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chief； then it began to be whispered that the young girl； having had
conscientious scruples about her love for Urbain； he had allayed them
by an act of sacrilegethat is to say； he had； as priest； in the
middle of the night； performed the service of marriage between
himself and his mistress。 The more absurd the reports； the more
credence did they gain； and it was not long till everyone in Loudun
believed them true； although no one was able to name the mysterious
heroine of the tale who had had the courage to contract a marriage
with a priest； and considering how small Loudun was； this was most
extraordinary。
Resolute and full of courage as was Grandier； at length he could not
conceal from himself that his path lay over quicksands： he felt that
slander was secretly closing him round； and that as soon as he was
well entangled in her shiny folds； she would reveal herself by
raising her abhorred head； and that then a mortal combat between them
would begin。 But it was one of his convictions that to draw back was
to acknowledge one's guilt； besides； as far as he was concerned； it
was probably too late for him to retrace his steps。 He therefore
went on his way； as unyielding； as scornful； and as haughty as ever。
Among those who were supposed to be most active in spreading the
slanders relative to Urbain was a man called Duthibaut； a person of
importance in the province； who was supposed by the townspeople to
hold very advanced views； and who was a 〃Sir Oracle〃 to whom the
commonplace and vulgar turned for enlightenment。 Some of this man's
strictures on Grandier were reported to the latter； especially some
calumnies to which Duthibaut had given vent at the Marquis de
Bellay's； and one day； Grandier； arrayed in priestly garments； was
about to enter the church of Sainte…Croix to assist in the service；
he encountered Duthibaut at the entrance； and with his usual haughty
disdain accused him of slander。 Duthibaut； who had got into the
habit of saying and doing whatever came into his head without fear of
being called to account； partly because of his wealth and partly
because of the influence he had gained over the narrow…minded； who
are so numerous in a small provincial town； and who regarded him as
being much above them； was so furious at this public reprimand； that
he raised his cane and struck Urbain。
The opportunity which this affront afforded Grandier of being
revenged on all his enemies was too precious to be neglected； but；
convinced； with too much reason； that he would never obtain justice
from the local authorities； although the respect due to the Church
had been infringed； in his person he decided to appeal to King Louis
XIII； who deigned to receive him； and deciding that the insult
offered to a priest robed in the sacred vestments should be expiated；
sent the cause to the high court of Parliament； with instructions
that the case against Duthibaut should be tried and decided there。
Hereupon Urbain's enemies saw they had no time to lose； and took
advantage of his absence to make counter accusations against him。
Two worthies beings； named Cherbonneau and Bugrau； agreed to become
informers； and were brought before the ecclesiastical magistrate at
Poitiers。 They accused Grandier of having corrupted women and girls；
of indulging in blasphemy and profanity； of neglecting to read his
breviary daily； and of turning God's sanctuary into a place of
debauchery and prostitution。 The information was taken down； and
Louis Chauvet； the civil lieutenant； and the archpriest of Saint…
Marcel and the Loudenois； were appointed to investigate the matter；
so that； while Urbain was instituting proceedings against Duthibaut
in Paris； information was laid against himself in Loudun。 This
matter thus set going was pushed forward with all the acrimony so
common in religious prosecutions； Trinquant appeared as a witness；
and drew many others after him； and whatever omissions were found in
the depositions were interpolated according to the needs of the
prosecution。 The result was that the case when fully got up appeared
to be so serious that it was sent to the Bishop of Poitiers for
trial。 Now the bishop was not only surrounded by the friends of
those who were bringing the accusations against Grandier； but had
himself a grudge against him。 It had happened some time before that
Urbain； the case being urgent； had dispensed with the usual notice of
a marriage； and the bishop； knowing this； found in the papers laid
before him； superficial as they were； sufficient evidence against
Urbain to justify him in issuing a warrant for his apprehension；
which was drawn up in the following words：
〃Henri…Louis； Chataignier de la Rochepezai； by divine mercy Bishop of
Poitiers； in view of the charges and informations conveyed to us by
the archpriest of Loudun against Urbain Grandier； priest…in…charge of
the Church of Saint…Pierre in the Market…Place at Loudun； in virtue
of a commission appointed by us directed to the said archpriest； or
in his absence to the Prior of Chassaignes； in view also of the
opinion given by our attorney upon the said charges； have ordered and
do hereby order that Urbain Grandier； the accused； be quietly taken
to the prison in our palace in Poitiers； if it so be that he be taken
and apprehended； and if not； that he be summoned to appear at his
domicile within three days； by the first apparitor…priest； or
tonsured clerk； and also by the first royal sergeant； upon this
warrant； and we request the aid of the secular authorities； and to
them； or to any one of them； we hereby give power and authority to
carry out this decree notwithstanding any opposition or appeal； and
the said Grandier having been heard； such a decision will be given by
our attorney as the facts may seem to warrant。
〃Given at Dissay the 22nd day of October 1629； and signed in the
original as follows：
〃HENRI…LOUIS； Bishop of Poitiers。〃
Grandier was； as we have said； at Paris when these proceedings were
taken against him； conducting before the Parliament his case against
Duthibaut。 The latter received a copy of the decision arrived at by
the bishop； before Grandier knew of the charges that had been
formulated against him； and having in the course of his defence drawn
a terrible picture of the immorality of Grandier's life； he produced
as a proof of the truth of his assertions the damning document which
had been put into his hands。 The court； not knowing what to think of
the turn affairs had taken； decided that before considering the
accusations brought by Grandier； he must appear before his bishop to
clear himself of the charges； brought against himself。 Consequently
he left Paris at once； and arrived at Loudun； where he only stayed
long enough to learn what had happened in his absence； and then went
on to Poitiers in order to draw up his defence。 He had； however； no
sooner set foot in the place than he was arrested by a sheriff's
officer named Chatry； and confined in the prison of the episcopal
palace。
It was the middle of November； and the prison was at all times cold
and damp； yet no attention was paid to Grandier's request that he
should be transfer