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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07467	The admirable history of the posession and conuersion of a penitent woman Seduced by a magician that made her to become a witch, and the princesse of sorcerers in the country of Prouince, who was brought to S. Baume to bee exorcised, in the yeare 1610, in the moneth of Nouember, by the authority of the reuerend father, and frier, Sebastian Michaëlis, priour of the couent royall of S. Magdalene at Saint Maximin, and also of the said place of Saint Baume. Who appointed the reuerend father, Frier Francis Domptius, Doctor of Diuinity, in the Vniuersity of Louaine, ... for the exorcismes and recollection of the acts. All faithfully set down, and fully verified. Wherunto is annexed a pneumology, or discourse of spirits made by the said father Michaëlis, ... Translated into English by W.B.	Michaelis, Sébastien, 1543?-1618.; W. B., fl. 1613-1617.	1613 (1613)	STC 17854; ESTC S107052	483,998	666

d Lewes the Magician brought into the Chapel e They were saine to keeps the Chapel doore shut because of the throng of people f The markes found by the Physitians vpon the Magician g The friuolous question of the Magician h Magdalenes accusation and stoutnesse against the Magician i Magdalene did afterwards make relation of this vnto vs for we were not present at their confrontments but the commissiaries haue the acts of these things in their hands k The difference betwixt the heart of a Catholicke and the heart of a Magician When God doth not operate all is endarkned but when he beginneth to put his operations in act euery thing thereby receaueth life and light as appeareth in the worke of the Creation Gen. 1. Now by reason of this participation of Magicians with Lucifer they are not onely possessed with obstinacy and blindnesse but also with a diabolicall rage which we haue formerly touched l O wretched Magicians can you haue any affiance in Deuils pu● your trust in your good God Quia fidelis Dominus in omnibus verbis suis sanctus in omnibus operibus suis. m The Vestments of Priests m The strange manner of Magdalens running vpon her knees n This woman was bewitched by the Magician concerning which there is mention made in the sentence giuen against the said Magician o It is the manner which some haue welobserued to be vsuall among Diuels that they hate others that come vpon their ground possessions which proceedeth from their pride enuy p A charme giuen by the Magician q Ye that are sinners consider seriously how grieuous the punishments are vnto which your sins make you liable r The horrible and rude handling vsed by the Diuels towards Magdalene s The Diuels haue no power to bite consecrated fingers t Mens conuersions from those faults that are enormous doe ord●narily goe by degrees succession as hath been experienced in the conuersion of Magdalene which at length was perfected vp approoued by the markes that departed from her A demonstration or externall embleme hereof is in the blinde man in S. Mark chap. 8. vpon whom Christ Iesus laid his hands two seuerall times so at first he began to see imperfectly afterwards his sight became more perfect u He conceited that it was nothing but imagination not hauing been much conuersant with her that was possessed The Diuels that were in the bodies of some harmelesse and innocent sisters of S. Vrsula vpon their being Exorcised did say wee will depart from hence in time but wee are already prouided of a body to enter into it at our pleasure Yet would we not iudge this to be ment de indiuiduo x The great charity of two Capuchin fathers y In the Acts of the Apostles the 19. chapter The handkerchifes of Saint Paule being applied vnto those that were possessed did chace away euill spirits z The Deuils are oftentimes constrained to reueale the bodies relicks of Saints as appeareth by the Ecclesiasticall histories concerning the bodies of those notable Saints Iohn and Paule whom Iulian the Apostata had caused secretly to bee hid as he also ●ndeauoured to silence the memoriall of their Martyrdome But they were knowne by an vndeceiuable marke which is by the miracles that were wrought by them which doe beare a more assured witnesse of them when they are dead then when they are aliue as was seene in the person of Christ Iesus for in mens life time they are not alwayes ineuitable arguments of predestin●tion Mat. 7.1 Cor. 13. but they are certaine tokens of the same after their death And by this point shall Antichrist be discouered euen by his own that shall beleeue in him a An excellent dialogue betweene one of the fathers and the Diuell b As if this miserable obstinate and blind spirit should say that there was good cause of their reuolt so to excuse and make good his sin c He returneth to his first speech where he complaineth of God d Like vnto sundry theues that are possessed with diuers towers euery one standing vpon his owne guard or like two doggs snarling one against the other when they both are gnavving of a bone e Behold the consummation and perfection of true contrition abneget semetipsum f Oculos suos statuerunt declinare in terram g Holy Fryday a day fit apt for remission of sinnes h Tharasque is a monsterous Dragon that deuoured men at Tharascon●n ●n Prouince and afterwards was s●●ne by S. Martha i O notable Miracle being performed vpon the blessed day of Easter at the time of holy Masse by the vertue of the worthy receauing of the body of Christ Iesus al being wrought by the power of God who is alone able to enlifen that which is dead the Diuel hauing no power to quicken the least branch of a tree after it is once withered vp and dryed Thus doth God by his bounty and Omnipotency take from vs the stampe of the Diuel which is sin in steed thereof setteth vpon vs the scale of his grace by quickning putting life into our soules These are notable hansels and tokens of Easter day k For Antony they say Tony. l Meaning that men doe not goe so presently to Paradise m Obserue heere good Christian by these fore passed euents and by those accidents that doe now happen shall heereafter follow what extraordinary torments God by his iust iudgments imposeth vpon those that haue transgressed against him For whē he would seate this distressed sinner in the state of grace he loaded her patience with many paines that did draw neer vnto the torments of hell and that by the ministery of her cruell enemies the Diuels and without compassion vnto the outward man● Secundum mensu●am delicti c. n It is a great light of God when corpor●l torments a●e not so much ●stee●●d as internall temptations a In like manner vpon the blessed feast of Easter the markes of the Diuell were perfectly taken from her as the tokens and hansell of her conuersion Tertul. lib. de anima Marc. 16. Tertul. lib de Testim animae Hierom. lib 15. commen in Esai ad c. 47. Tertul. lib. de anima Hierom. lib. 8. in Esai ad cap. 27. Leuit. 15. Deuter. 1. Luc. 1. Act 1. S. Thom. 2.29 95. art 8. August serm 2. in Psal. 30. Plat. in Cratil S. August in Epist 102. calleth them Daemonicolas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worshippers of Diuels Vpon the 96. Psal. where he tearmeth them worse then Idolaters August lib. 20. contr Faust. Tertul. lib. de testi ani Tertul. lib. de nima August lib 13. contr Faust. Mani cap. 15. Chrysost. hom 2.11 Epist. ad Heb. hom 10. in 1. Epist. ad Timoth. Aug. lib. de ciuit Dei cap. 18. Lib. 1. Metaph. cap. 1. Exod. 16. Lib. 8 Physic. Lib. 12. Metaph text 48. Ezech. 1. S. Thom. lib. 2. cont gent. c. 92 Lib. 2. Metaph. lib. 2. de

Mother Vncle and Aunt and almost all the kindred of Louyse were damned that it was thought fit that shee should speake this with her owne mouth and that he himself was constrained to reueale that they were damned saying Louyse of a truth thy father and mother are damned in Hell Who would euer haue told Iohn Cappeau and Louyse de Baume that their daughter would openly publish vnto the world their eternall damnation I doe not conceiue Louyse that thy heart is made of stone Then Louyse wept very bitterly so that the Assembly was so melted with compassion that they all fell a weeping also After that Verrine had for a season keept silence vpon the sudden he cryed out againe the father of thy father the father of thy mother the father of thy grandfather and the father of thy grand-mother and all thy kindred be damned then hee said the King of France of happy memory was an Heretick but died in the state of grace father Romillon the superiour of Louyse was also an heretick but now he is her spirituall father also Louyse her selfe was at the first brought vp after the fashion of hereticks Then Verrine began to cry that God might do well to vse the seruice of a Queene or a Princesse in a worke of this nature in the which if hee had made choice of Vrsula who was a Queene or some such as shee was it were not to be wondred And directing his speech vnto God hee said Why diddest thou not rather chuse a Queene or an Empresse then this worme here But thou wilt reply that thou hast no need of thy creatures but that they haue neede of thee that thou art alwaies ready to bestow vpon thē if they wil further co-operate with thy heauenly pleasure that it sufficeth thee to finde a soule framed disposed vnto that which thou wouldest impose vpon it Of a truth Louyse thou hast begged at Gods hands to suffer the paines of hell if it might be agreeable vnto him and this thou hast desired for the enlarging of his glory yet that this might bee without any finall depriuation of the sight of God according to thy request God hath yeelded vnto thy petition because thou diddest put thy selfe vpon his pleasure and diddest not indent with him to suffer after such such a fashion but diddest make a free offer of thy selfe to be disposed by him as hee pleased And the truth is all shall redound to the glory of God to the exaltation of his Church and to the aduancement of thy calling yet art thou to expect nothing but confusion and shame hereby which thou doest confesse thou hast well deserued to wit all sorts of iniuries and reproachfull contempts which thou canst suffer for his loue It is true Michaelis thou diddest indeed affirme that thou haddest an inspiration infused into thee to put such an intended reformation in practise I tell thee it is rather a reuelation but thy humility was pleased to giue it that modest appellation for those that are humble had rather call it by that name I tell you that the Reuelation of Michaelis the inspiration of Romillon and the will of God doe make a Trinitie that is one thing in three for the other two are dissolued into the will of God If two different persons do meet in the concurrence of friendship I affirme that there is but one heart and one soule so when the creatures conforme their wil vnto the wil of God they haue then the same will with God After many other discourses hee swore in behalfe of the sacred Trinity and of all the church triumphant and militant to the confusion of all Diuels and to his owne vtter disgrace and shame which oath he tooke in great solemnity vpon the blessed sacrament disauo●ing all double and sinister intention Moreouer he called Belzebub and all his companions saying vnto them speake now if you haue any thing to reply if I haue keept in any thing that is fit to be reuealed I promise you to deliuer it for all this not one of them dared so much as to grumble Then Verrine began to cry in the presence of the blessed Sacrament how admirable is thy power great God who hast permitted yea and commanded the Diuels to bring hither to his Church Magicians and witches to bee informed of that which from thee I am constrained to speake against them Hell is diuided and in distraction it waxeth feeble and the cousonages and subtleties thereof are dismasked Lewes the Magician shall exorcise the witchcrafts of the house of S. Vrsula are at an end and all the sisters shall be deliuered except Louyse and Magdalene who are to goe to Rome where Verrine by the mouth of Louyse with Magdalene shall make his declarations The same day Verrine said to Magdalene giue the keyes of thy house to God who is the father of thy family as the soule is the mistresse and the body the seruant of the same giue the keyes to God the Father the staffe of command vnto the Sonne and the fewell that is in thy house vnto the holy Ghost for they will setle a good order there which is beyond the spheare of thy power to accomplish The same day also Verrine was asked how hee meant that Moses was in the terrestriall Paradise because the Scripture mentioneth his death Hereunto he answered Hee may well be dead and yet be in the terrestriall Paradise too according to his body for God might raise him vp to life because he is one of the foure trumpets who are appointed in the last daies of the world to denounce the iudgements of God to the foure parts of the earth and it is certaine that neither his body nor the body of Iohn the Euangelist could euer be found But some man may heere cauill that the Apocalypse mentioneth but two witnesses to wit Enoch and Elias whom Antichrist shal put to death Verrine answered that which Iohn hath said of the two witnesses is a firme truth yet doth hee not exclude others but maketh mention onely of them that were to giue testimony of God by their death and not of Iohn or Moses who had already tasted of the same Then he said that his ranke was amongst the number of Thrones and that hee had command ouer three legions of Angels That the greatest ruine and downfall that was in heauen was the fall of Thrones that all the Princes and heads of all the orders were fallen that the greatest breach was made by the ruine of Thrones and that therefore God would fill vp his breach by the meanes and labours of Thrones He further added that Belzebub had tempted Adam and himselfe Eue and spake to her in the shape of the Serpent but in all his temptations which hee vsed towards her hee euer retained the face of a gitle The same day in the euening the Dominican father exorcised in the beginning whereof Verrine began to gibe and to

transgression the most seuerely threatned and auenged This doctrine is the decision of Saint Thomas who concludes that if a man suffer death for any vertue whatsoeuer it is a true Martyrdome And he all eageth the example of Saint Iohn Baptist who was a true Martyr in that hee did defend continency against the incestuousnesse of Herode In like manner was that good Monke declared by a Councell to be a Martyr because in running betwixt two fencers to part them hee was slaine by them Saint Chrysostome doth precisely say that he which may be healed of some malady by inchantments and refuseth all such helpe least he might offend God and had rather dye then haue the vse of the same in this case saith he he is a Martyr Furthermore Cardinall Caietane commenting vpon the aboue-cited article of Saint Thomas saith that if a man bee slaine to auoid a veniall sinne that death is a Martyrdome for it chanced vnto him because he would not offend God and because hee desired to support vertue Those that would play the Philosophers and say the deceased King called not on the name of God in the last period of his life let them know that he might do that so suddenly and secretly that none about him might perceiue it much lesse vnderstand it How easily might he lift vp his heart and inward parts vnto God and that in a moment of time especially for that his precedent desire might minister quicke assistance heereunto because that day hee powred out his prayers vnto God more particularly and for a longer space then he accustomed to do Besides that honorable company which were with him in his Caroche do shew that hee went not surcharged with any wicked proiect or purpose THE VII DOVBT It tendeth litle to edification where it is said that the blessed Sacrament was troden vnder feet ANSWERE I Haue cleered this very largely in the Epistle to the Reader Besides the myracle which followed thereupon did much condemne Sorcerers and tended to the edification of good Christians It was further necessary to touch vpon this pointe as well for the integrity of this History as also because the said prophanation was already published and all the hereticke ministers of Xaintogne and Languedoc made their best aduantages from the same as may be seene in the said Epistle The But and aime of this History is to declare how much God is offended with such vnhallowed and sacrilegious persons as will appeare through the whole frame and body of this History I should desire that the historians in such cases would imitate the sacred Scripture which neuer sets before vs any prophanation of those things that are sanctified but it presently subioynes a miracle as may be seene in the History of the sonnes of Heli and of their death of the Philistins prophaning the Arke and their plagues of the Bethsamites who were too curious to behold it and the fire that fell from heauen vpon them of the two sonnes of Aaron Nabad and Abiud and the fire that went out from their Censers and destroied them of Choran and Dathan taking their Censers and the earth opening vnder them of king Ozias offering incense on the Altar and of the leprosie where with hee was stricken In the new Testament of the prophaners of the Temple and the whippes wherewith they were chased away which Saint Ierome taketh to be a great miracle of Ananias and Saphira and of their sudden death and to come neerer to our purpose of Iudas prophaning the blessed Eucharist and of his death the morrow after with his belly breaking asunder in the middle Saint Paul was well practised in this who when he had told the Corinthians of this prophanation he presently sets before their consideration those that for this cause were dead sick and feeble by the vengeance of the iust iudgement of God And it is a cleere truth that at sundry other times things sacred haue beene made prophane which the holy Ghost passeth ouer in silence because there insued no miracle ●hereupon which when it happeneth may edifie as much or more then the prophanation can giue occasion of scandall The same is held by S. Cyprian and S. Gre●ory in his Dialogues To this purpose may bee alleaged ●he example of the Donatists that gaue the blessed Sa●rament vnto doggs who running presently mad tur●ed vpon them and tore them in peeces As also of him ●ho came in to the city of Be●ith recited in the workes of S. Athanasius and of him of Paris whose markes ●re yet in the Church of Bulliettes in Latine Ecclesia Do●ini Bullientis the blessed Sacrament being throwne ●●to a boyling cauldron Another miracle is to be seene 〈◊〉 the holy Chapel at Diion Besides the blessed Eucha●●st is more prophaned when it entereth into a soule ●●at is polluted with the infections of sinne then it can ●e said to be in this place THE VIII DOVBT How and for what reason did Magdalene by the aduice of her Confessour write one letter to the blessed Virgin and another to the glorious S. Magdalene ANSWERE IT is a very profitable way which our spirituall fathers ● do vse to instruct inure those that haue any know●edge to holy exercises and meditations and by this ●eans they become ready expert therein As a schole-●aster cōmandeth his scholar to write letters to his fa●her or mother to the King or to the Pope not that he would haue the letters sent but that his scholar should ●y this gaine some skil and ability for it is one thing to write and another thing to send a letter So many in our ●ge haue with great deuotion dedicated the epistles of ●heir books to the blessed Virgin not with an intent to send them but to giue contentment to their deuotion As for example the Epistle of the Booke touching cases of conscience made by Frier Benedictus and of the Booke of Euangelical demonstrations vpon the 3. Maries made by another Frier The same was also practised by the Emperour Theodosius who wrote a letter to S. Chrysostome that was dead more then 30. yeeres before which letter is to be seene in Nicephorus Touching the correction of this letter which was made by the Diuell we are to conceiue that he was inforced by God to busy himselfe in the conuersion of Magdalene as is by experience verified vnto vs. There is no difficulty of this for it is apparant that a spirit is more sharpe-sighted and peircing and more particularly familiar with mens faults and imperfections then any man can be either with his owne or with others THE IX DOVBT How the Diuell could pray to God for the conuersion of the Magician presenting to God the Father the merits of the death and passion of his Sonne of the blessed Virgine and of all the Saints of Paradise ANSWERE WHen a good or bad Spirit doth put motions into a man if hee yeeld his consent and doth operate with them

Adam had transgressed God was highly ●●spleased against him yet would he not by and by in●ct his vengeance and indignation vpon the soule ●hich was so goodly a creature although it had recei●ed a taint and blemish by the pollution of sinne and ●as growne refractarie and mutinous against him who ●d showred downe so many blessings vpon the same ●at had shaped and created the whole world for man ●d did assubiect all creatures vnto him to vse them as ●e thought good euen downe to the very beasts This ●ould man haue excused when he said Eue did cause me to doe this but in this he did bewray the impotencie of his iudgement that would so facilely beleeue the counsell of a woman Yet if hee had humbled himselfe without excusing his faults he should not haue felt so much displeasure as he did God loueth not that men should endeuour to euade by excuses If that Adam had craued pardon God would presently haue forgiuen him yea the very Angels that fell if they had humbled themselues should haue tasted of his mercy Now the blessed Trinity held their counsell vpon this point concerning man The eternall Father according to true iustice would haue him punished but presently did the diuine word giue himselfe vp to be your pledge saying that hee would be incarnated and take your flesh vpon him and would be euer readie to endure whatsoeuer the father would thinke fit to be inflicted Then presented themselues the two daughters of the eternall Father to wit Iustice and Mercie and made them readie for the encounter Iustice as the younger daughter said that they were to be punished for their disobedience and that they did very well deserue it Mercie as the elder said My Father I am thy eldest daughter and my sister here is much younger then my selfe it therefore standeth with reason that I be beleeued and that for many causes As first to what end haue you created a creature thus beautifull to cast him headlong into hell There is a remedie to saue him For there will come a woman called Mary that will be more humble then Eue hath beene proud after her transgression and will bee more replenished with simplicity then euer Eue was with curiositie Mary will be more obedient then euer Eue was rebellious and more prompt to say I am the handmaid of the Lord then euer Eue was to take and taste the apple From thence shall proceede that great pay-maister of debts that shall giue satisfaction more then a hundreth fold On the contrary part Iustice pleaded that they did well deserue sharpest castigation who doe yet stand vpon their iustification although they are guilty of the highest treason in rebelling against their Prince yea such a Prince as their God is That they knew the Edict of their King yet would not obserue the same and sinned not through ignorance but through their too much knowledge that brought them to their destruction To this the diuine Word made replication Father Father you are to pardon them you are to pardon them repeating the same often not in words but by the power of vnderstanding and euer saying that hee would take vpon him your flesh for your sakes The eternall Father according to the rigour of Iustice and as being iustly prouoked against them would not haue ●t so but alwaies the diuine Word did oppose himselfe vnto it and said Father I will endure for their sakes a more ignominious death then euer any creature shall be able to suffer The eternall Father hauing regard vnto the person which was to suffer and giue plenarie satisfaction and that by no other meanes then this could a thing of that nature be accomplished as also knowing how much hee was to suffer for in God all things are present and there is nothing past or to come did yeeld vnto this ouerture yet what Father would haue consented to giue vp his Sonne as he did For he fore-saw ●he ingratitude and disesteeme which you would beare vnto him yet was he contented to agree vnto this because his sonne alwaies said Father some or other will be conuerted The Holy Ghost gaue assistance vnto the Word for he is the God of loue the Father is the God of power and of vengeance the Sonne the God of wisedome and the Holy Ghost the God of bountie But the Diuels themselues doe confesse that there is but one God in three persons and haue made confession of the same at Baume the place of S. Magdalens penitence in the presence of the whole assemblie Then spake Mercie and said Father it is expedient that the voyd seates of the cursed Angels that fell should be filled vp and why was this goodly fabricke and frame of the world created and the heauen so varied with diuersities of beauties Was it for your selfe alone let them liue let them liue they will be repentant and haue vertuous children and iust Abel will proceed from them Hereunto Iustice replied that there should be a Cain as wicked as the other was iust But Mercie did alwaies ingeminate that many of them would proue good as Mary who should make reparation of the fault committed by Eue. And in truth Mary hath been more vertuous then euer Eue was wicked and gaue more reputation vnto good then euer Eue gaue aduantage vnto sinne The Serpent held diuers discourses with Eue to cause her to fall but Gabriel spake but a few words and Mary presently obeyed saying Ecce ancilla Then the Word said to his Father that as the person offended was diuine so a diuine person should giue satisfaction since no other could make reparation of the same the person offended being infinite might iustly expect satisfaction from a person infinite That there was no creature neither men nor Angels that could make vp this offence which was committed by a man that at the time of his tentation was altogether innocent And as this sinne was committed in a garden so reparation thereof should be made in a garden at what time he should say fiat voluntas tua and this should be the act of his giuing himselfe vp vnto death To conclude this transgression came by eating of an apple and ●hould be remitted by the fruite of life issuing from the ●arden of Mary Vpon this mention of the Virgin ●errine tooke occasion to say This was a garden hed●ed in where that goodly fruite of her puritie remai●ed excellently qualified with beautie sent and taste which make representation of the properties of the ●lessed Trinitie In this garden there were all sorts of goodly trees whose roots were humilitie whose leaues were vertuous desires and whose fruites were good workes that might deseruedly bee placed vpon the ta●le of the King of glorie And vpon this table are euer ●trowed all kinds of flowers which signifie her vertues ●nd these she hath kept fresh by her humilitie acknow●edging that all the good which euer she had receiued did streame from her

doe nothing but that which is euill and Angels can doe nothing but that which is good but men are able to doe either good or euill as being endowed with a free will and yet O God there are of these creatures that doe rebelliously demeane themselues against thee and are indeed worse then Diuels The paines that men suffer in this world are as flowers and Roses in comparison of the paines of Hell which are true torments indeed I tell you the fiers of this world are imaginarie and painted in respect of the fiers there and all furnaces are as nothing if they be compared but to a sparke in Hell Diuels are as wild and rauenous beasts they bite in their embracements Wee promise much and performe nothing because where nothing is nothing can bee expected You that are Priests bee circumspect and aduised in your calling because it is no offence if a man neglect and turne from an Angell of heauen to doe honour and reuerence vnto you The Angels indeed doe incessantly behold the face of their God but you with foure words doe make him descend vpon the Altar and since herein the King obeyeth his vassall how wretched must that Priest bee that doth rebell and mutter against his superiour you lumps of clay it will not go well with you vnlesse you humble your selues and bee repentant Disobedience was it that turned Adam out of Paradise and the same disobedience cast Lucifer headlong out of Heauen If God were capable of sadnesse hee would weepe when he seeth a rebellious and disobedient man so highly doth that sinne displease him Euery one ought to liue contentedly in his vocation You that are Priests and religious persons ought to studie preach and search out the truth for you are sequestred from this world to be seruants vnto the light Many seeke truth and cannot find it because they search after it with a dim and obscure lanthorne other search it with a greater and fuller light and they finde it Faith is this light and humility the doore that openeth vnto truth The curious walke vpon the brinke of Hell and thinking alwaies that they shall finde out what they make inquisition after they doe at last stumble and fall downe the head first and the rest of the body after witnesse the Caluinists Caluin Beza Luther these were the heads of our new Hereticks and all the body to wit those that follow and adhere to their opinions doe fall into this gulfe if they die obstinately in their fancies this is it they must looke for vnlesse they be conuerted You that are in religious Orders attend seriously vnto your vocation and obserue the commandements and counsels of God and know that your life is a light vnto worldlings and a patterne or copie of their liues and conuersations you must studie a new booke a booke that hath but two leaues the first leafe containeth the manner of attaining vnto perfect humility in the birth of the Son of God the other leafe containes the obedience which till his death hee euer practised I tell you that those who shall reade this booke aduisedly and as they ought I dare bee bold to promise them on Gods behalfe life eternall because in this booke is comprehended the beginning and end of perfection He that is humble is neither curious nor rebellious but is apt for commands and full of obedience and the obedient cannot die but liue eternally by obedience I vnderstand such a kind of subiection that shall no way be disagreeable vnto God or his Church or the saluation of soules for if I should say otherwise I should lie And I say turning himselfe to the Assembly speaking vnto you in generall not in particular that our Lord had twelue Disciples of whom one was starke naught The Iewes were formerly the true children of God but now they are a reprobate Nation so I say if you see a wicked priest you are not presently to ground from hence that all the rest are like vnto him if you see a wicked Frier or religious person you are not by and by to coniecture that their religion is naught But here is the great misery of worldly men who when they see a wicked Priest are presently ready to say this is the conuersation of them all I say vnto them that herein they doe bely them and they are not to speake after this manner for the wicked cannot preiudice or disparage the good and those that thus despise Priests doe it to this end that they may haue freer scope to liue in liberty and licentiousnesse The booke of humility is hard to be vnderstood by a man that is not very intelligent but when hee once shall know the interpretation of the same hee will find all manner of vertues contained therein for she is a Queene that bringeth with her many Princesses and Ladies in her traine and as in a chaine one ring followeth and dependeth vpon another so doth humility vpon obedience the ground-worke of true perfection is humility and the end is obedience Great God for this cause wast thou borne for this cause didst thou die thou wert borne in a manger and died'st naked vpon the Crosse and hast endured death it selfe yea a most cruell and ignominious death Cursed be those that shall fight in single cumbate for hereby they transgresse the Commandement of God and of their King and doe contemne the Excommunication of the Church Many children are so il-aduised that they beleeue neither father nor mother and doe well deserue the miseries which doe afterward ouertake them Absolon may be a true witnes of the same In the world all things goe by friendship and partiality but it is not so with God the Monarch and the begger the faire and the foule the lame and the perfect are all alike if they be in grace alike You of the laity keepe the Commandements of God and his Church and you shall be saued Heauen was not made meerely and solely for religious persons bee you onely carefull to loue God and to serue and obey him Such and so admirall is the power of God that he stinteth not himselfe to the praises of Angels or of his creatures but goeth further and commandeth the Deuill himselfe by compulsion and not out of loue to glorifie him and to put his good pleasure in execution Though all Angels all men and all Hell should incessantly enlarge and extend their speaches to relate at full the glory and perfections of God yet could they neuer attaine vnto the same it is an abisme whose bottome is inscrutable and cannot be diued into by the greatest Seraphins or the Mother of God her selfe God is onely he who can comprehend it Many curious persons conceiue their iudgments so able that they can comprise within the same all Gods power all his sapience and goodnesse and all his other perfections Ha! how short commeth their vnderstanding of these mysteries they must humble themselues if they will goe to

Paradise you cannot goe any other way beleeue mee this is the path that leadeth to Heauen The same day Verrine bid Father Francis Billet to take the Stole and the booke of Exorcismes and willed him from God in the vertue of thē to command him to dictate this ensuing letter directed vnto a Preist of the Christian doctrine that was tempted to doubt of his vocation the Exorcismes being performed accordingly he began to dictate in forme as followeth Dearest and welbeloued brother I heere aduertise you that we assuredly know for a truth that whatsoeuer your Reuerence hath conceiued against your vocation is nothing else but a meere suggestion of the Deuil who is an vtter enemie to God and all obedience He endeuoureth to infuse into you rebellion against God and your Superiour and would haue you to beleeue that your iudgment is able to comprehend all the secrets of God But I assure you it would require and take vp all our time if we should endeauour to learne and enquire into the secrets of God For his secrets and iudgments are so abstruse that none of themselues can bee certaine of the manner of them Many there are that haue a conceite they know the will of God and that their vnderstanding is very perfitely illuminated but for the most part they are beguiled For wee see by daily experience that they may be deceaued and no question are deceaued since euery day there are new wonders full of rare and admirable strangenes discouered in this our God And perceauing a burthen and pressure vpon my soule if I should bee wanting vnto you in this office I haue sent this letter vnto you to wishe you instantly to dispatch your selfe hither for S. Baume with as much speed as possibly you may If you come before Christmasse you shall vnderstand as I conceiue diuers passages so excellent in themselues and so aduantageous vnto you that you would not for the world but bee made familiar with them for they are so full of nouelty and strangenesse that no man aliue did euer see the like Knowe that Louyse Capean whom you haue formerly beene acquainted withall one of the vnworthiest and meanest Sisters of the company of S. Vrsula that are at Aix is bewitched and possessed by three Deuils that are within her body It was a Charme that gaue way to this possession of Deuils which did befall her by the permission of God and out of a zeale shee had to suffer Hell it selfe and all the paines thereof so that she might not be separated thereby from her God for his glory and the saluation of soules And being setled for many yeares in this resolution and comming often times to blessed Communion shee prayed still vnto God that he would take compassion vpon the soules of her neighbours and this she demanded with such ardency of desire that it is almost impossible for any to attaine vnto the like And being moued by him that internally spake vnto her and said Whether if it were expedient to hazard thy body and to expose it euen vnto death for the saluation of thy neighbours wouldst thou willingly vndertake the same she accepted of it many times saying that shee was ready to endure all and that it was fit to prefer the soule of our neighbour before our body or our owne life Thus God out of his great goodnesse hath made choice of her for a worke which neither you nor I euer dreamed of nor should euer haue beleeued if wee had not seene the experience of the same and those who haue not had the oportunity to behold it may perchance heereafter at the least haue meanes to read this wonder For euery one laboureth with all diligence that may be to make such vnhard of euents and so strange a Miracle to appeare vnto the world And I doe assure you if you did but vnderstand it aright you would leaue meate and drinke nay your very studies to haue knowledge of that which euery day offereth it selfe vnto our considerations For Father Michaelis being inspired from God counselled Father Romillon to bring Magdalene from Palud and to search out al other that were bewitched and bring them to S. Baume that they might there make their vowes Being there Louyse Capeau came from Aix her selfe alone accompanied with none of the rest that were possessed where shee found Magdalene already arriued Touching Louyse she would by no meanes at the first heare tell of Exorcismes saying that she was not possessed and that all might arise from naturall causes or by the sleights and power of the Deuils that were in the body of Magdalene She was at Aix when they discouered themselues and it was done in the time of Confession● then was Magdalene at S. Maximin and although her Confessours did cleerly demonstrate vnto her that this straine and fancie of hers against possession could no way sute with probability yet was shee so swolne with pride arrogancy and rebellion that shee would not submit her iudgment vnto her Superiour who commanded diuerse to make inquiry of this matter at S. Baume And the Deuill within her said I will not obey him so that when it was offered vnto her consideration how that she was no win the presence of God himselfe for it was within the Church of S. Vrsula and when he that confessed her at the time the Deuils began to bee discouered did reproue her and say How darest thou to speake thus before thy Superiour She answered that she would subiect her selfe to the command neither of Gouernour nor Gouernesse neither would she regarde or thinke of them that shee thought her selfe more knowing how to conduct her selfe in her owne behauiours and deportments then they could be that she would rely vpon her owne iudgment and that Superiours did many times command things very vnfit to be put in execution All this while did not she vnderstand that this was a stratagem of the Deuils to giue hindrance and stoppe vnto the worke which is now so well begun And although the Deuill would haue shifted this off by sundry slights and collusions yet in the end either by force or out of loue she was contented to be obedient although she still was stiffe in her opinion that she would not suffer her selfe to be exorcised But God changed her intendment and disposed her hart to embrace the good pleasure of God and of her Superiour and to renounce and disclaime her owne so that she came to S. Baume and there suffered her selfe to be exorcised Whereupon one of the Deuils named Verrine began to speake and to tell his name and after many adiurations where withal he was chained and bound vp he reuealed the names of his companions and vpon the continuance of the Exorcismes he said and swore taking a solemne oath with all the properties and particulars there unto belonging vpon the blessed Sacrament saying these words I sweare by the liuing God that all which I haue spoken is

are to bow your knees as oft as you shall heare the name of Iesus wee are a great deale better then you for although wee obey not God for loue yet doe wee yeeld vnto his pleasure by constraint and in the vertue of Exorcismes If a Harbinger of Court should come and tell thee behold the King is desirous to come and lodge in thy house thou wouldest make many excuses because thou dost esteeme thy selfe vnworthie of such honour and wouldest labour to garnish thy house with whatsoeuer might be pleasing or might adde any beawty vnto thy habitation So should you take the broome of true contrition and repentance to brush and sweepe the chambers and roomes of your soule that when the King shall come to reside there hee may make it his Palace You that are poore and ignorant people you must not say when you kneele to the Priest in Confession Father declare vnto me my sinnes this is no good forme of proceeding for if in matters of slight importance concerning the body euery man hath his vnderstanding quick and able much more should their conceptions bee free from dulnesse and earthinesse in those things that appertaine vnto the benefite of their soules and which are of a higher consequence yet contrariwise men for the most part are insensible and dull in the apprehension of them There are those that doe daily confesse themselues and doe yet forget many of their offences how then shall they giue an exact account of them that confesse themselues but from yeare to yeare or from six moneths to six moneths Thou wilt not shame to say Father I doe not remember my sinnes let me heare you to aske and examine mee O deafe and blinde caitife art thou able to giue audience vnto the Diuell and to fall into those sinnes which hee inticeth thee to plunge into and dost thou refuse to harken vnto the voice of God who desireth to breath into thee the remembrance of thy misdeeds Others say To what purpose should I confesse my selfe Is not the Priest a sinner as I am Haue I nothing to doe but to expose my sinnes to his knowledge Beware of these contempts I tell you they are instigations of Sathan framed purposely to bring Priest-hood into disgrace which is a calling more high and noble then is the dignity of Angels for the Angels doe indeed contemplate the face of their God but he discendeth from Heauen vpon the Altar at the consecration made by a Priest Your processe that is entred in the high Court of Heauen is full of difficultie and doubt so that the euent thereof is not knowne to the Saints themselues yet is the Mother of God a party with you who together with your guide-Angels is euer pleading on your behalfe and saying Lord take compassion on them Before the time of Confession prooue your selues examine your owne consciences pray vnto God with teares and make your intercessions vnto Peter Magdalene and the good theefe The good theefe of his owne accord confessed his sinne and reproued his companion What hast thou no feare of God He was also pricked in heart by contrition saying Domine memento mei Lord remember me he also did in a sort satistisfie by dying for hee linked and mingled his death and torments with the death and torments of Christ Iesus Your God doth endeuour to draw you vnto him by many admirable meanes he will diuide the contrition and acknowledgment of your sinnes amongst you and will stirre you vp to recall them into remembrance if you will giue eare vnto him You should be patient in whatsoeuer aduersity may befall you you should euer stand before your iudge like vnto men that are guilty of high treason and should thinke that the paines of Hell are not of equall proportion vnto your demerits and that you are not worthy to suffer them God is better knowne vnto them that cast downe their eies on the earth then to those that stare vp to heauen For what are you but a compound of dust and ashes meate for wormes and a pitcher of hansome earth apt to breake and subiect to a thousand miseries and mischances You are therefore to abstract your cogitations and to place them aboue vpon the goodnesse of God who for your sakes hath created the Heauens and filled vp the number of Angels yet are you still hardned in your iniquities God pardoneth mans offences easily if so bee that hee lendeth his helpe and forwardnesse vnto it for God is hee that doth operate and man doth co-operate with him If you should dwell in a darksome house and would faine enioy the benefit of the light you ought to open the doore vnto him that bringeth his torch lighted vnto you for hee is not worthie to bee enlightned by the torch that will refuse to open the doore to him that bringeth it And if hee should afterwards complaine that hee sitteth in darknesse and by meanes of being depriued of this light hee is not able to worke hee will bee answered that himselfe is the cause of his owne misery and that hee iustly looseth the light of the day because he shutteth his doores against it Thus when God speaketh to the soule that is ouercast with mists and darknesse open thou poore blinde soule open the gates of thy will vnto mee I am that Sunne of Iustice which will illuminate and shine vpon thee yet will not the soule open vnto mee but chuseth rather to bee wrapped vp in darknesse And why because if I should enter in I should discouer by the cleernesse of my light whatsoeuer lieth buried in obscurity and should chase thence that palpable darksomnesse wherein the soule is so dangerously muffled But alas it rather laboureth to be shadowed with darknes and to wallow stil in voluptuousnesse and delights which are lost in their very fruition then by paines and industry to bee blest with the full possession of a perfect light Confession followeth contrition and before Confession euery one ought to examine himselfe and say O my God! what am I that I should receiue such manifold blessings at thy hands Thou hast redeemed mee from the clawes of Sathan and hast retired mee vnder the couerture of thy wings Good God I esteemed my selfe a malefactour waiting to heare the sentence of death pronounced against mee and yet hast thou in goodnesse repriued mee from this prison which is narrow darke and full of horrour and besides the free donation of my life thou hast infranchised mee with the seruants of God Good God I was a malefactour and stood conuicted of grieuous and master-sinnes yet was it thy good pleasure to remit them vnto mee After Confession euery one is to looke vnto satisfaction but how many are there that hold not themselues endebted to God but that God is a debtour vnto them Who so demeaneth himselfe in this sort let him know that Heauen is barred against him except hee labour to strengthen himselfe

thou the master of Pride and doest thou now slinke away in this sort Thou art he that doest suggest vnto the Nobility What sir will you yeeld to him you are noble and of an ancient stock why will you abase your selfe before a fellow of such cheapenesse You must not doe it it doth detract from your nobility Miserable Belzebub was it not thou that wouldest haue throwne God from his seate of Maiesty How art thou now abased hauing nothing to reply and being swallowed vp in shame and confusion And thou Leuiathan the Arch-Doctor of Hereticks art thou not hee that bestowest vpon them the apparance and shew of light But thy light is nothing else but darknesse for no man can giue that which hee hath not Thou bringest an itch vpon the curious to dispute of this place and of that place of Scripture because it is not interpreted as it ought to bee and seing them to bee proud beyond measure thou diddest by this course hinder them from humbling themselues I tell thee that the proud and curious shall not enter into Paradise vnlesse they become humble and lay aside their curiosity What answerest thou vnto this thou art a iolly doctor and very pregnant in replyes but I see thou hast litle to say for thy selfe and giuest sufficient proofe of thy insufficiency There bee heere very able men that would gladly heare thee argue but it appeareth that thou art confounded as much as thy companion And thou Balberith that doest secreetly whisper in the eares of Gentle-men and doest tell them that what they loue in their hart they should oftētimes vse in their mouth and by this meanes thou makest them to deny and foresweare God from the head to the soale of the foote Thou doest also suggest vnto them what sir doe you not meane to defend your reputation Can you endure such an affront Remember such and such speaches and how he thus and thus belyed you hee is a base fellow and in an vnder-ranke vnto you I tel you you must reuenge yourselfe vpon him and call him into single combate Thus though they be forbidden by God excommunicated by the Church and prohibited by the Kings Edicts yet are they transported beyond their temper and reason and doe desire nothing but to come to blowes neither lyeth it in the power of man to giue preuention vnto these mischances Then Verrine iested at Asmodee and said and thou accursed fiend doest perswade yong folke that it is no sinne to offend God and so doest spread a vaile over their eies that they cannot haue the light to bee their guide but are forced to stumble in the darke And thou Astaroth master of the slouthfull be thou their speaker defend thy cause for thou art a powerfull Prince and doest excuse no man Kings and Clergy men are allured by thy blandishments and thou hast accesse euery-where euen when the gates and windowes of mens hearts are locked vp And thou Carreau art he that maintainest that Lazarus could not be raised vp to life by Lazarus meaning the obstinate sinner but I doe hold it as a truth that he may bee raised againe not of himselfe but by the assistance of the Church and of God who said Lazare veniforas and so commanded the stone to be taken away Hee it is that is able without paine vnto him to doe whatsoeuer seemeth pleasing in his sight I affirme that God is able to take away the stone from the heart of an vnrepenting sinner but hee must confesse himselfe receiue absolution from the Priest according vnto that authority which God hath giuen vnto his Church and in this manner is the dead raised vp to life Then he said hee that wants charity is not truely noble for true nobility commeth from aboue All the Citizens of heauen did reioyce at the birth of the Sonne of God neither is there any difference there put betweene the soule of a King and of a begger if it stand in the state of grace Vnto you a child is borne and to you a son is giuen he is both a King a Iudge yet but litle in his natiuity that it might be published vnto all how tractable he is and how easie to be appeased euen with an apple The apple signifieth the soule with the three powers thereof the Memory pointeth out vnto vs the Father the Vnderstanding the Son and the Will the holy Ghost D●dicate and bequeath your thoughts your desires and your workes to this Childe whereby you shall also offer vp vnto him the odour sweetnesse and bewty of this apple this is the present that will appease and still him and for this cause was hee made contemptible that you might bee bold to tender the same vnto him He is co-eternal with his Father which Marie and none but shee did at the first vnderstand yet had he not where to lay his head giue therefore now vnto him the stone of your heart that hee may make a pillow of the same whereupon to repose himselfe If the deceased King of glorious memory should haue giuen his Sonne the Dauphin vnto you it is to be conceiued that you would haue receiued him with great ioy and applause the celestiall Father hath giuen vnto you the Dauphin of heauen equall to himselfe in Maiesty the Kings of the East came from a farre to seeke after him and to worship him and doth it not become you to adore him in like manner The time is at hand that God will fill the voide seates of heauen that great day of the Lord approacheth wherein hee will place you in Paradise for euermore Then Verrine said I Verrine doe renounce c. as is before mentioned at midnight Masse After that he inuited againe all creatures to praise God for his vnexpresseable bounty and infinite mercy as is afore written When he had finished his abiurations Gresill followed with the like and last of all Sonneillon did the same who further added Almighty God mai'st thou be pleased to create a thousand hells anew for all those that will not be conuerted giue vnto them a thousand liues and as many as there bee starres in the firmament for all this is very possible vnto thee that they may suffer as many seuerall deaths as they had seueral liues bestowed vpon them The same day in the euening the two possessed women were exorcised by Father Francis Billet Priest of the Doctrine and Verrine began to discourse thus The heate of hell is not more vnsupportable vnto mee then are thy Exorcismes and would God I had beene dease when I was first exorcised Then he said Belzebub thou tormentest Magdalene yet let it not trouble thee Magdalene for it is now our custome to doe thus because wee were guided neither by reason nor counsell The Exorcist said vnto him Recede maledicte who answered him in latine Non est tempus And when the Exorcist said Angeli decantanerunt Gloria Verrine spake these