"The novice first of all kisses the cat on the back, then he who presides over the assembly, and the others who are worthy of it. The imperfect receive only a kiss from the master; they promise obedience; after which they extinguish the lights, and commit all sorts of disorders. They receive every year, at Easter, the Lord's Body, and carry it in their mouth to their own houses, when they cast it away. They believe in Lucifer, and say that the Master of Heaven has unjustly and fraudulently thrown him into hell. They believe also that Lucifer is the creator of celestial things, that will re-enter into glory after having thrown down his adversary, and that through him they will gain eternal bliss." This letter bears date the 13th of June, 1233.
Footnotes:
[[209]] Joan. Vier. lib. ii. c. 7.
[[210]] A remarkably fine print on this subject was published at Paris some years ago; if we remember right, it was suppressed.
[[211]] Horat. Epodon. xviii. 4.
[[212]] "Quædam sceleratæ mulieres dæmonum illusionibus et phantasmatibus seductæ, credunt se et profitentur nocturnis horis cum Dianâ Paganorum deâ et innumerâ multitudine mulierum equitare super quasdam bestias et multa terrarum spalia intempestæ noctis silentio pertransire ejusque jussionibus veluti dominæ obedire."—Baluz. Capitular. fragment. c. 13. Vide et Capitul. Herardi, Episc. Turon.
[[213]] Agobard de Grandine.
[[214]] Vide Baluzii in Agobard. pp. 68, 69.
[[215]] Fleury, Hist. Eccles. tom. xvii. p. 53, ann. 1234.