The following is another instance of the use of this infernal ointment. It is related that a lady of St. Pierre-du-Bois was astonished at the long time her husband remained in his private apartment, and her curiosity at last induced her to watch him. Accordingly she one day concealed herself in the room. Her husband came in shortly afterwards, and, after stripping off all his clothes, proceeded to anoint himself from head to foot with a certain ointment, after which he repeated the words “va et vient” (“go and come”), and immediately disappeared. Anxious to know whither he was gone, she went through the same ceremony, and no sooner had she repeated the mysterious words than she found herself on the summit of Pleinmont, in the midst of a large concourse of people. A table was set out, covered with a variety of viands of which some present invited her courteously to partake. Previously, however, to touching anything, she, like a good Christian, repeated aloud the words “Au nom de Dieu soit, Amen,” (“In the name of God, Amen”). No sooner had the sacred name passed her lips than she found herself alone. All had disappeared, and the only signs which remained of any living beings having been on the spot besides herself were recent marks of cloven feet indented on the sward in every direction.
[164] Mr. Métivier derives this word “quéraud,” meaning enchanter, or “maître sorcier,” from the old French charay, caral, meaning magical type or letter. “In dog Latin Caraco was the writer or engraver of occult characters, and in the old French version of “Le Roman du Lancelot du Lac” it says that “Morgain, la seur au Roi Artur, sceut des enchantements et des caraulx plus que nulle femme.””
[165] Friday nights being always the nights appointed for the “Sabbat.”
[166] Mr. Métivier translates this word Hoc as the great feast given by the enemy of mankind to his familiars, the wizards and witches. Like most of the words and customs connected with witchcraft it had originally a sacred meaning, for he says that the Hebrew word in the seventh verse of the second Psalm, translated “the decree” is “the Hoc,” and means:—The law imposed by a King on his subjects from which there is no appeal.
[167] From George Allez, Esq.
[168] From Miss Elizabeth Chepmell.
Editor’s Notes.
A very similar story is told in M. Paul Sebillot’s Traditions et Superstitions de la Haute Bretagne, Tome I., p. 277.
“Une femme avait deux enfants, quand elle les avait couchés, elle sortait, et ils ne la revoyaient que de matin. Un des enfants, qui commençait à être grand, fit mine de s’endormir, il vit sa mère aller sous le lit, se mettre toute nue, et se frotter d’onguent, puis dire, avant de partir: