254 for a similar narration.] The name given to the unfortunate creatures accused of this diabolical conspiracy was _Untori_ or the Smearers.

The plague of Milan in 1629-30 obtained the name of 'La Peste degli Untori' (as that of 1576 had been called 'La Peste di S.Carlo'), because of the prominent part played in it by the smearers.[240] They were popularly supposed to go about the city daubing walls, doors, furniture, choir-stalls, flowers, and articles of food with plague stuff.

They scattered powders in the air, or spread them in circles on the pavement.

To set a foot upon one of these circles involved certain destruction.

Hundreds of such _untori_ were condemned to the most cruel deaths by justice firmly persuaded of their criminality.