hands. But to this the bishop and
the commissioner would not consent, because they did not want to be
responsible for what might happen to him, neither would they expose the
authority of the Church to the wiles of the devils, who might have made
some pact on that point with Grandier. Then the exorcists, to the number
of eight, having commanded the devils to be silent and to cease their
tumult, ordered a brazier to be brought, and into this they threw the
pacts one by one, whereupon the convulsions returned with such awful
violence and confused cries, rising into frenzied shrieks, and
accompanied by such horrible contortions, that the scene might have been
taken for an orgy of witches, were it not for the sanctity of the place
and the character of those present, of whom Grandier, in outward seeming
at least, was the least amazed of any, although he had the most reason.
The devils continued their accusations, citing the places, the days, and
the hours of their intercourse with him; the first spell he cast on them,
his scandalous behaviour, his insensibility, his abjurations of God and
the faith. To all this he calmly returned that these accusations were
calumnies, and all the more unjust considering his profession; that he
renounced Satan and all his fiends, having neither knowledge nor
comprehension of them; that in spite of all he was a Christian, and what
was more, an anointed priest; that though he knew himself to be a sinful
man, yet his trust was in God and in His Christ; that he had never
indulged in such abominations, end that it would be impossible to furnish
any pertinent and convincing proof of his guilt.

"At this point no words could express what the senses perceived; eyes and
ears received an impression of being surrounded by furies such as had
never been gathered together before; and unless accustomed to such
ghastly scenes as those who sacrifice to demons, no one could keep his
mind free from astonishment and horror in the midst of such 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 watchwor