WhenthechroniclersoftheMiddleAges，whoallbelongedtothearistocracybybirthoreducation，relatethetragicalendofanoble，theirgriefflowsapace;whereastheytellyouatabreath，andwithoutwincing，ofmassacresandtorturesinflictedonthecommonsortofpeople。Notthatthesewritersfelthabitualhatredorsystematicdisdainforthepeople;warbetweentheseveralclassesofthecommunitywasnotyetdeclared。Theywereimpelledbyaninstinctratherthanbyapassion;astheyhadformednoclearnotionofapoorman’ssufferings，theycaredbutlittleforhisfate。Thesamefeelingsanimatedthelowerorderswheneverthefeudaltiewasbroken。Thesameageswhichwitnessedsomanyheroicactsofself—devotiononthepartofvassalsfortheirlords，werestainedwithatrociousbarbarities，exercisedfromtimetotimebythelowerclassesonthehigher。
Itmustnotbesupposedthatthismutualinsensibilityarosesolelyfromtheabsenceofpublicorderandeducation;fortracesofitaretobefoundinthefollowingcenturies，whichbecametranquilandenlightenedwhilsttheyremainedaristocratic。In1675thelowerclassesinBrittanyrevoltedattheimpositionofanewtax。Thesedisturbanceswereputdownwithunexampledatrocity。ObservethelanguageinwhichMadamedeSevigne，awitnessofthesehorrors，relatesthemtoherdaughter:—
\"AuxRochers，30Octobre，1675。
\"MonDieu，mafille，quevotrelettred’Aixestplaisante！
Aumoinsrelisezvoslettresavantquedelesenvoyer;