Havinglearnedthatbesidesthedoorbywhichtheyhopedtoeffectanentrance,themillpossessedonlyoneother,whichopenedonabridgeovertheVistre,hedespatchedtendragoonsandfiveSwisstooccupythisbridge,whilstheandtherestofthetroopsboredownonthemainentrance。AssoonasthefourCamisardsperceivedtheapproachofthesoldiers,theirfirstthoughtwastoescapebythebridge,butoneofthemhavinggoneuptotherooftomakesurethatthewaywasclear,camedownexclaimingthatthebridgewasoccupied。Onhearingthis,thefourfeltthattheywerelost,butneverthelessresolvedtodefendthemselvesasvaliantlyandtoselltheirlivesasdearlyaspossible。Assoonastheroyalswerewithinmusketrangeofthemill,fourshotswerefired,andtwodragoons,oneSwiss,andonehorse,fell。M。deVallathereuponorderedthetroopstochargeatfullgallop,butbeforethemilldoorwasreachedthreeothershotswereheard,andtwomoremenkilled。Nevertheless,seeingtheycouldnotlongholdoutagainstsuchnumbers,Francezetgavethesignalforretreat,callingout,"Sauvequipetit！"atthesameinstanthejumpedoutofalatticewindowtwentyfeetfromtheground,followedbyBrun。Neitherofthembeinghurt,bothsetoffacrosscountry,onetrustingtohisstrengthandtheothertohisfleetnessoffoot。
ThetwootherCamisards,whohadtriedtoescapebythedoor,werecaptured。
Thesoldiers,horseandfoot,beingnowfreetogivealltheirattentiontoBrunandFrancezet,awonderfulracebegan;forthetwofugitives,beingstrongandactive,seemedtoplaywiththeirpursuers,stoppingeverynowandthen,whentheyhadgainedsufficientheadway,toshootatthenearestsoldiers;whenFrancezet,provingworthyofhisreputation,nevermissedasingleshot。Then,resumingtheirflightandloadingtheirweaponsastheyran,theyleapedriversandditches,takingadvantageofthelessdirectroadwhichthetroopswereobligedtofollow,tostopandtakebreath,insteadofmakingforsomecoverwheretheymighthavefoundsafety。
TwoorthreetimesBrunwasonthepointofbeingcaught,buteachtimethedragoonorSwisswhohadgotuptohimfell,struckbyFrancezet'sunerringbullet。Thechaselastedfourhours,duringwhichtimefiveofficers,thirtydragoons,andfiftySwisswerebaffledbytwomen,oneofwhomFrancezetwasalmostaboy,beingonlytwentyyearsold！ThenthetwoCamisards,havingexhaustedtheirammunition,gaveeachotherthenameofavillageasarendezvous,andeachtakingadifferentdirection,boundedawaywiththelightnessofastag。FrancezetraninthedirectionofMilhaudwithsuchrapiditythathegainedonthedragoons,althoughtheyputtheirhorsesatfullspeed。Hewaswithinaninchofsafety,whenapeasantnamedLaBastide,whowashoeinginafield,whencehehadwatchedthecontestwithinterestfromthemomenthehadfirstcaughtsightofit,seeingthefugitivemakeforanopeninginawall,ranalongatthefootofthewallontheotherside,and,justasFrancezetdashedthroughtheopeninglikeaflashoflightning,struckhimsuchaheavyblowontheheadwithhishoethattheskullwaslaidopen,andhefellbathedinblood。
Thedragoons,whohadseeninthedistancewhathadhappened,nowcameup,andrescuedFrancezetfromthehandsofhisassailant,whohadcontinuedtorainblowsuponhim,desiringtoputanendtohim。
TheunconsciousCamisardwascarriedtoMilhaud,wherehiswoundswerebandaged,andhimselfrevivedbymeansofstrongspiritsforcedintomouthandnostrils。
WenowreturntoBrun。Atfirstitseemedasifheweremorefortunatethanhiscomrade;for,meetingwithnoobstacle,hewassoonnotonlyoutofreach,butoutofsightofhisenemies。Henow,however,feltbrokenbyfatigue,andtaughtcautionbythetreacherytowhichhehadalmostfallenavictim,hedarednotaskforanasylum,so,throwinghimselfdowninaditch,hewassoonfastasleep。Thedragoons,whohadnotgivenupthesearch,presentlycameuponhim,andfallingonhimashelay,overpoweredhimbeforehewaswellawake。
WhenbothCamisardsmetbeforethegovernor,FrancezetrepliedtoallinterrogationsthatsincethedeathofbrotherCatinathissoledesirehadbeentodieamartyr'sdeathlikehim;whileBrunsaidthathewasproudandhappytodieinthecauseoftheLordalongwithsuchabravecomradeasFrancezet。Thismannerofdefenceledtotheapplicationofthequestionbothordinaryandextraordinary,andtothestake;andourreadersalreadyknowwhatsuchadoublesentencemeant。FrancezetandBrunpaidbothpenaltiesonthe30thofApril,betrayingnosecretsandutteringnocomplaints。
Boeton,whohadbeendenouncedbyVillaswhenundertorture（andwhotherebyabridgedhisagony）asthepersoninwhosehousetheplottocarryofftheDukeofBerwickanddeBavillehadbeenarranged,stillremainedtobedealtwith。
Hewasmoderateinhisreligiousviews,butfirmandfulloffaith;
hisprinciplesresembledthoseoftheQuakersinthatherefusedtocarryarms;hewas,however,willingtoaidthegoodcausebyallothermeanswithinhisreach。Hewasathomewaiting,withthatcalmwhichperfecttrustinGodgives,forthedaytocomewhichhadbeenappointedfortheexecutionoftheplan,whensuddenlyhishousewassurroundedduringthenightbytheroyals。Faithfultohisprinciples,heofferednoresistance,butheldouthishandstobebound。HewastakenintriumphtoNimes,andfromtheretothecitadelofMontpellier。Onthewayheencounteredhiswifeandhisson,whoweregoingtothelattertowntointercedeforhim。Whentheymethim,theydismountedfromtheirhorse,forthemotherwasridingonapillionbehindtheson,andkneelingonthehighroad,askedforBoeton'sblessing。Unfeelingthoughthesoldierswere,theyyetpermittedtheirprisonertostopaninstant,whilehe,raisinghisfetteredhandstoheaven,gavethedoubleblessingaskedfor。SotouchedwasBaronSaint—Chattebythescene（beitremarkedinpassingthatthebaronandBoetonwerecousinsbymarriage）thathepermittedthemtoembraceoneanother,soforafewmomentstheystood,thehusbandandfatherclaspedtotheheartsofhisdearones;
then,onasignfromBoeton,theytorethemselvesaway,BoetoncommandingthemtoprayforM。deSaint—Chatte,whohadgiventhemthisconsolation。AsheresumedhismarchtheprisonersetthemtheexamplebybeginningtosingapsalmforthebenefitofM。deSaint—Chatte。
Thenextday,despitetheintercessionofhiswifeandson,Boetonwascondemnedtotorturebothordinaryandextraordinary,andthentobebrokenonthewheel。Onhearingthiscruelsentence,hesaidthathewasreadytosuffereveryillthatGodmightsendhiminordertoprovethesteadfastnessofhisfaith。
Andindeedheenduredhistorturewithsuchfirmness,thatM。deBaville,whowaspresentinthehopeofobtainingaconfession,becamemoreimpatientthanthesufferer,and,forgettinghissacredoffice,thejudgestruckandinsultedtheprisoner。UponthisBaetonraisedhiseyestoheavenandcried,"Lord,Lord！howlongshallthewickedtriumph？Howlongshallinnocentbloodbeshed？HowlongwiltThounotjudgeandavengeourbloodwithcriestoThee？
RememberThyjealousy,OLord,andThyloving—kindnessofold！"ThenM。deBavillewithdrew,givingordersthathewastobebroughttothescaffold。
ThescaffoldwaserectedontheEsplanade:being,aswasusualwhenthissortofdeathwastobeinflicted,awoodenplatformfiveorsixfeethigh,onwhichwasfastenedflataSt。Andrew'scross,formedoftwobeamsofwoodintheformofanX。Ineachofthefourarmstwosquarepieceswerecutouttoabouthalfthedepthofthebeam,andaboutafootapart,sothatwhenthevictimwasboundonthecrosstheoutstretchedlimbswereeasytobreakbyablowatthesepoints,havingnosupportbeneath。Lastly,nearthecross,atonecornerofthescaffoldanuprightwoodenpostwasfixed,onwhichwasfastenedhorizontallyasmallcarriagewheel,asonapivot,theprojectingpartofthenavebeingsawnofftomakeitflat。Onthisbedofpainthesuffererwaslaid,sothatthespectatorsmightenjoythesightofhisdyingconvulsionswhen,theexecutionerhavingaccomplishedhispart,theturnofdeatharrived。
Boetonwascarriedtoexecutioninacart,anddrumswerebeatenthathisexhortationsmightnotbeheard。Butabovetherollofdrumshisvoiceroseunfalteringly,asheadmonishedhisbrethrentoupholdtheirfellowshipinChrist。
Half—waytotheEsplanadeafriendofthecondemnedman,whohappenedtobeinthestreet,mettheprocession,andfearingthathecouldnotsupportthesight,hetookrefugeinashop。WhenBoetonwasoppositethedoor,hestoppedthecartandaskedpermissionoftheprovosttospeaktohisfriend。Therequestbeinggranted,hecalledhimout,andasheapproached,bathedintears,Boetonsaid,"Whydoyourunawayfromme？IsitbecauseyouseemecoveredwiththetokensofJesusChrist？WhydoyouweepbecauseHehasgraciouslycalledmetoHimself,andallunworthythoughIbe,permitsmetosealmyfaithwithmyblood？"Then,asthefriendthrewhimselfintoBoeton'sarmsandsomesignsofsympatheticemotionappearedamongthecrowd;theprocessionwasabruptlyorderedtomoveon;butthoughtheleave—takingwasthusroughlybrokenshort,nomurmurpassedthelipsofBoeton。
Inturningoutofthefirststreet,thescaffoldcameinsight;thecondemnedmanraisedhishandstowardsheaven,andexclaimedinacheerfulvoice,whileasmilelituphisface,"Courage,mysoul！I
seethyplaceoftriumph,whence,releasedfromearthlybonds,thoushahtakeflighttoheaven。"
Whenhegottothefootofthescaffold,itwasfoundhecouldnotmountwithoutassistance;forhislimbs,crushedintheterrible"boot,"couldnolongersustainhisweight。Whiletheywerepreparingtocarryhimup,heexhortedandcomfortedtheProtestants,whowereallweepingroundhim。Whenhereachedtheplatformhelaidhimselfofhisownaccordonthecross;buthearingfromtheexecutionerthathemustfirstbeundressed,heraisedhimselfagainwithasmile,sothattheexecutioner'sassistantcouldremovehisdoubletandsmall—clothes。Asheworenostockings,hislegsbeingbandagedthemanalsounwoundthesebandages,androlledupBoeton'sshirts—sleevestotheelbow,andthenorderedhimtolayhimselfagainonthecross。Boetondidsowithunbrokencalm。Allhislimbswerethenboundtothebeamswithcordsateveryjoint;thisaccomplished,theassistantretired,andtheexecutionercameforward。Heheldinhishandasquarebarofiron,aninchandahalfthick,threefeetlong,androundedatoneendsoastoformahandle。
WhenBoetonsawithebegansingingapsalm,butalmostimmediatelythemelodywasinterruptedbyacry:theexecutionerhadbrokenaboneofBoeton'srightleg;butthesingingwasatonceresumed,andcontinuedwithoutinterruptiontilleachlimbhadbeenbrokenintwoplaces。Thentheexecutionerunboundtheformlessbutstilllivingbodyfromthecross,andwhilefromitslipsissuedwordsoffaithinGodhelaiditonthewheel,bendingitbackonthelegsinsuchamannerthattheheelsandheadmet;andneveronceduringthecompletionofthisatrociousperformancedidthevoiceofthesuffererceasetosoundforththepraisesoftheLord。
Noexecutiontillthenhadeverproducedsuchaneffectonthecrowd,sothatAbbeMassilla,whowaspresent,seeingthegeneralemotion,hastenedtocallM。deBaville'sattentiontothefactthat,farfromBoeton'sdeathinspiringtheProtestantswithterror,theywereonlyencouragedtoholdout,aswasprovedbytheirtears,andthepraisestheylavishedonthedyingman。
M,deBaville,recognisingthetruthofthisobservation,orderedthatBoetonshouldbeputoutofmisery。Thisorderbeingconveyedtotheexecutioner,heapproachedthewheeltobreakinBoeton'schestwithonelastblow;butanarcherstandingonthescaffoldthrewhimselfbeforethesufferer,sayingthattheHuguenothadnotyetsufferedhalfenough。Atthis,Boeton,whohadheardthedreadfuldisputegoingonbesidehim,interruptedhisprayersforaninstant,andraisinghishead,whichhungdownovertheedgeofthewheel,said,"Friend,youthinkIsuffer,andintruthIdo;butHeforwhomIsufferisbesidemeandgivesmestrengthtobeareverythingjoyfully。"JustthenM。deBaville'sorderwasrepeated,andthearcher,nolongerdaringtointerfere,allowedtheexecutionertoapproach。ThenBoeton,seeinghislastmomenthadcome,said,"Mydearfriends,maymydeathbeanexampletoyou,toinciteyoutopreservethegospelpure;bearfaithfultestimonythatIdiedinthereligionofChristandHisholyapostles。"Hardlyhadthesewordspassedhislips,thanthedeath—blowwasgivenandhischestcrushed;afewinarticulatesounds,apparentlyprayers,wereheard;theheadfellback,themartyrdomwasended。
ThisexecutionendedthewarinLanguedoc。Afewimprudentpreachersstilldeliveredbelatedsermons,towhichtherebelslistenedtremblingwithfear,andforwhichthepreacherspaidonthewheelorgibbet。ThereweredisturbancesinVivarais,arousedbyDanielBillard,duringwhichafewCatholicswerefoundmurderedonthehighway;therewereafewfights,asforinstanceatSainte—Pierre—
Ville,wheretheCamisards,faithfultotheoldtraditionswhichhadcometothemfromCavalier,Catinat,andRavenal,foughtonetotwenty,buttheywereallwithoutimportance;theywereonlythelastquiveringsofthedyingcivilstrife,thelastshudderingsoftheearthwhentheeruptionofthevolcanoisover。
EvenCavalierunderstoodthattheendhadcome,forheleftHollandforEngland。ThereQueenAnnedistinguishedhimbyacordialwelcome;sheinvitedhimtoenterherservice,anofferwhichheaccepted,andhewasplacedincommandofaregimentofrefugees;sothatheactuallyreceivedinEnglandthegradeofcolonel,whichhehadbeenofferedinFrance。AtthebattleofAlmanzatheregimentcommandedbyCavalierfounditselfopposedbyaFrenchregiment。Theoldenemiesrecognisedeachother,andwithahowlofrage,withoutwaitingforthewordofcommandorexecutinganymilitaryevolutions,theyhurledthemselvesateachotherwithsuchfurythat,ifwemaybelievetheDukeofBerwick,whowaspresent,theyalmostannihilatedeachotherintheconflict。Cavalier,however,survivedtheslaughter,inwhichhehadperformedhispartwithenergy;andforhiscouragewasmadegeneralandgovernoroftheislandofJersey。
HediedatChelseainMay1740,agedsixtyyears。"Imustconfess,"
saysMalesherbes,"thatthissoldier,whowithouttrainingbecameagreatgeneralbymeansofhisnaturalgifts;thisCamisard,whodaredinthefaceoffiercetrooperstopunishacrimesimilartothosebywhichthetroopersexisted;thisrudepeasant,who,admittedintothebestsociety;adopteditsmannersandgaineditsesteemandlove;
thisman,whothoughaccustomedtoanadventurouslife,andwhomightjustlyhavebeenpuffedupbysuccess,hadyetenoughphilosophytoleadforthirty—fiveyearsatranquilprivateexistence,appearstometobeoneoftherarestcharacterstobemetwithinthepagesofhistory。"
CHAPTERVI
AtlengthLouisXIV,bowedbeneaththeweightofareignofsixtyyears,wassummonedinhisturntoappearbeforeGod,fromwhom,assomesaid,helookedforreward,andothersforpardon。ButNimes,thatcitywiththeheartoffire,wasquiet;likethewoundedwhohavelostthebestpartoftheirblood,shethoughtonly,withtheegotismofaconvalescent,ofbeingleftinpeacetoregainthestrengthwhichhadbecomeexhaustedthroughtheterriblewoundswhichMontrevelandtheDukeofBerwickhaddealther。Forsixtyyearspettyambitionhadtakentheplaceofsublimeself—sacrifice,anddisputesaboutetiquettesucceededmortalcombats。Thenthephilosophiceradawned,andthesarcasmsoftheencyclopedistswitheredthemonarchicalintoleranceofLouisXIVandCharlesIX。
ThereupontheProtestantsresumedtheirpreaching,baptizedtheirchildrenandburiedtheirdead,commerceflourishedoncemore,andthetworeligionslivedsidebyside,oneconcealingunderapeacefulexteriorthememoryofitsmartyrs,theotherthememoryofitstriumphs。Suchwasthemoodonwhichtheblood—redorbofthesunof'89rose。TheProtestantsgreeteditwithcriesofjoy,andindeedthepromisedlibertygavethembacktheircountry,theircivilrights,andthestatusofFrenchcitizens。
Nevertheless,whateverwerethehopesofonepartyorthefearsoftheother,nothinghadasyetoccurredtodisturbtheprevailingtranquillity,when,onthe19thand20thofJuly,1789,abodyoftroopswasformedinthecapitalofLaGardwhichwastobearthenameoftheNimesMilitia:theresolutionwhichauthorisedthisactwaspassedbythecitizensofthethreeorderssittinginthehallofthepalace。
Itwasasfollows:——
"Article10。TheNimesLegionshallconsistofacolonel,alieutenant—colonel,amajor,alieutenant—major,anadjutant,twenty—fourcaptains,twenty—fourlieutenants,seventy—twosergeants,seventy—twocorporals,andelevenhundredandfifty—twoprivates——inall,thirteenhundredandforty—ninemen,formingeightycompanies。
"Article11。Theplaceofgeneralassemblyshallbe,theEsplanade。
"Article12。Theeightycompaniesshallbeattachedtothefourquartersofthetownmentionedbelow——viz。,placede1'Hotel—de—
Ville,placedelaMaison—Carree,placeSaint—Jean,andplaceduChateau。
"Article13。Thecompaniesastheyareformedbythepermanentcouncilshalleachchooseitsowncaptain,lieutenant,sergeantsandcorporals,andfromthedateofhisnominationthecaptainshallhaveaseatonthepermanentcouncil。"
TheNimesMilitiawasdeliberatelyformeduponcertainlineswhichbroughtCatholicsandProtestantscloselytogetherasallies,withweaponsintheirhands;buttheystoodoveraminewhichwasboundtoexplodesomeday,astheslightestfrictionbetweenthetwopartieswouldproduceaspark。
Thisstateofconcealedenmitylastedfornearlyayear,beingaugmentedbypoliticalantipathies;fortheProtestantsalmosttomanwereRepublicans,andtheCatholicsRoyalists。
Intheinterval——thatistosay,towardsJanuary,1790——aCatholiccalledFrancoisFromentwasentrustedbytheMarquisdeFoucaultwiththetaskofraising,organising,andcommandingaRoyalistpartyintheSouth。Thiswelearnfromoneofhisownletterstothemarquis,whichwasprintedinParisin1817。Hedescribeshismodeofactioninthefollowingwords:——
Itisnotdifficulttounderstandthatbeingfaithfultomyreligionandmyking,andshockedattheseditiousideaswhichweredisseminatedonallsides,IshouldtrytoinspireotherswiththesamespiritwithwhichImyselfwasanimated,so,duringtheyear1789,IpublishedseveralarticlesinwhichIexposedthedangerswhichthreatenedaltarandthrone。Struckwiththejusticeofmycriticisms,mycountrymendisplayedthemostzealousardorintheireffortstorestoretothekingthefullexerciseofallhisrights。
Beinganxioustotakeadvantageofthisfavourablestateoffeeling,andthinkingthatitwouldbedangeroustoholdcommunicationwiththeministersofLouisXVI,whowerewatchedbytheconspirators,I
wentsecretlytoTurintosolicittheapprobationandsupportoftheFrenchprincesthere。Ataconsultationwhichwasheldjustaftermyarrival,Ishowedthemthatiftheywouldarmnotonlythepartisansofthethrone,butthoseofthealtar,andadvancetheinterestsofreligionwhileadvancingtheinterestsofroyalty,itwouldbeeasytosaveboth。
"Myplanhadforsoleobjecttobindapartytogether,andgiveitasfarasIwasablebreadthandstability。
"Astherevolutionistsplacedtheirchiefdependenceonforce,Ifeltthattheycouldonlybemetbyforce;forthenasnowIwasconvincedofthisgreattruth,thatonestrongpassioncanonlybeovercomebyanotherstronger,andthatthereforerepublicanfanaticismcouldonlybedrivenoutbyreligiouszeal。
"Theprincesbeingconvincedofthecorrectnessofmyreasoningandtheefficacyofmyremedies,promisedmethearmsandsuppliesnecessarytostemthetideoffaction,andtheComted'ArtoisgavemelettersofrecommendationtothechiefnoblesinUpperLanguedoc,thatImightconcertmeasureswiththem;forthenoblesinthatpartofthecountryhadassembledatToulousetodeliberateonthebestwayofinducingtheotherOrderstouniteinrestoringtotheCatholicreligionitsusefulinfluence,tothelawstheirpower,andtothekinghislibertyandauthority。
"OnmyreturntoLanguedoc,IwentfromtowntotowninordertomeetthosegentlementowhomtheComted'Artoishadwritten,amongwhomweremanyofthemostinfluentialRoyalistsandsomemembersoftheStatesofParliament。Havingdecidedonageneralplan,andagreedonamethodofcarryingonsecretcorrespondencewitheachother,I
wenttoNimestowaitfortheassistancewhichIhadbeenpromisedfromTurin,butwhichIneverreceived。Whilewaiting,Idevotedmyselftoawakeningandsustainingthezealoftheinhabitants,whoatmysuggestion,onthe20thApril,passedaresolution,whichwassignedby5,000inhabitants。"
Thisresolution,whichwasatonceareligiousandpoliticalmanifesto,wasdraftedbyViala,M。Froment'ssecretary,anditlayforsignatureinhisoffice。ManyoftheCatholicssigneditwithoutevenreadingit,fortherewasashortparagraphprefixedtothedocumentwhichcontainedalltheinformationtheyseemedtodesire。
"GENTLEMEN,——TheaspirationsofagreatnumberofourCatholicandpatrioticfellow—citizensareexpressedintheresolutionwhichwehavethehonouroflayingbeforeyou。Theyfeltthatunderpresentcircumstancessucharesolutionwasnecessary,andtheyfeelconvincedthatifyougiveityoursupport,astheydonotdoubtyouwill,knowingyourpatriotism,yourreligiouszeal,andyourloveforouraugustsovereign,itwillconducetothehappinessofFrance,themaintenanceofthetruereligion,andtherightfulauthorityoftheking。
"Weare,gentlemen,withrespect,yourveryhumbleandobedientservants,thePresidentandCommissionersoftheCatholicAssemblyofNimes。
（Signed）
FROMENT,CommissionerLAPIERRE,PresidentFOLACHER,"LEVELUT,CommissionerFAURE,"MELCHIOND,"
ROBIN,"VIGNE,"
Atthesametimeanumberofpamphlets,entitledPierreRomantotheCatholicsofNines,weredistributedtothepeopleinthestreets,containingamongotherattacksontheProtestantsthefollowingpassages:
"IfthedoortohighpositionsandcivilandmilitaryhonourswereclosedtotheProtestants,andapowerfultribunalestablishedatNimestoseethatthisrulewerestrictlykept,youwouldsoonseeProtestantismdisappear。
"TheProtestantsdemandtosharealltheprivilegeswhichyouenjoy,butifyougrantthemthis,theironethoughtwillthenbetodispossessyouentirely,andtheywillsoonsucceed。
"Likeungratefulvipers,whoinatorpidstatewereharmless,theywillwhenwarmedbyyourbenefitsturnandkillyou。
"Theyareyourbornenemies:yourfathersonlyescapedasbyamiraclefromtheirblood—stainedhands。Haveyounotoftenheardofthecrueltiespractisedonthem？ItwasaslightthingwhentheProtestantsinflicteddeathalone,unaccompaniedbythemosthorribletortures。Suchastheyweresuchtheyare。"
Itmayeasilybeimaginedthatsuchattackssoonembitteredmindsalreadydisposedtofindnewcausesfortheoldhatred,andbesidestheCatholicsdidnotlongconfinethemselvestoresolutionsandpamphlets。Froment,whohadalreadygothimselfappointedReceiver—GeneraloftheChapterandcaptainofoneoftheCatholiccompanies,insistedonbeingpresentattheinstallationoftheTownCouncil,andbroughthiscompanywithhimarmedwithpitchforks,inspiteoftheexpressprohibitionofthecolonelofthelegion。Theseforkswereterribleweapons,andhadbeenfabricatedinaparticularformfortheCatholicsofNimes,Uzes,andAlais。ButFromentandhiscompanypaidnoattentiontotheprohibition,andthisdisobediencemadeagreatimpressionontheProtestants,whobegantodivinethehostilityoftheiradversaries,anditisverypossiblethatifthenewTownCouncilhadnotshuttheireyestothisactofinsubordination,civilwarmighthaveburstforthinNimesthatveryday。
Thenextday,atroll—call,asergeantofanothercompany,oneAllien,acooperbytrade,tauntedoneofthemenwithhavingcarriedapitchforkthedaybefore,indisobediencetoorders。Herepliedthatthemayorhadpermittedhimtocarryit;Alliennotbelievingthis,proposedtosomeofthementogowithhimtothemayor'sandaskifitweretrue。WhentheysawM。Marguerite,hesaidthathehadpermittednothingofthekind,andsentthedelinquenttoprison。
Halfanhourlater,however,hegaveordersforhisrelease。
Assoonashewasfreehesetofftofindhiscomrades,andtoldthemwhathadoccurred:they,consideringthataninsulttoonewasaninsulttothewholecompany,determinedonhavingsatisfactionatonce,soabouteleveno'clockP。M。theywenttothecooper'shouse,carryingwiththemagallowsandropesreadygreased。Butquietlyastheyapproached,Allienheardthem,forhisdoorbeingboltedfromwithinhadtobeforced。Lookingoutofthewindow,hesawagreatcrowd,andashesuspectedthathislifewasindanger,hegotoutofabackwindowintotheyardandsoescaped。Themilitiabeingthusdisappointed,wreakedtheirvengeanceonsomepassingProtestants,whoseunluckystarshadledthemthatway;thesetheyknockedabout,andevenstabbedoneofthemthreetimeswithaknife。
Onthe22ndApril,1790,theroyalists——thatistosay,theCatholics——assumedthewhitecockade,althoughitwasnolongerthenationalemblem,andonthe1stMaysomeofthemilitiawhohadplantedamaypoleatthemayor'sdoorwereinvitedtolunchwithhim。
Onthe2nd,thecompanywhichwasonguardatthemayor'sofficialresidenceshoutedseveraltimesduringtheday,"Longlivetheking！
UpwiththeCrossanddownwiththeblackthroats！"（ThiswasthenamewhichtheyhadgiventotheCalvinists。）"Threecheersforthewhitecockade！Beforewearedone,itwillberedwiththebloodoftheProtestants！"However,onthe5thofMaytheyceasedtowearit,replacingitbyascarlettuft,whichintheirpatoistheycalledtheredpouf,whichwasimmediatelyadoptedastheCatholicemblem。
Eachdayasitpassedbroughtforthfreshbrawlsandprovocations:
libelswereinventedbytheCapuchins,andspreadabroadbythreeoftheirnumber。Meetingswereheldeveryday,andatlastbecamesonumerousthatthetownauthoritiescalledintheaidofthemilitia—dragoonstodispersethem。Nowthesegatheringsconsistedchieflyofthosetillersofthesoilwhoarecalledcebets,fromaProvencalwordcebe,whichmeans"onion,"andtheycouldeasilyberecognisedasCatholicsbytheirredpouf,whichtheyworebothinandoutofuniform。Ontheotherhand,thedragoonswereallProtestants。
However,theselatterweresoverygentleintheiradmonitions,thatalthoughthetwopartiesfoundthemselves,sotospeak,constantlyfacetofaceandarmed,forseveraldaysthemeetingsweredispersedwithoutbloodshed。Butthiswasexactlywhatthecebetsdidnotwant,sotheybegantoinsultthedragoonsandturnthemintoridicule。Consequently,onemorningtheygatheredtogetheringreatnumbers,mountedonasses,andwithdrawnswordsbegantopatrolthecity。
Atthesametime,thelowerclasses,whowerenearlyallCatholics,joinedtheburlesquepatrolsincomplainingloudlyofthedragoons,somesayingthattheirhorseshadtrampledontheirchildren,andothersthattheyhadfrightenedtheirwives。
TheProtestantscontradictedthem,bothpartiesgrewangry,swordswerehalfdrawn,whenthemunicipalauthoritiescameonthescene,andinsteadofapprehendingtheringleaders,forbadethedragoonstopatrolthetownanymore,orderingtheminfuturetodonothingmorethansendtwentymeneverydaytomountguardattheepiscopalpalaceandtoundertakenootherdutyexceptattheexpressrequestoftheTownCouncil。Althoughitwasexpectedthatthedragoonswouldrevoltagainstsuchahumiliation,theysubmitted,whichwasagreatdisappointmenttothecebets,whohadbeenlongingforachancetoindulgeinnewoutrages。Forallthat,theCatholicsdidnotconsiderthemselvesbeaten;theyfeltsureofbeingabletofindsomeotherwayofdrivingtheirquarrytobay。
Sunday,the13thofJune,arrived。ThisdayhadbeenselectedbytheCatholicsforagreatdemonstration。Towardsteno'clockinthemorning,somecompanieswearingtheredtuft,underpretextofgoingtomass,marchedthroughthecityarmedandutteringthreats。Thefewdragoons,ontheotherhand,whowereonguardatthepalace,hadnotevenasentinelposted,andhadonlyfivemusketsintheguard—