Aswehavesaid,theCamisards,accordingastheycamein,weresentofftoGeneva。D'Aygaliers,whosefatewehaveanticipated,arrivedthereonSeptember23rd,accompaniedbyCavalier'seldestbrother,Malpach,Roland'ssecretary,andthirty—sixCamisards。CatinatandCastanetarrivedthereonthe8thOctober,alongwithtwenty—twootherpersons,whileLarose,Laforet,Salomon,Moulieres,Salles,Marion,andFidelereacheditundertheescortoffortydragoonsfromFimarconinthemonthofNovember。
OfallthechiefswhohadturnedLanguedocforfouryearsintoavastarena,onlyRavanelremained,butherefusedeithertosurrenderortoleavethecountry。Onthe8thOctoberthemarechalissuedanorderdeclaringhehadforfeitedallrighttothefavourofanamnesty,andofferingarewardof150Louistowhoeverdeliveredhimupliving,and2400livrestowhoeverbroughtinhisdeadbody,whileanyhamlet,village,ortownwhichgavehimrefugewouldbeburnttothegroundandtheinhabitantsputtothesword。
Therevoltseemedtobeatanendandpeaceestablished。Sothemarechalwasrecalledtocourt,andleftNimesonJanuarythe6th。
BeforehisdeparturehereceivedtheStatesofLanguedoc,whobestowedonhimnotonlythepraisewhichwashisdueforhavingtemperedseveritywithmercy,butalsoapurseof12,000livres,whileasumof8000livreswaspresentedtohiswife。Butallthiswasonlyapreludetothefavoursawaitinghimatcourt。OnthedayhereturnedtoParisthekingdecoratedhimwithalltheroyalordersandcreatedhimaduke。Onthefollowingdayhereceivedhim,andthusaddressedhim:"Sir,yourpastservicesleadmetoexpectmuchofthoseyouwillrendermeinthefuture。TheaffairsofmykingdomwouldbebetterconductedifIhadseveralVillarsatmydisposal。
Havingonlyone,Imustalwayssendhimwhereheismostneeded。ItwasforthatreasonIsentyoutoLanguedoc。Youhave,whilethere,restoredtranquillitytomysubjects,youmustnowdefendthemagainsttheirenemies;forIshallsendyoutocommandmyarmyontheMoselleinthenextcampaign。"
The,DukeofBerwickarrivedatMontpellieronthe17thMarchtoreplaceMarechalVillars。HisfirstcarewastolearnfromM。deBavilletheexactstateofaffairs。M。deBavilletoldhimthattheywerenotatallsettledastheyappearedtobeonthesurface。
Infact,EnglandandHolland,desiringnothingsomuchasthatanintestinewarshouldwasteFrance,weremakingunceasingeffortstoinducetheexilestoreturnhome,promisingthatthistimetheywouldreallysupportthembylendingarms,ammunition,andmen,anditwassaidthatsomewerealreadyontheirwayback,amongthenumberCastanet。
Andindeedthelaterebelchief,tiredofinaction,hadleftGenevaintheendofFebruary,andarrivedsafelyatVivarais。HehadheldareligiousmeetinginacavenearLaGoree,andhaddrawntohissideValetteofValsandBoyerofValon。JustasthethreehaddeterminedtopenetrateintotheCevennes,theyweredenouncedbysomepeasantsbeforeaSwissofficernamedMuller,whowasincommandofadetachmentoftroopsinthevillageofRiviere。Mullerinstantlymountedhishorse,andguidedbytheinformersmadehiswayintothelittlewoodinwhichtheCamisardshadtakenrefuge,andfelluponthemquiteunexpectedly。Boyerwaskilledintryingtoescape;Castanetwastakenandbroughttothenearestprison,wherehewasjoinedthenextdaybyValette,whohadalsobeenbetrayedbysomepeasantswhomhehadaskedforassistance。
ThefirstpunishmentinflictedonCastanetwas,thathewascompelledtocarryinhishandtheheadofBoyerallthewayfromLaGoreetoMontpellier。Heprotestedvehementlyatfirst,butinvain:itwasfastenedtohiswristbythehair;whereuponhekisseditonbothcheeks,andwentthroughtheordealasifitwereareligiousact,addressingwordsofprayertotheheadashemighthavedonetoarelicofamartyr。
ArrivedatMontpellier,Castanetwasexamined,andatfirstpersistedinsayingthathehadonlyreturnedfromexilebecausehehadnotthewherewithaltoliveabroad。Butwhenputtothetorturehewasmadetoenduresuchagonythat,despitehiscourageandconstancy,heconfessedthathehadformedaplantointroduceabandofHuguenotsoldierswiththeirofficersintotheCevennesbywayofDauphineorbywater,andwhilewaitingfortheirarrivalhehadsentonemissariesinadvancetorousethepeopletorevolt;thathehimselfhadalsosharedinthiswork;thatCatinatwasatthemomentinLanguedocorVivaraisengagedinthesametask,andprovidedwithaconsiderablesumofmoneysenthimbyforeignersfordistribution,andthatseveralpersonsofstillgreaterimportancewouldsooncrossthefrontierandjoinhim。
Castanetwascondemnedtobebrokenonthewheel。Ashewasabouttobeledtoexecution,AbbeTremondy,thecureofNotre—Dame,andAbbePlomet,canonofthecathedral,cametohiscelltomakealastefforttoconverthim,butherefusedtospeak。Theythereforewentonbefore,andawaitedhimonthescaffold。TheretheyappearedtoinspireCastanetwithmorehorrorthantheinstrumentsoftorture,andwhileheaddressedtheexecutioneras"brother,"hecalledouttothepriests,"Goawayoutofmysight,impsfromthebottomlesspit！
Whatareyoudoinghere,youaccursedtempters？IwilldieinthereligioninwhichIwasborn。Leavemealone,yehypocrites,leavemealone！"Butthetwoabbeswereunmoved,andCastanetexpiredcursing,nottheexecutionerbutthetwopriests,whosepresenceduringhisdeath—agonydisturbedhissoul,turningitawayfromthingswhichshouldhavefilledit。
Valettewassentencedtobehanged,andwasexecutedonthesamedayasCastanet。
InspiteoftheadmissionswrungfromCastanetinMarch,nearlyamonthpassedwithoutanysignoffreshintriguesoranyattemptatrebellion。Butonthe17thofApril,aboutseveno'clockintheevening,M。deBavillereceivedintelligencethatseveralCamisardshadlatelyreturnedfromabroad,andwereinhidingsomewhere,thoughtheirretreatwasnotknown。ThisinformationwaslaidbeforetheDukeofBerwick,andheandM。deBavilleorderedcertainhousestobesearched,whoseownerswereintheiropinionlikelytohavegivenrefugetothemalcontents。Atmidnightalltheforceswhichtheycouldcollectweredividedintotwelvedetachments,composedofarchersandsoldiers,andattheheadofeachdetachmentwasplacedamanthatcouldbedependedupon。Dumayne,theking'slieutenant,assignedtoeachthedistrictstheyweretosearch,andtheyallsetoutatoncefromthetownhall,athalf—pasttwelve,marchinginsilence,andseparatingatsignsfromtheirleaders,soanxiousweretheytomakenonoise。Atfirstalltheireffortswereofnoavail,severalhousesbeingsearchedwithoutanyresult;butatlengthJausserand,thediocesanprovost,havingenteredoneofthehouseswhichheandVilla,captainofthetowntroops,hadhadassignedtothem,theyfoundthreemensleepingonmattresseslaidonthefloor。
Theprovostrousedthembyaskingthemwhotheywere,whencetheycame,andwhattheyweredoingatMontpellier,andasthey,stillhalfasleep,didnotreplyquitepromptly,heorderedthemtodressandfollowhim。
ThesethreemenwereFlessiere,Gaillard,andJean—Louis。FlessierewasadeserterfromtheFimarconregiment:heitwaswhoknewmostabouttheplot。GaillardhadformerlyservedintheHainaultregiment;andJean—Louis,commonlycalled"theGenevois,"wasadeserterfromtheCourtenregiment。
Flessiere,whowastheleader,feltthatitwouldbeagreatdisgracetoletthemselvesbetakenwithoutresistance;hethereforepretendedtoobey,butinliftinguphisclothes,whichlayuponatrunk,hemanagedtosecuretwopistols,whichhecocked。Atthenoisemadebythehammerstheprovost'ssuspicionswerearoused,andthrowinghimselfonFlessiere,heseizedhimroundthewaistfrombehind。
Flessiere,unabletoturn,raisedhisarmandfiredoverhisshoulder。Theshotmissedtheprovost,merelyburningalockofhishair,butslightlywoundedoneofhisservants,whowascarryingalantern。Hethentriedtofireasecondshot,butJausserand,seizinghimbythewristwithonehand,blewouthisbrainswiththeother。WhileJausserandandFlessierewerethusstruggling,GaillardthrewhimselfonVilla,pinninghisarmstohissides。Ashehadnoweapons,hetriedtopushhimtothewall,inordertostunhimbyknockinghisheadagainstit;butwhentheservant,beingwounded,letthelanternfall,hetookadvantageofthedarknesstomakeadashforthedoor,lettinggohisholdofhisantagonist。
Unfortunatelyforhim,thedoors,ofwhichthereweretwo,wereguarded,andtheguards,seeingahalf—nakedmanrunningawayatthetopofhisspeed,ranafterhim,firingseveralshots。Hereceivedawoundwhich,thoughnotdangerous,impededhisflight,sothathewasboonovertakenandcaptured。Theybroughthimbackaprisonertothetownhall,whereFlessiere'sdeadbodyalreadylay。
MeanwhileJean—Louishadhadbetterluck。Whilethetwostrugglesasrelatedaboveweregoingon,heslippedunnoticedtoanopenwindowandgotoutintothestreet。Heranroundthecornerofthehouse,anddisappearedlikeashadowinthedarknessbeforetheeyesoftheguards。Foralongtimehewanderedfromstreettostreet,runningdownoneandupanother,tillchancebroughthimnearLaPoissonniere。Hereheperceivedabeggarproppedagainstapostandfastasleep;heawokehim,andproposedthattheyshouldexchangeclothes。AsJean—Louis'suitwasnewandthebeggar'sinrags,thelatterthoughtatfirstitwasajoke。Soonperceiving,however,thattheofferwasmadeinallseriousness,heagreedtotheexchange,andthetwoseparated,eachdelightedwithhisbargain。
Jean—Louisapproachedoneofthegatesofthetown,inordertobeabletogetoutassoonasitwasopened,andthebeggerhastenedoffinanotherdirection,inordertogetawayfromthemanwhohadlethimhavesogoodabargain,beforehehadtimetoregrettheexchangehehadmade。
Butthenight'sadventureswerefarfrombeingover。Thebeggarwastakenaprisoner,Jean—Louis'coatbeingrecognised,andbroughttothetownhall,wherethemistakewasdiscovered。TheGenevoismeantimegotintoadarkstreet,andlosthisway。Seeingthreemenapproach,oneofwhomcarriedalantern,hewenttowardsthelight,inordertofindoutwherehewas,andsaw,tohissurprise,thatoneofthemenwastheservantwhomFlessierehadwounded,andwhowasnowgoingtohavehiswounddressed。TheGenevoistriedtodrawbackintotheshade,butitwastoolate:theservanthadrecognisedhim。
Hethentriedtofly;butthewoundedmansoonovertookhim,andalthoughoneofhishandswasdisabled,heheldhimfastwiththeother,sothatthetwomenwhowerewithhimranupandeasilysecuredhim。Healsowasbroughttothetownhall,wherehefoundtheDukeofBerwickandM。deBaville,whowereawaitingtheresultoftheaffray。
Hardlyhadtheprisonercaughtsightofthemthan,seeinghimselfalreadyhanged,whichwasnowonderconsideringthemarvellousceleritywithwhichexecutionswereconductedatthatepoch,hethrewhimselfonhisknees,confessedwhohewas,andrelatedforwhatreasonhehadjoinedthefanatics。Hewentontosaythatashehadnotjoinedthemofhisownfreewill,buthadbeenforcedtodoso,hewould,iftheywouldsparehislife,revealimportantsecretstothem,bymeansofwhichtheycouldarresttheprincipalconspirators。
HisofferwassotemptingandhislifeofsolittleworththatthedukeanddeBavilledidnotlonghesitate,butpledgedtheirwordtosparehislifeiftherevelationshewasabouttomakeprovedtobeofrealimportance。Thebargainbeingconcluded,theGenevoismadethefollowingstatement:
"Thatseverallettershavingarrivedfromforeigncountriescontainingpromisesofmenandmoney,thediscontentedintheprovinceshadleaguedtogetherinordertoprovokeafreshrebellion。
Bymeansoftheselettersandotherdocumentswhichwerescatteredabroad,hopeswereraisedthatM。deMiremont,thelastProtestantprinceofthehouseofBourbon,wouldbringthemreinforcementsfiveorsixthousandstrong。ThesereinforcementsweretocomebyseaandmakeadescentonAigues—MortesorCette,——andtwothousandHuguenotsweretoarriveatthesametimebywayofDauphineandjointheothersastheydisembarked。
"ThatinthishopeCatinat,Clary,andJonquethadleftGenevaandreturnedtoFrance,andhavingjoinedRavanelhadgonesecretlythroughthosepartsofthecountryknowntobeinfectedwithfanaticism,andmadeallnecessaryarrangements,suchasamassingpowderandlead,munitionsofwar,andstoresofallkinds,aswellasenrollingthenamesofallthosewhowereofagetobeararms。
Furthermore,theyhadmadeanestimateofwhateachcity,town,andvillageoughttocontributeinmoneyorinkindtothe——LeagueoftheChildrenofGod,sothattheycouldcountonhavingeightortenthousandmenreadytoriseatthefirstsignal。Theyhadfurthermoreresolvedthatthereshouldberisingsinseveralplacesatthesametime,whichplaceswerealreadychosen,andeachofthosewhoweretotakepartinthemovementknewhisexactduty。AtMontpellierahundredofthemostdeterminedamongstthedisaffectedweretosetfireindifferentquarterstothehousesoftheCatholics,killingallwhoattemptedtoextinguishthefires,andwiththehelpoftheHuguenotinhabitantswere,toslaughterthegarrison,seizethecitadel,andcarryofftheDukeofBerwickandM。deBaville。ThesamethingsweretobedoneatNimes,Uzes,Alais,Anduze,Saint—Hippolyte,andSommieres。Lastly,hesaid,thisconspiracyhadbeengoingonformorethanthreemonths,andtheconspirators,inordernottobefoundout,hadonlyrevealedtheirplanstothosewhomtheyknewtobereadytojointhem:theyhadnotadmittedasinglewomantotheirconfidence,oranymanwhomitwaspossibletosuspect。Further,theyhadonlymetatnightandafewpersonsatatime,incertaincountryhouses,towhichadmittancewasgainedbymeansofacountersign;the25thofAprilwasthedayfixedforthegeneralrisingandtheexecutionoftheseprojects。"
Asmaybeseen,thedangerwasimminent,astherewasonlysixdays'
intervalbetweentherevelationandtheexpectedoutburst;sotheGenevoiswasconsulted,underrenewedpromisesofsafetyforhimself,astothebestmeansofseizingontheprincipalchiefsintheshortestpossibletime。HerepliedthathesawnootherwaybuttoaccompanythemhimselftoNimes,whereCatinatandRavanelwereinhiding,inahouseofwhichhedidnotknowthenumberandinastreetofwhichhedidnotknowthename,butwhichhewassureofrecognisingwhenhesawthem。Ifthisadviceweretobeofanyavail,therewasnotimetobelost,forRavanelandCatinatweretoleaveNimesonthe20thorthe21statlatest;consequently,iftheydidnotsetoffatonce,thechiefswouldnolongerbetherewhentheyarrived。Theadviceseemedgood,sothemarechalandtheintendanthastenedtofollowit:theinformerwassenttoNimesguardedbysixarchers,theconductoftheexpeditionwasgiventoBarnier,theprovost'slieutenant,amanofintellectandcommonsense,andinwhomtheprovosthadfullconfidence。HecarriedlettersfortheMarquisofSandricourt。
Astheyarrivedlateontheeveningofthe19th,theGenevoiswasatonceledupanddownthestreetsofNimes,and,ashehadpromised,hepointedoutseveralhousesinthedistrictofSainte—Eugenie。
Sandricourtatonceorderedthegarrisonofficers,aswellasthoseofthemunicipalandCourtenregiments,toputalltheirsoldiersunderarmsandtostationthemquietlythroughoutthetownsoastosurroundthatdistrict。Atteno'clock,theMarquisofSandricourt,havingmadecertainthathisinstructionshadbeencarefullycarriedout,gaveorderstoMM。deL'Estrade,Barnier,JosephMartin,Eusebe,themajoroftheSwissregiment,andseveralotherofficers,alongwithtenpickedmen,torepairtothehouseofoneAlison,asilkmerchant,thishousehavingbeenspeciallypointedoutbytheprisoner。Thistheydid,butseeingthedooropen,theyhadlittlehopeoffindingthechiefsofaconspiracyinaplacesobadlyguarded;nevertheless,determinedtoobeytheirinstructions,theyglidedsoftlyintothehall。Inafewmoments,duringwhichsilenceanddarknessreigned,theyheardpeoplespeakingratherloudlyinanadjoiningroom,andbylisteningintentlytheycaughtthefollowingwords:"ItisquitesurethatinlessthanthreeweeksthekingwillbenolongermasterofDauphine,Vivarais,andLanguedoc。Iambeingsoughtforeverywhere,andhereIaminNimes,withnothingtofear。"
Itwasnowquitecleartothelistenersthatcloseathandweresomeatleastofthoseforwhomtheywerelooking。Theyrantothedoor,whichwasajar,andenteredtheroom,swordinhand。TheyfoundRavanel,Jonquet,andVillastalkingtogether,onesittingonatable,anotherstandingonthehearth,andthethirdlollingonabed。
JonquetwasayoungmanfromSainte—Chatte,highlythoughtofamongtheCamisards。Hehadbeen,itmayberemembered,oneofCavalier'sprincipalofficers。VillaswasthesonofadoctorinSaint—
Hippolyte;hewasstillyoung,thoughhehadseentenyears'service,havingbeencornetinEnglandintheGallowayregiment。AstoRavanel,heissufficientlyknowntoourreaderstomakeanywordsofintroductionunnecessary。
Del'Estradethrewhimselfonthenearestofthethree,and,withoutusinghissword,struckhimwithhisfist。Ravanel（foritwashe）
beinghalfstunned,fellbackastepandaskedthereasonofthisviolentassault;whileBarnierexclaimed,"Holdhimfast,M。de1'Estrade;itisRavanel！""Well,yes,IamRavanel,"saidtheCamisard,"butthatisnoreasonformakingsomuchnoise。"Ashesaidthesewordshemadeanattempttoreachhisweapons,butde1'EstradeandBarnierpreventedhimbythrowingthemselvesonhim,andsucceededinknockinghimdownafterafiercestruggle。While,thiswasgoingon,histwocompanionsweresecured,andthethreewereremovedtothefort,wheretheirguardneverleftthemnightorday。
TheMarquisofSandricourtimmediatelysentoffacouriertotheDukeofBerwickandM。deBavilletoinformthemoftheimportantcapturehehadmade。TheyweresodelightedatthenewsthattheycamenextdaytoNimes。
Theyfoundthetownintenselyexcited,soldierswithfixedbayonetsateverystreetcorner,allthehousesshutup,andthegatesofthetownclosed,andnooneallowedtoleavewithoutwrittenpermissionfromSandricourt。Onthe20th,andduringthefollowingnight,morethanfiftypersonswerearrested,amongstwhomwereAlison,themerchantinwhosehouseRavanel,Villas,andJonquetwerefound;
Delacroix,Alison'sbrother—in—law,who,onhearingthenoiseofthestruggle,hadhiddenontheroofandwasnotdiscoveredtillnextday;JeanLauze,whowasaccusedofhavingpreparedRavanel'ssupper;
Lauze'smother,awidow;Tourelle,themaid—servant;thehostoftheCouped'Or,andapreachernamedLaJeunesse。
Great,however,aswasthejoyfeltbytheduke,themarquis,anddeBaville,itfellshortoffullperfection,forthemostdangerousmanamongtherebelswasstillatlarge;inspiteofeveryeffort,Catinat'shiding—placehadnottillnowbeendiscovered。
Accordingly,thedukeissuedaproclamationofferingarewardofonehundredLouis—d'ortowhoeverwouldtakeCatinat,orcausehimtobetakenprisoner,andgrantingafreepardontoanyonewhohadshelteredhim,providedthathewasdenouncedbeforethehouse—to—housevisitationwhichwasabouttobemadetookplace。
Afterthesearchbegan,themasterofthehouseinwhichhemightbefoundwouldbehungathisowndoor,hisfamilythrownintoprison,hisgoodsconfiscated,hishouserazedtotheground,withoutanyformoftrialwhatever。
Thisproclamationhadtheeffectexpectedbytheduke:whetherthemaninwhosehouseCatinatwasconcealedgrewfrightenedandaskedhimtoleave,orwhetherCatinatthoughthisbestcoursewouldbetotryandgetawayfromthetown,insteadofremainingshutupinit,hedressedhimselfonemorninginsuitableclothes,andwenttoabarber's,whoshavedhim,cuthishair,andmadeuphisfacesoastogivehimasmuchtheappearanceofanoblemanaspossible;andthenwithwonderfulassurancehewentoutintothestreets,andpullinghishatoverhiseyesandholdingapaperinhishandasifreadingit,hecrossedthetowntothegateofSt。Antoine。HewasalmostthroughwhenCharreau,thecaptainoftheguard,havinghisattentiondirectedtoCatinatbyacomradetowhomhewastalking,stoppedhim,suspectinghewastryingtoescape。Catinataskedwhathewantedwithhim,andCharreaurepliedthatifhewouldentertheguard—househewouldlearn;asundersuchcircumstancesanyexaminationwastobeavoided,Catinattriedtoforcehiswayout;whereuponhewasseizedbyCharreauandhisbrother—officer,andCatinatseeingthatresistancewouldbenotonlyuselessbutharmful,allowedhimselftobetakentotheguard—room。
Hehadbeenthereaboutanhourwithoutbeingrecognisedbyanyofthosewho,drawnbycuriosity,cametolookathim,whenoneofthevisitorsingoingoutsaidheboreastrongresemblancetoCatinat;
somechildrenhearingthesewords,begantoshout,"Catinatistaken！
Catinatistaken！"Thiscrydrewalargecrowdtotheguard—house,amongothersamanwhosenamewasAnglejas,who,lookingcloselyattheprisoner,recognisedhimandcalledhimbyname。
Instantlytheguardwasdoubled,andCatinatsearched:apsalm—bookwithasilverclaspandaletteraddressedto"M。Maurel,calledCatinat,"werefoundonhim,leavingnodoubtastohisidentity;
whilehehimself,growingimpatient,anddesiringtoendalltheseinvestigations,acknowledgedthathewasCatinatandnoother。
Hewasatoncetakentothepalace,wherethePresidialCourtwassitting,M。deBavilleandthepresidentbeingoccupiedintryingRavanel,Villas,andJonquet。Onhearingthenewsofthisimportantcapture,theintendant,hardlydaringtobelievehisears,roseandwentouttomeettheprisoner,inordertoconvincehimselfthatitwasreallyCatinat。
>FromthePresidialCourthewasbroughtbeforetheDukeofBerwick,whoaddressedseveralquestionstohim,whichCatinatanswered;hethentoldthedukehehadsomethingofimportancetoimparttohimandtohimalone。Thedukewasnotveryanxiousforatete—a—tetewithCatinat;however,havingorderedhishandstobesecurelybound,andtellingSandricourtnottogoaway,heconsentedtohearwhattheprisonerhadtosay。
Catinatthen,inthepresenceofthedukeandSandricourt,proposedthatanexchangeofprisonersshouldbemade,theMarechaldeTallard,whowasaprisonerofwarinEngland,beingacceptedinhisplace。Catinataddedthatifthisofferwasnotaccepted,themarechalwouldmeetthesametreatmentfromtheEnglishasmightbemetedouttohim,Catinat,inFrance。Theduke,fullofthearistocraticideastowhichhewasborn,foundtheproposalinsolent,andsaid,"Ifthatisallyouhavetopropose,Icanassureyouthatyourhoursarenumbered。"
ThereuponCatinatwaspromptlysentbacktothepalace,wheretrulyhistrialdidnotoccupymuchtime。Thatofthethreeotherswasalreadyfinished,andsoonhiswasalsoatanend,anditonlyremainedtopronouncesentenceonallfour。CatinatandRavanel,asthemostguilty,werecondemnedtobeburntatthestake。SomeofthecouncillorsthoughtCatinatshouldhavebeentornapartbyfourhorses,butthemajoritywereforthestake,theagonylastinglonger,beingmoreviolentandmoreexquisitethanintheofothercase。
VillarsandJonquetweresentencedtobebrokenonthewheelalive—
—theonlydifferencebetweenthembeingthatJonquetwastobetotakenwhilestilllivingandthrownintothefirelitroundCatinatandRavael。Itwasalsoorderedthatthefourcondemnedmenbeforetheirexecutionshouldbeputtothetortureordinaryandextraordinary。Catinat,whosetemperwasfierce,sufferedwithcourage,butcursedhistorturers。Ravanelboreallthetormentsthatcouldbeinflictedonhimwithafortitudethatwasmorethanhuman,sothatthetorturerswereexhaustedbeforehewas。Jonquetspokelittle,andtherevelationshemadewereofslightimportance。
VillasconfessedthattheconspiratorshadtheintentionofcarryingoffthedukeandM。deBavillewhentheywereoutwalkingordriving,andheaddedthatthisplothadbeenhatchedatthehouseofacertainBoetondeSaintLaurent—d'Aigozre,atMilhaud,inRouergue。
Meanwhileallthistorturingandquestioninghadtakensomuchtimethatwhenthestakeandthescaffoldwerereadyitwasalmostdark,sothatthedukeputofftheexecutionsuntilthenextday,insteadofcarryingthemoutbytorchlight。BrueyssaysthatthiswasdoneinorderthatthemostdisaffectedamongstthefanaticsshouldnotbeabletosaythatitwasnotreallyCatinat,Ravanel,Villas,andJonquetwhohadbeenexecutedbutsomeotherunknownmen;butitismoreprobablethatthedukeandBavillewereafraidofriots,aswasprovedbytheirorderingthescaffoldandthestaketobeerectedattheendoftheCoursandoppositetheglacisofthefortress,sothatthegarrisonmightbeathandincaseofanydisturbance。
Catinatwasplacedinacellapart,andcouldbe,heardcursingandcomplainingallnightthrough。Ravanel,Villas,andJonquetwereconfinedtogether,andpassedthenightsingingandpraying。
Thenextday,the22ndApril,1705,theyweretakenfromtheprisonanddrawntotheplaceofexecutionintwocarts,beingunabletowalk,onaccountoftheseveretorturetowhichtheyhadbeensubjected,andwhichhadcrushedthebonesoftheirlegs。AsinglepileofwoodhadbeenpreparedforCatinatandRavanel,whoweretobeburnttogether;theywereinonecart,andVillasandJonquet,forwhomtwowheelshadbeenprepared,wereintheother。
ThefirstoperationwastobindCatinatandRavanelbacktobacktothesamestake,carebeingtakentoplaceCatinatwithhisfacetowindward,sothathisagonymightlastlonger,andthenthepilewaslitunderRavanel。
Ashadbeenforeseen,thisprecautiongavegreatpleasuretothosepeoplewhotookdelightinwitnessingexecutions。Thewindbeingratherhigh,blewtheflamesawayfromCatinat,sothatatfirstthefireburnthislegsonly——acircumstancewhich,theauthoroftheHistoryoftheCamisardstellsus,arousedCatinat'simpatience。
Ravanel,however,boreeverythingtotheendwiththegreatestheroism,onlypausinginhissingingtoaddresswordsofencouragementtohiscompanioninsuffering,whomhecouldnotsee,butwhosegroansandcurseshecouldhear;hewouldthenreturntohispsalms,whichhecontinuedtosinguntilhisvoicewasstifledintheflames。Justasheexpired,Jonquetwasremovedfromthewheel,andcarried,hisbrokenlimbsdangling,totheburningpile,onwhichhewasthrown。Fromthemidstoftheflameshisvoicewasheardsaying,"Courage,Catinat;weshallsoonmeetinheaven。"Afewmomentslater,thestake,beingburntthroughatthebase,broke,andCatinatfallingintotheflames,wasquicklysuffocated。Thatthisaccidenthadnotbeenforseenandpreventedbyproperprecautionscausedgreatdispleasuretospectatorswhofoundthatthethree—quarterofanhourwhichthespectaclehadlastedwasmuchtoobriefatime。
Villaslivedthreehourslongeronhiswheel,andexpiredwithouthavingutteredasinglecomplaint。
Twodayslater,therewasanothertrial,atwhichsixpersonswerecondemnedtodeathandonetothegalleys;thesewerethetwoAlisons,inwhosehouseVillas,Ravanel,andJonquethadbeenfound;
Alegre,whowasaccusedofhavingconcealedCatinat,andofhavingbeentheCamisardtreasurer;Rougier,anarmourerwhowasfoundguiltyofhavingrepairedthemusketsoftherebels;JeanLauze,aninnkeeperwhohadpreparedmealsforRavanel;LaJeunesse,apreacher,convictedofhavingpreachedsermonsandsungpsalms;andyoungDelacroix,brother—in—lawtooneoftheAlisons。Thefirstthreewerecondemnedtobebrokenonthewheel,theirhousesdemolished,andtheirgoodsconfiscated。Thenextthreeweretobehanged。JeanDelacroix,partlybecauseofhisyouth,butmorebecauseoftherevelationshemade,wasonlysenttothegalleys。
SeveralyearslaterhewasliberatedandreturnedtoArles,andwascarriedoffbytheplaguein1720。
Allthesesentenceswerecarriedoutwiththeutmostrigour。
Thus,asmaybeseen,thesuppressionoftherevoltproceededapace;
onlytwoyoungCamisardchiefswerestillatlarge,bothofwhomhadformerlyservedunderCavalierandCatinat。ThenameoftheonewasBrunandoftheotherFrancezet。AlthoughneitherofthempossessedthegeniusandinfluenceofCatinatandRavanel,yettheywerebothmentobefeared,theoneonaccountofhispersonalstrength,theotherforhisskillandagility。Indeed,itwassaidofhimthathenevermissedashot,andthatonedaybeingpursuedbydragoonshehadescapedbyjumpingovertheGardonataspotwhereitwastwenty—twofeetwide。
Foralongtimeallsearchwasinvain,butonedaythewifeofamillernamedSemenilcameintotownostensiblytobuyprovisions,butreallytodenouncethemasbeingconcealed,withtwootherCamisards,inherhusband'shouse。
Thisinformationwasreceivedwithaneagergratitude,whichshowedtheimportancewhichthegovernorofNimesattachedtotheircapture。
ThewomanwaspromisedarewardoffiftyLouisiftheyweretaken,andtheChevalierdelaValla,Grandidier,andfiftySwiss,themajoroftheSaint—Serninregiment,acaptain,andthirtydragoons,weresentofftomakethecapture。Whentheywerewithinaquarterofaleagueofthemill,LaValla,whowasincommandoftheexpedition,madethewomangivehimallthenecessarytopographicalinformation。