CHAPTER X

The Laws Observed by Witches in Causing and in Curing Sickness.
Argument.
| ae as witches always see their way Clearly to any evil, so they find many difficulties and obstacles when they would do good or heal. For what time witches would bring disease or death, everything is ready, every- thing at hand for them; all kinds of poison, curses, spells, and enchant- ments. With all these the devil is prompt, and with the witches’ consent always undertakes the work of doing harm. This he does to earn their grati- tude by gaining them the vengeance they have so ardently desired, and he is able to provide means which, it seems, no human art or skill can com- bat. At the same time it is in his power to keep the witch clear of all suspicion, when he acts in their absence without their stirring even a finger to help him. But when it is a question of restoring health or saving life, then there are never wanting opposing forces to com- bat such an intention.
Ww
Examples.
Rosa Girardin gave it as the truth that a sickness could not be removed except by the person who had caused it; for no one might thrust his sickle in another’s harvest, according to the law which provides that he who binds must also unbind. And therefore we must fear injury and look for help from the same hand.
Dominique Eurea said that no one who had been bewitched could be re- stored to health unless his sickness were even more grievously transferred to another; and that the sickness always grew in these exchanged. Also the healing power receivedfrom thedemon always vanished when a priest or a physician laid his hands on the sick to heal him.
I22
Alexée Drigée said that such restora- tions to health were never absolute and complete, but that there always re- mained some trace of the sickness.
Catharine Balandre used to say that it was useless to look for any alleviation or cure of a sickness from those who had been brought to trial for witch- craft; for all such power had then passed into the hands of the devil, who is able to perform all such things.
Nicolas Morell agreed with this statement. For when he was asked, in prison, to heal the son of Jean Chemat, whom he admitted that he had be- witched with the sickness from which he was suffering, he answered that he had no more power in such matters since, by confessing his crimes, he had driven the devil away from him, and the sanctity of his place of imprison- ment also prevented him from such work. And not even to expiate his crimes could he work those spells which were necessary to heal the boy.
When Cattina Gilotte was asked why it was that she had not healed Canasse Godefreda of the disease which she had brought upon her by witchcraft, al- though she had more than once given her to eat apples and plums and other such fruit by means of which she was in the habit of curing others, she an- swered that it was because that Gode- freda had not prayed to be healed.
Balial Basol and Colette the fisher’s wife mentioned another kind of ob- stacle. For they said that when they were trying to effect a cure, and some other person, without informing or consulting them, meddledin the matter by making and fulfilling a vow to one of the Saints, then they were prevented by this contempt of their art from do- ing anything more to heal the sick man. And no doubt they essayed a cure, because such wretches desire above all things the alms and thanks of sick folk, since they are beggars and live entirely on such charity.
When the father of Nicole Morell was charged with witchcraft and was pleading in his own defence, he said
COMPENDIUM
BK. II. CH. X.
that which involved his daughter in suspicion of the same crime; and so the apparitor who was then present per- suaded the judge to order her arrest. While Nicole Morell was yet at liberty a demon warned her of this and urged her to be revenged by bringing some harm upon the apparitor, and that he would gladly undertake such work if she bade him. She quickly assented, and he flew to the apparitor’s house where he found his wife sitting by the fire giving the breast to her baby. He passed by and blew upon her breasts so poisonous a powder that they at once became dried up and empty of milk. The apparitor soon suspected the cause of this, and went to Nicole Morell, who was now in prison, and offering her a cake to appease her begged her not to begrudge himany help which she could give in the matter; and in his turn he would take care that she had every- thing to make her life easier while she was in prison. He then left her, won- dering what she would do in the mat- ter. The demon at once appeared to her and scolded her for speaking with the apparitor ; but at last allowed him- self to be persuaded to fill the breasts of the man’s wife again with milk, even to superfluity if she wished. And soon after he accomplished this by applying a white powder to her. Catharine Ocrea had formerly been discharged on her own recognizances, but was again brought to trial by reason of fresh suspicion against her and because of the eloquent mandate of His Most Serene Highness the Prince of Lorraine, who had been advised of the whole matter. Before she was re- imprisoned she had smitten with her evil art the arm of one of the witnesses against her so that it became withered : and now she seized this man’s arm roughly as if she was angry, and to the astonishment of all who were present it was at once restored to health; so that whereas it had been for many months useless and without strength, it at once became vigorous and fit and able to perform all its former work.
BK. II. CH. XI.