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as St。 Peter by the angel； he had passed through the guards invisible
to all； leaving his fetters behind。
This incomprehensible escape redoubled the severity of the
Arch…priest； till at last the prophets； feeling that their only
chance of safety lay in getting rid of him； began to preach against
him as Antichrist； and advocate his death。 The abbe was warned of
this； but nothing could abate his zeal。 In France as in India；
martyrdom was his longed…for goal； and with head erect and
unfaltering step he 〃pressed toward the mark。〃
At last； on the evening of the 24th of July； two hundred conspirators
met in a wood on the top of a hill which overlooked the bridge of
Montvert； near which was the Arch…priest's residence。 Their leader
was a man named Laporte； a native of Alais； who had become a
master…blacksmith in the pass of Deze。 He was accompanied by an
inspired man； a former wool…carder； born at Magistavols； Esprit
Seguier by name。 This man was； after Laquoite； the most highly
regarded of the twenty or thirty prophets who were at that moment
going up and down the Cevennes in every direction。 The whole party
was armed with scythes； halberts； and swords； a few had even pistols
and guns。
On the stroke of ten； the hour fixed for their departure； they all
knelt down and with uncovered heads began praying as fervently as if
they were about to perform some act most pleasing to God； and their
prayers ended； they marched down the hill to the town； singing
psalms； and shouting between the verses to the townspeople to keep
within their homes； and not to look out of door or window on pain of
death。
The abbe was in his oratory when he heard the mingled singing and
shouting； and at the same moment a servant entered in great alarm；
despite the strict regulation of the Arch…priest that he was never to
be interrupted at his prayers。 This man announced that a body of
fanatics was coming down the hill； but the abbe felt convinced that
it was only an unorganised crowd which was going to try and carry off
six prisoners； at that moment in the 'ceps。' ＇ A terrible kind of
stocksa beam split in two； no notches being made for the legs： the
victim's legs were placed between the two pieces of wood； which were
then； by means of a vice at each end； brought gradually together。
Translators Note。＇
These prisoners were three young men and three girls in men's
clothes； who had been seized just as they were about to emigrate。 As
the abbe was always protected by a guard of soldiers； he sent for the
officer in command and ordered him to march against； the fanatics and
disperse them。 But the officer was spared the trouble of obeying；
for the fanatics were already at hand。 On reaching the gate of the
courtyard he heard them outside； and perceived that they were making
ready to burst it in。 Judging of their numbers by the sound of their
voices； he considered that far from attacking them； he would have
enough to do in preparing for defence； consequently he bolted and
barred the gate on the inside； and hastily erected a barricade under
an arch leading to the apartments of the abbe。 Just as these
preparations were complete； Esprit Seguier caught sight of a heavy
beam of wood lying in a ditch； this was raised by a dozen men and
used as a battering…ram to force in the gate； which soon showed a
breach。 Thus encouraged； the workers； cheered by the chants of their
comrades； soon got the gate off the hinges； and thus the outside
court was taken。 The crowd then loudly demanded the release of the
prisoners； using dire threats。
The commanding officer sent to ask the abbe what he was to do； the
abbe replied that he was to fire on the conspirators。 This imprudent
order was carried out； one of the fanatics was killed on the spot；
and two wounded men mingled their groans with the songs and threats
of their comrades。
The barricade was next attacked； some using axes； others darting
their swords and halberts through the crevices and killing those
behind； as for those who had firearms； they climbed on the shoulders
of the others； and having fired at those below； saved themselves by
tumbling down again。 At the head of the besiegers were Laporte and
Esprit Seguier； one of whom had a father to avenge and the other a
son； both of whom had been done to death by the abbe。 They were not
the only ones of the party who were fired by the desire of vengeance；
twelve or fifteen others were in the same position。
The abbe in his room listened to the noise of the struggle； and
finding matters growing serious； he gathered his household round him；
and making them kneel down； he told them to make their confession；
that he might； by giving them absolution； prepare them for appearing
before God。 The sacred words had just been pronounced when the
rioters drew near； having carried the barricade； and driven the
soldiers to take refuge in a hall on the ground floor just under the
Arch…priest's room。
But suddenly； the assault was stayed； some of the men going to
surround the house； others setting out on a search for the prisoners。
These were easily found； for judging by what they could hear that
their brethren had come to their rescue； they shouted as loudly as
they could。
The unfortunate creatures had already passed a whole week with their
legs caught and pressed by the cleft beams which formed these
inexpressibly painful stocks。 When the unfortunate victims were
released； the fanatics screamed with rage at the sight of their
swollen bodies and half…broken bones。 None of the unhappy people
were able to stand。 The attack on the soldiers was renewed； and
these being driven out of the lower hall； filled the staircase
leading to the abbe's apartments； and offered such determine。
resistance that their assailants were twice forced to fall back。
Laporte； seeing two of his men killed and five or six wounded； called
out loudly； 〃Children of God； lay down your arms： this way of going
to work is too slow； let us burn the abbey and all in it。 To work！
to work！ 〃The advice was good； and they all hastened to follow it：
benches； chairs； and furniture of all sorts were heaped up in the
hall； a palliasse thrown on the top； and the pile fired。 In a moment
the whole building was ablaze； and the Arch…priest； yielding to the
entreaties of his servants； fastened his sheets to the window…bars；
and by their help dropped into the garden。 The drop was so great
that he broke one of his thigh bones； but dragging himself along on
his hands and one knee； he； with one of his servants； reached a
recess in the wall； while another servant was endeavouring to escape
through the flames； thus falling into the hands of the fanatics； who
carried him before their captain。 Then cries of 〃The prophet！ the
prophet！〃 were heard on all sides。 Esprit Seguier； feeling that
something fresh had taken place； came forward； still holding in his
hand the blazing torch with which he had set fire to the pile。
〃Brother；〃 asked Laporte； pointing to the prisoner； 〃is this man to
die？〃
Esprit Seguier fell on his knees and covered his face with his
mantle； like Samuel； and sought the Lord in prayer； asking to know
His will。
In a short time he rose and said； 〃This man is not to die； for
inasmuch as he has showed mercy to our brethren we must show mercy to
him。〃
Whether this fact had been miraculously revealed to Seguier； or
whether he had gained his information from other sources； the newly
released prisoners confirmed its truth； calling out that the man had
indeed treated them with humanity。 Just then a roar as of a wild
beast was heard： one of the fanatics； whose brother had been put to
death by the abbe； had just caught sight of him； the whole
neighbourhood being lit up by the fire； he was kneeling in an angle
of the wall； to which he had dragged himself。
〃Down with the son of Belial！〃 shouted the crowd； rushing towards the
priest； who remained kneeling and motionless like a marble statue。
His valet took advantage of the confusion to escape； and got off
easily； for the sight of him on whom the general hate was
concentrated made the Huguenots forget everything else：
Esprit Seguier was the first to reach the priest； and spreading his
hands over him； he commanded the others to hold back。 〃God desireth
not the death of a sinner；'〃 said he； 〃'but rather that he turn from
his wickedness and live。'〃
〃No； no！〃 shouted a score of voices； refusing obedience for the first
time； perhaps； to an order from the prophet； 〃let him die without
mercy； as he struck without pity。 Death to the son of Belial；
death！〃
〃Silence！〃 exclaimed the prophet in a terrible voice； 〃and listen to
the word of God from my mouth。 If this man will join us and take
upon him the duties of a pastor； let us grant him his life； that he
may henceforward devote it to the spread of the true faith。〃
〃Rather a thousand deaths than apostasy！〃 answered the priest。
〃Die； then！〃 cried Laporte； stabbing him； 〃take that for having burnt
my father in Nimes。〃
And he passed on the dagger to Esprit Seguier。
Duchayla made neither sound nor gesture： it would have seemed as if
the dagger had been turned by the priest's gown as