Strona 938 z 1118

These things were not confined to the city; the frenzy was

propagated equally with the contagion. The traveller encountered

off the high road, the stranger whose habits or appearance were

in any respect singular, were judged to be poisoners. At the

first intelligence of a new comer, at the cry even of a child,

the alarm bell was rung; and the unfortunate persons were

assailed with showers of stones, or seized and conducted to

prison. And thus the prison itself was, during a certain period,

a place of safety.

Meanwhile, the council of ten, not silenced by the refusal of the

wise prelate, again urged their request for the procession, which

the people seconded by their clamours. The cardinal again

resisted, but finding resistance useless, he finally yielded; he

did more, he consented that the case which enclosed the relics of

San Carlos should be exposed for eight days on the high altar of

the cathedral.