The history of witchcraft and demonologySummers, Montague
History
The history of witchcraft and demonology
Summers, Montague
Demonology; Demonology -- History; Witchcraft; Witchcraft -- History
The unfortunate town of Antwerp came directly under Tanchelin’s
influence. Here he reigned as king, surrounded by vile and obsequious
satellites who ground the miserable citizens to the dust and filled each
street and corner with orgies of lust and blood. There is a strange and
striking parallel between the details of his foul career and the Russian
tyranny to-day. Little wonder that in 1116 a priest, maddened by the
outrages and profanities of this hellish crew, scattered the heretic’s
brains upon the deck of his royal barge as one afternoon he was sailing
in pompous state down the river Schelde: “After a life of infamy,
bloodshed, and heresy, whilst he was sailing on the river he was struck
on the head by a certain priest and falling down died there.”[79] All
unfortunately, however, the pernicious errors of Tanchelin did not expire
with their author. Antwerp remained plunged in dissipation and riot, and
although strenuous efforts were made to restore decency and order, at
first these seemed to be entirely nugatory and fruitless. Burchard, the
Bishop of Cambrai, at once sent twelve of his most revered and learned
canons under the conduct of Hidolphe, a priest of acknowledged sagacity
and experience, to endeavour to reform the town by word and example, but
it seemed as though their efforts were doomed to failure and ill-success.
At length, almost in despair, the good prelate begged S. Norbert,[80] who
some three years before had founded his Order at Prémontré, to essay the
thankless and wellnigh impossible task. Without demur or hesitation the
Saint cheerfully undertook so difficult a mission and accompanied only by
S. Evermonde,[81] and Blessed Waltman, together with a few more of his
most fervent followers he arrived at Antwerp without delay to begin his
work there towards the end of 1123. Success at once crowned his efforts;
in an incredibly short space of time the people confessed their errors,
abuses were reformed, the leprous town cleansed of its foulness, public
safety, order, and decorum once again established, and, what is extremely
striking to notice, the old chroniclers draw attention to the fact that
a large number both of men and women in deepest penitence brought to S.
Norbert quantities of consecrated Hosts which they had purloined from
the tabernacles and kept concealed in boxes and other hiding-places to
utilize for charms and evil invocations, to profane in devil-worship and
at the Sabbat. So marvellous was the change from darkness to light that
year by year the Premonstratensian Order upon the Saturday[82] after the
Octave of Corpus Christi solemnly observes a fitting memorial thereof in
the glad Feast of the Triumph of Holy Father Norbert.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account