CHAPTERI
Itispossiblethatourreader,whoserecollectionsmayperhapsgobackasfarastheRestoration,willbesurprisedatthesizeoftheframerequiredforthepictureweareabouttobringbeforehim,embracingasitdoestwocenturiesandahalf;butaseverything,hasitsprecedent,everyriveritssource,everyvolcanoitscentralfire,soitisthatthespotofearthonwhichwearegoingtofixoureyeshasbeenthesceneofactionandreaction,revenge,andretaliation,tillthereligiousannalsoftheSouthresembleanaccount—bookkeptbydoubleentry,inwhichfanaticismenterstheprofitsofdeath,onesidebeingwrittenwiththebloodofCatholics,theotherwiththatofProtestants。
InthegreatpoliticalandreligiousconvulsionsoftheSouth,theearthquake—likethroesofwhichwerefelteveninthecapital,Nimeshasalwaystakenthecentralplace;Nimeswillthereforebethepivotroundwhichourstorywillrevolve,andthoughwemaysometimesleaveitforamoment,weshallalwaysreturnthitherwithoutfail。
NimeswasreunitedtoFrancebyLouisVIII,thegovernmentbeingtakenfromitsvicomte,BernardAthonVI,andgiventoconsulsintheyear1207。DuringtheepiscopateofMichelBriconnettherelicsofSt。Bauzilewerediscovered,andhardlyweretherejoicingsoverthiseventatanendwhenthenewdoctrinesbegantospreadoverFrance。
ItwasintheSouththatthepersecutionsbegan,andin1551severalpersonswerepubliclyburntashereticsbyorderoftheSeneschal'sCourtatNimes,amongstwhomwasMauriceSecenat,amissionaryfromtheCevennes,whowastakenintheveryactofpreaching。
ThenceforthNimesrejoicedintwomartyrsandtwopatronsaints,onereveredbytheCatholics,andonebytheProtestants;St。Bauzile,afterreigningassoleprotectorfortwenty—fouryears,beingforcedtosharethehonoursofhisguardianshipwithhisnewrival。
MauriceSecenatwasfollowedaspreacherbyPierredeLavau;thesetwonamesbeingstillrememberedamongthecrowdofobscureandforgottenmartyrs。HealsowasputtodeathonthePlacedelaSalamandre,allthedifferencebeingthattheformerwasburntandthelatterhanged。
PierredeLavauwasattendedinhislastmomentsbyDominiqueDeyron,DoctorofTheology;butinsteadof,asisusual,thedyingmanbeingconvertedbythepriest,itwasthepriestwhowasconvertedbydeLavau,andtheteachingwhichitwasdesiredshouldbesuppressedburstforthagain。DecreeswereissuedagainstDominiqueDeyron;hewaspursuedandtrackeddown,andonlyescapedthegibbetbyfleeingtothemountains。
Themountainsaretherefugeofallrisingordecayingsects;Godhasgiventothepowerfulonearthcity,plain,andsea,butthemountainsaretheheritageoftheoppressed。
Persecutionandproselytismkeptpacewitheachother,butthebloodthatwasshedproducedtheusualeffect:itrenderedthesoilonwhichitfellfruitful,andaftertwoorthreeyearsofstruggle,duringwhichtwoorthreehundredHuguenotshadbeenburntorhanged,NimesawokeonemorningwithaProtestantmajority。In1556theconsulsreceivedasharpreprimandonaccountoftheleaningofthecitytowardsthedoctrinesoftheReformation;butin1557,oneshortyearafterthisadmonition,HenriIIwasforcedtoconfertheofficeofpresidentofthePresidialCourtonWilliamdeCalviere,aProtestant。Atlastadecisionoftheseniorjudgehavingdeclaredthatitwasthedutyoftheconsulstosanctiontheexecutionofhereticsbytheirpresence,themagistratesofthecityprotestedagainstthisdecision,andthepoweroftheCrownwasinsufficienttocarryitout。
HenriIIdying,CatherinedeMedicisandtheGuisestookpossessionofthethroneinthenameofFrancoisII。Thereisamomentwhennationscanalwaysdrawalongbreath,itiswhiletheirkingsareawaitingburial;andNimestookadvantageofthismomentonthedeathofHenriII,andonSeptember29th,1559,GuillaumeMogetfoundedthefirstProtestantcommunity。
GuillaumeMogetcamefromGeneva。HewasthespiritualsonofCalvin,andcametoNimeswiththefirmpurposeofconvertingalltheremainingCatholicsorofbeinghanged。Ashewaseloquent,spirited,andwily,toowisetobeviolent,everreadytogiveandtakeinthematterofconcessions,luckwasonhisside,andGuillaumeMogetescapedhanging。
Themomentarisingsectceasestobedowntroddenitbecomesaqueen,andheresy,alreadymistressofthree—fourthsofthecity,begantoholdupitsheadwithboldnessinthestreets。AhouseholdercalledGuillaumeRaymondopenedhishousetotheCalvinistmissionary,andallowedhimtopreachinitregularlytoallwhocame,andthewaveringwerethusconfirmedinthenewfaith。Soonthehousebecametoonarrowtocontainthecrowdswhichflockedthithertoimbibethepoisonoftherevolutionarydoctrine,andimpatientglancesfellonthechurches。
MeanwhiletheVicomtedeJoyeuse,whohadjustbeenappointedgovernorofLanguedocintheplaceofM。deVillars,grewuneasyattherapidprogressmadebytheProtestants,whosofarfromtryingtoconcealitboastedofit;sohesummonedtheconsulsbeforehim,admonishedthemsharplyintheking'sname,andthreatenedtoquarteragarrisoninthetownwhichwouldsoonputanendtothesedisorders。Theconsulspromisedtostoptheevilwithouttheaidofoutsidehelp,andtocarryouttheirpromisedoubledthepatrolandappointedacaptainofthetownwhosesoledutywastokeeporderinthestreets。Nowthiscaptainwhoseofficehadbeencreatedsolelyfortherepressionofheresy,happenedtobeCaptainBouillargues,themostinveterateHuguenotwhoeverexisted。
TheresultofthisdiscriminatingchoicewasthatGuillaumeMogetbegantopreach,andoncewhenagreatcrowdhadgatheredinagardentohearhimholdforth,heavyraincameon,anditbecamenecessaryforthepeopleeithertodisperseortoseekshelterunderaroof。
Asthepreacherhadjustreachedthemostinterestingpartofhissermon,thecongregationdidnothesitateaninstanttotakethelatteralternative。TheChurchofSt。EtienneduCapitolewasquitenear:someonepresentsuggestedthatthisbuilding,ifnotthemostsuitable,asatleastthemostspaciousforsuchagathering。
Theideawasreceivedwithacclamation:theraingrewheavier,thecrowdinvadedthechurch,droveoutthepriests,trampledtheHolySacramentunderfoot,andbrokethesacredimages。Thisbeingaccomplished,GuillaumeMogetenteredthepulpit,andresumedhissermonwithsucheloquencethathishearers'excitementredoubled,andnotsatisfiedwithwhathadalreadybeendone,rushedofftoseizeontheFranciscanmonastery,wheretheyforthwithinstalledMogetandthetwowomen,who,accordingtoMenardthehistorianofLanguedoc,neverlefthimdayornight;allwhichproceedingswereregardedbyCaptainBouillargueswithmagnificentcalm。
TheconsulsbeingoncemoresummonedbeforeM。deVillars,whohadagainbecomegovernor,wouldgladlyhavedeniedtheexistenceofdisorder;butfindingthisimpossible,theythrewthemselvesonhismercy。Hebeingunabletoreposeconfidenceinthemanylonger,sentagarrisontothecitadelofNimes,whichthemunicipalitywasobligedtosupport,appointedagovernorofthecitywithfourdistrictcaptainsunderhim,andformedabodyofmilitarypolicewhichquitesupersededthemunicipalconstabulary。MogetwasexpelledfromNimes,andCaptainBouillarguesdeprivedofoffice。
FrancisIIdyinginhisturn,theusualeffectwasproduced,——thatis,thepersecutionbecamelessfierce,——andMogetthereforereturnedtoNimes。Thiswasavictory,andeveryvictorybeingastepforward,thetriumphantpreacherorganisedaConsistory,andthedeputiesofNimesdemandedfromtheStates—GeneralofOrleanspossessionofthechurches。Nonoticewastakenofthisdemand;buttheProtestantswereatnolosshowtoproceed。Onthe21stDecember1561thechurchesofSte。Eugenie,St。Augustin,andtheCordeliersweretakenbyassault,andclearedoftheirimagesinahand'sturn;
andthistimeCaptainBouillargueswasnotsatisfiedwithlookingon,butdirectedtheoperations。
Thecathedralwasstillsafe,andinitwereentrenchedtheremnantoftheCatholicclergy;butitwasapparentthatattheearliestopportunityittoowouldbeturnedintoameeting—house;andthisopportunitywasnotlongincoming。
OneSunday,whenBishopBernardd'Elbenehadcelebratedmass,justastheregularpreacherwasabouttobeginhissermon,somechildrenwhowereplayingintheclosebegantohootthe'beguinier'[anameofcontemptforfriars]。Someofthefaithfulbeingdisturbedintheirmeditations,cameoutofthechurchandchastisedthelittleHuguenots,whoseparentsconsideredthemselvesinconsequencetohavebeeninsultedinthepersonsoftheirchildren。Agreatcommotionensued,crowdsbegantoform,andcriesof"Tothechurch！tothechurch！"wereheard。CaptainBouillargueshappenedtobeintheneighbourhood,andbeingverymethodicalsetaboutorganisingtheinsurrection;thenputtinghimselfatitshead,hechargedthecathedral,carryingeverythingbeforehim,inspiteofthebarricadeswhichhadbeenhastilyerectedbythePapists。Theassaultwasoverinafewmoments;thepriestsandtheirflockfledbyonedoor,whiletheReformersenteredbyanother。Thebuildingwasinthetwinklingofaneyeadaptedtothenewformofworship:thegreatcrucifixfromabovethealtarwasdraggedaboutthestreetsattheendofaropeandscourgedateverycross—roads。Intheeveningalargefirewaslightedintheplacebeforethecathedral,andthearchivesoftheecclesiasticalandreligioushouses,thesacredimages,therelicsofthesaints,thedecorationsofthealtar,thesacerdotalvestments,eventheHostitself,werethrownonitwithoutanyremonstrancefromtheconsuls;theverywindwhichblewuponNimesbreathedheresy。
ForthemomentNimeswasinfullrevolt,andthespiritoforganisationspread:MogetassumedthetitlesofpastorandministeroftheChristianChurch。CaptainBouillarguesmelteddownthesacredvesselsoftheCatholicchurches,andpaidinthismannerthevolunteersofNimesandtheGermanmercenaries;thestonesofthedemolishedreligioushouseswereusedintheconstructionoffortifications,andbeforeanyonethoughtofattackingitthecitywasreadyforasiege。ItwasatthismomentthatGuillaumeCalviere,whowasattheheadofthePresidialCourt,MogetbeingpresidentoftheConsistory,andCaptainBouillarguescommander—in—chiefofthearmedforces,suddenlyresolvedtocreateanewauthority,which,whilesharingthepowershithertovestedsolelyintheconsuls,shouldbe,evenmorethanthey,devotedtoCalvin:
thustheofficeoflesMessieurscameintobeing。Thiswasneithermorenorlessthanacommitteeofpublicsafety,andhavingbeenformedinthestressofrevolutionitactedinarevolutionaryspirit,absorbingthepowersoftheconsuls,andrestrictingtheauthorityoftheConsistorytothingsspiritual。InthemeantimetheEdictofAmboise,waspromulgated,anditwasannouncedthattheking,CharlesIX,accompaniedbyCatherinedeMedicis,wasgoingtovisithisloyalprovincesintheSouth。
DeterminedaswasCaptainBouillargues,foroncehehadtogiveway,sostrongwasthepartyagainsthim;therefore,despitethemurmursofthefanatics,thecityofNimesresolved,notonlytoopenitsgatestoitssovereign,buttogivehimsuchareceptionaswouldeffacethebadimpressionwhichCharlesmighthavereceivedfromthehistoryofrecentevents。TheroyalprocessionwasmetatthePontduGare,whereyounggirlsattiredasnymphsemergedfromagrottobearingacollation,whichtheypresentedtotheirMajesties,whograciouslyandheartilypartookofit。Therepastatanend,theillustrioustravellersresumedtheirprogress;buttheimaginationoftheNimesauthoritieswasnottoberestrainedwithinsuchnarrowbounds:attheentrancetothecitythekingfoundthePortedelaCouronnetransformedintoamountain—side,coveredwithvinesandolivetrees,underwhichashepherdwastendinghisflock。Asthekingapproachedthemountainpartedasifyieldingtothemagicofhispower,themostbeautifulmaidensandthemostnoblecameouttomeettheirsovereign,presentinghimthekeysofthecitywreathedwithflowers,andsingingtotheaccompanimentoftheshepherd'spipe。Passingthroughthemountain,Charlessawchainedtoapalmtreeinthedepthsofagrottoamonstercrocodilefromwhosejawsissuedflames:thiswasarepresentationoftheoldcoatofarmsgrantedtothecitybyOctaviusCaesarAugustusafterthebattleofActium,andwhichFrancisIhadrestoredtoitinexchangeforamodelinsilveroftheamphitheatrepresentedtohimbythecity。
Lastly,thekingfoundinthePlacedelaSalamandrenumerousbonfires,sothatwithoutwaitingtoaskifthesefiresweremadefromtheremainsofthefaggotsusedatthemartyrdomofMauriceSecenat,hewenttobedverymuchpleasedwiththereceptionaccordedhimbyhisgoodcityofNimes,andsurethatalltheunfavourablereportshehadheardwerecalumnies。
Nevertheless,inorderthatsuchrumours,howeverslighttheirfoundation,shouldnotagainbeheard,thekingappointedDamvillegovernorofLanguedoc,installinghimhimselfinthechiefcityofhisgovernment;hethenremovedeveryconsulfromhispostwithoutexception,andappointedintheirplaceGuy—Rochette,doctorandlawyer;JeanBeaudan,burgess;FrancoisAubert,mason;andCristolLigier,farmlabourer——allCatholics。HethenleftforParis,whereashorttimeafterheconcludedatreatywiththeCalvinists,whichthepeoplewithitsgiftofprophecycalled"Thehaltingpeaceofunsureseat,"andwhichintheendledtothemassacreofSt。
Bartholomew。
GraciousashadbeenthemeasurestakenbythekingtosecurethepeaceofhisgoodcityofNimes,theyhadneverthelessbeenreactionary;consequentlytheCatholics,feelingtheauthoritieswerenowontheirside,returnedincrowds:thehouseholdersreclaimedtheirhouses,theprieststheir,churches;while,renderedravenousbythebitterbreadofexile,boththeclergyandthelaitypillagedthetreasury。Theirreturnwasnot,however;stainedbybloodshed,althoughtheCalvinistswerereviledintheopenstreet。Afewstabsfromadaggerorshotsfromanarquebusmight,however,havebeenbetter;suchwoundshealwhilemockingwordsrankleinthememory。
OnthemorrowofMichaelmasDay——thatis,onthe31stSeptember1567——anumberofconspiratorsmighthavebeenseenissuingfromahouseandspreadingthemselvesthroughthestreets,crying"Toarms！
DownwiththePapists！"CaptainBouillargueswastakinghisrevenge。
AstheCatholicswereattackedunawares,theydidnotmakeevenashowofresistance:anumberofProtestants——thosewhopossessedthebestarms——rushedtothehouseofGuy—Rochette,thefirstconsul,andseizedthekeysofthecity。GuyRochette,startledbythecriesofthecrowds,hadlookedoutofthewindow,andseeingafuriousmobapproachinghishouse,andfeelingthattheirragewasdirectedagainsthimself,hadtakenrefugewithhisbrotherGregoire。There,recoveringhiscourageandpresenceofmind,herecalledtheimportantresponsibilitiesattachedtohisoffice,andresolvingtofulfilthemwhatevermighthappen,hastenedtoconsultwiththeothermagistrates,butastheyallgavehimveryexcellentreasonsfornotmeddling,hesoonfelttherewasnodependencetobeplacedonsuchcowardsandtraitors。Henextrepairedtotheepiscopalpalace,wherehefoundthebishopsurroundedbytheprincipalCatholicsofthetown,allontheirkneesofferingupearnestprayerstoHeaven,andawaitingmartyrdom。Guy—Rochettejoinedthem,andtheprayerswerecontinued。
Afewinstantslaterfreshnoiseswereheardinthestreet,andthegatesofthepalacecourtgroanedunderblowsofaxeandcrowbar。
Hearingthesealarmingsounds,thebishop,forgettingthatitwashisdutytosetabraveexample,fledthroughabreachinthewallofthenexthouse;butGuy—Rochetteandhiscompanionsvaliantlyresolvednottorunaway,buttoawaittheirfatewithpatience。Thegatessoonyielded,andthecourtyardandpalacewerefilledwithProtestants:attheirheadappearedCaptainBouillargues,swordinhand。Guy—Rochetteandthosewithhimwereseizedandsecuredinaroomunderthechargeoffourguards,andthepalacewaslooted。
Meantimeanotherbandofinsurgentshadattackedthehouseofthevicar—general,JohnPebereau,whosebodypiercedbysevenstabsofadaggerwasthrownoutofawindow,thesamefateaswasmetedouttoAdmiralColignyeightyearslateratthehandsoftheCatholics。Inthehouseasumof800crownswasfoundandtaken。Thetwobandsthenuniting,rushedtothecathedral,whichtheysackedforthesecondtime。
Thustheentiredaypassedinmurderandpillage:whennightcamethelargenumberofprisonerssoimprudentlytakenbegantobefeltasanencumbrancebytheinsurgentchiefs,whothereforeresolvedtotakeadvantageofthedarknesstogetridofthemwithoutcausingtoomuchexcitementinthecity。Theywerethereforegatheredtogetherfromthevarioushousesinwhichtheyhadbeenconfined,andwerebroughttoalargehallintheHoteldeVille,capableofcontainingfromfourtofivehundredpersons,andwhichwassoonfull。Anirregulartribunalarrogatingtoitselfpowersoflifeanddeathwasformed,andaclerkwasappointedtoregisteritsdecrees。Alistofalltheprisonerswasgivenhim,acrossplacedbeforeanameindicatingthatitsbearerwascondemnedtodeath,and,listinhand,hewentfromgrouptogroupcallingoutthenamesdistinguishedbythefatalsign。
Thosethussortedoutwerethenconductedtoaspotwhichhadbeenchosenbeforehandastheplaceofexecution。
Thiswasthepalacecourtyardinthemiddleofwhichyawnedawelltwenty—fourfeetincircumferenceandfiftydeep。Thefanaticsthusfoundagraveready—diggedasitweretotheirhand,andtosavetime,madeuseofit。
TheunfortunateCatholics,ledthitheringroups,wereeitherstabbedwithdaggersormutilatedwithaxes,andthebodiesthrowndownthewell。Guy—Rochettewasoneofthefirsttobedraggedup。Forhimselfheaskedneithermercynorfavour,buthebeggedthatthelifeofhisyoungbrothermightbespared,whoseonlycrimewasthebondofbloodwhichunitedthem;buttheassassins,payingnoheedtohisprayers,struckdownbothmanandboyandflungthemintothewell。Thecorpseofthevicar—general,whohadbeenkilledthedaybefore,wasinitsturndraggedthitherbyaropeandaddedtotheothers。Allnightthemassacrewenton,thecrimsonedwaterrisinginthewellascorpseaftercorpsewasthrownin,till,atbreakofday,itoverflowed,onehundredandtwentybodiesbeingthenhiddeninitsdepths。
Nextday,October1st,thescenesoftumultwererenewed:fromearlydawnCaptainBouiilarguesranfromstreettostreetcrying,"Courage,comrades！Montpellier,Pezenas,Aramon,Beaucaire,Saint—Andeol,andVilleneuvearetaken,andareonourside。CardinaldeLorraineisdead,andthekingisinourpower。"Thisarousedthefailingenergiesoftheassassins。Theyjoinedthecaptain,anddemandedthatthehousesroundthepalaceshouldbesearched,asitwasalmostcertainthatthebishop,whohad,asmayberemembered,escapedthedaybefore,hadtakenrefugeinoneofthem。Thisbeingagreedto,ahouse—to—housevisitationwasbegun:whenthehouseofM。deSauvignargueswasreached,heconfessedthatthebishopwasinhiscellar,andproposedtotreatwithCaptainBouillarguesforaransom。
Thispropositionbeingconsideredreasonable,wasaccepted,andafterashortdiscussionthesumof120crownswasagreedon。Thebishoplaiddowneverypennyhehadabouthim,hisservantsweredespoiled,andthesummadeupbytheSieurdeSauvignargues,whohavingthebishopinhishousekepthimcaged。Theprelate,however,madenoobjection,althoughunderothercircumstanceshewouldhaveregardedthisrestraintastheheightofimpertinence;butasitwashefeltsaferinM。deSauvignargues'cellarthaninthepalace。
Butthesecretoftheworthyprelate'shiding"placewasbutbadlykeptbythosewithwhomhehadtreated;forinafewmomentsasecondcrowdappeared,hopingtoobtainasecondransom。Unfortunately,theSieurdeSauvignargues,thebishop,andthebishop'sservantshadstrippedthemselvesofalltheirreadymoneytomakeupthefirst,sothemasterofthehouse,fearingforhisownsafety,havingbarricadedthedoors,gotoutintoalaneandescaped,leavingthebishoptohisfate。TheHuguenotsclimbedinatthewindows,crying,"Noquarter！DownwiththePapists！"Thebishop'sservantswerecutdown,thebishophimselfdraggedoutofthecellarandthrownintothestreet。Therehisringsandcrozierweresnatchedfromhim;hewasstrippedofhisclothesandarrayedinagrotesqueandraggedgarmentwhichchancedtobeathand;hismitrewasreplacedbyapeasant'scap;andinthisconditionhewasdraggedbacktothepalaceandplacedonthebrinkofthewelltobethrownin。Oneoftheassassinsdrewattentiontothefactthatitwasalreadyfull。
"Pooh！"repliedanother,"theywon'tmindalittlecrowdingforabishop。"Meantimetheprelate,seeingheneedexpectnomercyfromman,threwhimselfonhiskneesandcommendedhissoultoGod。
Suddenly,however,oneofthosewhohadshownhimselfmostferociousduringthemassacre,JeanCoussinalbyname,wastouchedasifbymiraclewithafeelingofcompassionatthesightofsomuchresignation,andthrewhimselfbetweenthebishopandthoseabouttostrike,anddeclaringthatwhoevertouchedtheprelatemustfirstovercomehimself,tookhimunderhisprotection,hiscomradesretreatinginastonishment。JeanCoussinalraisingthebishop,carriedhiminhisarmsintoaneighbouringhouse,anddrawinghissword,tookhisstandonthethreshold。
Theassassins,however,soonrecoveredfromtheirsurprise,andreflectingthatwhenallwassaidanddonetheywerefiftytoone,considereditwouldbeshamefultoletthemselvesbeintimidatedbyasingleopponent,sotheyadvancedagainonCoussinal,whowithaback—handedstrokecutofftheheadofthefirst—comer。Thecriesuponthisredoubled,andtwoorthreeshotswerefiredattheobstinatedefenderofthepoorbishop,buttheyallmissedaim。AtthatmomentCaptainBouillarguespassedby,andseeingonemanattackedbyfifty,inquiredintothecause。HewastoldofCoussinal'sodddeterminationtosavethebishop。"Heisquiteright,"saidthecaptain;"thebishophaspaidransom,andnoonehasanyrighttotouchhim。"Sayingthis,hewalkeduptoCoussinal,gavehimhishand,andthetwoenteredthehouse,returninginafewmomentswiththebishopbetweenthem。Inthisordertheycrossedthetown,followedbythemurmuringcrowd,whowere,however,afraidtodomorethanmurmur;atthegatethebishopwasprovidedwithanescortandletgo,hisdefendersremainingtheretillhewasoutofsight。
Themassacreswentonduringthewholeofthesecondday,thoughtowardseveningthesearchforvictimsrelaxedsomewhat;butstillmanyisolatedactsofmurdertookplaceduringthenight。Onthemorrow,beingtiredofkilling,thepeoplebegantodestroy,andthisphaselastedalongtime,itbeinglessfatiguingtothrowstonesaboutthancorpses。Alltheconvents,allthemonasteries,allthehousesofthepriestsandcanonswereattackedinturn;nothingwassparedexceptthecathedral,beforewhichaxesandcrowbarsseemedtolosetheirpower,andthechurchofSte。Eugenie,whichwasturnedintoapowder—magazine。Thedayofthegreatbutcherywascalled"LaMichelade,"becauseittookplacethedayafterMichaelmas,andasallthishappenedintheyear1567theMassacreofSt。
Bartholomewmustberegardedasaplagiarism。
Atlast,however,withthehelpofM。Damville;theCatholicsagaingottheupperhand,anditwastheturnoftheProtestantstofly。
TheytookrefugeintheCevennes。FromthebeginningofthetroublestheCevenneshadbeentheasylumofthosewhosufferedfortheProtestantfaith;andstilltheplainsarePapist,andthemountainsProtestant。WhentheCatholicpartyisintheascendantatNimes,theplainseeksthemountain;whentheProtestantscomeintopower,themountaincomesdownintotheplain。
However,vanquishedandfugitivethoughtheywere,theCalvinistsdidnotlosecourage:inexileoneday,theyfeltsuretheirluckwouldturnthenext;andwhiletheCatholicswereburningorhangingthemineffigyforcontumacy,theywerebeforeanotary,dividingthepropertyoftheirexecutioners。
Butitwasnotenoughforthemtobuyorsellthispropertyamongsteachother,theywantedtoenterintopossession;theythoughtofnothingelse,andin1569——thatis,intheeighteenthmonthoftheirexile——theyattainedtheirwishinthefollowingmanner:
OnedaytheexilesperceivedacarpenterbelongingtoalittlevillagecalledCauvissonapproachingtheirplaceofrefuge。HedesiredtospeaktoM。NicolasdeCalviere,seigneurdeSt。Cosme,andbrotherofthepresident,whowasknowntobeaveryenterprisingman。Tohimthecarpenter,whosenamewasMaduron,madethefollowingproposition:
InthemoatofNimes,closetotheGateoftheCarmelites,therewasagratingthroughwhichthewatersfromthefountainfoundvent。
MaduronofferedtofilethroughthebarsofthisgratinginsuchamannerthatsomefinenightitcouldbeliftedoutsoastoallowabandofarmedProtestantstogainaccesstothecity。NicolasdeCalviereapprovingofthisplan,desiredthatitshouldbecarriedoutatonce;butthecarpenterpointedoutthatitwouldbenecessarytowaitforstormyweather,whenthewatersswollenbytherainwouldbytheirnoisedrownthesoundofthefile。Thisprecautionwasdoublynecessaryastheboxofthesentrywasalmostexactlyabovethegrating。M。deCalvieretriedtomakeMadurongiveway;butthelatter,whowasriskingmorethananyoneelse,wasfirm。Sowhethertheylikeditornot,deCalviereandtheresthadtoawaithisgoodpleasure。
Somedayslaterrainyweathersetin,andasusualthefountainbecamefuller;Maduronseeingthatthefavourablemomenthadarrived,glidedatnightintothemoatandappliedhisfile,afriendofhiswhowashiddenontherampartsabovepullingacordattachedtoMaduron'sarmeverytimethesentinel,inpacinghisnarrowround,approachedthespot。Beforebreakofdaytheworkwaswellbegun。
Maduronthenobliteratedalltracesofhisfilebydaubingthebarswithmudandwax,andwithdrew。Forthreeconsecutivenightshereturnedtohistask,takingthesameprecautions,andbeforethefourthwasatanendhefoundthatbymeansofaslighteffortthegratingcouldberemoved。Thatwasallthatwasneeded,sohegavenoticetoMessireNicolasdeCalvierethatthemomenthadarrived。
Everythingwasfavourabletotheundertaking:astherewasnomoon,thenextnightwaschosentocarryouttheplan,andassoonasitwasdarkMessireNicolasdeCalvieresetoutwithhismen,who,slippingdownintothemoatwithoutnoise,crossed,thewaterbeinguptotheirbelts,climbeduptheotherside,andcreptalongatthefootofthewalltilltheyreachedthegratingwithoutbeingperceived。ThereMaduronwaswaiting,andassoonashecaughtsightofthemhegaveaslightblowtotheloosebars;whichfell,andthewholepartyenteredthedrain,ledbydeCalviere,andsoonfoundthemselvesatthefartherend——thatistosay,inthePlacedelaFontaine。Theyimmediatelyformedintocompaniestwentystrong,fourofwhichhastenedtotheprincipalgates,whiletheotherspatrolledthestreetsshouting,"Thecitytaken！DownwiththePapists！Anewworld！"Hearingthis,theProtestantsinthecityrecognisedtheirco—religionists,andtheCatholicstheiropponents:butwhereastheformerhadbeenwarnedandwereonthealert,thelatterweretakenbysurprise;consequentlytheyofferednoresistance,which,however,didnotpreventbloodshed。M。deSt。Andre,thegovernorofthetown,whoduringhisshortperiodofofficehaddrawnthebitterhatredoftheProtestantsonhim,wasshotdeadinhisbed,andhisbodybeingflungoutofthewindow,wastorninpiecesbythepopulace。Theworkofmurderwentonallnight,andonthemorrowthevictorsintheirturnbegananorganisedpersecution,whichfellmoreheavilyontheCatholicsthanthattowhichtheyhadsubjectedtheProtestants;for,aswehaveexplainedabove,theformercouldonlyfindshelterintheplain,whilethelatterusedtheCevennesasastronghold。
Itwasaboutthistimethatthepeace,whichwascalled,aswehavesaid,"theinsecurelyseated,"wasconcluded。TwoyearslaterthisnamewasjustifiedbytheMassacreofSt。Bartholomew。
Whenthiseventtookplace,theSouth,strangeasitmayseem,lookedon:inNimesbothCatholicsandProtestants,stainedwiththeother'sblood,facedeachother,handonhilt,butwithoutdrawingweapon。
ItwasasiftheywerecurioustoseehowtheParisianswouldgetthrough。Themassacrehadoneresult,however,theunionoftheprincipalcitiesoftheSouthandWest:Montpellier,Uzes,Montauban,andLaRochelle,withNimesattheirhead,formedacivilandmilitaryleaguetolast,asisdeclaredintheActofFederation,untilGodshouldraiseupasovereigntobethedefenderoftheProtestantfaith。Intheyear1775theProtestantsoftheSouthbegantoturntheireyestowardsHenriIVasthecomingdefender。