These are some of the _Devil_'s Extraordinaries, and it must be confess'd they are not the most agreeable to Mankind, for sometimes he takes upon him to disorder his Friends very much on these Occasions, as in the above Case of _Cha._ VI. of _France_; the King, they say, was really demented ever after; that is, as we vulgarly, but not always improperly, express it, he was really _frighted out of his Wits_. Whether the malicious _Devil_ intended it so, or not, is not certain, tho' it was not so foreign to his particular Disposition if he did. But where he is more intimate, we are told he appears in a manner less disagreeable, and there he is more properly _a familiar Spirit_; that is, in short, a _Devil_ of their Acquaintance: It is true, the Antients understand the Word, _a familiar Spirit_, to be one of the kinds of Possession; but if it serves our turn as well under the Denomination of an intimate _Devil_, or a _Devil_ visitant, it must be acknowledg'd to be as near in the literal Sense and Acceptation of the Word, as the other; nay, it must be allow'd 'tis a very great Piece of Familiarity in the _Devil_ to make Visits, and shew none of his Disagreeables, not appear formidable, or in the Shape of what he is, respectfully withholding his dismal Part, in Compassion to the Infirmities of his Friends. It is true, _Satan_ may be oblig'd to make different Appearances, as the several Circumstances of Things call for it; in some Cases he makes his publick Entry, and then he must shew himself in his Habit of Ceremony; in other Cases he comes upon private Business, and then he appears in Disguise; in some publick Cases he may thing fit to be _incog._ and then he appears dress'd _a la Masque_; so they say he appear'd at the famous St. _Bartholomew_ Wedding at _Paris_, where, he came in dress'd up like a Trumpeter, danc'd in his Habit, sounded a _Levet_, and then went out and rung the Alarm-Bell (which was the Signal to begin the Massacre) half an Hour before the Time appointed, lest the King's Mind should alter, and his Heart fail him. If the Story be not made upon him, (for we should not slander the _Devil_) it should seem, he was not thoroughly satisfied in King _Charles_ IX.'s Steadiness in his Cause; for the King, it seems, had relax'd a little once before, and Satan might be afraid he would fall off again, and so prevent the Execution: Others say, the King did relent immediately after the ringing the _Alarm-Bell_, but that then it was too late, the Work was begun, and the Rage of Blood having been let loose among the People, there was no recalling the Order. If the _Devil_ was thus brought to the Necessity of a secret Management, it must be owned he did it dexterously; but I have not Authority enough for the Story, to charge him with the Particulars, so I leave it _au croc._