ear (1459) in the town of Arras, the
capital of the county of Artois, which said transaction was
called, I know not why, _Vaudoisie_: but it was said that certain
men and women transported themselves whither they pleased from
the places where they were seen, by virtue of a compact with the
devil. Suddenly they were carried to forests and deserts, where
they found assembled great numbers of both sexes, and with them a
devil in the form of a man, whose face they never saw. This devil
read to them, or repeated his laws and commandments in what way
they were to worship and serve him: then each person kissed his
back, and he gave to them after this ceremony some little money.
He then regaled them with great plenty of meats and wines, when
the lights were extinguished, and each man selected a female for
amorous dalliance; and suddenly they were transported back to the
places they had come from. For such criminal and mad acts many of
the principal persons of the town were imprisoned; and others of
the lower ranks, with women, and such as were known to be of this
sect, were so terribly tormented, that some confessed matters to
have happened as has been related. They likewise confessed to
have seen and known many persons of rank, prelates, nobles, and
governors of districts, as having been present at these meetings;
such, indeed, as, upon the rumour of common fame, their judges
and examiners named, and, as it were, put into their mouths: so
that through the pains of the torments they accused many, and
declared they had seen them at these meetings. Such as had been
thus accused were instantly arrested, and so long and grievously
tormented that they were forced to confess just whatever their
judges pleased, when those of the lower rank were inhumanly
burnt. Some of the richer and more powerful ransomed themselves
from this disgrace by dint of money; while others of the highest
orders were remonstrated with, and seduced by their examiners
into confession under a promise that if they would confess, they
should not suffer either in person or property. Others, again,
suffered the severest torments with the utmost patience and
fortitude. The judges received very large sums of money from such
as were able to pay them: others fled the country, or completely
proved their innocence of the charges made against them, and
remained unmolested. It must not be concealed (proceeds
Monstrelet) that many persons of worth knew that these charges
h