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miscreants add terror to compulsion。 They erect gibbets for any one
that pays casual duties or annual dues； while the parishes of Quercy
threaten their neighbors of Perigord with fire and sword in a week's
time if they do not do in Perigord as they have done in Quercy。 …
The tocsin rings； the drums beat； and 〃the ceremony 〃 is performed
from commune to commune。 The keys of the church are forcibly taken
from the curé the seats are burned； and； frequently； the woodwork
marked with the seigneur's arms。 They march to the seigneur's
mansion； tear down his weathercocks； and compel him to furnish his
finest tree； together with feathers and ribbons with which to deck
it； without omitting the three measures which he uses in the
collection of his dues in grain or flour。 The maypole is planted in
the village square； and the weathercocks； ribbons； and feathers are
attached to its top； together with the three measures and this
inscription； 〃By order of the King and National Assembly； the final
quittance for all rentals。〃 When this is done it is evident that the
seigneur； who no longer possesses weathercocks； or a seat in the
church； or measures to rate his dues by； is no longer a seigneur；
and can no longer put forth claims of any kind。 Huzzahs and
acclamations accordingly burst forth； and there is a revel and an
orgy on the public square。 All who can pay … the seigneur； the
curé； and the rich … are put under contribution for the festival；
while the people eat and drink 〃without any interval of sobriety。〃
… In this condition； being armed； they strike； and when resistance
is offered； they burn。 In Agénois； a chateau belonging to M。 de
Lameth； and another of M。 d'Aiguillon； in Upper Languedoc； that of
M。 de Bournazel； and in Perigord that of M。 de Bar； are burnt down：
M。 de Bar is almost beaten to death； while six others are killed in
Quercy。 A number of chateaux in the environs of Montauban and in
Limousin are assaulted with firearms； and several are pillaged。 …
Bands of twelve hundred men swarm the country； 〃they have a spite
against every estate；〃 they redress wrongs； 〃they try over again
cases disposed of thirty years ago； and give judgments which they
put into execution。〃 … If anybody fails to conform to the new code
he is punished； and to the advantage of the new sovereigns。 In
Agénois； a gentleman having paid the rent which was associated with
his fief the people take his receipt from him； mulct him in a sum
equal to that which he paid； and come under his windows to spend the
money on good cheer； in triumph and with derision。
Many of the National Guards who still possess some degree of energy；
several of the municipalities which still preserve some love of
order； and a number of the resident gentry； employ their arms
against these excited swarms of brutal usurpers。 Some of the
ruffians； taken in the act； are judged somewhat after the fashion of
a drum…head court…martial； and immediately executed as examples。
Everybody in the country sees that the peril to society is great and
urgent； and that if such acts go unpunished； there will be no such
thing as law and property in France。 The Bordeaux parliament；
moreover； insists upon prosecutions。 Eighty…three boroughs and
cities sign addresses； and send a special deputation to the National
Assembly to urge on prosecutions already commenced； the punishment
of criminals under arrest； and； above all； the maintenance of the
prév？tés。＇65＇ In reply to this； the Assembly inflicts upon the
parliament of Bordeaux its disapprobation in the rudest manner； and
enters upon the demolition of every judicial corporation。＇66＇ After
this； the execution of all prévotal decisions is adjourned。 A few
months later the Assembly will oblige the King to declare that the
proceedings begun against the jacquerie of Brittany shall be
regarded as null and void； and that the arrested insurgents shall be
set free。 For repressive purposes； it dispatches a sentimental
exhortation to the French people； consisting of twelve pages of
literary insipidity； which Florian might have composed for his
Estilles and his Nemorins。＇67＇ … New conflagrations； as an
inevitable consequence； kindle around live coals which have been
imperfectly extinguished。 In the district of Saintes；＇68＇ M。
Dupaty； counselor of the parliament of Bordeaux； after having
exhausted mild resources； and having concluded by issuing writs
against those of his tenantry who would not pay their rents； the
parish of Saint…Thomas de Cosnac； combined with five or six others；
puts itself in motion and assails his two chateaux of Bois…Roche and
Saint…George…des…Agouts； these are plundered and then set on fire；
his son escaping through a volley of musket…balls。 They visit
Martin； the notary and steward； in the same fashion； his furniture
is pillaged and his money is taken； and 〃his daughter undergoes the
most frightful outrages。〃 Another detachment pushes on to the house
of…the Marquis de Cumont； and forces him； under the penalty of
having his house burnt down； to give a discharge for all the claims
he has upon them。 At the head of these incendiaries are the
municipal officers of Saint…Thomas； except the mayor； who has taken
to flight。
The electoral system organized by the Constituent Assembly is
beginning to take effect。 〃Almost everywhere；〃 writes the royal
commissioner； 〃the large proprietors have been eliminated； and the
offices have been filled by men who strictly fulfill the conditions
of eligibility。 The result is a sort of rage of the petty rich to
annoy those who enjoy large heritages。〃 … Six months later； the
National Guards and village authorities in this same department at
Aujean； Migron； and Varaise； decide that no more tithes； agriers or
champarts； nor any of the dues which are retained； shall be paid。
In vain does the department annul the decision； and send its
commissioners； gendarmes； and law…officers。 The commissioners are
driven away； and the officers and gendarmes are fired upon； the
vice…president of the district； who was on his way to make his
report to the department； is seized on the road and forced to give
in his resignation。 Seven parishes have coalesced with Aujean and
ten with Migron； Varaise has sounded the tocsin； and the villages
for four leagues round have risen； fifteen hundred men； armed with
guns； scythes； hatchets and pitchforks； lend their aid。 The object
is to set free the principal leader at Varaise； one Planche； who was
arrested； and to punish the mayor of Varaise； Latierce； who is
suspected of having denounced Planche。 Latierce is unmercifully
beaten； and 〃forced to undergo a thousand torments during thirty
hours；〃 then they set out with him to Saint…Jean…d'Angely； and
demand the release of Planche。 The municipality at first refuses；
but finally consents on the condition that Latierce be given up in
exchange for him。 Planche； consequently； is set at liberty and
welcomed with shouts of triumph。 Latierce； however； is not given
up； on the contrary； he is tormented for an hour and then massacred；
while the directory of the district； which is less submissive than
the municipal body； is forced to fly。 … Symptoms of this kind are
not to be mistaken； and similar ones exist in Brittany。 It is
evident that the minds of the people are permanently in revolt。
Instead of the social abscess being relieved by the discharge； it is
always filling up and getting more inflamed。 It will burst a second
time in the same places； in 1791 as in 1790； the jacquerie spreads
throughout Brittany as it has spread over Limousin。
This is because the determination of the peasant is of another
nature than ours； his will being more firm and tenacious。 When an
idea obtains a hold on him it takes root in an obscure and profound
conviction upon which neither discussion nor argument have any
effect； once planted； it vegetates according to his notions； not
according to ours； and no legislative text； no judicial verdict； no
administrative remonstrance can change in any respect the fruit it
produces。 This fruit； developed during centuries； is the feeling of
an excessive plunder； and； consequently； the need of an absolute
release。 Too much having been paid to everybody； the peasant now is
not disposed to pay anything to anybody； and this idea； vainly
repressed； always rises up in the manner of an instinct。 … In the
month of January； 1791；＇69＇ bands again form in Brittany； owing to
the proprietors of the ancient fiefs having insisted on the payment
of their rents。 At first the coalesced parishes refuse to pay the
stewards； and after this the rustic National Guards enter the
chateaux to constrain the proprietors。 Generally； it is the
commander of the National Guard； and sometimes the communal
attorney； who dictates to the lord of the manor the renunciation of
his claims； they oblige him； moreover； to sign notes for the b