The like doth the chancelor, maister Anthonius Pratensis, Cardinall and Legate for the Pope, throughout Fraunce. Therefore when they had no exception to alleadge, they were conueyed vnto Paris and there constreyned to make their aunswere: but yet could nothing be wroong out of them by confession. Wherevpon they were put a part into diuers prisons, the Nouice beeing kéept in the house of maister Fumæus, one of the Aldermen, who being oftentimes examined & earnestly requested to vtter the truthe, woulde notwithstanding confesse nothing, because he feared that the Monks would afterwards put him to death, for stayning their order, and putting it to open shame: but whē the Iudges had made him sure promise, that he should escape punishment, and that he should neuer come into theire handling, he repped vp vnto them the whole matter, as it was done, and being brought before his fellowes, aduoucheth the same to their faces. The Monkes albeit they were by these meanes conuicted, and almost taken tardy with the déede doing, yet did they refuse the Iudges, bragging and vaunting them selues on their priuiledges: but al in vaine: for sentence passed on them, and they were condemned: that they being caried backe againe to Orleaunce, and there cast in prison, should finally be broughte foorth to the chiefe Church of the citie openly, and from thence to the place of execution, where they should make open cōfession of their trespasses. But there chaunced at the very same time a greeuous persecution against the Lutherans, which was the cause why that sentence, (albeit was too gentle for so great an offence) was neuer put in executiō. For they feared much, because Luthers name was odious euery where, least if any sharpe iudgement hadde passed, they should not so muche haue punished the offenders, as shamed their order: and many supposed that whatsoeuer had hapned vnto them, would haue bin a pleasant and ioyful pageaunt and spectacle for the Lutherans. Now the order of the Franciscane Friers, hath the opinion of great holinesse with the common people: insomuch, that when they being condemned, were carried to Orleaunce, certaine fonde women moued with foolish pittie, followed them to the very gates of the citie, weeping & sighing abundantly. When they were come to Orleaunce, and were there cast into diuers prisons, againe they vaunted and bare themselues very brag on their priuiledges, and liberties: and so at the last when they had lyen long in prison, they were in the end deliuered without any greater punishment. All the while they were in prison, they wanted nothing: for there was bestowed vpon them, especially by women, very largely, for to serue for their liuing, and to purchase to them help and fauour. Except these persecutions and troubles, which we spake of before, had hindred the matter, the king (as many reported) was fully determined, to haue ouerthrowne their house, and made it euen with the ground.
This Historie also doth demonstrate and shewe, that Spirits are not alwayes heard, when some men affirme they are.
CHAP. IX.
Of a certaine parish Priest at Clauenna, whiche fayned
himselfe to bee our Ladie, and of an other that counterfeited
himselfe to be a soule: as also of a certaine disguised
Iesuite Frier.
Ioannes Stumpfius.
TO the ende wee may the better vnderstande this matter, I will yet rehearse an other Historie of a certaine parishe Prieste, which chaunced a yeare before the other I spake of, which is sette foorth briefely, but yet truely, by Ioannes Stumpfius, in the Germane Chronicles of the Heluetians, in the twentieth Booke and eighth Chapter, whereof also many notable men at this day beare suffucient witnesse. A certaine parish Priest of Clauenna, (whiche is a Citie neare the Laake or water Larius, in the Countrey of Rhetia), being farre in loue with an honest and faire mayden, the daughter of a citizen in the same town, oftentimes followed her, as she went vnto her fathers barne: and attempted to haue defloured her, but she euer resisted, and put him backe. In the ende when he saw he could not obtaine his purpose, he priuily stole out of the church a blew cloth, beset with sundry starres, and therwith couering himselfe, saue only that he left his armes & féete naked, which he also berayed with blood, he hideth himselfe without the towne, and there muffling his face with a thinne linnen cloath, méeteth again with the mayd, fayning himself with a counterfeit voyce, to be the blessed virgin Mary. Then in many words he declareth vnto her diuers plages, which were shortly like to fall on the Citie, for the heresies of Luther, (for at other times also hée had bitterly enueyed against Luther, in his open Sermons:) he also commaunded the mayd to shew many things vnto the citizens, touching holy dayes, fastings, generall processions, &c. And amongst other things he added, that there was a certain holy and religious man, whiche had heeretofore asked a thing at her hands in the very same place, which she had hitherto denied him, but now it was her pleasure, if he required yͤ same again, she should in any wise grant it, if she would attain euerlasting life: and yͭ aboue all thing, she must conceale and kéep close this latter point vnto her self. The maydē by & by blazed it about al the citie, that our Lady had visibly appeared vnto her, & foretold her of sundry plagues likely to happen vnto the citie. The inhabitants taking good aduise on this matter, at the last for feare of these imminent dangers and plages, gaue commandement, that three daies shuld be kept holy. In the which time, the mayd, supposing she shuld do high seruice to the virgin Mary, fulfilleth the lust of that wicked knaue. This trecherie and deceit being shortly after detected by the wonderfull prouidence of God, the varlet was first beheaded, and afterward burnt in fire.
Erasmus.