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to burn her？ Why do you think the left side was chosen rather than
the forehead and nose； if not because she could not give herself a
wound in either of those places without being seen by all the
spectators？ Why was the left side rather than the right chosen； if
it were not that it was easier for the superior to wound herself with
her right hand； which she habitually used； in the left side than in
the right？ Why did she turn on her left side and arm and remain so
long in that position； if it were not to hide from the bystanders the
instrument with which she wounded herself？ What do you think caused
her to groan； in spite of all her resolution； if it were not the pain
of the wound she gave herself？ for the most courageous cannot repress
a shudder when the surgeon opens a vein。 Why were her finger…tips
stained with blood； if it were not that the secreted blade was so
small that the fingers which held it could not escape being reddened
by the blood it caused to flow？ How came it that the wounds were so
superficial that they barely went deeper than the cuticle； while
devils are known to rend and tear demoniacs when leaving them； if it
were not that the superior did not hate herself enough to inflict
deep and dangerous wounds？〃
Despite this logical protest from Grandier and the barefaced knavery
of the exorcist； M。 de Laubardemont prepared a report of the
expulsion of the three devils； Asmodeus； Gresil； and Aman； from the
body of sister Jeanne des Anges； through three wounds below the
region of the heart； a report which was afterwards shamelessly used
against Grandier； and of which the memorandum still exists； a
monument； not so much of credulity and superstition； as of hatred and
revenge。 Pere Lactance； in order to allay the suspicions which the
pretended miracle had aroused among the eye…wittnesses； asked Balaam；
one of the four demons who still remained in the superior's body； the
following day； why Asmodeus and his two companions had gone out
against their promise； while the superior's face and hands were
hidden from the people。
〃To lengthen the incredulity of certain people；〃 answered Balaam。
As for Pere Tranquille； he published a little volume describing the
whole affair； in which； with the irresponsible frivolity of a true
Capuchin； he poked fun at those who could not swallow the miracles
wholesale。
〃They had every reason to feel vexed；〃 he said； 〃at the small
courtesy or civility shown by the demons to persons of their merit
and station； but if they had examined their consciences； perhaps they
would have found the real reason of their discontent； and； turning
their anger against themselves； would have done penance for having
come to the exorcisms led by a depraved moral sense and a prying
spirit。〃
Nothing remarkable happened from the 20th May till the 13th June； a
day which became noteworthy by reason of the superior's vomiting a
quill a finger long。 It was doubtless this last miracle which
brought the Bishop of Poitiers to Loudun； 〃not；〃 as he said to those
who came to pay their respects to him； 〃to examine into the
genuineness of the possession； but to force those to believe who
still doubted； and to discover the classes which Urbain had founded
to teach the black art to pupils of both sexes。〃
Thereupon the opinion began to prevail among the people that it would
be prudent to believe in the possession； since the king； the
cardinal…duke； and the bishop believed in it； and that continued
doubt would lay them open to the charges of disloyalty to their king
and their Church； and of complicity in the crimes of Grandier； and
thus draw down upon them the ruthless punishment of Laubardemont。
〃The reason we feel so certain that our work is pleasing to God is
that it is also pleasing to the king；〃 wrote Pere Lactance。
The arrival of the bishop was followed by a new exorcism； and of this
an eye…witness； who was a good Catholic and a firm believer in
possession； has left us a written description； more interesting than
any we could give。 We shall present it to our readers； word for
word； as it stands：
〃On Friday； 23rd June 1634； on the Eve of Saint John； about 3 p。m。；
the Lord Bishop of Poitiers and M。 de Laubardemont being present in
the church of Sainte…Croix of Loudun； to continue the exorcisms of
the Ursuline nuns； by order of M； de Laubardemont； commissioner；
Urbain Grandier； priest…in…charge； accused and denounced as a
magician by the said possessed nuns； was brought from his prison to
the said church。
〃There were produced by the said commissioner to the said Urbain
Grandier four pacts mentioned several times by the said possessed
nuns at the preceding exorcisms； which the devils who possessed the
nuns declared they had made with the said Grandier on several
occasions： there was one in especial which Leviathan gave up on
Saturday the 17th inst。； composed of an infant's heart procured at a
witches' sabbath； held in Orleans in 1631； the ashes of a consecrated
wafer； blood； etc。； of the said Grandier； whereby Leviathan asserted
he had entered the body of the sister； Jeanne des Anges； the superior
of the said nuns； and took possession of her with his coadjutors
Beherit； Eazas； and Balaam； on December 8th； 1632。 Another such pact
was composed of the pips of Grenada oranges； and was given up by
Asmodeus and a number of other devils。 It had been made to hinder
Beherit from keeping his promise to lift the commissioner's hat two
inches from his head and to hold it there the length of a Miseyere；
as a sign that he had come out of the nun。 On all these pacts being
shown to the said Grandier； he said； without astonishment； but with
much firmness and resolution； that he had no knowledge of them
whatever； that he had never made them； and had not the skill by which
to make them； that he had held no communication with devils； and knew
nothing of what they were talking about。 A report of all this being
made and shown to him； he signed it。
〃This done； they brought all the possessed nuns； to the number of
eleven or twelve； including three lay sisters； also possessed； into
the choir of the said church； accompanied by a great many monks；
Carmelites； Capuchins； and Franciscans； and by three physicians and a
surgeon。 The sisters on entering made some wanton remarks； calling
Grandier their master； and exhibiting great delight at seeing him。
〃Thereupon Pere Lactance and Gabriel； a Franciscan brother； and one
of the exorcists； exhorted all present with great fervour to lift up
their hearts to God and to make an act of contrition for the offences
committed against His divine majesty； and to pray that the number of
their sins might not be an obstacle to the fulfilment of the plans
which He in His providence had formed for the promotion of His glory
on that occasion； and to give outward proof of their heartfelt grief
by repeating the Confiteor as a preparation for the blessing of the
Lord Bishop of Poitiers。 This having been done； he went on to say
that the matter in question was of such moment and so important in
its relation to the great truths of the Roman Catholic Church； that
this consideration alone ought t