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his enemies； whereas in fact not only had he had no communication
with them； but had never set eyes on them； that in order to prove
that they acted under influence it was absolutely necessary that they
should be sequestered； it being most unjust that Mignon and Barre；
his mortal enemies； should have constant access to them and be able
to stay with them night and day； their doing so making the collusion
evident and undeniable； that the honour of God was involved； and also
that of the petitioner； who had some right to be respected； seeing
that he was first in rank among the ecclesiastics of the town。
Taking all this into consideration； he consequently prayed the
bailiff to be pleased to order that the nuns buffering from the so…
called possession should at once be separated from each other and
from their present associates； and placed under the control of
clerics assisted by physicians in whose impartiality the petitioner
could have confidence； and he further prayed that all this should be
performed in spite of any opposition or appeal whatsoever （but
without prejudice to the right of appeal）； because of the importance
of the matter。 And in case the bailiff were not pleased to order the
sequestration； the petitioner would enter a protest and complaint
against his refusal as a withholding of justice。
The bailiff wrote at the bottom of the petition that it would be at
once complied with。
After Urbain Grandier had departed； the physicians who had been
present at the exorcisms presented themselves before the bailiff；
bringing their report with them。 In this report they said that they
had recognised convulsive movements of the mother superior's body；
but that one visit was not sufficient to enable them to make a
thorough diagnosis； as the movements above mentioned might arise as
well from a natural as from supernatural causes； they therefore
desired to be afforded opportunity for a thorough examination before
being called on to pronounce an opinion。 To this end they required
permission to spend several days and nights uninterruptedly in the
same room with the patients； and to treat them in the presence of
other nuns and some of the magistrates。 Further； they required that
all the food and medicine should pass through the doctors' hands； and
that no one； should touch the patients except quite openly； or speak
to them except in an audible voice。 Under these conditions they
would undertake to find out the true cause of the convulsions and to
make a report of the same。
It being now nine o'clock in the morning； the hour when the exorcisms
began； the bailiff went over at once to the convent； and found Barre
half way through the mass； and the superior in convulsions。 The
magistrate entered the church at the moment of the elevation of the
Host； and noticed among the kneeling Catholics a young man called
Dessentier standing up with his hat on。 He ordered him either to
uncover or to go away。 At this the convulsive movements of the
superior became more violent； and she cried out that there were
Huguenots in the church； which gave the demon great power over her。
Barre asked her how many there were present； and she replied； 〃Two；〃
thus proving that the devil was no stronger in arithmetic than in
Latin； for besides Dessentier； Councillor Abraham Gauthier； one of
his brothers； four of his sisters； Rene Fourneau； a deputy； and an
attorney called Angevin； all of the Reformed faith； were present。
As Barre saw that those present were greatly struck； by this
numerical inaccuracy； he tried to turn their thoughts in another
direction by asking the superior if it were true that she knew no
Latin。 On her replying that she did not know a single word； he held
the pyx before her and ordered her to swear by the holy sacrament。
She resisted at first； saying loud enough for those around her to
hear
〃My father； you make me take such solemn oaths that I fear God will
punish me。〃
To this Barre replied
〃My daughter； you must swear for the glory of God。〃
And she took the oath。
Just then one of the bystanders remarked that the mother superior was
in the habit of interpreting the Catechism to her scholars。 This she
denied； but acknowledged that she used to translate the Paternoster
and the Creed for them。 As the superior felt herself becoming
somewhat confused at this long series of embarrassing questions； she
decided on going into convulsions again； but with only moderate
success； for the bailiff insisted that the exorcists should ask her
where Grandier was at that very moment。 Now； as the ritual teaches
that one of the proofs of possession is the faculty of telling； when
asked； where people are； without seeing them； and as the question was
propounded in the prescribed terms； she was bound to answer； so she
said that Grandier was in the great hall of the castle。
〃That is not correct；〃 said the bailiff； 〃for before coming here I
pointed out a house to Grandier and asked him to stay in it till I
came back。 If anybody will go there； they will be sure to find him；
for he wished to help me to discover the truth without my being
obliged to resort to sequestration； which is a difficult measure to
take with regard to nuns。〃
Barre was now ordered to send some of the monks present to the
castle； accompanied by a magistrate and a clerk。 Barre chose the
Carmelite prior； and the bailiff Charles Chauvet； assessor of the
bailiwick； Ismael Boulieau a priest； and Pierre Thibaut； an articled
clerk； who all set out at once to execute their commission； while the
rest of those present were to await their return。
Meanwhile the superior； who had not spoken a word since the bailiff's
declaration； remained； in spite of repeated exorcisms； dumb； so Barre
sent for Sister Claire； saying that one devil would encourage the
other。 The bailiff entered a formal protest against this step；
insisting that the only result of a double exorcism would be to cause
confusion； during which suggestions might be conveyed to the
superior； and that the proper thing to do was； before beginning new
conjurations； to await the return of the messengers。 Although the
bailiff's suggestion was most reasonable； Barre knew better than to
adopt it； for he felt that no matter what it cost he must either get
rid of the bailiff and all the other officials who shared his doubts；
or find means with the help of Sister Claire to delude them into
belief。 The lay sister was therefore brought in； in spite of the
opposition of the bailiff and the other magistrates； and as they did
not wish to seem to countenance a fraud； they all withdrew； declaring
that they could no longer look on at such a disgusting comedy。 In
the courtyard they met their messengers returning； who told them they
had gone first to the castle and had searched the great hall and all
the other rooms without seeing anything of Grandier； they had then
gone to the house mentioned by the bailiff； where they found him for
whom they were looking； in the company of Pere Veret； the confessor
of the nuns； Mathurin Rousseau； and Nicolas Benoit； canons； and
Conte； a doctor； from whom they learned that Grandier had not been an
insta