that were present. This knocking
was just under her chair, where it was not possible for any mortal
to knock up.' When Miss Wilson went to bed, and was in a deep
sleep, 'her body was so lifted up that many strong men were not able
to keep it down'. {114a} The explanation about cracking the knee-
joints hardly covers the levitations, or accounts for the tremendous
noise which surrounded Sister Anthoinette at matins, or for the
bright light, a common spiritualistic phenomenon. Margaret Wilson
was about twelve years of age. If it be alleged that little girls
have a traditional method of imposture, even that is a curious and
interesting fact in human nature.

As regards imposture, there exists a singular record of a legal
process in Paris, 1534. {114b}

It may have been observed that the Lyons affair was useful to the
Church, as against 'the damnable sect of Lutherans,' because Sister
Alix attested the existence of purgatory. No imposture was
detected, and no reader of Montalembert can doubt his good faith,
nor the sincerity of his kindness and piety. But such a set of
circumstances might provoke imitation. Of fraudulent imitation the
Franciscans of Orleans were accused, and for this crime they were
severely punished. We have the Arrest des Commissaires du Conseil
d'Etat du Roi, from MS. 7170, A. of the Bibliotheque du Roi. {115}
We have also allusions in the Franciscanus, a satire in Latin
hexameter by George Buchanan. Finally, we have versions in
Lavaterus, and in Wierus, De Curat. Laes. Maleficio (Amsterdam,
1660, p. 422). Wierus, born 1515, heard the story when with Sleidan
at Orleans, some years after the events. He gives the version of
Sleidan, a notably Protestant version. Wierus is famous for his
spirited and valuable defence of the poor women then so frequently
burned as witches. He either does, or pretends to believe in
devils, diabolical possession, and exorcism, but the exorcist, to be
respectable, must be Protestant. Probably Wierus was not so
credulous as he assumes to be, and a point of irony frequently peeps
out. The story as told by Sleidan differs from that in the official
record. In this document Adam Fumee counsellor of the king,
announces that the Franciscans of Orleans have informed the king
that they are vexed by a spirit, which gives itself out by signs
(rappings), as the wife of Francois de St. Mesmin, Provost of
Orleans. They ask the king to take cognisance of the matter. On