MontvertatthesametimewithtwobattalionsfromHainault,accompaniedbytheMarquisofCanillac,colonelofinfantry,whobroughttwobattalionsofhisownregiment,whichwasstationedinRouergue,withhim,andComtedePayre,whobroughtfifty—fivecompaniesofmilitiafromGevaudan,andfollowedbyanumberofmulesloadedwithcrowbars,axes,andotherironinstrumentsnecessaryforpullingdownhouses。
Theapproachofallthesetroopsfollowingcloseontheterribleproclamationswehavegivenabove,producedexactlythecontraryeffecttothatintended。Theinhabitantsoftheproscribeddistrictswereconvincedthattheordertogathertogetherincertainplaceswasgiventhattheymightbeconvenientlymassacredtogether,sothatallthosecapableofbearingarmswentdeeperintothemountains,andjoinedtheforcesofCavalierandRoland,thusreinforcingthemtothenumberoffifteenhundredmen。AlsohardlyhadM。deJuliensethishandtotheworkthanhereceivedinformationfromM。deMontrevel,whohadheardthenewsthroughaletterfromFlechier,thatwhiletheroyaltroopswerebusyinthemountainstheCamisardshadcomedownintotheplain,swarmedoverLaCamargue,andhadbeenseenintheneighbourhoodofSaint—Gilles。Atthesametimewordwassenthimthattwoshipshadbeenseenintheoffing,fromCette,andthatitwasmorethanprobablethattheycontainedtroops,thatEnglandandHollandweresendingtohelptheCamisards。
M。deMontrevel;leavingthefurtherconductoftheexpeditiontoMM。
deJulienanddeCanillac,hastenedtoCettewitheighthundredmenandtenguns。Theshipswerestillinsight,andwerereally,ashadbeensurmised,twovesselswhichhadbeendetachedfromthecombinedfleetsofEnglandandHollandbyAdmiralSchowel,andwerethebearersofmoney,arms,andammunitiontotheHuguenots。Theycontinuedtocruiseaboutandsignal,butastherebelswereforcedbythepresenceofM。deMontreveltokeepawayfromthecoast,andcouldthereforemakenoanswer,theyputoffatlengthintotheopen,andrejoinedthefleet。AsM。deMontrevelfearedthattheirretreatmightbeafeint,heorderedallthefishermen\'shutsfromAigues—MortetoSaint—Gillestobedestroyed,lesttheyshouldaffordsheltertotheCamisards。AtthesametimehecarriedofftheinhabitantsofthedistrictofGuillanandshutthemupinthechateauofSommerez,afterhavingdemolishedtheirvillages。Lastly,heorderedallthosewholivedinhomesteads,farms,orhamlets,toquitthemandgotosomelargetown,takingwiththemalltheprovisionstheywerepossessedof;andheforbadeanyworkmanwhowentoutsidethetowntoworktotakemorethanoneday\'sprovisionswithhim。
Thesemeasureshadthedesiredeffect,buttheywereterribleintheirresults;theydeprivedtheCamisardsofshelterindeed,buttheyruinedtheprovince。M。deBaville,despitehiswell—knownseveritytriedremonstrances,buttheyweretakeninbadpartbyM。
deMontrevel,whotoldtheintendanttomindhisownbusiness,whichwasconfinedtocivilmatters,andtoleavemilitarymattersinhis,M。deMontrevel\'s,hands;whereuponthecommandantjoinedM。deJulien,whowascarryingontheworkofdestructionwithindefatigablevigour。
InspiteofalltheenthusiasmwithwhichM。deJulienwenttoworktoaccomplishhismission,andbeinganewconvert,itwas,ofcourse,verygreat。Materialhindranceshamperedhimateverystep。
Almostallthedoomedhouseswerebuiltonvaultedfoundations,andwerethereforedifficulttolaylow;thedistanceofonehousefromanother,too,theiralmostinaccessibleposition,eitheronthepeakofahighmountainorinthebottomofarockyvalley,orburiedinthedepthsoftheforestwhichhidthenlikeaveil,madethedifficultystillgreater;wholedayswereoftenlostbytheworkmenandmilitiainsearchingforthedwellingstheycametodestroy。
Theimmensesizeoftheparishesalsocauseddelay:thatofSaint—GermaindeCalberte,forinstance,wasnineleaguesincircumference,andcontainedahundredandelevenhamlets,inhabitedbytwohundredandseventy—fivefamilies,ofwhichonlyninewereCatholic;thatofSaint—EtiennedeValfrancesquewasofstillgreaterextent,anditspopulationwasathirdlarger,sothatobstaclestotheworkmultipliedinaremarkablemanner。Forthefirstfewdaysthesoldiersandworkmenfoundfoodinandaroundthevillages,butthiswassoonatanend,andastheycouldhardlyexpectthepeasantstokeepupthesupply,andtheprovisionstheyhadbroughtwiththembeingalsoexhausted,theyweresoonreducedtobiscuitandwater;
andtheywerenotevenabletomakeitintoawarmmessbyheatingthewater,astheyhadnovessels;moreover,whentheirhardday\'sworkwasatanend,theyhadbutahandfulofstrawonwhichtolie。
Theseprivations,addedtotheirhardandlaboriouslife,broughtonanendemicfever,whichincapacitatedforworkmanysoldiersandlabourers,numbersofwhomhadtobedismissed。Verysoontheunfortunatemen,whowerealmostasmuchtobepitiedasthosewhomtheywerepersecuting,waitednolongertobesentaway,butdesertedinnumbers。
M。deJuliensoonsawthatallhiseffortswouldendinfailureifhecouldnotgaintheking\'sconsenttoaslightchangeintheoriginalplan。HethereforewrotetoVersailles,andrepresentedtothekinghowlongtheworkwouldtakeifthemeansemployedwereonlyirontoolsandthehumanhand,insteadoffire,theonlytrueinstrumentemployedbyHeaveninitsvengeance。HequotedinsupportofhispetitionthecaseofSodomandGomorrah——thosecitiesaccursedoftheLord。LouisXIV,impressedbythetruthofthiscomparison,senthimbackamessengerpost—hasteauthorisinghimtoemploythesuggestedmeans。
\"Atonce,\"saysPereLouvreloeil,\"thestormburst,andsoonofallthehappyhomesteadsnothingwasleft:thehamlets,withtheirbarnsandouthouses,theisolatedfarmhouses,thesinglehutsandcottages,everyspeciesofbuildinginshort,disappearedbeforetheswiftadvancingflamesaswildflowers,weeds,androotsfallbeforetheploughshare。\"
Thisdestructionwasaccompaniedbyhorriblecruelty。Forinstance,twenty—fiveinhabitantsofacertainvillagetookrefugeinachateau;thenumberconsistedofchildrenandveryoldpeople,andtheywereallthatwasleftoftheentirepopulation。Palmerolle,incommandofthemiquelets,hearingofthis,hastenedthither,seizedthefirsteighthecouldlayholdof,andshotthemonthespot,\"toteachthem,\"ashesaysinhisreport,\"nottochooseashelterwhichwasnotonthelistofthosepermittedtothem。\"
TheCatholicsalsoofSt。Florent,Senechas,Rousson,andotherparishes,becomingexcitedatseeingtheflameswhichenvelopedthehousesoftheiroldenemies,joinedtogether,andarmingthemselveswitheverythingthatcouldbemadetoserveasaninstrumentofdeath,setouttohunttheconscriptsdown;theycarriedofftheflocksofPerolat,Fontareche,andPajolas,burneddownadozenhousesattheCollet—de—Deze,andfromtherewenttothevillageofBrenoux,drunkwiththelustofdestruction。Theretheymassacredfifty—twopersons,amongthemmotherswithunbornchildren;andwiththesebabes,whichtheytorefromthem,impaledontheirpikesandhalberts,theycontinuedtheirmarchtowardsthevillagesofSt。
DenisandCastagnols。
Verysoonthesevolunteersorganisedthemselvesintocompanies,andbecameknownunderthenameofCadetsdelaCroix,fromasmallwhitecrosswhichtheyworeontheircoats;sothepoorHuguenotshadanewspeciesofenemytocontendwith,muchmorebloodthirstythanthedragoonsandthemiquelets;forwhiletheselattersimplyobeyedordersfromVersailles,Nimes,orMontpellier,theformergratifiedapersonalhate——ahatewhichhadcomedowntothemfromtheirfathers,andwhichtheywouldpassontotheirchildren。
Ontheotherhand,theyoungHuguenotleader,whoeverydaygainedmoreinfluenceoverhissoldiers,triedtomakethedragoonsandCadetsdelaCroixsufferinreturneverythingtheyinflictedontheHuguenots,exceptthemurders。Inthenightfromthe2ndtothe3rdOctober,aboutteno\'clock,hecamedownintotheplainandattackedSommieresfromtwodifferentpoints,settingfiretothehouses。Theinhabitantsseizingtheirarms,madeasortie,butCavalierchargedthemattheheadoftheCavalryandforcedthemtoretreat。Thereuponthegovernor,whosegarrisonwastoosmalltoleavetheshelterofthewalls,turnedhisgunsonthemandfired,lessinthehopeofinflictinginjuryonthemthaninthatofbeingheardbytheneighbouringgarrisons。
TheCamisardsrecognisingthisdanger,retired,butnotbeforetheyhadburntdownthehotelsoftheCheval—Blanc,theCroix—d\'Or,theGrand—Louis,andtheLuxembourg,aswellasagreatnumberofotherhouses,andthechurchandthepresbyteryofSaint—Amand。
ThencetheCamisardsproceededtoCaylaandVauvert,intowhichtheyentered,destroyingthefortifications。Theretheyprovidedthemselvesabundantlywithprovisionsformanandbeast。InVauvert,whichwasalmostentirelyinhabitedbyhisco—religionists,Cavalierassembledtheinhabitantsinthemarket—place,andmadethemjoinwithhiminprayertoGod,thatHewouldpreventthekingfromfollowingevilcounsel;healsoexhortedhisbrethrentobereadytosacrificetheirgoodsandtheirlivesforthere—establishmentoftheirreligion,affirmingthattheHolySpirithadrevealedtohimthatthearmoftheLord,whichhadalwayscometotheiraid,wasstillstretchedoutoverthem。
CavalierundertookthesemovementsinthehopeofinterruptingtheworkofdestructiongoingoninUpperCevennes;andpartlyobtainedthedesiredresult;forM。deJulienreceivedorderstocomedownintotheopencountryanddispersetheCamisards。
Thetroopstriedtofulfilthistask,but,thankstotheknowledgethattherebelshadofthecountry,itwasimpossibletocomeupwiththem,sothatFleshier,whowasinthethickoftheexecutions,conflagrations,andmassacres,butwhostillfoundtimetowriteLatinverseandgallantletters,said,inspeakingofthem,\"Theywerenevercaught,anddidallthedamagetheywishedtodowithoutletorhindrance。Welaidtheirmountainswaste,andtheylaidwasteourplain。Therearenomorechurchesleftinourdioceses,andnotbeingableeithertoploughorsowourlands,wehavenorevenues。
Wedreadseriousrevolt,anddesiretoavoidareligiouscivilwar;
soalloureffortsarerelaxing,weletourarmsfallwithoutknowingwhy,andwearetold,\'Youmusthavepatience;itisnotpossibletofightagainstphantoms。\'\"Nevertheless,fromtimetotime,thesephantomsbecamevisible。TowardstheendofOctober,CavaliercamedowntoUzes,carriedofftwosentinelswhowereguardingthegates,andhearingthecalltoarmswithin,shoutedthathewouldawaitthegovernorofthecity,M。deVergetot,nearLussan。
AndindeedCavalier,accompaniedbyhistwolieutenants,RavanelandCatinat,tookhiswaytowardsthislittletown,betweenUzesandBargeac,whichstandsuponaneminencesurroundeduponallsidesbycliffs,whichserveitasrampartsandrenderitverydifficultofaccess。Havingarrivedwithinthreegun—shotsofLussan,CavaliersentRavaneltodemandprovisionsfromtheinhabitants;butthey,proudoftheirnaturalramparts,andbelievingtheirtownimpregnable,notonlyrefusedtocomplywiththerequisition,butfiredseveralshotsontheenvoy,oneofwhichwoundedinthearmaCamisardofthenameofLaGrandeur,whohadaccompaniedRavanel。
Ravanelwithdrew,supportinghiswoundedcomrade,followedbyshotsandthehootingsoftheinhabitants。WhentheyrejoinedCavalierandmadetheirreport,theyoungcommanderissuedorderstohissoldierstomakereadytotakethetownthenextmorning;for,asnightwasalreadyfalling,hedidnotventuretostartinthedark。Inthemeantimethebesiegedsentpost—hastetoM。deVergetottowarnhimoftheirsituation;andresolvingtodefendthemselvesaslongastheycould,whilewaitingforaresponsetotheirmessagetheysetaboutbarricadingtheirgates,turnedtheirscythesintoweapons,fastenedlargehooksonlongpoles,andcollectedalltheinstrumentstheycouldfindthatcouldbeusedinattackordefence。AstotheCamisards,theyencampedforthenightnearanoldchateaucalledFan,aboutagun—shotfromLussan。
AtbreakofdayloudshoutsfromthetowntoldtheCamisardsthattheexpectedreliefwasinsight,andlookingouttheysawinthedistanceatroopofsoldiersadvancingtowardsthem;itwasM。deVergetatattheheadofhisregiment,accompaniedbyfortyIrishofficers。
TheProtestantspreparedthemselves,asusual,byrecitingpsalmsandprayers,noticewithouttakingoftheshoutsandthreatsofanyofthetownspeople,andhavingfinishedtheirinvocations,theymarchedouttomeettheapproachingcolumn。Thecavalry,commandedbyCatinat,madeadetour,takingashelteredwaytoanunguardedbridgeoverasmallrivernotfaroff,soastooutflanktheroyalforces,whichtheyweretoattackintherearassoonasCavalierandRavanelshouldhaveengagedtheminfront。
M。deVergetot,onhisside,continuedtoadvance,sothattheCalvinistsandtheCatholicsweresoonfacetoface。Thebattlebeganonbothsidesbyavolley;butCavalierhavingseenhiscavalryemergingfromaneighbouringwood,andcountingupontheirassistance,chargedtheenemyatthedoublequick。Catinatjudgingbythenoiseofthefiringthathispresencewasnecessary,chargedalsoatagallop,fallingontheflankoftheCatholics。
Inthischarge,oneofM。deVergetot\'scaptainswaskilledbyabullet,andtheotherbyasabre—cut,andthegrenadiersfallingintodisorder,firstlostgroundandthenfled,pursuedbyCatinatandhishorsemen,who,seizingthembythehair,despatchedthemwiththeirswords。Havingtriedinvaintorallyhismen,M,deVergetot,surroundedbyafewIrish,wasforcedinhisturntofly;hewashotlypursued,andonthepointofbeingtaken,whenbygoodluckhereachedtheheightofGamene,withitswallsofrock。Jumpingoffhishorse,heenteredthenarrowpathwaywhichledtothetop,andentrenchedhimselfwithaboutahundredmeninthisnaturalfort。
Cavalierperceivingthatfurtherpursuitwouldbedangerous,resolvedtorestsatisfiedwithhisvictory;asheknewbyhisownexperiencethatneithermennorhorseshadeatenforeighteenhours,hegavethesignalfarretreat,andretiredonSeyne,wherehehopedtofindprovisions。
Thisdefeatmortifiedtheroyalforcesverydeeply,andtheyresolvedtotaketheirrevenge。HavinglearntbytheirspiesthatonacertainnightinNovemberCavalieraridhisbandintendedtosleeponamountaincalledNages,theysurroundedthemountainduringthenight,sothatatdawnCavalierfoundhimselfshutinoneveryside。
Ashewishedtoseewithhisowneyesiftheinvestmentwascomplete,heorderedhistroopstofallintorankonthetopofthemountain,givingthecommandtoRavanelandCatinat,andwithapairofpistolsinhisbeltandhiscarbineonhisshoulder,heglidedfrombushtobushandrocktorock,determined,ifanyweakspotexisted,todiscoverit;buttheinformationhehadreceivedwasperfectlycorrect,everyissuewasguarded。
Cavaliernowsetofftorejoinhistroops,passingthrougharavine,buthehadhardlytakenthirtystepswhenhefoundhimselfconfrontedbyacornetandtwodragoonswhowerelyinginambush。Therewasnotimetorunaway,andindeedsuchathoughtneverenteredtheyoungcommander\'shead;hewalkedstraightuptothem。Ontheirside,thedragoonsadvancedtowardshim,andthecornetcoveringhimwithhispistol,calledout,\"Halt！youareCavalier;Iknowyou。Itisnotpossibleforyoutoescape;surrenderatdiscretion。\"Cavalier\'sanswerwastoblowoutthecornet\'sbrainswithashotfromhiscarbine,thenthrowingitbehindhimasofnofurtheruse,hedrewhistwopistolsfromhisbelt,walkeduptothetwodragoons,shotthembothdead,andrejoinedhiscomradesunwounded。These,whohadbelievedhimlost,welcomedhimwithcheers。
ButCavalierhadsomethingelsetodothantocelebratehisreturn;
mountinghishorse,heputhimselfattheheadofhismen,andfellupontheroyaltroopswithsuchimpetuositythattheygavewayatthefirstonset。Thenastrangeincidentoccurred。Aboutthirtywomenwhohadcometothecampwithprovisions,carriedawaybytheirenthusiasmatthesightofthissuccess,threwthemselvesupontheenemy,fightinglikemen。Oneyounggirlofaboutseventeen,LucreseGuigonbyname,distinguishedherselfamongsttheothersbyhergreatvalour。Notcontentwithencouragingherbrethrenbythecryof\"TheswordoftheLordandofGideon！\"shetoresabresfromthehandsofthedeaddragoonstodespatchthedying。Catinat,followedbytenofhismen,pursuedtheflyingtroopsasfarastheplainofCalvisson。
Theretheywereabletorally,thankstotheadvanceofthegarrisontomeetthem。
Eightydragoonslaydeadonthefieldofbattle,whileCavalierhadonlylostfivemen。
Asweshallsee,Cavalierwasnotonlyabravesoldierandaskilfulcaptain,butalsoajustjudge。Afewdaysafterthedeedofarmswhichwehavejustrelated,helearnedthatahorriblemurderhadbeencommittedbyfourCamisards,whohadthenretiredintotheforestofBouquet。Hesentadetachmentoftwentymenwithorderstoarrestthemurderersandbringthembeforehim。Thefollowingarethedetailsofthecrime:
ThedaughterofBaronMeyrargues,whowasnotlongmarriedtoagentlemannamedM。deMiraman,hadsetoutonthe29thNovemberforAmbroixtojoinherhusband,whowaswaitingforherthere。Shewasencouragedtodothisbyhercoachman,whohadoftenmetwithCamisardsintheneighbourhood,andalthoughaCatholic,hadneverreceivedanyharmfromthem。Sheoccupiedherowncarriage,andwasaccompaniedbyamaid,anurse,afootman,andthecoachmanwhohadpersuadedhertoundertakethejourney。Two—thirdsofthewayalreadylaysafelybehindthem,whenbetweenLussanandVaudrasshewasstoppedbyfour,men,whomadehergetoutofhercarriageandaccompanythemintotheneighbouringforest。Theaccountofwhatthenhappenedistakenfromthedepositionofthemaid。Wecopyitwordforword:
\"Thesewretcheshavingforcedus,\"saysshe,\"towalkintotheforesttillwewereatsomedistancefromthehighroad,mypoormistressgrewsotiredthatshebeggedthemanwhowalkedbesidehertoallowhertoleanonhisshoulder。Helookingroundandseeingthattheyhadreachedalonelyspot,replied,\'Weneedhardlygoanyfarther,\'
andmadeussitdawnonaplotofgrasswhichwastobethesceneofourmartyrdom。Mypoormistressbegantopleadwiththebarbariansinthemosttouchingmanner,andsosweetlythatshewouldhavesoftenedtheheartofademon。Sheofferedthemherpurse,hergoldwaistband,andafinediamondwhichshedrewfromherfinger;butnothingcouldmovethesetigers,andoneofthemsaid,\'IamgoingtokillalltheCatholicsatonce,andshallbeginwithyou。\'\'Whatwillyougainbymydeath？\'askedmymistress。\'Sparemylife。\'——
\'No;shutup！\'repliedhe。\'Youshalldiebymyhand。Sayyourprayers。\'MygoodmistressthrewherselfatonceonherkneesandprayedaloudthatGodwouldshowmercytoherandtohermurderers,andwhileshewasthusprayingshereceivedapistol—shotinherleftbreast,andfell;asecondassassincutheracrossthefacewithhissword,andathirddroppedalargestoneonherhead,whilethefourthkilledthenursewithashotfromhispistol。Whetheritwasthattheyhadnomoreloadedfirearms,orthattheywishedtosavetheirammunition,theyweresatisfiedwithonlygivingmeseveralbayonetwounds。Ipretendedtobedead:theythoughtitwasreallythecase,andwentaway。Sometimeafter,seeingthateverythinghadbecomequiet,andhearingnosound,Idraggedmyself,dyingasIwas,towheremydearmistresslay,andcalledher。Asithappened,shewasnotquitedead,andshesaidinafaintvoice,\'Staywithme,Suzon,tillIdie。\'Sheadded,afterashortpause,forshewashardlyabletospeak,\'Idieformyreligion,andIhopethatGodwillhavepityonme。TellmyhusbandthatIconfideourlittleonetohiscare。\'Havingsaidthis,sheturnedherthoughtsfromtheworld,prayingtoGodinbrokenandtenderwords,anddrewherlastbreathasthenightfell。\"
InobediencetoCavalier\'sorders,thefourcriminalsweretakenandbroughtbeforehim。HewasthenwithhistroopsnearSaint—MauricedeCasevielle;hecalledacouncilofwar,andhavinghadtheprisonerstriedfortheiratrociousdeed,hesummeduptheevidenceinasclearamannerasanylawyercouldhavedone,andcalleduponthejudgestopronouncesentence。Allthejudgesagreedthattheprisonersshouldbeputtodeath,butjustasthesentencewasmadeknownoneoftheassassinspushedasidethetwomenwhoguardedhim,andjumpingdownarock,disappearedintheforestbeforeanyattemptcouldbemadetostophim。Thethreeotherswereshot。
TheCatholicsalsocondemnedmanytobeexecuted,butthetrialsconductedbythenwerefarfrombeingasremarkableforhonourandjusticeaswasthatwhichwehavejustdescribed。Wemayinstancethetrialofapoorboyoffourteen,thesonofamillerofSaint—Christolwhohadbeenbrokenthewheeljustamonthbefore。
Foramomentthejudgeshesitatedtocondemnsoyoungaboytodeath,butawitnesspresentedhimselfwhotestifiedthatthelittlefellowwasemployedbythefanaticstostrangleCatholicchildren。Althoughnoonebelievedtheevidence,yetitwasseized—onasapretext:theunfortunateboywascondemnedtodeath,andhangedwithoutmercyanhourlater。
AgreatmanypeoplefromtheparishesdevastatedbyM。deJulienhadtakenrefugeinAussilargues,intheparishofSt。Andre。Drivenbyhungerandmisery,theywentbeyondtheprescribedlimitsinsearchofmeansofsubsistence。Planquehearingofthis,inhisburningzealfortheCatholicfaithresolvednottoleavesuchacrimeunpunished。Hedespatchedadetachmentofsoldierstoarresttheculprits:thetaskwaseasy,fortheywerealloncemoreinsidethebarrierandintheirbeds。Theywereseized,broughttoSt。Andre\'sChurchandshutin;then,withouttrialofanykind,——theyweretaken,fiveatatime,andmassacred:somewereshotandsomecutdownwithswordoraxe;allwerekilledwithoutexception——oldandyoungwomenandchildren。Oneofthelatter,whohadreceivedthreeshotswasstillabletoraisehisheadandcry,\"Whereisfather？
Whydoesn\'thecomeandtakemeaway。\"
FourmenandayounggirlwhohadtakenrefugeinthetownofLasalle,oneoftheplacesgrantedtothehouselessvillagersasanasylum,askedandreceivedformalpermissionfromthecaptainoftheSoissonaisregiment,bynameLaplace,togohomeonimportantprivatebusiness,onconditionthattheyreturnedthesamenight。Theypromised,andintheintentionofkeepingthispromisetheyallmetontheirwaybackatasmallfarmhouse。Justastheyreacheditaterriblestormcameon。Themenwereforcontinuingtheirwayinspiteoftheweather,buttheyounggirlbesoughtthemtowaittilldaylight,asshedidnotdaretoventureoutinthedarkduringsuchastorm,andwoulddieoffrightifleftaloneatthefarm。Themen,ashamedtodeserttheircompanion,whowasrelatedtooneofthem,yieldedtoherentreatiesandremained,hopingthatthestormwouldbeasufficientexcuseforthedelay。Assoonasitwaslight,thefiveresumedtheirjourney。ButthenewsoftheircrimehadreachedtheearsofLaplacebeforetheygotback。Theywerearrested,andalltheirexcuseswereofnoavail。Laplaceorderedthementobetakenoutsidethetownandshot。Theyounggirlwascondemnedtobehanged;andthesentencewastobecarriedoutthatveryday,butsomenunswhohadbeensentfortoprepareherfordeath,havingvainlybeggedLaplacetoshowmercy,entreatedthegirltodeclarethatshewouldsoonbecomeamother。Sheindignantlyrefusedtosaveherlifeatthecostofhergoodname,sothenunstookthelieonthemselvesandmadethenecessarydeclarationbeforethecaptain,begginghimifhehadnopityforthemothertosparethechildatleast,bygrantingareprievetillitshouldbeborn。Thecaptainwas/notforamomentdeceived,buthesentforamidwifeandorderedhertoexaminetheyounggirl。Attheendofhalfanhourshedeclaredthattheassertionofthenunswastrue。
\"Verywell,\"saidthecaptain:\"letthembothbekeptinprisonforthreemonths;ifbytheendofthattimethetruthofthisassertionisnotself—evident,bothshallbehanged。\"Whenthisdecisionwasmadeknowntothepoorwoman,shewasovercomebyfear,andaskedtoseethe,captainagain,towhomsheconfessedthat,ledawaybytheentreatiesofthenuns,shehadtoldalie。
Uponthis,thewomanwassentencedtobepubliclywhipped,andtheyounggirlhangedonagibbetroundwhichwereplacedthecorpsesofthefourmenofwhosedeathshewasthecause。
Asmayeasilybesupposed,the\"CadetsoftheCross\"viedwithbothCatholicsandProtestantsintheworkofdestruction。OneoftheirbandsdevoteditselftodestroyingeverythingbelongingtothenewconvertsfromBeaucairetoNimes。TheykilledawomanandtwochildrenatCampuget,anoldmanofeightyatafarmnearBouillargues,severalpersonsatCicure,ayounggirlatCaissargues,agardeneratNimes,andmanyotherpersons,besidescarryingoffalltheflocks,furniture,andotherpropertytheycouldlayhandson,andburningdownthefarmhousesofClairan,Loubes,Marine,Carlot,CampogetMiraman,LaBergerie,andLarnac——allnearSt。GiliesandManduel。\"Theystoppedtravellersonthehighways,\"saysLouvreloeil,\"andbywayoffindingoutwhethertheywereCatholicornot,madethemsayinLatintheLord\'sPrayer,theAveMaria,theSymboloftheFaith,andtheGeneralConfession,andthosewhowereunabletodothiswereputtothesword。InDionsninecorpseswerefoundsupposedtohavebeenkilledbytheirhands,andwhenthebodyofashepherdwhohadbeenintheserviceoftheSieurdeRoussiere,aformerminister,wasfoundhangingtoatree,noonedoubtedwhowerethemurderers。AtlasttheywentsofarthatoneoftheirbandsmeetingtheAbbedeSaintGillesontheroad,orderedhimtodeliveruptothemoneofhisservants,anewconvert,inordertoputhimtodeath。Itwasinvainthattheabberemonstratedwiththem,tellingthemitwasashametoputsuchanaffrontonamanofhisbirthandrank;theypersistednonethelessintheirdetermination,tillatlasttheabbethrewhisarmsroundhisservantandpresentedhisownbodytotheblowsdirectedattheother。\"
TheauthorofTheTroublesintheCevennesrelatessomethingsurpassingallthiswhichtookplaceatMontelusonthe22ndFebruary\"TherewereafewProtestantsintheplace,\"hesays,\"buttheywerefaroutnumberedbytheCatholics;thesebeingrousedbyaCapuchinfromBergerac,formedthemselvesintoabodyof\'CadetsoftheCross,\'andhastenedtoservetheirapprenticeshiptotheworkofassassinationatthecostoftheircountrymen。TheythereforeenteredthehouseofoneJeanBernoin,cutoffhisearsandfurthermutilatedhim,andthenbledhimtodeathlikeapig。OncomingoutofthishousetheymetJacquesClas,andshothimintheabdomen,sothathisintestinesobtruded;pushingthemback,hereachedhishouseinaterriblecondition,tothegreatalarmofhiswife,whowasnearherconfinement,andherchildren,whohastenedtothehelpofhusbandandfather。Butthemurderersappearedonthethreshold,and,unmovedbythecriesandtearsoftheunfortunatewifeandthepoorlittlechildren,theyfinishedthewoundedman,andasthewifemadeanefforttopreventthem,theymurderedheralso,treatingherdeadbody,whentheydiscoveredhercondition,inamannertoorevoltingfordescription;whileaneighbour,calledMarieSilliot,whotriedtorescuethechildren,wasshotdead;butinhercasetheydidnotpursuetheirvengeanceanyfurther。TheythenwentintotheopencountryandmeetingPierreandJeanBernard,uncleandnephew,oneagedforty—fiveandtheotherten,seizedonthemboth,andputtingapistolintothehandsofthechild,forcedhimtoshoothisuncle。Inthemeantimetheboy\'sfatherhadcomeup,andhimtheytriedtoconstraintoshoothisson;butfindingthatnothreatshadanyeffect,theyendedbykillingboth,onebythesword,theotherbythebayonet。
\"ThereasonwhytheyputanendtofatherandsonsoquicklywasthattheyhadnoticedthreeyounggirlsofBagnolsgoingtowardsagroveofmulberrytrees,wheretheywereraisingsilk—worms。Themenfollowedthem,andasitwasbroaddaylightandthegirlswerethereforenotafraid,theysooncameupwiththem。Havingfirstviolatedthem,theyhungthembythefeettoatree,andputthemtodeathinahorriblemanner。\"
AllthistookplaceinthereignofLouistheGreat,andforthegreatergloryoftheCatholicreligion。
Historyhaspreservedthenamesofthefivewretcheswhoperpetratedthesecrimes:theywerePierreVigneau,AntoineRey,Jeand\'Hugon,Guillaume,andGontanille。
CHAPTERIII
Suchcrimes,ofwhichwehaveonlydescribedafew,inspiredhorrorinthebreastsofthosewhowereneithermaddenedbyfanaticismnordevouredbythedesireofvengeance。Oneofthese,aProtestant,Barond\'Aygaliers,withoutstoppingtoconsiderwhatmeanshehadathiscommandorwhatmeasureswerethebesttotaketoaccomplishhisobject,resolvedtodevotehislifetothepacificationoftheCevennes。Thefirstthingtobeconsideredwas,thatiftheCamisardswereeverentirelydestroyedbymeansofCatholictroopsdirectedbydeBaville,deJulien,anddeMontrevel,theProtestants,andespeciallytheProtestantnobleswhohadneverbornearms,wouldberegardedascowards,whohadbeenpreventedbyfearofdeathorpersecutionfromopenlytakingthepartoftheHuguenots:Hewasthereforeconvincedthattheonlycoursetopursuewastoget,hisco—religioniststoputanendtothestrugglethemselves,astheonewayofpleasingHisMajestyandofshowinghimhowgroundlesswerethesuspicionsarousedinthemindsofmenbytheCatholicclergy。