Stowe MS 40

"DE SACRO Jesu Christi triumpho habito Lauduni adversus daemonem mulierculae corpus agitantem compendiosa historia": a narrative, in Latin, of certain miracles alleged to have occurred at Laon in 1565 and 1566, edited by Jean Boulaese, priest first of Chartres and then of Laon, professor "literarum sacrarum et hebraicarum," and "pauper collegii montis acuti" [Montagu College] at Paris. Several versions of the affair are given, the contents of the volume being as follows: — (1) Narrative of Christopher de Hericourt, Dean of Laon, entitled as above, and preceded by a letter from him to Pope Pius V., dated 19 March, 1569, some verses addressed to the author by Claude Roillet, Canon of Laon, and a letter from Boulaese to the reader, dated 28 Oct. 1570, introducing De Hericourt's work as well as his own four narratives which follow; at the end is the certificate of approbation of the Paris faculty of theology. f. 5; — (2) Various letters to and from Boulaese in 1565, 1568, and 1569, testifying to his character. f. 20; — (3) First narrative of Boulaese, entitled "Summa victoriæ per corpus Christi contra Beelzebub, Launduni, 1565, habitæ historia," dedicated to the Pope [Pius V.] and cardinals, and attested at the end by the signature of Boulaese, dated 28 Oct. 1570. f. 25; — (4) Second narrative of Boulaese, bearing the same date at the end, entitled "Ejectio principis huius mundi et dæmoniorum Beelzebub," and dedicated to the Cardinal [Charles] of Lorraine, Archbishop of Reims. f. 37; — (5) Third narrative of Boulaese, entitled "Manuale victoriæ, corporis Christi," and dedicated to Cardinal Hieronymus de la Souchière, Abbot of Clairvaux; it is attested by the signature of Boulaese, with the same date. f. 51; — (6) Fourth narrative of Boulaese, entitled "Thesaurus historiæ victoriæ corporis Domini contra Beelzebub habitæ,." f. 92. The last is much the most complete version, containing a comparison of the narrative of De Hericourt with the third of Boulaese, and giving an account of the public investigation into the matter and the depositions of the witnesses. The signature of Boulaese recurs at the end. An engraved plate is inserted (f. 30), giving representations of several incidents in the narrative, and an explanation of it is given in the first three narratives of Boulaese. At the beginning (f. 1b) is the certificate of approval granted to the book by Jean [de Bours], Bishop of Laon, 5 Nov. 1570; together with an attested record (f. 3b) of the opinion of the two theologians appointed to examine the work, 30 Oct. 1570. The narrative was written originally in French and subsequently in Latin, the former as well as the latter being by Boulaese, as stated on f. 104. The former was printed at Paris in 1575. Paper; ff. 228. Small Folio.

Christophe d' Héricourt, Dean of Laon: Narrative of demoniacal occurrences at Laon in 1565 and 1566: 1569.

Jean Boulaese, priest of Chartres, Laon, etc: Narratives of demoniacal occurrences at Laon in 1565 and 1566 written 1569-1570.