按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
their passage。 The troops halted； and Ravanel gave orders to fire。
The first rank raised their muskets and took aim； thus indicating
that they were ready to obey。 But it was not a danger of this kind
that could frighten Cavalier； he continued to advance。 Then Moses
seeing his peril； threw himself between the Camisards and him；
stretching out his arms and shouting； 〃Stop！ stop！ misguided men！
Are you going to kill Brother Cavalier like a highwayman and thief？
You must pardon him； my brethren！ you must pardon him！ If he has
done wrong in the past； he will do better in future。〃
Then those who had taken aim at Cavalier grounded their muskets； and
Cavalier changing menace for entreaty； begged them not to break the
promise that he had made in their name； whereupon the prophets struck
up a psalm； and the rest of the soldiers joining in； his voice was
completely drowned。 Nevertheless； Cavalier did not lose heart； but
accompanied them on their march to Saint…Esteve； about a league
farther on； unable to relinquish all hope。 On reaching Saint…Esteve
the singing ceased for a moment； and he made another attempt to
recall them to obedience。 Seeing； however； that it was all in vain；
he gave up hope； and ％… calling out； 〃At least defend yourselves as
well as you can； for the dragoons will soon be on you；〃 he set his
horse's head towards the town。 Then turning to them for the last
time； he said； 〃Brethren； let those who love me follow me！〃 He
pronounced these words in tones so full of grief and affection that
many were shaken in their resolution； but Ravanel and Moses seeing
the effect he had produced； began to shout； 〃The sword of the Lord！〃
Immediately all the troops turned their back on Cavalier except about
forty men who had joined him on his first appearance。
Cavalier went into a house near by； and wrote another letter to M。 de
Villars； in which he told him what had just taken place； the efforts
he had made to win back his troops； and the conditions they demanded。
He ended by assuring him that he would make still further efforts；
and promised the marechal that he would keep him informed of
everything that went on。 He then withdrew to Cardet； not venturing
to return to Calvisson。
Both Cavalier's letters reached M。 de Villars at the same time； in
the first impulse of anger aroused by this unexpected check； he
issued the following order：
〃Since coming to this province and taking over the government by
order of the king； our sole thought has been how to put an end to the
disorders we found existing here by gentle measures； and to restore
peace and to preserve the property of those who had taken no part in
the disturbances。 To that end we obtained His Majesty's pardon for
those rebels who had； by the persuasion of their chiefs； been induced
to lay down their arms； the only condition exacted being that they
should throw themselves on the king's clemency and beg his permission
to expiate their crime by adventuring their lives in his service。
But； being informed that instead of keeping the engagements they had
made by signing petitions； by writing letters； and by speaking words
expressing their intentions； some among them have been trying to
delude the minds of the people with false hopes of full liberty for
the exercise of this so…called Reformed religion； which there has
never been any intention of granting； but which we have always
declared as clearly as we could； to be contrary to the will of the
king and likely to bring about great evils for which it would be
difficult to find a remedy； it becomes necessary to prevent those who
give belief to these falsehoods from expecting to escape from
well…deserved chastisement。 We therefore declare hereby that all
religious assemblies are expressly forbidden under the penalties
proclaimed in the edicts and ordinances of His Majesty； and that
these will be more strictly enforced in the future than in the past。
〃Furthermore； we order all the troops under our command to break up
such assemblies by force； as having been always illegal； and we
desire to impress on the new converts of this province that they are
to give their obedience where it is due； and we forbid them to give
any credence to the false reports which the enemies of their repose
are spreading abroad。 If they let themselves be led astray； they
will soon find themselves involved in troubles and misfortunes； such
as the loss of their lands； the ruin of their families； and the
desolation of their country； and we shall take care that the true
authors of these misfortunes shall receive punishment proportioned to
their crime。
〃 MARECHAL DE VILLARS
〃 Given at Nimes the 27th day of May 1704 〃
This order； which put everything back upon the footing on which it
had been in the time of M。 de Montrevel； had hardly been issued than
d'Aygaliers； in despair at seeing the result of so much labour
destroyed in one day； set off for the mountains to try and find
Cavalier。 He found him at Cardet； whither； as we have said； he had
retired after the day of Calvisson。 Despite the resolution which
Cavalier had taken never to show his face again to the marechal； the
baron repeated to him so many times that M。 de Villars was thoroughly
convinced that what had happened had not been his fault； he having
done everything that he could to prevent it； that the young chief
began to feel his self…confidence and courage returning； and hearing
that the marachal had expressed himself as very much pleased with his
conduct； to which Vincel had borne high testimony； made up his mind
to return to Nimes。 They left Cardet at once； followed by the forty
men who had remained true to Cavalier； ten on horse and thirty on
foot； and arrived on the 3lst May at Saint…Genies； whither M。 de
Villars had come to meet them。
The assurances of d'Aygaliers were justified。 The marechal received
Cavalier as if he were still the chief of a powerful party and able
to negotiate with him on terms of equality。 At Cavalier's request；
in order to prove to him that he stood as high in his good opinion as
ever； the marechal returned once more to gentle methods； and
mitigated the severity of his first proclamation by a second；
granting an extension of the amnesty：
〃The principal chiefs of the rebels； with the greater number of their
followers； having surrendered； and having received the king's pardon；
we declare that we give to all those who have taken up arms until
next Thursday； the 5th instant inclusive； the opportunity of
receiving the like pardon； by surrendering to us at Anduze； or to M。
le Marquis de Lalande at Alais； or to M。 de Menon at Saint Hippolyte；
or to the commandants of Uzes； Nimes； and Lunel。 But the fifth day
passed； we shall lay a heavy hand on all rebels； pillaging and
burning all the places which have given them refuge； provisions； or
help of any kind； and that they may not plead ignorance of this
proclamation； we order it to be publicly read and posted up in every
suitable place。
〃MARECHAL DE VILLARS
〃At Saint…Genies； the 1st June 1704〃
The next day； in order to leave no doubt as to his good intentions；
the marechal had the gibbets and scaffolds taken down； which until
then had been permanent erections。
At the same time all the Huguenots were ordered to make a last effort
to induce the Camisard chiefs to accept the conditions offered them
by M。 de Villars。 The towns of Alais； Anduze； Saint…Jean； Sauve；
Saint…Hippolyte； and Lasalle； and the parishes of Cros； Saint…Roman；
Manoblet； Saint…Felix； Lacadiere； Cesas； Cambo； Colognac； and Vabre
were ordered to send deputies to Durfort to confer as to the best
means of bringing about that peace which everyone desired。 These
deputies wrote at once to M。 de Villars to beg him to send them M。
d'Aygaliers； and to M。 d'Aygaliers to request him to come。
Both consented to do as they were asked； and M。 d'Aygaliers arrived
at Durfort on the 3rd of June 1704。
The deputies having first thanked him for the trouble which he had
taken to serve the common cause during the past year； resolved to
divide their assembly into two parts； one of which； was to remain
permanently sitting； while the other went to seek Roland and Ravanel
to try and obtain a cessation of hostilities。 The deputies charged
with this task were ordered to make it quite clear to the two chiefs
that if they did not accept the proposals made by M。 de Villars； the
Protestants in general would take up arms and hunt them down； and
would cease to supply them with the means of subsistence。
On hearing this； Roland made reply that the deputies were to go back
at once to those who sent them； and threatened； should they ever show
him their faces again； to fire on them。
This answer put an end to the assembly； the deputies dispersed； and
d'Aygaliers returned to the Marechal de Villars to make his report。
Hardly had he done this when a letter from Roland arrived； in which
the Camisard chief asked M。 de Villars to grant him an interview；
such as he had granted to Cavalier。 This letter was addressed to
d'Aygaliers； who immediately communicated its contents to the
marechal； from whom he received orders to set out at once to f