Picard, Mathurin

Picard, Mathurin a French ecclesiastic who flourished in the early part of the 17th century, was curate of Mestil-Jourdain, in the diocese of Evreux. Picard is the author of a quaint book, which has become very rare, Le Fouet des Paillards, ou juste Punition des Voluptueux et Charnzels (Rlouen, 1623, 12mo). He incurred the same accusations as Urbain Grandier, and was doomed to the same penalty. His alleged crime was bewitching tie nuns of Saint-Louis of Louviers, and sundry acts of profanation and debauchery. As he was tried after his death, his body was exhumed and burned at Rouen, in execution of a judgment rendered August 21, 1647. See Frere, Bibliogr. Normande. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 40:48.