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the case had gone so far and had attained such publicity that it was
necessary either to punish him as a sorcerer and magician or to
render a royal commissioner； a bishop； an entire community of nuns；
several monks of various orders； many judges of high reputation； and
laymen of birth and standing； liable to the penalties incurred by
calumniators。 But although； as this conviction grew； he confronted
it with resignation； his courage did not fail；and holding it to be
his duty as a man and a Christian to defend his life and honour to
the end； he drew up and published another memorandum； headed Reasons
for Acquittal； and had copies laid before his judges。 It was a
weighty and； impartial summing up of the whole case； such as a
stranger might have written； and began； with these words。
〃I entreat you in all humility to consider deliberately and with
attention what the Psalmist says in Psalm 82； where he exhorts judges
to fulfil their charge with absolute rectitude； they being themselves
mere mortals who will one day have to appear before God； the
sovereign judge of the universe； to give an account of their
administration。 The Lord's Anointed speaks to you to…day who are
sitting in judgment； and says
〃'God standeth in the congregation of the mighty： He judgeth among
the gods。
〃'How long will ye judge unjustly； and accept the persons of the
wicked？
〃'Defend the poor and fatherless： do justice to the afflicted and
needy。
〃'Deliver the poor and needy： rid them out of the hand of the wicked。
〃'I have said； Ye are gods； and all of you are children of the Most
High。
〃'But ye shall die like men； and fall like one of the princes。'〃
But this appeal； although convincing and dignified； had no influence
upon the commission； and on the 18th of August the following verdict
and sentence was pronounced：
〃We have declared； and do hereby declare； Urbain Grandier duly
accused and convicted of the crimes of magic and witchcraft； and of
causing the persons of certain Ursuline nuns of this town and of
other females to become possessed of evil spirits； wherefrom other
crimes and offences have resulted。 By way of reparation therefor； we
have sentenced； and do hereby sentence； the said Grandier to make
public apology； bareheaded； with a cord around his neck； holding a
lighted torch of two pounds weight in his hand； before the west door
of the church of Saint…Pierre in the Market Place and beforethat of
Sainte…Ursule； both of this town； and there on bended knee to ask
pardon of God and the king and the law； and this done； to be taken to
the public square of Sainte…Croix and there to be attached to a
stake； set in the midst of a pile of wood； both of which to be
prepared there for this purpose； and to be burnt alive； along with
the pacts and spells which remain in the hands of the clerk and the
manuscript of the book written by the said Grandier against a
celibate priesthood； and his ashes； to be scattered to the four winds
of heaven。 And we have declared； and do hereby declare； all and
every part of his property confiscate to the king； the sum of one
hundred and fifty livres being first taken therefrom to be employed
in the purchase of a copper plate whereon the substance of the
present decree shall be engraved； the same to be exposed in a
conspicuous place in the said church of Sainte…Ursule； there to
remain in perpetuity； and before this sentence is carried out； we
order the said Grandier to be put to the question ordinary and
extraordinary； so that his accomplices may become known。
〃Pronounced at Loudun against the said Grandier this 18th day of
August 1634。〃
On the morning of the day on which this sentence was passed； M。 de
Laubardemont ordered the surgeon Francois Fourneau to be arrested at
his own house and taken to Grandier's cell； although he was ready to
go there of his own free will。 In passing through the adjoining room
he heard the voice of the accused saying：
〃What do you want with me； wretched executioner？ Have you come to
kill me？ You know how cruelly you have already tortured my body。
Well I am ready to die。〃
On entering the room； Fourneau saw that these words had been
addressed to the surgeon Mannouri。
One of the officers of the 'grand privot de l'hotel'； to whom M。 de
Laubardemont lent for the occasion the title of officer of the king's
guard； ordered the new arrival to shave Grandier； and not leave a
single hair on his whole body。 This was a formality employed in
cases of witchcraft； so that the devil should have no place to hide
in； for it was the common belief that if a single hair were left； the
devil could render the accused insensible to the pains of torture。
》From this Urbain understood that the verdict had gone against him and
that he was condemned to death。
Fourneau having saluted Grandier； proceeded to carry out his orders；
whereupon a judge said it was not sufficient to shave the body of the
prisoner； but that his nails must also be torn out； lest the devil
should hide beneath them。 Grandier looked at the speaker with an
expression of unutterable pity； and held out his hands to Fourneau；
but Forneau put them gently aside； and said he would do nothing of
the kind； even were the order given by the cardinal…duke himself； and
at the same time begged Grandier's pardon for shaving him。 At； these
words Grandier； who had for so long met with nothing but barbarous
treatment from those with whom he came in contact； turned towards the
surgeon with tears in his eyes； saying
〃So you are the only one who has any pity for me。〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 replied F6urneau； 〃you don't see everybody。〃
Grandier was then shaved； but only two marks found on him； one as we
have said on the shoulder blade； and the other on the thigh。 Both
marks were very sensitive； the wounds which Mannouri had made not
having yet healed。 This point having been certified by Fourneau；
Grandier was handed； not his own clothes； but some wretched garments
which had probably belonged to some other condemned man。
Then； although his sentence had been pronounced at the Carmelite
convent； he was taken by the grand provost's officer； with two of his
archers； accompanied by the provosts of Loudun and Chinon； to the
town hall； where several ladies of quality； among them Madame de
Laubardemont； led by curiosity； were sitting beside the judges；
waiting to hear the sentence read。 M。 de Laubardemont was in the
seat usually occupied by the clerk； and the clerk was standing before
him。 All the approaches were lined with soldiers。
Before the accused was brought in； Pere Lactance and another
Franciscan who had come with him exorcised him to oblige the devils
to leave him； then entering the judgment hall； they exorcised the
earth； the air； 〃and the other elements。〃 Not till that was done was
Grandier led in。
At first he was kept at the far end of the hall； to allow time for
the exorcisms to have their full effect； then he was brought forward
to the bar and ordered to kneel down。 Grandier obeyed； but could
remove neither his hat nor his skull…cap； as his hands were bound
behind his back； whereupon the clerk seized on the one and the
provos