ABSTRACT
In those regions God Almighty 2 hath bestowed such grace 3 upon the Minor Friars that in Great Tartary they think it a mere nothing to expel devils from the possessed, no more indeed than to drive a dog out of the house. For there be many in those parts possessed of the devil, both men and women 4 , and these they bind and bring to our 261friars from as far as ten days’ journey off. The friars bid the demons depart forth instantly from the bodies of the possessed in the name of Jesus Christ 1 , and they do depart immediately in obedience to this command. Then those who have been delivered from the demon .straightway cause themselves to be baptised ; and the friars take their idols, which are made of felt 2 , and carry them to the fire, whilst all the people of the country round assemble to see their neighbour’s gods burnt. The friars, accordingly, cast the idols into the fire, but they leap out again 3 . And so the friars take holy water and sprinkle it upon the fire, and that straightway drives away the demon from the fire ; and so the friars again casting the idols into the fire, they are consumed. And then the devil in the air raises a shout, saying:—” See then, see then, how I am expelled from my dwelling-place 1 .” And in this way our friars baptise great numbers in that country 2 .
