The Black Wolf's Breed

by Harris Dickson

  DOCUMENT No. 2

  (Abbot Laurent's writing)

  Statement of Brothers Anselmo and Jehan, touching the rites of exorcismby them administered, _contra daemonios_, to the temporal andseigneural lord, Pedro d'Ortez, Count of Cartillon--fourteenth of saidlordship--a man of profane blood, dying in grievous torment of soul,possessed of foul and wicked fiends--may God protect all trueChristians from the same. AMEN.

  ANSELMO DI NAPOLI. JEHAN DE TOURS.

  _In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Sanctus Spiritus. Amen._

  It was come the early part of the night when there arose at the outergate such an unseemly clattering of hoofs and rattle of worldly weaponsas greatly terrified our humble-minded brethren, engaged at theirdevotions.

  The holy Abbot, being retired at his prayer and pious meditations,Brother Jehan, worthy and devout, in humility of spirit inquired oftheir errand. Being informed in hot haste that the puissant and mightyLord of Cartillon lay dying in sin, possessed of frenzies and fiends,and stood in need most urgent of extreme unction, we deliberatedthereupon together.

  "Hurry, haste, good fathers, ere it be too late; we have here two stoutpalfreys to bear you to his couch."

  The Abbot having in due season come forth from his closet, we werecommanded to go forthwith to minister to the needs of the noble Count.

  Provided with holy oil, and the ritual for casting out demons, bearinga piece of the true cross, before which no evil being can prevail, werode away at so rough a pace withal, through constant urging andimprecations of the men at arms, as caused us to be sorely shaken anddisturbed, both in mind and body.

  Arrived at Cartillon, we made great speed to repair to his bedside,where, of a truth, the man lay flat of his back, weak in flesh, butstout and rebellious of soul, contrary to the doctrines of our mostblessed religion.

  Before he caught sight of us, he moaned and heaved, pointing hisfingers ever out of the window, and uttering strange heathenblasphemies--whereat we crossed ourselves piously.

  Following the direction of his gaze we saw naught save the starlit domeof heaven.

  The eyes of the demon gave him power to see diabolical and uncleanforms.

  Sorely distracted thereat, he cried out in direst fear:

  "Hence! Hence! Seek my mother in Hell, for it was her doing. I wouldhave spared the women."

  The man being clearly possessed of an evil demon, we immediately madeready the sacred offices of the church for the casting out of such.

  Believing from the demon voice issuing through the possessed man's lipsthat it was the woman fiend, Lilith, who in female guise doth walk theearth in darkness, we resorted with much speed to the office speciallyprepared for that evil and depraved being.

  The holy ritual was being devoutly read by Brother Anselmo, when theman, turning in his couch, caught sight of us at our sacred labors. Hethereupon, with many profane and blasphemous oaths, bade us cease andbegone.

  "Out! Out upon you, thou shaveling hypocrites! Thinkest thou I ambecome a helpless woman to profit of thy mummeries? No, by the body ofJupiter. Get out! get out!"

  "Oh, weak and rebellious son of Holy Church, calm thy troubled spiritand take unto thyself the most blessed peace of God. Repent thineerrors, and prepare thy mind for the Paradise of the just."

  Verily, it was an evil and malignant demon which controlled him, forthe words but struck a pagan madness to his heart, and he sprang fromhis couch.

  "Hush! Hush your priestly lies, which sink a new terror in my soul.It can not, can not be, this other world where men receive the rewardor punishment drawn upon themselves in this. Thou liest, thou cantingmonk-faced coward; it is all a lie of priestcraft.

  "There is no God, no Hell; no, I will not, will not believe it. Getthee hence before I drive thee to the gibbet and fling thy quarters tohawk and hound."

  We crossed ourselves in horror, kissing the piece of the true cross,fearing his presence and terrible blasphemy would draw a bolt fromHeaven. But there he stood, for some divine purpose secure in his bodyfrom the vengeance of God.

  So fierce a fire consumed his strength he sank again in mortal weaknesson his couch.

  We watched him long. He gazed as one fixed by an evil eye, through theopen window straight toward an ancient well across the court-yard.

  He mumbled words whereof we could only guess the import. He raised along, thin finger, knotted at the joints, and pointed to the well:

  "Do you hear it? Oh, mother, mother, it was your doing! Listen now.Dost hear their cries in Hell? See, see, the body turns and swings,softly, softly," and he covered his face, uttering the most plaintivecries.

  He started up again and went to the window, stretching out his arm asbefore. We could see nothing but the court and old well, long dry ofwater.

  "See, there she is; see, see; I come, I come."

  And regarding not our sacred relics or adjurations, he passed out thedoor, down the stair of winding stone, through the men who, palsied bycraven fears, put not forth their hands to stay; staring before himwith wide-open eyes which saw not, d'Ortez strode through them all intothe vacant court-yard.

  No pause he made, but straightway went toward the well, whither--atsome distance be it humbly confessed--we followed.

  At first he but peered within and listened; then he stood quiet for aspace, as if he waited, for what we could not tell.

  None of us being sufficiently near to prevent, and the power of thedemon prevailing over weak and mortal flesh, he mounted the curb, and,amid the most horrid shrieks, cursings and revilings proceeding fromthe foul demon Lilith, he plunged himself bodily in the darkness below,wherefrom came only faint groans for a short space.

  Thus died Pedro d'Ortez, Lord of Cartillon.

  Leaving the task of getting out his body to those vassals who, greatlyperturbed in spirit, gathered at the spot, we hastened away horrifiedat such abominations of Beelzebub as we had witnessed, being for ourfear and little faith made culpable before God, and hoping torepurchase peace by great penitence.

  Report made and rendered to the Most Reverend and Illustrious Father inGod, Laurent, Abbot of the Monastery of Vaux, this the tenth day ofJuly in the year of grace one thousand five hundred and ninety-six.

  (Signed) ANSELMO DI NAPOLI, JEHAN DE TOURS.