Transcriber's Note.
A list of the changes made can be found at the end of the book. In the text, the corrections are underlined by ared dotted line "like this".Hover the cursor over the underlined text and an explanation of the error should appear.
THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN.
[COLLECTANEA ADAMANTÆA.—XXI.]
THE HISTORY OF THE
Devils of Loudun,
The Alleged Possession of the UrsulineNuns, and the Trial and Executionof Urbain Grandier,
TOLD BY AN EYE-WITNESS.
TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL FRENCH,
AND
Edited by
EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S.,
F.S.A. (Scot.)
VOL. I.
PRIVATELY PRINTED.
EDINBURGH.
1887.
This Edition is limited to 275 small-paper and75 large-paper copies.
[Fac-simile of Title-Page.]
LA VERITABLE HISTOIRE
DES
Díables de Loudun,
De la possession des ReligieusesUrsulines
et
de la Condamnation
D'URBAIN GRANDIER,
Par UN TEMOIN.
A. POITIERS,
Chez J. Thoreau et la veuve Ménier,
Imprimeurs ordinaires du Roi
et de l'Universitié.
M.DC.XXXIV.
Introduction.
THE following extraordinary account of the"Cause Célèbre" of Urbain Grandier,the Curé of Loudun, accused of Magicand of having caused the Nuns of theConvent of Saint Ursula to be possessed of devils,is written by an eye-witness, and not only an eye-witnessbut an actor in the scenes he describes.It is printed at "Poitiers, chez J. Thoreau et laveuve Ménier, Imprimeurs du Roi et de l'Université,1634." I believe two copies only are known:my own, and the one in the National Library,Paris. The writer is Monsieur des Niau, Counsellorat la Flèche, evidently a firm believer inthe absurd charges brought against Grandier.
8Magic appears to have had its origin on theplains of Assyria, and the worship of the s