The triple execution of brothers Grenier 1762
Michel Begon May 2007
At the time of Napoleon Peyrat Bordes-sur-Arize rehabilitated all the Cathars and the pastors of the desert, for reach the vast audience that we know today, at least for the Cathars, the pastor of Onesimus GRENIER-Fajal clung on to him to publish the tragic story of the preacher ROCHETTE and three brothers ATTIC. In 1886 he was editing his book at Montauban on "François Rochette and three brothers Grenier, after have written two previous books, one from 1877 of Charles de BOURDIN, pastor of the Mas d'Azil, and the other in 1883 of two brothers LABORDE, Mas d'Azil convicts for their faith in the galleys of Toulon. These books are not republished become rare. It does not seem that historians today, in recounting the case of Caussade, will be referred to the collection, so informed, Onesimus of LOFT. Yet that is what we will do.
GRENIER-Fajal of Onesimus was born in 1839 in Mane (Ariege), a site of ancient glass of the seventeenth century, the limits of Commons Aigues-Junta and La Bastide de Sérou, so near the ruined castle of Serre Cor, on a wooded ridge Plantaurel. He was pastor at Caussade (Tarn-et-Garonne) to the beginning of the Third Republic. He was the brother of Nathaniel GRENIER-Fajal, Comrade Pastor, near Mas d'Azil, whose descendants include Bordreuil our cousins. A Caussade Onesimus found alive the memory of the four martyrs of 1762 and collected the documents still exist save for their forgetfulness.
Indeed this tragic episode was, by its impact, a decisive moment in History LIGHTS, France and perhaps even Europe. It is from this political and ideological aspect that we consider it as clearly today as contemporaries gave rather in compassion.
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Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in 1685 gave rise against the Protestants hate not only comparable to later decimate the Jews but most atrocious persecution, including the gentlemen who knocked-glass of Ariège in the wake of cults Desert in 1697, 1735 and 1744 \\ 45. It is true that the reformers were not alone in facing repression, but the Jansenists, the libertines, later the Jesuits themselves or philosophers advocating criticism and tolerance. In 1734, Voltaire published in French and English his famous "Philosophical Letters," which were torn and burned publicly in Paris for having praised the British Protestants and demonstrated that if the UK now outweighs the France It was thanks to his strong attachment to the Reformation. He had time to hide Police in a secret location and desert.
Voltaire is now considered the first historian who is truly a man of science. The correctness of his judgments and his predictions do not fail to amaze, even after more than two centuries. For his "Philosophical Letters", he inspired a lot of Pierre Bayle, philosopher and son of a Protestant pastor of Carla-le-Comte (former name), the nearby village of Mas d'Azil, whose influence gave rise to intellectual and moral Already throughout Europe, the enlightenment movement. Both the continuity of philosophical Encyclopedia the Reformation is it fairly obvious, not least by the characters of Pierre Bayle, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Daniel Jaucourt, the editor of the Encyclopedia, all three are reformed and hyphens .
tyrannical In this context, Octave-ATTIC ATTIC SARRAT and Augustine gave birth to 6 children at the site of the glassworks Mauvezin the middle of forests between Comrade Mérigon and on the flanks of the massif Cabanères, 15 km from Mas d'Azil and near the glass of Scotch Volvestre. Besides, what is now called Mauvezin hamlet of Sainte-Croix Ariege, to distinguish three other Mauvezin belonging to other departments in the southwest.
Of the 6 children of the couple is best known three brothers: Henry-COMMELLE GRENIER, born in 1717, John GRENIER-SARRANDON, born in 1730, and Joachim-Lourmade GRENIER, born in 1740. Their parents, who married in the Desert, were considered by the Church as domestic partners, but the three brothers were brought to the priest Lavielle, rector of the parish of Comrade Merigon Montfa and, to be entered on the register of baptisms Catholic and have a civil existence. Indeed, the Protestants have their own vital statistics between 1787 and 1792.
Onesimus de Grenier, whose brother was a pastor at Lézer Commune, Comrade, Lavielle has solved the three names in the register of the church, which seems to disprove the legend giving rise to the three martyrs Gabre, is the hamlet of Lastermes, either at the farm of Lèze. Like what the honor of the martyrs is hotly contested among Protestants than among Catholics! It is true that one of their sisters will end his days, it seems, the Gabra land, this farm in Lèze they pointed me in my childhood as a sacred place. The site is now under the waters of Lake Mondely.
The three gentlemen, besides their craft glass, usually used to escort illegal pastors, taught the Bible to children, were the stewards of the Desert to religion and even act as champions. In 1759, a feat the first made known, during a meeting with the king's men, at a place called Roquebrune, at the southern entrance of the cave of Mas d'Azil. It is a confrontation with GUDANES, Marquis de Chateau-Verdun, ironmaster Vicdessos and governor in the county of Foix. Here's how the case relates Napoleon Peyrat, in his romantic or romantic:
"The Marquis de GUDANES, that tradition is a kind of fierce centaur galloping still on the mountains after the Assemblies fugitive, was a old and loyal soldier who, by a feudal feeling absolutely devoid of fanaticism, rudely executed the orders of the King, which he still sometimes mitigating the rigor of the processes by generous and very paternal. But the people who could foresee that through their terror the great lord, he keep in their accounts of the apparent ferocity of its official language. He soon reached an adventure that was for him the subject of a double mortification ...
One evening, after having preached to his flock in the wilderness of the Autane, Rev. Louis was returning escorted FIGUIERE by [the brothers ATTIC] to the Mas d'Azil he met near the Marquis de Roquebrune GUDANES, head of a detachment of militia and constabulary ... At the unexpected sight of the commander and his archers, men were preparing to flee, but the women indignant their cowardice, seized by the collar of their brothers and husbands, and kept them in combat. To give an example, they fill their aprons with stones, glass gentlemen draw their sword and lead the enemy hardy gangs, armed only with sticks, at whose head juts chanting the belligerent pastor Figueres. The Marquis, abandoned by his militia, was beaten and forced to flee with the speed of his horse in the direction of Foix. FIGUIERE retired through unfrequented paths, the forests around Gabre, but people came in triumph at the Mas d'Azil, which was preceded the news of their victory. " (History of the Pastors of the Desert)
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However, the three brothers came in 1759 ATTIC practice their profession with high glass-Serre forest Grésigne (Tarn -et-Garonne). The passages between the County of Foix glass or Volvestre and those of Quercy or Black Mountain were then common rule. However, here as elsewhere ovens deeds hoping that the winter and summer, he had to survive when there was no land to cultivate. That's why John GRENIER-SARRADON became musician Used in Saint-Antonin order to "earn his bread," but he was arrested as a stranger and stranger by the archers of Caylus. Noble was also a showman, "that was a mess! He was released quickly.
On site, the three brothers began serving the pastor of the Reformed Churches of Quercy and Agen, François Rochette, Cevennes sent by the seminar in Lausanne. At this time the reformers themselves were less vigilant, because they knew the King Louis XV less unfavorable to their cause than forty years earlier. Indeed, the Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of the monarch, and the Minister Etienne CHOISEUL openly protected the philosophers, especially the Encyclopaedia and the king himself had recourse to the bank Protestant Geneva to fund the cash apparatus State. The Manufacture of Ice Saint-Gobain, which equipped the palace of Versailles, was even in the Swiss capital controls. Reports of money with Geneva were so close that mock the Swiss Reformed, as did recklessly Jean d'Alembert in his famous article "Geneva" in the Encyclopedia, was a diplomatic incident In any case, a pattern of scandal. But deep in the Languedoc, could they understand the reason or reasons of state government money Versailles? In short, the pastor ROCHETTE sent by Lausanne, devoted himself assiduously to the spiritual needs of its 25 parishes in the Quercy and the Agen; he presided at worship in homes rather than desert of prayer and moved from one to another without too much to hide.
But they did not count with the persistent hostility of the clergy and court officials, worried about losing their authority, privileges, tithing, their profits and "spices" (we would say their pots of wine), if the Huguenots were returning to court. In fact, this is what will happen, but only 25 years later, between 1787 and 1789.
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September 13, 1761, who presided over the worship Bioule near Nègrepelisse, Pastor Francis Rochette, who was only 26 years, goes Caussade in for a baptism. Just by chance, we stop at night, taking him for a looter. When questioned, he can not lie and admits to being pastor desert. In his luggage, found his robe, his band, his square cap, sermons, registers of baptisms and marriages, the state accounting collections gathered to worship and the mandate issued clearance by Pastor Anthony SHORT Lausanne. Then the rush events, in a series of consequences that were a priori improbable.
It seems from what he himself wrote that the priest was denied Caussade administer baptism to the infant and that he has felt some frustration. He alerted the municipality a possible gathering of reformers, which coincided with the great Farmers Market Caussade set precisely to 14 September. councilors take their fears seriously, sounding the alarm and rameutent Catholics, inviting them may be to designate a trademark white hat, as on St. Barts. But the latter is doubtful, because the militias have a small town half Protestant. Upon opening the market, some impatient molest the Huguenots known then that they display their wares for sale. The rumor, screams and fear of disorder. It leaks everywhere. The mayor decided to postpone the market next week. As a precaution, he quit a few other notable Protestants. But feeling overwhelmed by it causes fights, the municipality request us to do sound the alarm as the surroundings, Septfonds, in Caylus, Saint-Antonin, Montpezat to Réalville. The panic soon spread to the country, without people understand what is happening. Already he does is nothing more to see when the next September 15, militias are converging everywhere, even in Montauban, to Caussade.
The three brothers came running ATTIC also help, either by reinforcing their co-religionists, or maybe to frame the cult planned on 15 September. They carry a sword and two shotguns. The nobles have the right to bear arms. But they will not reach Caussade. A patrol of militiamen seen in open country, put them to flight, because they are the most numerous, and embarked on their heels with attack dogs to catch them. Dogs spin faster than the three glass, pounce on them and bite them until they bled. Patrol catches up near Réalville (5 miles Caussade), the beats and imprisons them. They are living proof of the supposed insurrection Protestant! On 16 September, authorities Caussade release most prisoners, except eleven of them, including the gentlemen glassmakers, who are transferred in Cahors, in the custody of six brigades of gendarmerie marching drum. September 17, the municipality of Caussade posting to people that the Protestant party has set fire to the city. Peasants Catholic occur in arms, on which the guards are fired by mistake. Such an incompetent and such a panic merely a prelude to the "Great Fear" in 1789 and was the "White Terror" of 1815.
In reality these events Caussade, historians show shared. Previously, some authors took up the position of the insurrection planned. But controlled by whom? Janine Garrison (in his "Case CALAS) admits a spontaneous uproar at the gates of the prison, at the market, September 14 morning. But neither ROCHETTE already imprisoned, nor brothers ATTIC, which are currently in Montauban, can not be held responsible, even if such office of the prison has taken place. GRENIER-Fajal of Onesimus, who spent 20 years collecting evidence, concludes a rather irrational panic, that the priest would Caussade inadvertently caused the authorities of the city, claiming a likelihood insurgency. In fact, the written account that provides facts priest invokes several pitched battles with gunfire and death of men. However, considerations on the facts found dependent by the Parliament of Toulouse make no mention, as they detail the menu found on ROCHETTE papers. If there had been bloody street fighting, but the Court would not she fired her best argument? Moreover, the priest himself and others pride themselves Catholics than Protestants to City and town militia, commanded by a Protestant, remained faithful to the consuls of the city to repel the assailant. It is incredible that in 1761 the Protestants of the city have fought the reformers campaigns! The idea is it that justify the cure for self Caussade have imagined a peasant revolt, which the judicial investigation could not prove the reality then. Without doubt the rural revolts against the bourgeois they chanted the history of the Ancien Regime, from Jacqueries until the Vendée. And uplift Camisards Cevennes, which lasted from 1702 to 1704, he left it in the papers. But the reformers are rather Quercy urbanites and peasants of the region is in their mass remained Catholic. The conspiracy theory does not peasant.
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On October 24, 1761, eleven prisoners are transferred to prisons in the palace of Toulouse. Security is provided in the "pink city" with a massive deployment of troops, quite disproportionate to the case and whose enormous fees will be charged to the Protestants of Guyenne.
In fact, Protestants merely post written interventions or attempting to bribe judges and prison guards, which they know the extreme venality. Pastor Paul Rabaut de Nimes wrote to Mary Adelaide, daughter of Louis XV, but without having an answer. It also speaks to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, which refers, of course, a letter of sympathy, but by blaming, not to try, "a rebellion can not be justified and that the powers are still entitled to punish" . Misinformation has been the greatest! It is also true that Rousseau prepared at that time publishing The Hague's "Emile," which will be formally sentenced in June 1762 by the Parliament and the archbishop of Paris. He will not want too exposed to the blows of the political police, but he will avoid that still misses, while fleeing in haste, his arrest at Montmorency. A zealous Huguenot, named Ribot, is also addressed to Voltaire, which is for refugee at Ferney, near Gex (Ain), under the protection of moral and political pastors of Geneva. This reacts with two personal interventions to Marshal Richelieu, governor general of high and low Guyenne, moreover known for his corruptibility. The tone of banter passed by Voltaire in this tragic occasion should not mislead the modern reader: it's his way of hiding his emotions, to guard against the secret police, which puts its folds to the "darkroom" and especially to use the weapon of ridicule for striking interest.
"I want to leave a monument of human folly, starting with our war (the Seven Years War) and eventually MALAGRIDA (Jesuit burned by the Portuguese Inquisition in 1761 for" heresy ") is ... said that we should not hang the preacher Caussade, because that would be too much grilling of the Jesuits in Lisbon and hang evangelical pastors in France. I rely on that to your conscience. (October 25, 1761)
Apparently, Voltaire does not believe the lives of three gentlemen in danger, as they have done nothing wrong. He informs his approach Ribot:
"I wrote to Mr. Marshal Richelieu, as you wish, sir, I believe that if there never had any record, the The case can accommodate. It leaves the most honest freedom, but he does not want to be abused. I wish you the confessors and martyrs point, it is a very ridiculous way to go to heaven by a ladder. "
Maréchal de Richelieu, Voltaire knows, he responds daunting, but as he wrote to Ribot, the philosopher has still not lost hope:
" Marshal of RICHELIEU tells me, sir, he can do nothing for your minister and his adherents, as they are in the hands of the Parliament of Toulouse. I flatter myself to the clemency du Roy, where the case will be judged. You must not doubt, Sir, that is very indignant at the Court against the public meetings. It allows you to do everything in your houses that you like, it is honest. Jesus Christ said he would always be two or three are gathered together in his name, but when we're three or four miles, is the devil in it. I have every reason to hope that those who approach Her Majesty fortify his heart the feelings of humanity and kindness that are so natural. "(November 27, 1761)
However, for safety, it urges RICHELIEU:
"Let the preacher ROCHETTE hang or be given a monastery, it is quite indifferent to the prosperity of the kingdom of the Franks, but I the need for the parliament of [Toulouse] condemned to be hanged and that the king be gracious to him. Mankind will love this more and if it is you, Monseigneur, who receive this grace of the King, you'll be the idol of the Huguenots of scoundrels. It is always good to have all to themselves a party. "(November 27, 1761)
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When one reads the trial documents and related submissions, we realize that the Reformed and the judges did not see the matter the same look. For Protestants, it is a criminal case, but the elements of charge are non-existent, it is a miscarriage of justice, more or less voluntary, as is the case of Calas. But the magistrates of Toulouse, it is a political trial. Indeed, the documents taken from the pastor ROCHETTE them seem to prove the existence of a vast underground network, coordinated Lausanne, organized by the records of the ceremonies, funded by contributions from the public and even have an armed security service. This vast underground network may not, in their mind, prepare to power by restoring what is now called the Republic of Protestant southwest.
It seems that the prosecutor Toulouse press the secret police, its indicators and spies to gather evidence of this vast conspiracy. Indeed, the two pastors of Ganges and Le Vigan, Languedoc (today in the Gard), will notify each other of police provocations Now:
"While Mr. Rochette was in prison and that all churches were in anxiety and anticipation of what would happen, the spies were running the country to watch the efforts of pastors and to intimidate them. These spies were hypocrites pretended Protestants, who pretended to take the interests of their brothers to have their secrets and then go to denounce their enemies "(October 23, 1761)
course, the police investigation does nothing. Yet, February 18, 1762, the Court of Parliament condemns Toulouse Pastor ROCHETTE to be hanged, for having presided over the illegal cults, despite the ban royal three brothers GRENIER to decapitation and confiscation of their property for "sedition and unlawful assembly with bearing arms" and VIGUIER Vialle, who accompanied the minister on the night of 13 to the galleys branded with hot irons; DONNADIEU, who only took shots at the ban and fine, but acquitted the other defendants, who were only made by chance. The difference made between those sentenced to death is that the nobles will not be hanged, infamous punishment, but only killed by the sword, a weapon of chivalry.
Without doubt the magistrates of Toulouse they expect to seeking a royal pardon that VOLTAIRE with the Governor of Guyenne. To avoid such a disavowal, they must act quickly. Execution of Judgement will then immediately.
The four convicts spend their last night in prayer, while the priests offered them alive, they were converted. On 19 February, led by the cart in the streets of Toulouse crowded. This vast audience is loving it compassion or sadistic pleasure? There are two no doubt. The windows with the show praise indeed very expensive. The performance she held up the Salin, as Janine said Garrison, or instead of the Currency, as of Onesimus ATTIC think? No matter after all.
Pastor ROCHETTE goes first to the scaffold, carrying the sign hanging on the back: "Minister of the RPR (RPR). He sings the psalm
" The here is the happy day
Who responds to our desire!
Praise God who gave it to us
Let's make all our pleasure. "
It keeps talking and it strangles. The three brothers embrace, forgive each other's faults and are, one after another decapitated. It was beautiful men, whose sacrifice is all the more unconscionable.
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The impact of this murder is international justice, Geneva and Lausanne to Copenhagen and The Hague. Voltaire, who is a friend of King of Prussia, near- Geneva and even the historian of the King of France, is responsible for making it known. It is also very vexed its powerlessness. Maybe he conscious of not having acted fairly strong?
"The parliament of Toulouse has sentenced a minister friend of mine to be hanged, three noblemen to be beheaded and five or six citizens to the galleys, all for singing songs of David. The Parliament of Toulouse do not like bad poetry. "(Letter to M. d'ARGENTAL)
In fact, when in October 1762, only eight months later, Calas case is heard and decided by the same Parliament of Toulouse, a manufacturer of Indian falsely accused of murdering his son, he wanted to prevent the conversion, the philosopher of Ferney will this time, his energy and his entire fortune to rehabilitate the unjustly tortured Huguenot. It will protect and host family of the victim on his personal. It will pay the costs of the action under review, against the rapacity of the magistrates of Toulouse. He'll get the King Louis XV in person breaks the decision and that innocent Toulouse itself the unfortunate Calas, under its sovereign right high court. The king knew too well that if sent back to Toulouse on retrial, the parliament does not reverse itself and confirms the death sentence, even if only by hatred of Protestants. VOLTAIRE and take this occasion the figure of a man of immense kindness, or even the image of a universal philanthropist.
Defending ROCHETTE therefore, Calas and cons SIRVEN Parliament of Toulouse, VOLTAIRE acquired, from 1762, a gigantic glory which has remained. For the people he is the protector of the offended and humiliated. For the Parisian elite, he became the heroes of modern reason. His tireless advocacy for oppressed Protestants it is finally to be crowned with laurel on the scene of the French Comedy, in 1778, before an enthusiastic audience and the chagrin of the Church. The same dedication will later Emile Zola, in his defense of Captain Dreyfus. The two heroes are together in the Pantheon.
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In Quercy, the emotion in the martyrdom of Protestants and brothers ROCHETTE ATTIC resulted in a complaint of 87 quatrains, Onesimus of which will Fajal GRENIER-edition in 1873 in Montauban. She was still singing in the nineteenth century, to the tune of "Commandments of God." For they are moving, we must admit that these verses are not in the best vein. Let us mention a few:
"Sing, celebrate the victory
From our faithful confessors
On the brass engrave their memory
For us and our successors.
worthy pastor, oh dear ROCHETTE,
Who came to enlighten us,
Should a vile Judas tarry
To make you sacrifice?
Brothers ardent flights Maccabees
Who show the zeal of Peter,
Must thousand hands armed
Falling on you with rage! "Etc ...
To understand these biblical allusions, we must remember that Protestants identified with Israel resistant persecution. The name Maccabee is given by ecclesiastical writers to seven brothers whose martyrdom is told in the Bible in the second Maccabees. They were sentenced to various punishments for their fidelity to the law of Moses. Such an approximation suggests that the anonymous author of the lament, more expert in speaking "patois of Canaan" in prosody, was a pastor.
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But the year 1762 is mainly that of the great historical turning point, one where the political leader of France takes the measure of the decadence of the country. In truth, the ruling circles are no longer so now the old nobility or dress or even the higher clergy, the people in finance, handling public funds and lending to private business.
The reverses of the Seven Years War and the taking of Quebec in 1760 by the English do their sudden sense that the Protestant powers prevails now on the Catholic powers, thanks to the commercial city of London , the British fleet, the Swiss bank to bank money in the Prussian army and especially Newtonian science. Modernity is no longer in Rome! Not only the wars of religion threaten to take in the great southwest, because of provocations Parliament of Toulouse, but the Encyclopedia, "dictionary of the sciences, arts and crafts, was struck in 1759 by the Vatican" and damnatio prohibitio. The "Emile," book of modernist Jean-Jacques Rousseau on the education of children, became a best seller in the financial aristocracy upon conviction ecclesiastical, or because of it. But it is mainly the three unfortunate cases ROCHETTE \\ GRENIER, Calas and Sirven that generate public outrage and triggered the ideological shift.
now depart Versailles Gradually Rome, to be closer gradually Protestants. After running ROCHETTE and brothers GRENIER, there will be more killing for religious reform. From 1762, the Jesuit order is forbidden throughout the kingdom and loses the right to teach. Then in 1787, the reformed benefit of the Edict of Toleration, which will give pastors to hold a state-civil protest. Louis XVI would use even a Swiss banker and a Protestant, Jacques Necker, to redress the country. In 1789, the Rev. Jean-Paul Rabaut Saint-Etienne will be included in the Declaration of Human Rights on the principle of "Freedom of conscience" and vote the secularization of Church property.
Rabaut-Saint-Etienne is one of the key figures in the premises of the French Revolution. The famous unfinished painting by Jacques David, representing the "Oath of the Jeu de Paume," The figures prominently in the trio of key actors, with Barnavi, also a Protestant, and the Abbe Gregoire. However, this Jean-Paul Rabaut is the son of Pastor Paul Rabaut, who intervened with Rousseau and Madame Adelaide, favor ROCHETTE and three brothers ATTIC. We can clearly see the historical continuity between the Reformation, resistance to persecution, the Enlightenment, the Revolution of 1789 and the Declaration of Human Rights. Need I remind you that this Declaration is now the official ideology of the West and even the United Nations?
look ahead more precisely. The vigorous defense VOLTAIRE and Encyclopedists lead to the Protestant cause give rise to this new philosophy, called the "Voltairianism" or, much later, "secularism". This humanistic philosophy and criticism become the official ideology of France. Historian Pierre Chaunu is clearer still, attributing to those of southern Protestants who recanted under the repression, the formation of the radical-socialist ideology of the Third Republic:
"The humiliation continues, the humiliation Child does not clear, it turns into hatred. The rift between the two peoples [Protestant and Catholic], far from fading, went to be accentuated ... Those who have not taken [before the crackdown], between half and two-thirds, have provided especially in the south, executives of a future anti-religious secularism Republican, frames of atheism as state religion, which prevails in France since 1904 \\ 1905. "(The Religious Switching in Eighteenth-Century Paris, Fayard, 1998, page 432)
In sum, since the four martyrs of 1762, anti-clericalism has become the great ideological constant of the French nation. This is not necessarily what the pastors wanted the Desert. And Onesimus of GRENIER-Fajal would have been surprised.
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