132 HISTORY OF 



intestines were not taken out of the body, but 

 remained pliant and entire, as in a fresh subject ; 

 and the breast was made to rise and fall like a 

 pair of bellows ; the embalming preparation had 

 a very strong and pungent smell, which the body 

 preserved for more than a month after it was 

 exposed to the air. This odour was perceived 

 wherever the mummy was laid ; although it re- 

 mained there but a very short time, it was even 

 pretended that the peasants of the neighbouring 

 villages were incommoded by it. If one touched 

 either the mummy, or any part of the preparation, 

 the hands smelled of it for several hours after, 

 although washed with water, spirit of wine, or 

 vinegar. This mummy having remained expos- 

 ed for some months to the curiosity of the public, 

 began to suffer some mutilations. A part of the 

 skin of the forehead was cut off; the teeth were 

 drawn out, and some attempts were made to pull 

 away the tongue. It was therefore put into a 

 glass case, and shortly after transmitted to the 

 king of France's cabinet, at Paris. 



There are many reasons to believe this to be 

 the body of a person of the highest distinction ; 

 however, no marks remain to assure us either of 

 the quality of the person, or the time of his de- 

 cease. There only are to be seen some irregular 

 figures on the coffin ; one of which represents a 

 kind of star. There were also some singular cha- 

 racters upon the bandages, which were totally de- 

 faced by those who had torn them away. How- 

 ever, it should seem that it had remained for 

 several ages in this state, since the first years im- 



