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a spectacle。 Grandier alone remained unchanged through it all；
seemingly insensible to the monstrous exhibitions； singing hymns to
the Lord with the rest of the people； as confident as if he were
guarded by legions of angels。 One of the demons cried out that
Beelzebub was standing between him and Pere Tranquille the Capuchin；
upon which Grandier said to the demon
〃'Obmutescas！' （Hold thy peace）。
〃Upon this the demon began to curse； and said that was their
watchword； but they could not hold their peace； because God was
infinitely powerful； and the powers of hell could not prevail against
Him。 Thereupon they all struggled to get at Grandier； threatening to
tear him limb from limb； to point out his marks； to strangle him
although he was their master； whereupon he seized a chance to say he
was neither their master nor their servant； and that it was
incredible that they should in the same breath acknowledge him for
their master and express a desire to strangle him： on hearing this；
the frenzy of the nuns reached its height； and they kicked their
slippers into his face。
〃'Just look！' said he； 'the shoes drop from the hoofs of their own
accord。'
〃At length； had it not been for the help and interposition of people
in the choir； the nuns in their frenzy would have taken the life of
the chief personage in this spectacle； so there was no choice but to
take him away from the church and the furies who threatened his life。
He was therefore brought back to prison about six o'clock in the
evening； and the rest of the day the exorcists were employed in
calming the poor sistersa task of no small difficulty。〃
Everyone did not regard the possessed sisters with the indulgent eye
of the author of the above narrative； and many saw in this terrible
exhibition of hysteria and convulsions an infamous and sacrilegious
orgy； at which revenge ran riot。 There was such difference of
opinion about it that it was considered necessary to publish the
following proclamation by means of placards on July 2nd：
〃All persons； of whatever rank or profession； are hereby expressly
forbidden to traduce； or in any way malign； the nuns and other
persons at Loudun possessed by evil spirits； or their exorcists； or
those who accompany them either to the places appointed for exorcism
or elsewhere； in any form or manner whatever； on pain of a fine of
ten thousand livres； or a larger sum and corporal punishment should
the case so require； and in order that no one may plead ignorance
hereof； this proclamation will be read and published to…day from the
pulpits of all the churches； and copies affixed to the church doors
and in other suitable public places。
〃 Done at Loudun； July 2nd； 1634。〃
This order had great influence with worldly folk； and from that
moment； whether their belief was strengthened or not； they no longer
dared to express any incredulity。 But in spite of that； the judges
were put to shame； for the nuns themselves began to repent； and on
the day following the impious scene above described； just as Pere
Lactanee began to exorcise Sister Claire in the castle chapel； she
rose； and turning towards the congregation； while tears ran down her
cheeks； said in a voice that could be heard by all present； that she
was going to speak the truth at last in the sight of Heaven。
Thereupon she confessed that all that she had said during the last
fortnight against Grandier was calumnious and false； and that all her
actions had been done at the instigation of the Franciscan Pere
Lactance； the director； Mignon； and the Carmelite brothers。 Pere
Lactance； not in the least taken aback； declared that her confession
was a fresh wile of the devil to save her master Grandier。 She then
made an urgent appeal to the bishop and to M。 de Laubardemont； asking
to be sequestered and placed in charge of other priests than those
who had destroyed her soul； by making her bear false witness against
an innocent man； but they only laughed at the pranks the devil was
playing； and ordered her to be at once taken back to the house in
which she was then living。 When she heard this order； she darted out
of the choir； trying to escape through the church door； imploring
those present to come to her assistance and save her from everlasting
damnation。 But such terrible fruit had the proclamation borne that
noon dared respond； so she was recaptured and taken back to the house
in which she was sequestered； never to leave it again。
CHAPTER X
The next day a still more extraordinary scene took place。 While M。
de Laubardemont was questioning one of the nuns； the superior came
down into the court； barefooted； in her chemise； and a cord round her
neck； and there she remained for two hours； in the midst of a fearful
storm； not shrinking before lightning； thunder； or rain； but waiting
till M。 de Laubardemont and the other exorcists should come out。 At
length the door opened and the royal commissioner appeared； whereupon
Sister Jeanne des Anges； throwing herself at his feet； declared she
had not sufficient strength to play the horrible part they had made
her learn any longer； and that before God and man she declared Urbain
Grandier innocent； saying that all the hatred which she and her
companions had felt against him arose from the baffled desires which
his comeliness awokedesires which the seclusion of conventional
life made still more ardent。 M。 de Laubardemont threatened her with
the full weight of his displeasure； but she answered； weeping
bitterly； that all she now dreaded was her sin； for though the mercy
of the Saviour was great； she felt that the crime she had committed
could never be pardoned。 M。 de Laubardemont exclaimed that it was
the demon who dwelt in her who was speaking； but she replied that the
only demon by whom she had even been possessed was the spirit of
vengeance； and that it was indulgence in her own evil thoughts； and
not a pact with the devil； which had admitted him into her heart。
With these words she withdrew slowly； still weeping； and going into
the garden； attached one end of the cord round her neck to the branch
of a tree； and hanged herself。 But some of the sisters who had
followed her cut her down before life was extinct。
The same day an order for her strict seclusion was issued for her as
for Sister Claire； and the circumstances that she was a relation of
M。 de Laubardemont did not avail to lessen her punishment in view of
the gravity of her fault。
It was impossible to continue the exorcisms other nuns might be
tempted to follow the example； of the superior and Sister Claire； and
in that case all would be lost。 And besides； was not Urbain Grandier
well and duly convicted？ It was announced； therefore； that the
examination had proceeded far enough； and that the judges would
consider the evidence and deliver judgment。
This long succession of violent and irregular breaches of law
procedure； the repeated denials of his claim to justice； the refusal
to let his witnesses appear； or to listen to his defence； all
combined to convince Grandier that his ruin was determined on； for
the case had gone so far and had attained such publicity that it was
n