house。Attwoo'clockP。M。therewasameetingheldintheJacobinchurch,consistingalmostexclusivelyofmilitiawearingtheredtuft。Themayorpronouncedapanegyriconthosewhoworeit,andwasfollowedbyPierreFroment,whoexplainedhismissioninmuchthesamewordsasthosequotedabove。Hethenorderedacaskofwinetobebroachedanddistributedamongthecebets,andtoldthemtowalkaboutthestreetsinthrees,andtodisarmallthedragoonswhomtheymightmeetawayfromtheirpost。Aboutsixo'clockintheeveningared—tuftvolunteerpresentedhimselfatthegateofthepalace,andorderedtheportertosweepthecourtyard,sayingthatthevolunteersweregoingtogetupaballforthedragoons。Afterthispieceofbravadohewentaway,andinafewmomentsanotearrived,couchedinthefollowingterms:
"Thebishop'sporteriswarnedtoletnodragoononhorseoronfootenterorleavethepalacethisevening,onpainofdeath。
13thJune1790。"
Thisnotebeingbroughttothelieutenant,hecameout,andremindedthevolunteerthatnobodybutthetownauthoritiescouldgiveorderstotheservantsatthepalace。Thevolunteergaveaninsolentanswer,thelieutenantadvisedhimtogoawayquietly,threateningifhedidnottoputhimoutbyforce。Thisaltercationattractedagreatmanyofthered—tuftsfromoutside,whilethedragoons,hearingthenoise,camedownintotheyard;thequarrelbecamemorelively,stoneswerethrown,thecalltoarmswasheard,andinafewmomentsaboutfortycebets,whowereprowlingaroundintheneighbourhoodofthepalace,rushedintotheyardcarryinggunsandswords。Thelieutenant,whohadonlyaboutadozendragoonsathisback,orderedthebugletosound,torecallthosewhohadgoneout;thevolunteersthrewthemselvesuponthebugler,draggedhisinstrumentfromhishands,andbrokeittopieces。Thenseveralshotswerefiredbythemilitia,thedragoonsreturnedthem,andaregularbattlebegan。Thelieutenantsoonsawthatthiswasnomerestreetrow,butadeliberaterisingplannedbeforehand,andrealisingthatveryseriousconsequenceswerelikelytoensue,hesentadragoontothetownhallbyabackwaytogivenoticetotheauthorities。
M。deSaint—Pons,majoroftheNimeslegion,hearingsomenoiseoutside,openedhiswindow,andfoundthewholecityinatumult:
peoplewererunningineverydirection,andshoutingastheyranthatthedragoonswerebeingkilledatthepalace。Themajorrushedoutintothestreetsatonce,gatheredtogetheradozentofifteenpatrioticcitizenswithoutweapons,andhurriedtothetownhall:
Therehefoundtwoofficialsofthetown,andbeggedthemtogoatoncetotheplacedel'Eveche,escortedbythefirstcompany,whichwasonguardatthetownhall。Theyagreed,andsetoff。Onthewayseveralshotswerefiredatthem,butnoonewashit。Whentheyarrivedatthesquare,thecebetsfiredavolleyatthemwiththesamenegativeresult。Upthethreeprincipalstreetswhichledtothepalacenumerousred—tuftswerehurrying;thefirstcompanytookpossessionoftheendsofthestreets,andbeingfiredatreturnedthefire,repulsingtheassailantsandclearingthesquare,withthelossofoneoftheirmen,whileseveraloftheretreatingcebetswerewounded。
Whilethisstrugglewasgoingonatthepalace,thespiritofmurderbrokelooseinthetown。
AtthegateoftheMadeleine,M。deJalabert'shousewasbrokenintobythered—tufts;theunfortunateoldmancameouttomeetthemandaskedwhattheywanted。"YourlifeandthelivesofalltheotherdogsofProtestants！"wasthereply。Whereuponhewasseizedanddraggedthroughthestreets,fifteeninsurgentshackingathimwiththeirswords。
Atlasthemanagedtoescapefromtheirhands,butdiedtwodayslaterofhiswounds。
AnotheroldmannamedAstruc,whowasbowedbeneaththeweightofseventy—twoyearsandwhosewhitehaircoveredhisshoulders,wasmetashewasonhiswaytothegateofCarmes。BeingrecognisedasaProtestant,hereceivedfivewoundsfromsomeofthefamouspitchforksbelongingtothecompanyofFroment。Hefell,buttheassassinspickedhimup,andthrowinghimintothemoat,amusedthemselvesbyflingingstonesathim,tilloneofthem,withmorehumanitythanhisfellows,putabulletthroughhishead。
Threeelectors——M。MassadorfromnearBeaucaire,M。ViallafromthecantonofLasalle,andM。Puechofthesameplace—wereattackedbyred—tuftsontheirwayhome,andallthreeseriouslywounded。ThecaptainwhohadbeenincommandofthedetachmentonguardattheElectoralAssemblywasreturningtohisquarters,accompaniedbyasergeantandthreevolunteersofhisowncompany,whentheywerestoppedonthePetit—CoursbyFroment,commonlycalledDamblay,who,pressingthebarrelofapistoltothecaptain'sbreast,said,"Stand,yourascal,andgiveupyourarms。"Atthesametimethered—tufts,seizingthecaptainfrombehindbythehair,pulledhimdown。Fromentfiredhispistol,butmissed。Ashefellthecaptaindrewhissword,butitwastornfromhishands,andhereceivedacutfromFroment'ssword。Uponthisthecaptainmadeagreateffort,andgettingoneofhisarmsfree,drewapistolfromhispocket,drovebackhisassassins,firedatFroment,andmissedhim。Oneofthemenbyhissidewaswoundedanddisarmed。
ApatroloftheregimentofGuienne,attachedtowhichwasM。Boudon,adragoonofficer,waspassingtheCalquieres。M。Boudonwasattackedbyabandofred—tuftsandhiscasqueandhismusketcarriedoff。Severalshotswerefiredathim,butnoneofthemhithim;thepatrolsurroundedhimtosavehim,butashehadreceivedtwobayonetwounds,hedesiredrevenge,and,breakingthroughhisprotectors,dartedforwardtoregainpossessionofhismusket,andwaskilledinamoment。Oneofhisfingerswascutofftogetatadiamondringwhichhewore,hispocketswererifledofhispurseandwatch,andhisbodywasthrownintothemoat。
Meantimetheplace—des—Recollets,theCours,theplace—des—Carmes,theGrand—Rue,andruedeNotreDame—de—l'Esplanadewerefilledwithmenarmedwithguns,pitchforks,andswords。TheyhadallcomefromFroment'shouse,whichoverlookedthatpartofNimescalledLesCalquieres,andtheentrancetowhichwasontherampartsneartheDominicanTowers。Thethreeleadersoftheinsurrection——Froment。
Folacher,andDescombiez——tookpossessionofthesetowers,whichformedapartoftheoldcastle;fromthispositiontheCatholicscouldsweeptheentirequayofLesCalquieresandthestepsoftheSalledeSpectaclewiththeirguns,andifitshouldturnoutthattheinsurrectiontheyhadexciteddidnotattainthedimensionstheyexpectednorgainsuchenthusiasticadherents,itwouldbequitefeasibleforthemtodefendthemselvesinsuchapositionuntilreliefcame。
Thesearrangementswereeithertheresultoflongmeditationorweretheinspirationofsomecleverstrategist。Thefactisthateverythingleadsonetobelievethatitwasaplanwhichhadbeenformedwithgreatcare,fortherapiditywithwhichalltheapproachestothefortresswerelinedwithadoublerowofmilitiamenallwearingtheredtuft,thecarewhichwastakentoplacethemosteagernextthebarracksinwhichtheparkofartillerywasstationed,andlastly,themannerinwhichtheapproachtothecitadelwasbarredbyanentirecompany（thisbeingtheonlyplacewherethepatriotscouldprocurearms）,combinetoprovethatthisplanwastheresultofmuchforethought;for,whileitappearedtobeonlydefensive,itenabledtheinsurrectioniststoattackwithoutmuch,danger;itcausedotherstobelievethattheyhadbeenfirstattacked。Itwassuccessfullycarriedoutbeforethecitizenswerearmed,anduntilthenonlyapartofthefootguardandthetwelvedragoonsatthepalacehadofferedanyresistancetotheconspirators。
Theredflagroundwhich,incaseofcivilwar,allgoodcitizenswereexpectedtogather,andwhichwaskeptatthetownhall,andwhichshouldhavebeenbroughtoutatthefirstshot,wasnowloudlycalledfor。TheAbbedeBelmont,acanon,vicar—general,andmunicipalofficial,waspersuaded,almostforced,tobecomestandard—bearer,asbeingthemostlikelyonaccountofhisecclesiasticalpositiontoawerebelswhohadtakenuparmsinthenameofreligion。Theabbehimselfgivesthefollowingaccountofthemannerinwhichhefulfilledthismandate:
"Aboutseveno'clockintheeveningIwasengagedwithMM。PorthierandFerrandinauditingaccounts,whenweheardanoiseinthecourt,andgoingoutonthelobby,wesawseveraldragoonscomingupstairs,amongstwhomwasM。Paris。Theytoldusthatfightingwasgoingonintheplacede—l'Eveche,becausesomeoneorotherhadbroughtanotetotheporterorderinghimtoadmitnomoredragoonstothepalaceonpainofdeath。AtthispointIinterruptedtheirstorybyaskingwhythegateshadnotbeenclosedandthebeareroftheletterarrested,buttheyrepliedtomethatithadnotbeenpossible;
thereuponMM。FerrandandPonthierputontheirscarfsandwentout。
"Afewinstantslaterseveraldragoons,amongstwhomIrecognisednonebutMM。LezanduPontet,Parisjunior,andBoudon,accompaniedbyagreatnumberofthemilitia,entered,demandingthattheredflagshouldbebroughtout。Theytriedtoopenthedoorofthecouncilhall,andfindingitlocked,theycalleduponmeforthekey。
Iaskedthatoneoftheattendantsshouldbesentfor,buttheywereallout;thenIwenttothehall—portertoseeifheknewwherethekeywas。HesaidM。Berdinghadtakenit。Meanwhile,justasthevolunteerswereabouttoforceanentrance,someoneranupwiththekey。Thedoorwasopened,andtheredflagseizedandforcedintomyhands。Iwasthendraggeddownintothecourtyard,andfromthencetothesquare。
"Itwasallinvaintotellthemthattheyoughtfirsttogetauthority,andtorepresenttothemthatIwasnosuitablestandard—beareronaccountofmyprofession;buttheywouldnotlistentoanyobjection,sayingthatmylifedependeduponmyobedience,andthatmyprofessionwouldoverawethedisturbersofthepublicpeace。SoIwenton,followedbyadetachmentoftheGuienneregiment,partofthefirstcompanyofthelegion,andseveraldragoons;ayoungmanwithfixedbayonetkeptalwaysatmyside。
Ragewasdepictedonthefacesofallthosewhoaccompaniedme,andtheyindulgedinoathsandthreats,towhichIpaidnoattention。
InpassingthroughtheruedesGreffestheycomplainedthatIdidnotcarrytheredflaghighenoughnorunfurlitfully。WhenwegottotheguardhouseattheCrownGate,theguardturnedout,andtheofficerwascommandedtofollowuswithhismen。HerepliedthathecouldnotdothatwithoutawrittenorderfromamemberoftheTownCouncil。ThereuponthosearoundmetoldmeImustwritesuchanorder,butIaskedforapenandink;everybodywasfuriousbecauseI
hadnonewithme。SooffensiveweretheremarksindulgedinbythevolunteersandsomesoldiersoftheGuienneregiment,andsothreateningtheirgestures,thatIgrewalarmed。Iwashustledandevenreceivedseveralblows;butatlengthM。deBoudonbroughtmepaperandapen,andIwrote:——'Irequirethetroopstoassistustomaintainorderbyforceifnecessary。'Uponthis,theofficerconsentedtoaccompanyus。WehadhardlytakenhalfadozenstepswhentheyallbegantoaskwhathadbecomeoftheorderIhadjustwritten,foritcouldnotbefound。Theysurroundedme,sayingthatIhadnotwrittenitatall,andIwasonthepointofbeingtrampledunderfoot,whenamilitiamanfounditallcrumpledupinhispocket。
Thethreatsgrewlouder,andoncemoreitwasbecauseIdidnotcarrytheflaghighenough,everyoneinsistingthatIwasquitetallenoughtodisplayittobetteradvantage。
"However,atthispointthemilitiamenwiththeredtuftsmadetheirappearance,afewarmedwithmusketsbutthegreaternumberwithswords;shotswereexchanged,andthesoldiersofthelineandtheNationalGuardarrangedthemselvesinbattleorder,inakindofrecess,anddesiredmetogoforwardalone,whichIrefusedtodo,becauseIshouldhavebeenbetweentwofires。
"Uponthis,curses,threats,andblowsreachedtheirheight。IwasdraggedoutbeforethetroopsandstruckwiththebuttendsoftheirmusketsandtheflatoftheirswordsuntilIadvanced。OneblowthatIreceivedbetweentheshouldersfilledmymouthwithblood。
"Allthistimethoseoftheoppositepartywerecomingnearer,andthosewithwhomIwascontinuedtoyellatmetogoon。IwentonuntilImetthem。Ibesoughtthemtoretire,eventhrowingmyselfattheirfeet。Butallpersuasionwasinvain;theysweptmealongwiththem,makingmeenterbytheCarmeliteGate,wheretheytooktheflagfrommeandallowedmetoenterthehouseofawomanwhosenameI
haveneverknown。Iwasspittingsuchaquantityofbloodthatshetookpityonmeandbroughtmeeverythingshecouldthinkofaslikelytodomegood,andassoonasIwasalittlerevivedIaskedtobeshownthewaytoM。Ponthier's。"
WhileAbbedeBelmontwascarryingtheredflagthemilitiaforcedtheTownCouncillorstoproclaimmartiallaw。Thishadjustbeendonewhenwordwasbroughtthatthefirstredflaghadbeencarriedoff,soM。FerranddeMissolgotoutanother,and,followedbyaconsiderableescort,tookthesameroadashiscolleague,AbbedeBelmont。WhenhearrivedattheCalquieres,thered—tufts,whostilladornedtherampartsandtowers,begantofireupontheprocession,andoneofthemilitiawasdisabled;theescortretreated,butM。
FerrandadvancedalonetotheCarmeliteGate,likeM。deBelmont,andlikehim,hetoo,wastakenprisoner。
Hewasbroughttothetower,wherehefoundFromentinafury,declaringthattheCouncilhadnotkeptitspromise,havingsentnorelief,andhavingdelayedtogiveupthecitadeltohim。
Theescort,however,hadonlyretreatedinordertoseekhelp;theyrushedtumultuouslytothebarracks,andfindingtheregimentofGuiennedrawnupinmarchingorderincommandofLieutenant—ColonelBonne,theyaskedhimtofollowthem,butherefusedwithoutawrittenorderfromaTownCouncillor。Uponthisanoldcorporalshouted,"BravesoldiersofGuienne！thecountryisindanger,letusnotdelaytodoourduty。""Yes,yes,"criedthesoldiers;"letusmarch"Thelieutenantcolonelnolongerdaringtoresist,gavethewordofcommand,andtheysetofffortheEsplanade。
Astheycameneartherampartwithdrumsbeating,thefiringceased,butasnightwascomingonthenew—comersdidnotdaretoriskattacking,andmoreoverthesilenceofthegunsledthemtothinkthattherebelshadgivenuptheirenterprise。Havingremainedanhourinthesquare,thetroopsreturnedtotheirquarters,andthepatriotswenttopassthenightinaninclosureontheMontpellierroad。
ItalmostseemedasiftheCatholicswerebeginningtorecognisethefutilityoftheirplot;foralthoughtheyhadappealedtofanaticism,forcedtheTownCounciltodotheirwill,scatteredgoldlavishlyandmadewineflow,outofeighteencompaniesonlythreehadjoinedthem。
"Fifteencompanies,"saidM。AlquierinhisreporttotheNationalAssembly,"althoughtheyhadadoptedtheredtuft,tooknopartinthestruggle,anddidnotaddtothenumberofcrimescommittedeitheronthatdayorduringthedaysthatfollowed。ButalthoughtheCatholicsgainedfewpartisansamongtheirfellow—citizens,theyfeltcertainthatpeoplefromthecountrywouldrallytotheiraid;
butaboutteno'clockintheeveningtherebelringleaders,seeingthatnohelparrivedfromthatquartereither,resolvedtoapplyastimulustothosewithout。Consequently,FromentwrotethefollowinglettertoM。deBonzols,under—commandantoftheprovinceofLanguedoc,whowaslivingatLunel:
"SIR,Uptothepresentallmydemands,thattheCatholiccompaniesshouldbeputunderarms,havebeenofnoavail。Inspiteoftheorderthatyougaveatmyrequest,theofficialsofthemunicipalitywereofopinionthatitwouldbemoreprudenttodelaythedistributionofthemusketsuntilafterthemeetingoftheElectoralAssembly。ThisdaytheProtestantdragoonshaveattackedandkilledseveralofourunarmedCatholics,andyoumayimaginetheconfusionandalarmthatprevailinthetown。Asagoodcitizenandatruepatriot,IentreatyoutosendanordertotheregimentofroyaldragoonstorepairatoncetoNimestorestoretranquillityandputdownallwhobreakthepeace。TheTownCouncildoesnotmeet,noneofthemdarestoleavehishouse;andifyoureceivenorequisitionfromthemjustnow,itisbecausetheygointerroroftheirlivesandfeartoappearopenly。Tworedflagshavebeencarriedaboutthestreets,andmunicipalofficerswithoutguardshavebeenobligedtotakerefugeinpatriotichouses。AlthoughIamonlyaprivatecitizen,Itakethelibertyofaskingforaidfromyou,knowingthattheProtestantshavesenttoLaVannageandLaGardonninquetoaskyouforreinforcements,andthearrivaloffanaticsfromthesedistrictswouldexposeallgoodpatriotstoslaughter。KnowingasI
doofyourkindnessandjustice,Ihavefulltrustthatmyprayerwillreceiveyourfavourableattention。
FROMENT,CaptainofCompanyNo。39
"June13,1790,11o'c。p。m。"
UnfortunatelyfortheCatholicparty,DupreandLieutaud,towhomthisletterwasentrustedfordelivery,andforwhompassportsweremadeoutasbeingemployedonbusinessconnectedwiththekingandtheState,werearrestedatVehaud,andtheirdespatcheslaidbeforetheElectoralAssembly。Manyotherlettersofthesamekindwerealsointercepted,andthered—tuftswentaboutthetownsayingthattheCatholicsofNimeswerebeingmassacred。
ThepriestofCourbessac,amongothers,wasshownalettersayingthataCapuchinmonkhadbeenmurdered,andthattheCatholicswereinneedofhelp。Theagentswhobroughtthislettertohimwantedhimtoputhisnametoitthattheymightshowiteverywhere,butweremetbyapositiverefusal。
AtBouillarguesandManduelthetocsinwassounded:thetwovillagesjoinedforces,andwithweaponsintheirhandsmarchedalongtheroadfromBeaucairetoNimes。AtthebridgeofQuartthevillagersofRedressanandMargueritejoinedthem。Thusreinforced,theywereabletobarthewaytoallwhopassedandsubjectthemtoexamination;ifamancouldshowhewasaCatholic,hewasallowedtoproceed,buttheProtestantsweremurderedthenandthere。Wemayremindourreadersthatthe"CadetsdelaCroix"pursuedthesamemethodin1704。
MeantimeDescombiez,Froment,andFolacherremainedmastersoftherampartsandthetower,andwhenveryearlyonemorningtheirforceswereaugmentedbytheinsurgentsfromthevillages（abouttwohundredmen）,theytookadvantageoftheirstrengthtoforceawayintothehouseofacertainTherond,fromwhichitwaseasytoeffectanentrancetotheJacobinmonastery,andfromtheretothetoweradjoining,sothattheirlinenowextendedfromthegateatthebridgeofCalquierestothatattheendofCollegeStreet。Fromdaylighttoduskallthepatriotswhocamewithinrangewerefiredatwhethertheywerearmedornot。
Onthe14thJune,atfouro'clockinthemorning,thatpartofthelegionwhichwasagainsttheCatholicsgatheredtogetherinthesquareoftheEsplanade,wheretheywerejoinedbythepatriotsfromtheadjacenttownsandvillages,whocameininsmallpartiestilltheyformedquiteanarmy。AtfiveA。M。M。deSt。Pons,knowingthatthewindowsoftheCapuchinmonasterycommandedthepositiontakenupbythepatriots,wenttherewithacompanyandsearchedthehousethoroughly,andalsotheAmphitheatre,butfoundnothingsuspiciousineither。
Immediatelyafter,newswasheardofthemassacresthathadtakenplaceduringthenight。
Thecountry—housebelongingtoM。andMme。Noguieshadbeenbrokeninto,thefurnituredestroyed,theownerskilledintheirbeds,andanoldmanofseventywholivedwiththemcuttopieceswithascythe。
Ayoungfellowoffifteen,namedPayre,inpassingneartheguardplacedatthePontdesfiles,hadbeenaskedbyared—tuftifhewereCatholicorProtestant。OnhisreplyinghewasProtestant,hewasshotdeadonthespot。"Thatwaslikekillingalamb,"saidacomradetothemurderer。"Pooh！"saidhe,"IhavetakenavowtokillfourProtestants,andhemaypassforone。"
M。Maigre,anoldmanofeighty—two,headofoneofthemostrespectedfamiliesintheneighbourhood,triedtoescapefromhishousealongwithhisson,hisdaughter—in—law,twograndchildren,andtwoservants;butthecarriagewasstopped,andwhiletherebelsweremurderinghimandhisson,themotherandhertwochildrensucceededinescapingtoaninn,whithertheassassinspursuedthem,Fortunately,however,thetwofugitiveshavingastart,reachedtheinnafewminutesbeforetheirpursuers,andtheinnkeeperhadenoughpresenceofmindtoconcealthemandopenthegardengatebywhichhesaidtheyhadescaped。TheCatholics,believinghim,scatteredoverthecountrytolookforthem,andduringtheirabsencethemotherandchildrenwererescuedbythemountedpatrol。
TheexasperationoftheProtestantsrosehigherandhigherasreportsofthesemurderscameinonebyone,tillatlastthedesireforvengeancecouldnolongerberepressed,andtheywereclamorouslyinsistingonbeingledagainsttherampartsandthetowers,whenwithoutwarningaheavyfusilladebeganfromthewindowsandtheclocktoweroftheCapuchinmonastery。M。Massin,amunicipalofficer,waskilledonthespot,asapperfatallywounded,andtwenty—fiveoftheNationalGuardwoundedmoreorlessseverely。TheProtestantsimmediatelyrushedtowardsthemonasteryinadisorderlymass;butthesuperior,insteadoforderingthegatestobeopened,appearedatawindowabovetheentrance,andaddressingtheassailantsasthevilestofthevile,askedthemwhattheywantedatthemonastery。"Wewanttodestroyit,wewanttopullitdowntillnotonestonerestsuponanother,"theyreplied。Uponthis,thereverendfatherorderedthealarmbellstoberung,andfromthemouthsofbronzeissuedthecallforhelp;butbeforeitcouldarrive,thedoorwasburstinwithhatchets,andfiveCapuchinsandseveralofthemilitiawhoworetheredtuftwerekilled,whilealltheotheroccupantsofthemonasteryranaway,takingrefugeinthehouseofaProtestantcalledPaulhan。Duringthisattackthechurchwasrespected;amanfromSornmieres,however,stoleapyxwhichhefoundinthesacristy,butassoonashiscomradesperceivedthishewasarrestedandsenttoprison。
Inthemonasteryitself,however,thedoorswerebrokenin,thefurnituresmashed,thelibraryandthedispensarywrecked。Thesacristyitselfwasnotspared,itspressesbeingbrokeninto,itschestsdestroyed,andtwomonstrancesbroken;butnothingfurtherwastouched。Thestorehousesandthesmallcloth—factoryconnectedwiththemonasteryremainedintact,likethechurch。
Butstillthetowersheldout,anditwasroundthemthattherealfightingtookplace,theresistanceofferedfromwithinbeingallthemoreobstinatethatthebesiegedexpectedrelieffrommomenttomoment,notknowingthattheirlettershadbeeninterceptedbytheenemy。Oneverysidetherattlingofshotwasheard,fromtheEsplanade,fromthewindows,fromtheroofs;butverylittleeffectwasproducedbytheProtestants,forDescombiezhadtoldhismentoputtheircapswiththeredtuftsonthetopofthewall,toattractthebullets,whiletheyfiredfromtheside。Meantimetheconspirators,inordertogetabettercommandofthebesiegers,reopenedapassagewhichhadbeenlongwalledupbetweenthetowerDuPoidsandthetoweroftheDominicans。Descombiez,accompaniedbythirtymen,cametothedoorofthemonasterynearestthefortificationsanddemandedthekeyofanotherdoorwhichledtothatpartoftherampartswhichwasoppositetheplacedesCarmes,wheretheNationalGuardswerestationed。Inspiteoftheremonstrancesofthemonks,whosawthatitwouldexposethemtogreatdanger,thedoorswereopened,andFromenthastenedtooccupyeverypostofvantage,andthebattlebeganinthatquarter,too,becomingfiercerastheconspiratorsremarkedthateveryminutebroughttheProtestantsreinforcementsfromGardonninqueandLaVaunage。Thefiringbeganatteno'clockinthemorning,andatfouro'clockintheafternoonitwasgoingonwithunabatedfury。
Atfouro'clock,however,aservantcarryingaflagoftruceappeared;hebroughtaletterfromDescombiez,Fremont,andFolacher,whostyledthemselves"CaptainscommandingthetowersoftheCastle。"
Itwascouchedinthefollowingwords:——
"TotheCommandantofthetroopsoftheline,withtherequestthatthecontentsbecommunicatedtothemilitiastationedintheEsplanade。
"SIR,——Wehavejustbeeninformedthatyouareanxiousforpeace。Wealsodesireit,andhaveneverdoneanythingtobreakit。Ifthosewhohavecausedthefrightfulconfusionwhichatpresentprevailsinthecityarewillingtobringittoanend,weoffertoforgetthepastandtolivewiththemasbrothers。
"Weremain,withallthefranknessandloyaltyofpatriotsandFrenchmen,yourhumbleservants,TheCaptainsoftheLegionofNimes,incommandofthetowersoftheCastle,"FROMENT,DESCOMBIEZ,FOLACHERNIMES,the14thJune1790,4。00P。M。"
Onthereceiptofthisletter,thecityheraldwassenttothetowerstooffertherebelstermsofcapitulation。Thethree"captainsincommand"cameouttodiscussthetermswiththecommissionersoftheelectoralbody;theywerearmedandfollowedbyagreatnumberofadherents。However,asthenegotiatorsdesiredpeacebeforeallthings,theyproposedthatthethreechiefsshouldsurrenderandplacethemselvesinthehandsoftheElectoralAssembly。Thisofferbeingrefused,theelectoralcommissionerswithdrew,andtherebelsretiredbehindtheirfortifications。Aboutfiveo'clockintheevening,justasthenegotiationswerebrokenoff,M。Aubry,anartillerycaptainwhohadbeensentwithtwohundredmentothedepotoffieldartilleryinthecountry,returnedwithsixpiecesofordnance,determinedtomakeabreachinthetoweroccupiedbytheconspirators,andfromwhichtheywerefiringinsafetyatthesoldiers,whohadnocover。Atsixo'clock,thegunsbeingmounted,theirthunderbegan,firstdrowningthenoiseofthemusketryandthensilencingitaltogether;forthecannonballsdidtheirworkquickly,andbeforelongthetowerthreatenedtofall。Thereupontheelectoralcommissionersorderedthefiringtoceaseforamoment,inthehopethatnowthedangerhadbecomesoimminenttheleaderswouldaccepttheconditionswhichtheyhadrefusedonehourbefore;andnotdesiringtodrivethemtodesperation,thecommissionersadvancedagaindownCollegeStreet,precededbyabugler,andthecaptainswereoncemoresummonedtoaparley。FromentandDescombiezcameouttomeetthem,andseeingtheconditionofthetower,theyagreedtolaydowntheirarmsandsendthemforthepalace,whiletheythemselveswouldproceedtotheElectoralAssemblyandplacethemselvesunderitsprotection。Theseproposalsbeingaccepted,thecommissionerswavedtheirhatsasasignthatthetreatywasconcluded。
Atthatinstantthreeshotswerefiredfromtheramparts,andcriesof"Treachery！treachery！"wereheardoneveryside。TheCatholicchiefsreturnedtothetower,whiletheProtestants,believingthatthecommissionerswerebeingassassinated,reopenedthecannonade;
butfindingthatittooktoolongtocompletethebreach,ladderswerebrought,thewallsscaled,andthetowerscarriedbyassault。
SomeoftheCatholicswerekilled,theothersgainedFroment'shouse,where,encouragedbyhim,theytriedtoorganisearesistance;buttheassailants,despitetheoncomingdarkness,attackedtheplacewithsuchfurythatdoorsandwindowswereshatteredinaninstant。
FromentandhisbrotherPierretriedtoescapebyanarrowstaircasewhichledtotheroof,butbeforetheyreacheditPierrewaswoundedinthehipandfell;butFromentreachedtheroof,andspranguponanadjacenthousetop,andclimbingfromrooftoroof,reachedthecollege,andgettingintoitbyagarretwindow,tookrefugeinalargeroomwhichwasalwaysunoccupiedatnight,beingusedduringthedayasastudy。
Fromentremainedhiddenthereuntileleveno'clock。Itbeingthencompletelydark,hegotoutofthewindow,crossedthecity,gainedtheopencountry,andwalkingallnight,concealedhimselfduringthedayinthehouseofaCatholic。Thenextnighthesetoffagain,andreachedthecoast,whereheembarkedonboardavesselforItaly,inordertoreporttothosewhohadsenthimthedisastrousresultofhisenterprise。
Forthreewholedaysthecarnagelasted。TheProtestantslosingallcontroloverthemselves,carriedontheworkofdeathnotonlywithoutpitybutwithrefinedcruelty。MorethanfivehundredCatholicslosttheirlivesbeforethe17th,whenpeacewasrestored。
ForalongtimerecriminationswentonbetweenCatholicsandProtestants,eachpartytryingtofixontheothertheresponsibilityforthosedreadfulthreedays;butatlastFranqoisFromentputanendtoalldoubtonthesubject,bypublishingaworkfromwhicharesetforthmanyofthedetailsjustlaidbeforeourreaders,aswellastherewardhemetwithwhenhereachedTurin。AtameetingoftheFrenchnoblesinexile,aresolutionwaspassedinfavourofM。PierreFromentandhischildren,inhabitantsofNimes。