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suburb at the house of one maitre Paul Aubin； king's usher； and son…
in…law of Memin de Silly。 His arrival was kept so secret that
neither Grandier nor his friends knew of it； but Memin； Herve Menuau；
and Mignon were notified； and immediately called on him。 De
Laubardemont received them； commission in hand； but broad as it was；
it did not seem to them sufficient； for it contained no order for
Grandier's arrest； and Grandier might fly。 De Laubardemont； smiling
at the idea that he could be so much in fault； drew from his pocket
an order in duplicate； in case one copy should be lost； dated like
the commission； November 30th； signed LOUIS； and countersigned
PHILIPPEAUX。 It was conceived in the following terms：
LOUIS； etc。 etc。
〃We have entrusted these presents to Sieur de Laubardemont； Privy
Councillor； to empower the said Sieur de Laubardemont to arrest
Grandier and his accomplices and imprison them in a secure place；
with orders to all provosts； marshals； and other officers； and to all
our subjects in general； to lend whatever assistance is necessary to
carry out above order； and they are commanded by these presents to
obey all orders given by the said Sieur； and all governors and
lieutenants…general are also hereby commanded to furnish the said
Sieur with whatever aid he may require at their hands。〃
This document being the completion of the other； it was immediately
resolved； in order to show that they had the royal authority at their
back； and as a preventive measure； to arrest Grandier at once；
without any preliminary investigation。 They hoped by this step to
intimidate any official who might still be inclined to take
Grandier's part； and any witness who might be disposed to testify in
his favour。 Accordingly； they immediately sent for Guillaume Aubin；
Sieur de Lagrange arid provost's lieutenant。 De Laubardemont
communicated to him the commission of the cardinal and the order of
the king； and requested him to arrest Grandier early next morning。
M。 de Lagrange could not deny the two signatures； and answered that
he would obey； but as he foresaw from their manner of going to work
that the proceedings about to be instituted would be an assassination
and not a fair trial； he sent； in spite of being a distant connection
of Memin； whose daughter was married to his （Lagrange's） brother； to
warn Grandier of the orders he had received。 But Grandier with his
usual intrepidity； while thanking Lagrange for his generous message；
sent back word that； secure in his innocence and relying on the
justice of God； he was determined to stand his ground。
So Grandier remained； and his brother； who slept beside him； declared
that his sleep that night was as quiet as usual。 The next morning he
rose； as was his habit； at six o'clock； took his breviary in his
hand； and went out with the intention of attending matins at the
church of Sainte…Croix。 He had hardly put his foot over the
threshold before Lagrange； in the presence of Memin； Mignon； and the
other conspirators； who had come out to gloat over the sight；
arrested him in the name of the king。 He was at once placed in the
custody of Jean Pouguet； an archer in His Majesty's guards； and of
the archers of the provosts of Loudun and Chinon； to be taken to the
castle at Angers。 Meanwhile a search was instituted； and the royal
seal affixed to the doors of his apartments； to his presses； his
other articles of furniture…in fact； to every thing and place in the
house； but nothing was found that tended to compromise him； except an
essay against the celibacy of priests； and two sheets of paper
whereon were written in another hand than his； some love…poems in the
taste of that time。
CHAPTER IX
For four months Grandier languished in prison； and； according to the
report of Michelon； commandant of Angers； and of Pierre Bacher； his
confessor； he was； during the whole period； a model of patience and
firmness； passing his days in reading good books or in writing
prayers and meditations； which were afterwards produced at his trial。
Meanwhile； in spite of the urgent appeals of Jeanne Esteye； mother of
the accused； who； although seventy years of age； seemed to recover
her youthful strength and activity in the desire to save her son；
Laubardemont continued the examination； which was finished on April
4th。 Urbain was then brought back from Angers to Loudun。
An extraordinary cell had been prepared for him in a house belonging
to Mignon； and which had formerly been occupied by a sergeant named
Bontems； once clerk to Trinquant； who had been a witness for the
prosecution in the first trial。 It was on the topmost story； the
windows had been walled up； leaving only one small slit open； and
even this opening was secured by enormous iron bars； and by an
exaggeration of caution the mouth of the fireplace was furnished with
a grating； lest the devils should arrive through the chimney to free
the sorcerer from his chains。 Furthermore； two holes in the corners
of the room； so formed that they were unnoticeable from within；
allowed a constant watch to be kept over Grandier's movements by
Bontem's wife； a precaution by which they hoped to learn something
that would help them in the coming exorcisms。 In this room； lying on
a little straw； and almost without light； Grandier wrote the
following letter to his mother：
〃MY MOTHER；I received your letter and everything you sent me except
the woollen stockings。 I endure any affliction with patience； and
feel more pity for you than for myself。 I am very much
inconvenienced for want of a bed； try and have mine brought to me；
for my mind will give way if my body has no rest： if you can； send me
a breviary； a Bible； and a St。 Thomas for my consolation； and above
all； do not grieve for me。 I trust that； God will bring my innocence
to light。 Commend me to my brother and sister； and all our good
friends。I am； mother； your dutiful son and servant；
〃GRANDIER〃
While Grandier had been in prison at Angers the cases of possession
at the convent had miraculously multiplied； for it was no longer only
the superior and Sister Claire who had fallen a prey to the evil
spirits； but also several other sisters； who were divided into three
groups as follows； and separated：
The superior； with Sisters Louise des Anges and Anne de Sainte…Agnes；
were sent to the house of Sieur Delaville； advocate； legal adviser to
the sisterhood； Sisters Claire and Catherine de la Presentation were
placed in the house of Canon Maurat； Sisters Elisabeth de la Croix；
Monique de Sainte…Marthe； Jeanne du Sainte…Esprit； and Seraphique
Archer were in a third house。
A general supervision was undertaken by Memin's sister； the wife of
Moussant； who was thus closely connected with two of the greatest
enemies of the accused； and to her Bontems' wife told all that the
superior needed to know about Grandier。 Such was the manner of the
sequestration！
The choice of physicians was no less extraordinary。 Instead of
calling in the most skilled practitioners of Angers； Tours； Poitiers；
or Saumur； all of them； except Daniel Roger of Loudun； came from the
surrounding villages； and were men of no ed