M。deJulienaccepted,andfeelingthathisreligiousbeliefwouldbeinthewayofhisadvancement,whenhechangedhismasterhechangedhisChurch。HewasgiventhecommandofthevalleyofBarcelonnette,whencehemademanyexcursionsagainsttheBarbets;thenhewastransferredtothecommandoftheAvennes,oftheprincipalityofOrange,inordertoguardthepasses,sothattheFrenchProtestantscouldnotpassoverthefrontierforthepurposeofworshippingwiththeirDutchProtestantbrethren;andafterhavingtriedthisforayear,hewenttoVersaillestoreporthimselftotheking。Whilehewasthere,itchancedthattheenvoyfromGevaudanarrived,andthekingbeingsatisfiedwithdeJulien'sconductsincehehadenteredhisservice,madehimmajor—general,chevalierofthemilitaryorderofSt。Louis;andcommander—in—chiefintheVivaraisandtheCevennes。
M。deJulienfromthefirstfeltthatthesituationwasverygrave,andsawthathispredecessorshadfeltsuchgreatcontemptforthehereticsthattheyhadnotrealisedthedangeroftherevolt。HeimmediatelyproceededtoinspectinpersonthedifferentpointswhereM。deBrogliehadplaceddetachmentsoftheTournonandMarsilyregiments。Itistruethathearrivedbythelightofthirtyburningvillagechurches。
M。deBroglie,M。deBaville,M。deJulien,andCaptainPoulmettogethertoconsultastothebestmeansofputtinganendtothesedisorders。Itwasagreedthattheroyaltroopsshouldbedividedintotwobodies,oneunderthecommandofM。deJulientoadvanceonAlais,whereitwasreportedlargemeetingsoftherebelsweretakingplace,andtheotherunderM。deBrogue,tomarchaboutintheneighbourhoodofNimes。
Consequently,thetwochiefsseparated。M。leComtedeBroglieattheheadofsixty—twodragoonsandsomecompaniesoffoot,andhavingunderhimCaptainPoulandM。deDourville,setoutfromCavayraconthe12thofJanuaryat2a。m。,andhavingsearchedwithoutfindinganythingthevineyardsofNimesandLaGarriguedeMilhau,tooktheroadtothebridgeofLunel。TherehewasinformedthatthosehewasinsearchofhadbeenseenatthechateauofCaudiacthedaybefore;
hethereforeatoncesetoutfortheforestwhichliesaroundit,notdoubtingtofindthefanaticsentrenchedthere;but,contrarytohisexpectations,itwasvacant。HethenpushedontoVauvert,fromVauverttoBeauvoisin,fromBeauvoisintoGenerac,wherehelearnedthatatroopofrebelshadpassedthenightthere,andinthemorninghadleftforAubore。Resolvedtogivethemnorest,M,deBrogliesetoutatonceforthisvillage。
Whenhalf—waythere,amemberofhisstaffthoughthecoulddistinguishacrowdofmennearahouseabouthalfaleaguedistant;
M。deBroglieinstantlyorderedSieurdeGibertin,CaptainPaul'slieutenant,whowasridingcloseby,attheheadofhiscompany,totakeeightdragoonsandmakeareconnaissance,inordertoascertainwhothesemenwere,whiletherestofthetroopswouldmakeahalt。
Thislittleband,ledbyitsofficer,crossedaclearinginthewood,andadvancedtowardsthefarmhouse,whichwascalledtheMasdeGafarel,andwhichnowseemeddeserted。Butwhentheywerewithinhalfagun—shotofthewallthechargewassoundedbehindit,andabandofrebelsrushedtowardsthem,whilefromaneighbouringhouseasecondtroopemerged,andlookinground,heperceivedathirdlyingontheirfacesinasmallwood。Theselattersuddenlystoodupandapproachedhim,singingpsalms。AsitwasimpossibleforM。deGibertintoholdhisgroundagainstsolargeaforce,heorderedtwoshotstobefiredasawarningtodeBroguetoadvancetomeethim,andfellbackonhiscomrades。Indeed,therebelshadonlypursuedhimtilltheyhadreachedafavourableposition,onwhichtheytooktheirstand。
M。deBroguehavingsurveyedthewholepositionwiththeaidofatelescope,heldacouncilofwar,anditwasdecidedthatanattackshouldbemadeforthwith。Theythereforeadvancedontherebelsinline:CaptainPoulontheright,M。deDourvilleontheleft,andCountBroglieinthecentre。
Astheygotneartheycouldseethattherebelshadchosentheirgroundwithanamountofstrategicalsagacitytheyhadnevertillthendisplayed。Thisskillinmakingtheirdispositionswasevidentlyduetotheirhavingfoundanewleaderwhomnooneknew,notevenCaptainPoul,althoughtheycouldseehimattheheadofhismen,carbineinhand。
However,thesescientificpreparationsdidnotstopM。deBrogue:hegavetheordertocharge,andaddingexampletoprecept,urgedhishorsetoagallop。Therebelsinthefirstrankkneltononeknee,sothattherankbehindcouldtakeaim,andthedistancebetweenthetwobodiesoftroopsdisappearedrapidly,thankstotheimpetuosityofthedragoons;butsuddenly,whenwithinthirtypacesoftheenemy,theroyalsfoundthemselvesontheedgeofadeepravinewhichseparatedthemfromtheenemylikeamoat。Somewereabletochecktheirhorsesintime,butothers,despitedesperateefforts,presseduponbythosebehind,werepushedintotheravine,androlledhelplesslytothebottom。Atthesamemomenttheordertofirewasgiveninasonorousvoice,therewasarattleofmusketry,andseveraldragoonsnearM。deBrogliefell。
"Forward！"criedCaptainPoul,"forward！"andputtinghishorseatapartoftheravinewherethesideswerelesssteep,hewassoonstrugglinguptheoppositeside,followedbyafewdragoons。
"DeathtothesonofBelial！"criedthesamevoicewhichhadgiventheordertofire。Atthatmomentasingleshotrangout,CaptainPoulthrewuphishands,lettinghissabrego,andfellfromhishorse,whichinsteadofrunningaway,touchedhismasterwithitssmokingnostrils,thenliftingitshead,neighedlongandlow。Thedragoonsretreated。
"SoperishallthepersecutorsofIsrael！"criedtheleader,brandishinghiscarbine。Hethendasheddownintotheravine,pickedupCaptainPoul'ssabreandjumpeduponhishorse。Theanimal,faithfultoitsoldmaster,showedsomesignsofresistance,butsoonfeltbythepressureofitsrider'skneesthatithadtodowithonewhomitcouldnotreadilyunseat。Nevertheless,itrearedandbounded,butthehorsemankepthisseat,andasifrecognisingthatithadmetitsmatch,thenobleanimaltosseditshead,neighedoncemore,andgavein。Whilethiswasgoingon,apartyofCamisards[NamegiventotheinsurgentCalvinistsaftertheRevocationoftheEdictofNantes。——Translator'sNote。]andoneofthedragoonshadgotdownintotheravine,whichhadinconsequencebeenturnedintoabattlefield;whilethosewhoremainedaboveoneithersidetookadvantageoftheirpositiontofiredownattheirenemies。M。deDourville,incommandofthedragoons,foughtamongtheotherslikeasimplesoldier,andreceivedaseriouswoundinthehead;hismenbeginningtoloseground,M。deBroguetriedtorallythem,butwithoutavail,andwhilehewasthusoccupiedhisowntroopranaway;
soseeingtherewasnoprospectofwinningthebattle,heandafewvaliantmenwhohadremainednearhimdashedforwardtoextricateM。
Dourville,who,takingadvantageoftheopeningthusmade,retreated,hiswoundbleedingprofusely。Ontheotherhand,theCamisardsperceivingatsomedistancebodiesofinfantrycominguptoreinforcetheroyals,insteadofpursuingtheirfoes,contentedthemselveswithkeepingupathickandwell—directedmusketry—firefromthepositioninwhichtheyhadwonsuchaquickandeasyvictory。
Assoonastheroyalforceswereoutofreachoftheirweapons,therebelchiefkneltdownandchantedthesongtheIsraelitessangwhen,havingcrossedtheRedSeainsafety,theysawthearmyofPharaohswallowedupinthewaters,sothatalthoughnolongerwithinreachofbulletsthedefeatedtroopswerestillpursuedbysongsofvictory。Theirthanksgivingsended,theCalvinistswithdrewintotheforest,ledbytheirnewchief,whohadathisfirstassayshownthegreatextentofhisknowledge,coolness,andcourage。
Thisnewchief,whosesuperiorsweresoontobecomehislieutenants,wasthefamousJeanCavalier。
JeanCavalierwasthenayoungmanoftwenty—three,oflessthanmediumheight,butofgreatstrength。Hisfacewasoval,withregularfeatures,hiseyessparklingandbeautiful;hehadlongchestnuthairfallingonhisshoulders,andanexpressionofremarkablesweetness。Hewasbornin168oatRibaute,avillageinthedioceseofAlais,wherehisfatherhadrentedasmallfarm,whichhegaveupwhenhissonwasaboutfifteen,comingtoliveatthefarmofSt。Andeol,nearMende。
YoungCavalier,whowasonlyapeasantandthesonofapeasant,beganlifeasashepherdattheSieurdeLacombe's,acitizenofVezenobre,butasthelonelylifedissatisfiedayoungmanwhowaseagerforpleasure,Jeangaveitup,andapprenticedhimselftoabakerofAnduze。
Therehedevelopedagreatloveforeverythingconnectedwiththemilitary;hespentallhisfreetimewatchingthesoldiersattheirdrill,andsoonbecameintimatewithsomeofthem,amongstotherswithafencing—masterwhogavehimlessons,andadragoonwhotaughthimtoride。
OnacertainSunday,ashewastakingawalkwithhissweetheartonhisarm,theyounggirlwasinsultedbyadragoonoftheMarquisdeFlorae'sregiment。Jeanboxedthedragoon'sears,whodrewhissword。Cavalierseizedaswordfromoneofthebystanders,butthecombatantswerepreventedfromfightingbyJean'sfriends。Hearingofthequarrel,anofficerhurriedup:itwastheMarquisdeFloraehimself,captainoftheregimentwhichborehisname;butwhenhearrivedonthescenehefound,notthearrogantpeasantwhohaddaredtoattackasoldieroftheking,butonlytheyounggirl,whohadfainted,thetownspeoplehavingpersuadedherlovertodecamp。
TheyounggirlwassobeautifulthatshewascommonlycalledlabelleIsabeau,andtheMarquisdeFlorac,insteadofpursuingJeanCavalier,occupiedhimselfinrevivingIsabeau。
Asitwas,however,aseriousaffair,andastheentireregimenthadswornCavalier'sdeath,hisfriendsadvisedhimtoleavethecountryforatime。LabelleIsabeau,tremblingforthesafetyofherlover,joinedherentreatiestothoseofhisfriends,andJeanCavalieryielded。Theyounggirlpromisedhiminviolablefidelity,andhe,relyingonthispromise,wenttoGeneva。
TherehemadetheacquaintanceofaProtestantgentlemancalledDuSerre,whohavingglass—worksattheMasArritas,quitenearthefarmofSt。Andeol,hadundertakenseveraltimes,attherequestofJean'sfather,Jerome,toconveymoneytoJean;forDuSerrewentveryoftentoGeneva,professedlyonbusinessaffairs,butreallyintheinterestsoftheReformedfaith。Betweentheoutlawandtheapostleunionwasnatural。DuSerrefoundinCavalierayoungmanofrobustnature,activeimagination,andirreproachablecourage;heconfidedtohimhishopesofconvertingallLanguedocandVivarais。Cavalierfelthimselfdrawnbacktherebymanyties,especiallybypatriotismandlove。Hecrossedthefrontieroncemore,disguisedasaservant,inthesuiteofaProtestantgentleman;hearrivedonenightatAnduze,andimmediatelydirectedhisstepstothehouseofIsabeau。
Hewasjustabouttoknock,althoughitwasoneo'clockinthemorning,whenthedoorwasopenedfromwithin,andahandsomeyoungmancameout,whotooktenderleaveofawomanonthethreshold。ThehandsomeyoungmanwastheMarquisdeFlorac;thewomanwasIsabeau。
Thepromisedwifeofthepeasanthadbecomethemistressofthenoble。
Ourherowasnotthemantosuffersuchanoutragequietly。Hewalkedstraightuptothemarquisandstoodrightinhisway。Themarquistriedtopushhimasidewithhiselbow,butJeanCavalier,lettingfallthecloakinwhichhewaswrapped,drewhissword。Themarquiswasbrave,anddidnotstoptoinquireifhewhoattackedhimwashisequalornot。Swordansweredsword,thebladescrossed,andattheendofafewinstantsthemarquisfell,Jean'sswordpiercinghischest。
Cavalierfeltsurethathewasdead,forhelayathisfeetmotionless。Heknewhehadnotimetolose,forhehadnomercytohopefor。Hereplacedhisbloodyswordinthescabbard,andmadefortheopencountry;fromtheopencountryhehurriedintothemountains,andatbreakofdayhewasinsafety。
Thefugitiveremainedthewholedayinanisolatedfarmhousewhoseinmatesofferedhimhospitality。Asheverysoonfeltthathewasinthehouseofaco—religionist,heconfidedtohishostthecircumstancesinwhichhefoundhimself,andaskedwherehecouldmeetwithanorganisedbandinwhichhecouldenrolhimselfinordertofightforthepropagationoftheReformedreligion。ThefarmermentionedGeneracasbeingaplaceinwhichhewouldprobablyfindahundredorsoofthebrethrengatheredtogether。Cavaliersetoutthesameeveningforthisvillage,andarrivedinthemiddleoftheCamisardsattheverymomentwhentheyhadjustcaughtsightofM。deBroglieandhistroopsinthedistance。TheCalvinistshappeningtohavenoleader,Cavalierwithgoverningfacultywhichsomemenpossessbynature,placedhimselfattheirheadandtookthosemeasuresforthereceptionoftheroyalforcesofwhichwehaveseentheresult,sothatafterthevictorytowhichhisheadandarmhadcontributedsomuchhewasconfirmedinthetitlewhichhehadarrogatedtohimself,byacclamation。
SuchwasthefamousJeanCavalierwhentheRoyalistsfirstlearnedofhisexistence,throughtherepulseoftheirbravesttroopsandthedeathoftheirmostintrepidcaptain。
ThenewsofthisvictorysoonspreadthroughtheCevennes,andfreshconflagrationslitupthemountainsinsignofjoy。ThebeaconswereformedofthechateaudelaBastide,theresidenceoftheMarquisdeChambonnas,thechurchofSamson,andthevillageofGrouppieres,whereofeightyhousesonlysevenwereleftstanding。
ThereuponM。deJulienwrotetotheking,explainingtheseriousturnthingshadtaken,andtellinghimthatitwasnolongerafewfanaticswanderingthroughthemountainsandflyingatthesightofadragoonwhomtheyhadtoputdown,butorganisedcompanieswellledandofficered,whichifunitedwouldformanarmytwelvetofifteenhundredstrong。ThekingrepliedbysendingM。leComtedeMontreveltoNimes。HewasthesonoftheMarechaldeMontrevel,chevalieroftheOrderoftheHolySpirit,major—general,lieutenantofthekinginBresseandCharolais,andcaptainofahundredmen—at—arms。
Intheirstruggleagainstshepherds,keepers,andpeasants,M。deBrogue,M。deJulien,andM。deBavillewerethusjoinedtogetherwiththeheadofthehouseofBeaune,whichhadalreadyatthisepochproducedtwocardinals,threearchbishops,twobishops,aviceroyofNaples,severalmarshalsofFrance,andmanygovernorsofSavoy,Dauphine,andBresse。
Hewasfollowedbytwentypiecesofordnance,fivethousandbullets,fourthousandmuskets,andfiftythousandpoundsofpowder,allofwhichwascarrieddowntheriverRhone,whilesixhundredoftheskilfulmountainmarksmencalled'miquelets'fromRoussilloncamedownintoLanguedoc。
M。deMontrevelwasthebearerofterribleorders。LouisXIVwasdetermined,nomatterwhatitcost,torootoutheresy,andsetaboutthisworkasifhiseternalsalvationdependedonit。AssoonasM。
deBavillehadreadtheseorders,hepublishedthefollowingproclamation:
"Thekinghavingbeeninformedthatcertainpeoplewithoutreligionbearingarmshavebeenguiltyofviolence,burningdownchurchesandkillingpriests,HisMajestyherebycommandsallhissubjectstohuntthesepeopledown,andthatthosewhoaretakenwitharmsintheirhandsorfoundamongsttheirbands,bepunishedwithdeathwithoutanytrialwhatever,thattheirhousesberazedtothegroundandtheirgoodsconfiscated,andthatallbuildingsinwhichassembliesofthesepeoplehavebeenheld,bedemolished。Thekingfurtherforbidsfathers,mothers,brothers,sisters,andotherrelationsofthefanatics,orofotherrebels,togivethemrefuge,food,stores,ammunition,orotherassistanceofanykind,underanypretextwhatever,eitherdirectlyorindirectly,onpainofbeingreputedaccessorytotherebellion,andhecommandstheSieurdeBavilleandwhateverofficershemaychoosetoprosecutesuchandpronouncesentenceofdeathonthem。Furthermore,HisMajestycommandsthatalltheinhabitantsofLanguedocwhomaybeabsentatthedateoftheissueofthisproclamation,returnhomewithinaweek,unlesstheirabsencebecausedbylegitimatebusiness,inwhichcasetheyshalldeclarethesametothecommandant,theSieurdeMontrevel,ortotheintendant,theSieurdeBaville,andalsotothemayorsandconsulsoftheplaceswheretheymaybe,receivingfromthelattercertificatesthatthereisasufficientreasonfortheirdelay,whichcertificatestheyshallforwardtotheabove—mentionedcommandantorintendant。AndHisMajestyfurthermorecommandsthesaidcommandantandintendanttoadmitnoforeignerorinhabitantofanyotherprovinceintoLanguedocforcommercialpurposesorforanyotherreasonwhatsoever,unlessprovidedwithcertificatesfromthecommandantsorintendantsoftheprovinceswhencetheycome,orfromthejudgesoftheroyalcourtsintheplaceswhencetheycome,orfromthenearestplacecontainingsuchcourts。Foreignersmustbeprovidedwithpassportsfromtheambassadorsorministersofthekingaccreditedtothecountriestowhichtheybelong,orfromthecommandantsorintendantsoftheprovinces,orfromthejudgesoftheroyalcourtsoftheplacesinwhichtheymaybeatthedateofthisproclamation。Furthermore,itisHisMajesty'swillthatthosewhoarefoundinthe,aforesaidprovinceofLanguedocwithoutsuchcertificatesberegardedasfanaticsandrebels,andthattheybeprosecutedassuch,andpunishedwithdeath,andthattheybebroughtforthispurposebeforetheaforesaidSieurdeBavilleortheofficerswhomhemaychoose。
（Signed）
（Countersigned）
LOUISPHILIPPEAU
"GivenatVersaillesthe25thday,ofthemonthofFebruary1703。"
M。deMontrevelobeyedthisproclamationtotheletter。Forinstance,oneday——the1stofApril1703——ashewasseatedatdinneritwasreportedtohimthataboutonehundredandfiftyReformerswereassembledinamillatCarmes,outsideNimes,singingpsalms。
Althoughhewastoldatthesametimethatthegatheringwascomposedentirelyofoldpeopleandchildren,hewasnonethelessfurious,andrisingfromthetable,gaveordersthatthecalltohorseshouldbesounded。Puttinghimselfattheheadofhisdragoons,headvancedonthemill,andbeforetheHuguenotsknewthattheywereabouttobeattackedtheyweresurroundedoneveryside。Itwasnocombatwhichensued,fortheHuguenotswereincapableofresistance,itwassimplyamassacre;acertainnumberofthedragoonsenteredthemillswordinhand,stabbingallwhomtheycouldreach,whilsttherestoftheforcestationedoutsidebeforethewindowsreceivedthosewhojumpedoutonthepointsoftheirswords。Butsoonthisbutcherytiredthebutchers,andtogetoverthebusinessmorequickly,themarshal,whowasanxioustoreturntohisdinner,gaveordersthatthemillshouldbesetonfire。Thisbeingdone,thedragoons,themarshalstillattheirhead,nolongerexertedthemselvessoviolently,butweresatisfiedwithpushingbackintotheflamesthefewunfortunateswho,scorchedandburnt,rushedout,beggingonlyforalesscrueldeath。
Onlyonevictimescaped。Abeautifulyounggirlofsixteenwassavedbythemarshal'svalet:bothweretakenandcondemnedtodeath;theyounggirlwashanged,andthevaletwasonthepointofbeingexecutedwhensomeSistersofMercyfromthetownthrewthemselvesatthemarshal'sfeetendbeggedforhislife:afterlongsupplication,hegrantedtheirprayer,buthebanishedthevaletnotonlyfromhisservice,butfromNimes。
Theverysameeveningatsupperwordwasbroughttothemarshalthatanothergatheringhadbeendiscoveredinagardennearthestillsmokingmill。Theindefatigablemarshalagainrosefromtable,andtakingwithhimhisfaithfuldragoons,surroundedthegarden,andcaughtandshotonthespotallthosewhowereassembledinit。Thenextdayitturnedoutthathehadmadeamistake:thosewhomhehadshotwereCatholicswhohadgatheredtogethertorejoiceovertheexecutionoftheCalvinists。ItistruethattheyhadassuredthemarshalthattheywereCatholics,buthehadrefusedtolistentothem。Letus,however,hastentoassurethereaderthatthismistakecausednofurtherannoyancetothemarshal,exceptthathereceivedapaternalremonstrancefromtheBishopofNimes,begginghiminfuturenottoconfoundthesheepwiththewolves。
Inrequitalofthesebloodydeeds,CavaliertookthechateauofSerras,occupiedthetownofSauve,formedacompanyofhorse,andadvancingtoNimes,tookforciblepossessionofsufficientammunitionforhispurposes。Lastly,hedidsomethingwhichintheeyesofthecourtiersseemedthemostincrediblethingofall,heactuallywrotealonglettertoLouisXIVhimself。Thisletterwasdatedfromthe"Desert,Cevennes,"andsigned"Cavalier,commanderofthetroopssentbyGod";itspurposewastoprovebynumerouspassagesfromHolyWritthatCavalierandhiscomradeshadbeenledtorevoltsolelyfromasenseofduty,feelingthatlibertyofconsciencewastheirright;anditdilatedonthesubjectofthepersecutionsunderwhichProtestantshadsuffered,andassertedthatitwastheinfamousmeasuresputinforceagainstthemwhichhaddriventhemtotakeuparms,whichtheywerereadytolaydownifHisMajestywouldgrantthemthatlibertyinmattersofreligionwhichtheysoughtandifhewouldliberateallwhowereinprisonfortheirfaith。Ifthiswereaccorded,heassuredthekingHisMajestywouldhavenomorefaithfulsubjectsthanthemselves,andwouldhenceforthbereadytoshedtheirlastdropofbloodinhisservice,andwoundupbysayingthatiftheirjustdemandswererefusedtheywouldobeyGodratherthantheking,andwoulddefendtheirreligiontotheirlastbreath。
Roland,who,whetherinmockeryorpride,begannowtocallhimself"ComteRoland,"didnotlagbehindhisyoungbrothereitheraswarriororcorrespondent。HehadenteredthetownofGanges,whereawonderfulreceptionawaitedhim;butnotfeelingsurethathewouldbeequallywellreceivedatSt。GermainandSt。Andre,hehadwrittenthefollowingletters:——
"Gentlemenandofficersoftheking'sforces,andcitizensofSt。
Germain,makereadytoreceivesevenhundredtroopswhohavevowedtosetBabylononfire;theseminaryandthehousesofMM。deFabregue,deSarrasin,deMoles,deLaRouviere,deMusse,anddeSolier,willbeburnttotheground。God,byHisHolySpirit,hasinspiredmybrotherCavalierandmewiththepurposeofenteringyourtowninafewdays;howeverstronglyyoufortifyyourselves,thechildrenofGodwillbearawaythevictory。Ifyedoubtthis,comeinyournumbers,yesoldiersofSt。Etienne,Barre,andFlorac,tothefieldofDomergue;weshallbetheretomeetyou。Come,yehypocrites,ifyourheartsfailnot。
"COMTEROLAND。"
Thesecondletterwasnolessviolent。Itwasasfollows:——
"We,ComteRoland,generaloftheProtestanttroopsofFranceassembledintheCevennesinLanguedoc,enjoinontheinhabitantsofthetownofSt。AndreofValborgnetogivepropernoticetoallpriestsandmissionarieswithinit,thatweforbidthemtosaymassortopreachintheafore—mentionedtown,andthatiftheywillavoidbeingburntalivewiththeiradherentsintheirchurchesandhouses,theyaretowithdrawtosomeotherplacewithinthreedays。
"COMTEROLAND。"
Unfortunatelyforthecauseoftheking,thoughtherebelsmetwithsomeresistanceinthevillagesoftheplain,suchasSt。GermainandSt。Andre,itwasotherwisewiththosesituatedinthemountains;inthose,whenbeaten,theProtestantsfoundcover,whenvictoriousrest;sothatM。deMontrevelbecomingawarethatwhilethesevillagesexistedheresywouldneverbeextirpated,issuedthefollowingordinance:——
"We,governorforHismostChristianMajestyintheprovincesofLanguedocandVivarais,doherebymakeknownthatithaspleasedthekingtocommandustoreducealltheplacesandparisheshereinafternamedtosuchaconditionthattheycanaffordnoassistancetotherebeltroops;noinhabitantswillthereforebeallowedtoremaininthem。HisMajesty,however,desiringtoprovideforthesubsistenceoftheafore—mentionedinhabitants,ordersthemtoconformtothefollowingregulations。Heenjoinsontheafore—mentionedinhabitantsofthehereinafter—mentionedparishestorepairinstantlytotheplaceshereinafterappointed,withtheirfurniture,cattle,andingeneralalltheirmovableeffects,declaringthatincaseofdisobediencetheireffectswillbeconfiscatedandtakenawaybythetroopsemployedtodemolishtheirhouses。Anditisherebyforbiddentoanyothercommunetoreceivesuchrebels,underpainofhavingtheirhousesalsorazedtothegroundandtheirgoodsconfiscated,andfurthermorebeingregardedandtreatedasrebelstothecommandsofHisMajesty。"
Tothisproclamationwereappendedthefollowinginstructions:——
"I。Theofficerswhomaybeappointedtoperformtheabovetaskshallfirstofallmakethemselvesacquaintedwiththepositionoftheparishesandvillageswhicharetobedestroyedanddepopulated,inordertoaneffectivedispositionofthetroops,whoaretoguardthemilitiaengagedintheworkofdestruction。
"II。Theattentionoftheofficersiscalledtothefollowing:——
Whentwoormorevillagesorhamletsaresoneartogetherthattheymaybeprotectedatthesametimebythesametroops,theninordertosavetimetheworkistobecarriedonsimultaneouslyinsuchvillagesorhamlets。
"III。Wheninhabitantsarefoundstillremaininginanyoftheproscribedplaces,theyaretobebroughttogether,andalistmadeofthem,aswellasaninventorytakenoftheirstockandcorn。
"IV。Thoseinhabitantswhoareofthemostconsequenceamongthemshallbeselectedtoguidetheotherstotheplacesassigned。
"V。Withregardtothelivestock,thepersonswhomaybefoundinchargeofitshalldriveittotheappointedplace,saveandexceptmulesandasses,whichshallbeemployedinthetransportofcorntowhateverplacesitmaybeneededin。Nevertheless,assesmaybegiventotheveryold,andtowomenwithchildwhomaybeunabletowalk。
"VI。Aregulardistributionofthemilitiaistobemade,sothateachhousetobedestroyedmayhaveasufficientnumber,forthetask;thefoundationsofsuchhousesmaybeunderminedoranyothermethodemployedwhichmaybemostconvenient;andifthehousecanbedestroyedbynoothermeans,itistobesetonfire。
"VII。NodamageistobedonetothehousesofformerCatholicsuntilfurthernotice,andtoensurethecarryingoutofthisorderaguardistobeplacedinthem,andaninventoryoftheircontentstakenandsenttoMarechaldeMontrevel。
"VIII。Theorderforbiddingtheinhabitantstoreturntotheirhousesistobereadtotheinhabitantsofeachvillage;butifanydoreturntheyshallnotbeharmed,butsimplydrivenawaywiththreats;forthekingdoesnotdesirethatbloodbeshed;andthesaidordershallbeaffixedtoawallortreeineachvillage。
"IX。Wherenoinhabitantsarefound,thesaidordershallsimplybeaffixedasabove—mentionedineachplace。
（Signed）"MARECHALDEMONTREVEL"
Undertheseinstructionsthelistofthevillagestobedestroyedwasgiven。Itwasasfollows:。
18intheparishofFrugeres,5""Fressinet—de—Lozere,4""Grizac,15""Castagnols,11""Vialas,6""Saint—Julien,8""Saint—MauricedeVantalon,14""FrezaldeVantalon,7""Saint—HilairedeLaret,6""Saint—AndeoldeClergues,28""Saint—PrivatdeVallongues,10""Saint—AndredeLancise,19""Saint—GermaindeCalberte,26""Saint—EtiennedeValfrancesque,9""parishesofPrunetandMontvaillant,16""parishofFlorac。
———
202
Asecondlistwaspromised,andwasshortlyafterwardspublished:itincludedtheparishesofFrugeres,Pompidon,Saint—Martin,Lansuscle,Saint—Laurent,Treves,Vebron,Ronnes,Barre,Montluzon,Bousquet,LaBarthes,Balme,Saint—Juliend'AspaonCassagnas,Sainte—CroixdeValfrancesque,Cabriac,Moissac,Saint—Roman,SaintMartindeRobaux,LaMelouse,leColletdeDeze,Saint—MicheldeDeze,andthevillagesofSalieges,Rampon,Ruas,Chavrieres,Tourgueselle,Ginestous,Fressinet,Fourques,Malbos,Jousanel,Campis,Campredon,Lous—Aubrez,LaCroixdeFer,LeCapdeCoste,Marquayres,LeCazairal,andLePoujal。
Inall,466markettowns,hamlets,andvillages,with19,500
inhabitants,wereincluded。
AllthesepreparationsmadeMarechaldeMontrevelsetoutforAix,September26th,1703,inorderthattheworkmightbecarriedoutunderhispersonalsupervision。HewasaccompaniedbyMM。deVergetotanddeMarsilly,colonelsofinfantry,twobattalionsoftheRoyal—Comtois,twooftheSoissonnaisinfantry,theLanguedocregimentofdragoons,andtwohundreddragoonsfromtheFimarconregiment。M。deJulien,onhisside,setoutforthePont—de—