But，ingeneral，housesthathaveacquiredthischaracter，havebeenmoreindebtedforit，totherogueryoflivingmen，thantoaccidentslikethese。SixmonksplayedoffaclevertrickofthekinduponthatworthyKing，Louis，whosepietyhasprocuredhim，intheannalsofhisowncountry，thedesignationof“theSaint。“HavingheardhisconfessorspeakintermsofwarmeulogyofthegoodnessandlearningofthemonksoftheorderofSaintBruno，heexpressedhiswishtoestablishacommunityofthemnearParis。BernarddelaTour，thesuperior，sentsixofthebrethren，andtheKinggavethemahandsomehousetolivein，inthevillageofChantilly。Itsohappenedthat，fromtheirwindows，theyhadaveryfineviewoftheancientpalaceofVauvert，whichhadbeenbuiltforaroyalresidencebyKingRobert，butdesertedformanyyears。Theworthymonksthoughtthepalacewouldjustsuitthem，buttheirmodestywassoexcessivethattheywereashamedtoasktheKingforagrantofitindueform。Thisdifficultywasnottobeovercome，andthemonkssettheiringenuitytoworktodiscoveranotherplan。ThepalaceofVauverthadneverlabouredunderanyimputationuponitscharacteruntiltheybecameitsneighbours；but，somehoworother，italmostimmediatelyafterwardsbegantoacquireabadname。Frightfulshriekswereheardtoproceedfromitatnight——blue，red，andgreenlightsweresuddenlyobservedtoglimmerfromthewindows，andassuddenlytodisappear:theclankingofchainswasheard，andthehowlingasofpersonsingreatpain。Thesedisturbancescontinuedforseveralmonths，tothegreatterrorofallthecountryround，andevenofthepiousKingLouis，towhom，atParis，alltherumourswereregularlycarried，withwholeheapsofadditions，thataccumulatedontheway。Atlastagreatspectre，clothedallinpea-green，withalongwhitebeardandaserpent’stail，tookhisstationregularlyatmidnightintheprincipalwindowofthepalace，andhowledfearfullyandshookhisfistsatthepassengers。ThesixmonksofChantilly，towhomallthesethingsweredulynarrated，wereexceedinglywroththatthedevilshouldplaysuchanticsrightoppositetheirdwelling，andhintedtothecommissioners，sentdownbySaintLouistoinvestigatethematter，that，iftheywereallowedtoinhabitthepalace，theywouldverysoonmakeaclearanceoftheevilspirits。TheKingwasquitecharmedwiththeirpiety，andexpressedtothemhowgratefulhefeltfortheirdisinterestedness。Adeedwasforthwithdrawnup——theroyalsign-manualwasaffixedtoit，andthepalaceofVauvertbecamethepropertyofthemonksofSaintBruno。Thedeedisdatedin1259。
　　[Garinet。HistoiredelaMagieenFrance，page75。]Thedisturbancesceasedimmediately——thelightsdisappeared，andthegreenghostsosaidthemonkswaslaidatrestforeverunderthewavesoftheRedSea。
　　Intheyear1580，oneGillesBlacrehadtakentheleaseofahouseinthesuburbsofTours，butrepentinghimofhisbargainwiththelandlord，PeterPiquet，heendeavouredtoprevailuponhimtocanceltheagreement。Peter，however，wassatisfiedwithhistenantandhisterms，andwouldlistentonocompromise。Veryshortlyafterwards，therumourwasspreadalloverToursthatthehouseofGillesBlacrewashaunted。GilleshimselfassertedthatheverilybelievedhishousetobethegeneralrendezvousofallthewitchesandevilspiritsofFrance。Thenoisetheymadewasawful，andquitepreventedhimfromsleeping。Theyknockedagainstthewall——howledinthechimneys——
　　brokehiswindow-glass——scatteredhispotsandpansalloverhiskitchen，andsethischairsandtablesadancingthewholenightthrough。Crowdsofpersonsassembledaroundthehousetohearthemysteriousnoises；andthebrickswereobservedtodetachthemselvesfromthewallandfallintothestreetsupontheheadsofthosewhohadnotsaidtheirpaternosterbeforetheycameoutinthemorning。
　　Thesethingshavingcontinuedforsometime，GillesBlacremadehiscomplainttotheCivilCourtofTours，andPeterPiquetwassummonedtoshowcausewhytheleaseshouldnotbeannulled。PoorPetercouldmakenodefence，andthecourtunanimouslyagreedthatnoleasecouldholdgoodundersuchcircumstances，andannulleditaccordingly，condemningtheunluckyownertoalltheexpensesofthesuit。PeterappealedtotheParliamentofParis；and，afteralongexamination，theParliamentconfirmedthelease。“Not，“saidthejudge，“becauseitbasnotbeenfullyandsatisfactorilyprovedthatthehouseistroubledbyevilspirits，butthattherewasaninformalityintheproceedingsbeforetheCivilCourtofTours，thatrendereditsdecisionnullandofnoeffect。“
　　AsimilarcausewastriedbeforetheParliamentofBordeaux，intheyear1595，relativetoahouseinthatcitywhichwassorelytroubledbyevilspirits。TheParliamentappointedcertainecclesiasticstoexamineandreporttothem，andontheirreportintheaffirmativethatthehousewashaunted，theleasewasannulled，andthetenantabsolvedfromallpaymentofrentandtaxes。[Garinet。
　　HistoiredelaMagieenFrance，page156。]
　　OneofthebeststoriesofahauntedhouseisthatoftheroyalpalaceofWoodstock，intheyear1649，whenthecommissionerssentfromLondonbytheLongParliamenttotakepossessionofit，andeffacealltheemblemsofroyaltyaboutit，werefairlydrivenoutbytheirfearofthedevilandtheannoyancestheysufferedfromaroguishcavalier，whoplayedtheimptoadmiration。Thecommissioners，dreadingatthattimenodevil，arrivedatWoodstockonthe13thofOctober，1649。TheytookuptheirlodgingsinthelateKing’sapartments-turnedthebeautifulbedroomsandwithdrawing-roomsintokitchensandsculleries——thecouncil-hallintoabrew-house，andmadethedining-roomaplacetokeepfirewoodin。Theypulleddownalltheinsigniaofroyalstate，andtreatedwiththeutmostindignityeverythingthatrecalledtotheirmemorythenameorthemajestyofCharlesStuart。OneGilesSharpaccompaniedtheminthecapacityofclerk，andsecondedtheirefforts，apparentlywiththegreatestzeal。
　　Heaidedthemtouprootanobleoldtree，merelybecauseitwascalledtheKing’sOak，andtossedthefragmentsintothedining-roomtomakecheerfulfiresforthecommissioners。Duringthefirsttwodays，theyheardsomestrangenoisesaboutthehouse，buttheypaidnogreatattentiontothem。Onthethird，however，theybegantosuspecttheyhadgotintobadcompany；fortheyheard，astheythought，asupernaturaldogundertheirbed，whichgnawedtheirbedclothes。Onthenextday，thechairsandtablesbegantodance，apparentlyoftheirownaccord。Onthefifthday，somethingcameintothebedchamberandwalkedupanddown，andfetchingthewarming-panoutofthewithdrawing-room，madesomuchnoisewithitthattheythoughtfivechurch-bellswereringingintheirears。Onthesixthday，theplatesanddisheswerethrownupanddownthedining-room。Ontheseventh，theypenetratedintothebedroomincompanywithseverallogsofwood，andusurpedthesoftpillowsintendedforthecommissioners。Ontheeighthandninthnights，therewasacessationofhostilities；butonthetenth，thebricksinthechimneysbecamelocomotive，andrattledanddancedaboutthefloors，androundtheheadsofthecommissioners，allthenightlong。Ontheeleventh，thedemonranawaywiththeirbreeches，andonthetwelfthfilledtheirbedssofullofpewter-plattersthattheycouldnotgetintothem。Onthethirteenthnight，theglassbecameunaccountablyseizedwithafitofcracking，andfellintoshiversinallpartsofthehouse。Onthefourteenth，therewasanoiseasiffortypiecesofartilleryhadbeenfiredoff，andashowerofpebble-stones，whichsoalarmedthecommissionersthat，“struckwithgreathorror，theycriedouttooneanotherforhelp。“
　　Theyfirstofalltriedtheefficacyofprayerstodriveawaytheevilspirits；buttheseprovingunavailing，theybeganseriouslytoreflectwhetheritwouldnotbemuchbettertoleavetheplacealtogethertothedevilsthatinhabitedit。Theyultimatelyresolved，however，totryitalittlelonger；andhavingcravedforgivenessofalltheirsins，betookthemselvestobed。Thatnighttheysleptintolerablecomfort，butitwasmerelyatrickoftheirtormentortolullthemintofalsesecurity。When，onthesucceedingnight，theyheardnonoises，theybegantoflatterthemselvesthatthedevilwasdrivenout，andpreparedaccordinglytotakeuptheirquartersforthewholewinterinthepalace。Thesesymptomsontheirpartbecamethesignalforreneweduproaramongthefiends。Onthe1stofNovember，theyheardsomethingwalkingwithaslowandsolemnpaceupanddownthewithdrawing-room，andimmediatelyafterwardsashowerofstones，bricks，mortar，andbrokenglasspeltedabouttheirears。Onthe2ndthestepswereagainheardinthewithdrawing-room，soundingtotheirfancyverymuchlikethetreadingofanenormousbear，whichcontinuedforaboutaquarterofanhour。Thisnoisehavingceased，alargewarming-panwasthrownviolentlyuponthetable，followedbyanumberofstonesandthejawboneofahorse。Someoftheboldestwalkedvaliantlyintothewithdrawing-room，armedwithswords，andpistols；
　　butcoulddiscovernothing。Theywereafraidthatnighttogotosleep，andsatup，makingfiresineveryroom，andburningcandlesandlampsingreatabundance；thinkingthat，asthefiendsloveddarkness，theywouldnotdisturbacompanysurroundedwithsomuchlight。Theyweredeceived，however:bucketsofwatercamedownthechimneysandextinguishedthefires，andthecandleswereblownout，theyknewnothow。Someoftheservantswhohadbetakenthemselvestobedweredrenchedwithputridditch-waterastheylay，andaroseingreatfright，mutteringincoherentprayers，andexposingtothewonderingeyesofthecommissionerstheirlinenalldrippingwithgreenmoisture，andtheirknucklesredwiththeblowstheyhadatthesametimereceivedfromsomeinvisibletormentors。Whiletheywerestillspeaking，therewasanoiseliketheloudestthunder，orthefiringofawholeparkofartillery，uponwhichtheyallfelldownupontheirkneesandimploredtheprotectionoftheAlmighty。Oneofthecommissionersthenarose，theothersstillkneeling，andaskedinacourageousvoice，andinthenameofGod，whowasthere，andwhattheyhaddonethattheyshouldbetroubledinthatmanner。Noanswerwasreturned，andthenoisesceasedforawhile。Atlength，however，asthecommissionerssaid，“thedevilcameagain，andbroughtwithitsevendevilsworsethanitself。“Beingagainindarkness，theylightedacandleandplaceditinthedoorway，thatitmightthrowalightuponthetwochambersatonce；butitwassuddenlyblownout，andonecommissionersaidthathehad“seenthesimilitudeofahorse’shoofstrikingthecandleandcandlestickintothemiddleofthechamber，andafterwardsmakingthreescrapesonthesnufftoputitout。“Uponthis，thesamepersonwassoboldastodrawhissword；butheassertedpositivelythathehadhardlywithdrawnitfromthescabbardbeforeaninvisiblehandseizedholdofitandtuggedwithhimforit，andprevailing，struckhimsoviolentablowwiththepommelthathewasquitestunned。Thenthenoisesbeganagain；uponwhich，withoneaccord，theyallretiredintothepresence-chamber，wheretheypassedthenight，prayingandsingingpsalms。
　　Theywerebythistimeconvincedthatitwasuselesstostruggleanylongerwiththepowersofevil，thatseemeddeterminedtomakeWoodstocktheirown。ThesethingshappenedontheSaturdaynight；and，beingrepeatedontheSunday，theydeterminedtoleavetheplaceimmediately，andreturntoLondon。ByTuesdaymorningearly，alltheirpreparationswerecompleted；and，shakingthedustofftheirfeet，anddevotingWoodstockandallitsinhabitantstotheinfernalgods，theyfinallytooktheirdeparture。[Dr。H。More’sContinuationofGlanvil’sCollectionofRelationsinproofofWitchcraft。]
　　Manyyearselapsedbeforethetruecauseofthesedisturbanceswasdiscovered。Itwasascertained，attheRestoration，thatthewholewastheworkofGilesSharp，thetrustyclerkofthecommissioners。Thisman，whoserealnamewasJosephCollins，wasaconcealedroyalist，andhadpassedhisearlylifewithinthebowersofWoodstock；sothathekneweveryholeandcorneroftheplace，andthenumeroustrap-doorsandsecretpassagesthataboundedinthebuilding。Thecommissioners，neversuspectingthetruestateofhisopinions，butbelievinghimtoberevolutionarytotheback-bone，placedtheutmostrelianceuponhim；aconfidencewhichheabusedinthemannerabovedetailed，tohisowngreatamusement，andthatofthefewcavalierswhomheletintothesecret。
　　QuiteasextraordinaryandascleverlymanagedwasthetrickplayedoffatTedworth，in1661，atthehouseofMr。Mompesson，andwhichissocircumstantiallynarratedbytheRev。JosephGlanvil，underthetitleof“TheDemonofTedworth，“andappended，amongotherproofsofwitchcraft，tohisnotedwork，called“SadducismusTriumphatus。“AboutthemiddleofApril，intheyearabovementioned，Mr。Mompesson，havingreturnedtohishouse，atTedworth，fromajourneyhehadtakentoLondon，wasinformedbyhiswife，thatduringhisabsencetheyhadbeentroubledwiththemostextraordinarynoises。
　　Threenightsafterwardsheheardthenoisehimself；anditappearedtohimtobethatof“agreatknockingathisdoors，andontheoutsideofhiswalls。“Heimmediatelyarose，dressedhimself，tookdownapairofpistols，andwalkedvaliantlyforthtodiscoverthedisturber，undertheimpressionthatitmustbearobber:but，ashewent，thenoiseseemedtotravelbeforeorbehindhim；and，whenhearrivedatthedoorfromwhichhethoughtitproceeded，hesawnothing，butstillheard“astrangehollowsound。“Hepuzzledhisbrainsforalongtime，andsearchedeverycornerofthehouse；but，discoveringnothing，hewenttobedagain。Hewasnosoonersnugundertheclothes，thanthenoisebeganagainmorefuriouslythanever，soundingverymuchlikea“thumpinganddrummingonthetopofhishouse，andthenbydegreesgoingoffintotheair。“