as to Caress them for a Night. The
Husbands take these Impostures for Truth, and surrender their Wives to
the Gods and the Winds. Night being come, the brawny Sorcerer (who
Employs the Persons abovemention'd, to ensnare fine Women to his
Caresses) Embraces the fair one closely, and Enjoys her instead of the
Devil. If this Ignorance and Superstition prevail'd in this Kingdom, I
doubt not but it would very much Pleasure the frolicking Libertines.

* * * * *

_Extraordinary Conceptions_.

Before I begin to trace any Particulars of extraordinary Conceptions, I
shall insert a surprizing Account of a Woman that went Twenty five Years
with Child, from the Writings of Monsieur _Baile_, which contains a
great deal of Variety relating to untimely Generations.

_Margaret Matthieu_ a _Cloth-worker_'s Wife at _Tholouse_ in _France_,
in the Year 1653, and towards the Ninth Month of her Reckoning, had the
Pains of Woman's Labour upon her at Church; and some part of the Waters
being already voided, she acquainted the People about her, that she
fear'd she should be Deliver'd in the Church. Immediately she was
carried to a Neighbouring House, and her Pains abating upon the Relief
she there met with, she was afterwards convey'd Home, where her Pains
return'd with more Violence than before. Upon this, Doctor _Cartier_,
and Doctor _Mulatier_ two famous Physicians, and Mr. _Cortade_ a very
skilful Surgeon were sent for, and endeavour'd, tho' in vain, to give
her Relief. She continued for two Months under the torture of these
violent Pains, and voided Clots of Blood without Fibres or any carnous
Matter. Afterwards she voided a white Humour, that was sometimes
tinctur'd with Blood; and her Breasts were fill'd with an extraordinary
quantity of Milk. About the Fifth Month the Flux of the Blood ceas'd,
and she recover'd her Strength by Degrees, being still incommoded with a
troublesome Load in Her Belly, and never easy but when she lay upon her
Reins.

From the Year 1653 till the Year 1678, she suffer'd now and then as
violent Pains as those of Child-birth. When they attack'd her most
severely, she entreated the Surgeon to rip up her Belly, and so put an
end to her Misery. She was troubled with frequent Swoonings, and
unaccountable Longings for certain sorts of Aliment. Some of the Women
about her affirm'd, that they saw the Child move several times; but the
Surgeon and the Apothecary, who observ'd her