact and punctual Execution at all times, without necessity of any
Dispensation, and against all persons, whether Officers, Soldiers or
others without Exception; Certifying, that such of the saids Judges as
shall refuse, neglect, or delay to put the Laws made against the said
Sins in Execution, upon application of any Minister or Kirk-Session,
or any person in their Name offering Information, and sufficient
Probation, shall _toties quoties_ be subject and liable to a Fine of
an hundred pounds Scots, for which they may be pursued at the instance
of the Agent of the Kirk, or Minister of the Paroch by summar Process,
without the Order of the Roll. Item, the Twenty one Act of the second
Session of the current Parliament, dated the nineteenth of July One
thousand six hundred and ninety, Entituled, Act anent Murdering of
Children, whereby it is Statute, That if any Woman shall conceal her
being with Child during the whole space, and shall not call for, and
make use of Help and Assistance in the Birth, the Child being found
Dead or Amissing, the Mother shall be holden and repute the Murderer of
her own Child, tho there be no appearance of Bruise or Wound upon the
Body of the Child.[I] All which Acts abovementioned are hereby ordered
to be published only for superabundance, and the better Information
of our Liedges, without the least derogation to other Acts or Laws
not published in this manner. Our Will is Herefore, and we Charge you
strictly and Command, that incontinent these our Letters seen ye pass
to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and to the remanent Mercat Crosses
of the Head Burghs of the several Shires, and Stewartries within this
Kingdom, and in Our Name and Authority make Publication hereof, that
none may pretend Ignorance; And We Ordain Our Solicitor, to dispatch
Copies hereof, to the Sherifs of the several Shires, and Stewarts of
Stewartries and their Deputs or Clerks to be by them published at the
Mercat Crosses of the Head Burghs upon Receit thereof, and immediately
sent to the several Ministers, to the effect the same may be read and
intimate at their Paroch Churches, upon the Lords Day immediately
following Footnote: the Publication hereof at the said Mercat Crosses.
And Ordains these Presents to be Printed and Published in manner
foresaid.
"Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh the twenty fifth day of January,
and of Our Reign the ninth year, 1698.
"_Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii._
"GILB. ELIOT. _Cls. Sti. Concilii._"
[8] How many of our learned clergy could to-day question anyone in
Greek, and how would many of our bishops feel if they knew that their
reputations and lives depended on their carrying on a conversation in
the languages of Hellas?
[9] We learn from the "Démonomanie" that M. des Niau was the person
here referred to in the first person, and therefore the writer of the
book.
[10] The text says: "Relevant jupes et chemise, montrant ses parties
les plus secretes, sans honte, et se servant de mots lascifs. Ses
gestes devinrent si grossiers que les témoins se cachaient la figure.
Elle répétait, en s' ... des mains, "Venez donc, f ... moi!"
[11] A curious case is mentioned in Arnot's Criminal Trials:--
"In 1697 an impostor appeared, in the character of a person tormented
by witches, Christian Shaw, daughter of John Shaw of Bargarran, a
gentleman of some note in the county of Renfrew. She is said to
have been but eleven years of age. And although it is probable that
hysterical affections may in part have occasioned her rhapsodies to
proceed from real illusion, as well as accounted for the contortions
which agitated her body; yet she seems to have displayed an artifice
above her years, an address superior to her situation, and to have been
aided by accomplices, which dulness of apprehension, or violence of
prejudice, forbade the bystanders to discover.
"This actress was abundantly pert and lively; and her challenging
one of the house-maids for drinking, perhaps for stealing, a little
milk, which drew on her an angry retort, was the simple prelude to a
complicated and wonderful scene of artifice and delusion, of fanaticism
and barbarity.
"In the month of August 1696,[II] within a few days after her quarrel
with the house-maid, the girl was seized with hysterical convulsions,
which in repeated fits displayed that variety of symptoms which
characterise this capricious disease. To these, other appearances
were speedily added, which could only be attributed to supernatural
influence, or to fraud and imposition. She put out of her mouth
quantities of egg-shells, orange-pill, feathers of wild, and bones of
tame fowl, hair of various colours, hot coal-cinders, straws, crooked
pins, &c.