EventhemostferventpanegyristsofAbbeDuchaylaspokeofhimwithbatedbreath,and,whenhehimselflookedintohisownheartandrecalledhowoftenhehadappliedtothebodythepowertobindandloosewhichGodhadonlygivenhimoverthesoul,hewasseizedwithstrangetremors,andfallingonhiskneeswithfoldedhandsandbowedheadheremainedforhourswraptinthought,somotionlessthatwereitnotforthedropsofsweatwhichstoodonhisbrowhemighthavebeentakenforamarblestatueofprayeroveratomb。
Moreover,thispriestbyvirtueofthepowerswithwhichhewasinvested,andfeelingthathehadtheauthorityofM。deBaville,intendantofLanguedoc,andM。deBroglie,commanderofthetroops,behindhim,haddoneotherterriblethings。
Hehadseparatedchildrenfromfatherandmother,andhadshutthemupinreligioushouses,wheretheyhadbeensubjectedtosuchseverechastisement,bywayofmakingthemdopenancefortheheresyoftheirparents,thatmanyofthemdiedunderit。
Hehadforcedhiswayintothechamberofthedying,nottobringconsolationbutmenaces;andbendingoverthebed,asiftokeepbacktheAngelofDeath,hehadrepeatedthewordsoftheterribledecreewhichprovidedthatincaseofthedeathofaHuguenotwithoutconversion,hismemoryshouldbepersecuted,andhisbody,deniedChristianburial,shouldbedrawnonhurdlesoutofthecity,andcastonadungheap。
Lastly,whenwithpiouslovechildrentriedtoshieldtheirparentsinthedeath—agonyfromhisthreats,ordeadfromhisjustice,bycarryingthem,deadordying,tosomerefugeinwhichtheymighthopetodrawtheirlastbreathinpeaceortoobtainChristianburial,hedeclaredthatanyonewhoshouldopenhisdoorhospitablytosuchdisobediencewasatraitortoreligion,althoughamongtheheathensuchpitywouldhavebeendeemedworthyofanaltar。
Suchwasthemanraiseduptopunish,whowentonhisway,precededbyterror,accompaniedbytorture,andfollowedbydeath,throughacountryalreadyexhaustedbylongandbloodyoppression,andwhereateverystephetrodonhalfrepressedreligioushate,whichlikeavolcanowaseverreadytoburstoutafresh,butalwayspreparedformartyrdom。Nothingheldhimback,andyearsagohehadhadhisgravehollowedoutinthechurchofSt。Germain,choosingthatchurchforhislastlongsleepbecauseithadbeenbuiltbyPopeUrbanIVwhenhewasbishopofMende。
AbbeDuchaylaextendedhisvisitationoversixmonths,duringwhicheverydaywasmarkedbytorturesandexecutions:severalprophetswereburntatthestake;FrancoisedeBrez,shewhohadpreachedthattheHostcontainedamorevenomouspoisonthanabasilisk'shead,washanged;andLaquoite,whohadbeenconfinedinthecitadelofMontpellier,wasonthepointofbeingbrokenonthewheel,whenontheeveofhisexecutionhiscellwasfoundempty。Noonecouldeverdiscoverhowheescaped,andconsequentlyhisreputationrosehigherthanever,itbeingcurrentlybelievedthat,ledbytheHolySpiritasSt。Peterbytheangel,hehadpassedthroughtheguardsinvisibletoall,leavinghisfettersbehind。
ThisincomprehensibleescaperedoubledtheseverityoftheArch—priest,tillatlasttheprophets,feelingthattheironlychanceofsafetylayingettingridofhim,begantopreachagainsthimasAntichrist,andadvocatehisdeath。Theabbewaswarnedofthis,butnothingcouldabatehiszeal。InFranceasinIndia,martyrdomwashislonged—forgoal,andwithheaderectandunfalteringstephe"pressedtowardthemark。"
Atlast,ontheeveningofthe24thofJuly,twohundredconspiratorsmetinawoodonthetopofahillwhichoverlookedthebridgeofMontvert,nearwhichwastheArch—priest'sresidence。TheirleaderwasamannamedLaporte,anativeofAlais,whohadbecomeamaster—blacksmithinthepassofDeze。Hewasaccompaniedbyaninspiredman,aformerwool—carder,bornatMagistavols,EspritSeguierbyname。Thismanwas,afterLaquoite,themosthighlyregardedofthetwentyorthirtyprophetswhowereatthatmomentgoingupanddowntheCevennesineverydirection。Thewholepartywasarmedwithscythes,halberts,andswords;afewhadevenpistolsandguns。
Onthestrokeoften,thehourfixedfortheirdeparture,theyallkneltdownandwithuncoveredheadsbeganprayingasferventlyasiftheywereabouttoperformsomeactmostpleasingtoGod,andtheirprayersended,theymarcheddownthehilltothetown,singingpsalms,andshoutingbetweentheversestothetownspeopletokeepwithintheirhomes,andnottolookoutofdoororwindowonpainofdeath。
Theabbewasinhisoratorywhenheheardthemingledsingingandshouting,andatthesamemomentaservantenteredingreatalarm,despitethestrictregulationoftheArch—priestthathewasnevertobeinterruptedathisprayers。Thismanannouncedthatabodyoffanaticswascomingdownthehill,buttheabbefeltconvincedthatitwasonlyanunorganisedcrowdwhichwasgoingtotryandcarryoffsixprisoners,atthatmomentinthe'ceps。'[Aterriblekindofstocks——abeamsplitintwo,nonotchesbeingmadeforthelegs:thevictim'slegswereplacedbetweenthetwopiecesofwood,whichwerethen,bymeansofaviceateachend,broughtgraduallytogether。
TranslatorsNote。]
Theseprisonerswerethreeyoungmenandthreegirlsinmen'sclothes,whohadbeenseizedjustastheywereabouttoemigrate。Astheabbewasalwaysprotectedbyaguardofsoldiers,hesentfortheofficerincommandandorderedhimtomarchagainst,thefanaticsanddispersethem。Buttheofficerwassparedthetroubleofobeying,forthefanaticswerealreadyathand。Onreachingthegateofthecourtyardheheardthemoutside,andperceivedthattheyweremakingreadytoburstitin。Judgingoftheirnumbersbythesoundoftheirvoices,heconsideredthatfarfromattackingthem,hewouldhaveenoughtodoinpreparingfordefence,consequentlyheboltedandbarredthegateontheinside,andhastilyerectedabarricadeunderanarchleadingtotheapartmentsoftheabbe。Justasthesepreparationswerecomplete,EspritSeguiercaughtsightofaheavybeamofwoodlyinginaditch;thiswasraisedbyadozenmenandusedasabattering—ramtoforceinthegate,whichsoonshowedabreach。Thusencouraged,theworkers,cheeredbythechantsoftheircomrades,soongotthegateoffthehinges,andthustheoutsidecourtwastaken。Thecrowdthenloudlydemandedthereleaseoftheprisoners,usingdirethreats。
Thecommandingofficersenttoasktheabbewhathewastodo;theabberepliedthathewastofireontheconspirators。Thisimprudentorderwascarriedout;oneofthefanaticswaskilledonthespot,andtwowoundedmenmingledtheirgroanswiththesongsandthreatsoftheircomrades。
Thebarricadewasnextattacked,someusingaxes,othersdartingtheirswordsandhalbertsthroughthecrevicesandkillingthosebehind;asforthosewhohadfirearms,theyclimbedontheshouldersoftheothers,andhavingfiredatthosebelow,savedthemselvesbytumblingdownagain。AttheheadofthebesiegerswereLaporteandEspritSeguier,oneofwhomhadafathertoavengeandtheotherason,bothofwhomhadbeendonetodeathbytheabbe。Theywerenottheonlyonesofthepartywhowerefiredbythedesireofvengeance;
twelveorfifteenotherswereinthesameposition。
Theabbeinhisroomlistenedtothenoiseofthestruggle,andfindingmattersgrowingserious,hegatheredhishouseholdroundhim,andmakingthemkneeldown,hetoldthemtomaketheirconfession,thathemight,bygivingthemabsolution,preparethemforappearingbeforeGod。Thesacredwordshadjustbeenpronouncedwhentheriotersdrewnear,havingcarriedthebarricade,anddriventhesoldierstotakerefugeinahallonthegroundfloorjustundertheArch—priest'sroom。
Butsuddenly,theassaultwasstayed,someofthemengoingtosurroundthehouse,otherssettingoutonasearchfortheprisoners。
Thesewereeasilyfound,forjudgingbywhattheycouldhearthattheirbrethrenhadcometotheirrescue,theyshoutedasloudlyastheycould。
Theunfortunatecreatureshadalreadypassedawholeweekwiththeirlegscaughtandpressedbythecleftbeamswhichformedtheseinexpressiblypainfulstocks。Whentheunfortunatevictimswerereleased,thefanaticsscreamedwithrageatthesightoftheirswollenbodiesandhalf—brokenbones。Noneoftheunhappypeoplewereabletostand。Theattackonthesoldierswasrenewed,andthesebeingdrivenoutofthelowerhall,filledthestaircaseleadingtotheabbe'sapartments,andofferedsuchdetermine。
resistancethattheirassailantsweretwiceforcedtofallback。
Laporte,seeingtwoofhismenkilledandfiveorsixwounded,calledoutloudly,"ChildrenofGod,laydownyourarms:thiswayofgoingtoworkistooslow;letusburntheabbeyandallinit。Towork！
towork！"Theadvicewasgood,andtheyallhastenedtofollowit:
benches,chairs,andfurnitureofallsortswereheapedupinthehall,apalliassethrownonthetop,andthepilefired。Inamomentthewholebuildingwasablaze,andtheArch—priest,yieldingtotheentreatiesofhisservants,fastenedhissheetstothewindow—bars,andbytheirhelpdroppedintothegarden。Thedropwassogreatthathebrokeoneofhisthighbones,butdragginghimselfalongonhishandsandoneknee,he,withoneofhisservants,reachedarecessinthewall,whileanotherservantwasendeavouringtoescapethroughtheflames,thusfallingintothehandsofthefanatics,whocarriedhimbeforetheircaptain。Thencriesof"Theprophet！theprophet！"wereheardonallsides。EspritSeguier,feelingthatsomethingfreshhadtakenplace,cameforward,stillholdinginhishandtheblazingtorchwithwhichhehadsetfiretothepile。
"Brother,"askedLaporte,pointingtotheprisoner,"isthismantodie？"
EspritSeguierfellonhiskneesandcoveredhisfacewithhismantle,likeSamuel,andsoughttheLordinprayer,askingtoknowHiswill。
Inashorttimeheroseandsaid,"Thismanisnottodie;forinasmuchashehasshowedmercytoourbrethrenwemustshowmercytohim。"
WhetherthisfacthadbeenmiraculouslyrevealedtoSeguier,orwhetherhehadgainedhisinformationfromothersources,thenewlyreleasedprisonersconfirmeditstruth,callingoutthatthemanhadindeedtreatedthemwithhumanity。Justthenaroarasofawildbeastwasheard:oneofthefanatics,whosebrotherhadbeenputtodeathbytheabbe,hadjustcaughtsightofhim,thewholeneighbourhoodbeinglitupbythefire;hewaskneelinginanangleofthewall,towhichhehaddraggedhimself。
"DownwiththesonofBelial！"shoutedthecrowd,rushingtowardsthepriest,whoremainedkneelingandmotionlesslikeamarblestatue。
Hisvalettookadvantageoftheconfusiontoescape,andgotoffeasily;forthesightofhimonwhomthegeneralhatewasconcentratedmadetheHuguenotsforgeteverythingelse:
EspritSeguierwasthefirsttoreachthepriest,andspreadinghishandsoverhim,hecommandedtheotherstoholdback。"Goddesirethnotthedeathofasinner,'"saidhe,"'butratherthatheturnfromhiswickednessandlive。'"
"No,no！"shoutedascoreofvoices,refusingobedienceforthefirsttime,perhaps,toanorderfromtheprophet;"lethimdiewithoutmercy,ashestruckwithoutpity。DeathtothesonofBelial,death！"
"Silence！"exclaimedtheprophetinaterriblevoice,"andlistentothewordofGodfrommymouth。Ifthismanwilljoinusandtakeuponhimthedutiesofapastor,letusgranthimhislife,thathemayhenceforwarddevoteittothespreadofthetruefaith。"
"Ratherathousanddeathsthanapostasy！"answeredthepriest。
"Die,then！"criedLaporte,stabbinghim;"takethatforhavingburntmyfatherinNimes。"
AndhepassedonthedaggertoEspritSeguier。
Duchaylamadeneithersoundnorgesture:itwouldhaveseemedasifthedaggerhadbeenturnedbythepriest'sgownasbyacoatofmailwereitnotthatathinstreamofbloodappeared。Raisinghiseyestoheaven,herepeatedthewordsofthepenitentialpsalm:"OutofthedepthshaveIcrieduntoThee,OLord！Lord,hearmyvoice！"
ThenEspritSeguierraisedhisarmandstruckinhisturn,saying,"Takethatformyson,whomyoubrokeonthewheelatMontpellier。"
Andhepassedonthedagger。
Butthisblowalsowasnotmortal,onlyanotherstreamofbloodappeared,andtheabbesaidinafailingvoice,"Deliverme,OmySaviour,outofmywell—meritedsufferings,andIwillacknowledgetheirjustice;farIhavebeenamanofblood。"
Thenextwhoseizedthedaggercamenearandgavehisblow,saying,"Takethatformybrother,whomyouletdieinthe'ceps。'"
Thistimethedaggerpiercedtheheart,andtheabbehadonlytimetoejaculate,"Havemercyonme,OGod,accordingtoThygreatmercy！"
beforehefellbackdead。
Buthisdeathdidnotsatisfythevengeanceofthosewhohadnotbeenabletostrikehimliving;onebyonetheydrewnearandstabbed,eachinvokingtheshadeofsomedearmurderedoneandpronouncingthesamewordsofmalediction。
Inall,thebodyoftheabbereceivedfifty—twodaggerthrusts,ofwhichtwenty—fourwouldhavebeenmortal。
Thusperished,attheageoffifty—five,MessireFrancoisdeLangladeDuchayla,priorofLaval,inspectorofmissionsinGevaudan,andArch—priestoftheCevennesandMende。
Theirvengeancethusaccomplished,themurderersfeltthattherewasnomoresafetyforthemineithercityorplain,andfledtothemountains;butinpassingneartheresidenceofM。deLaveze,aCatholicnoblemanoftheparishofMolezon,oneofthefugitivesrecollectedthathehadheardthatagreatnumberoffirearmswaskeptinthehouse。Thisseemedaluckychance,forfirearmswerewhattheHuguenotsneededmostofall。TheythereforesenttwoenvoystoM。deLavezetoaskhimtogivethemat,leastashareofhisweapons;buthe,asagoodCatholic,repliedthatitwasquitetruethathehadindeedastoreofarms,butthattheyweredestinedtothetriumphandnottothedesecrationofreligion,andthathewouldonlygivethemupwithhislife。Withthesewords,hedismissedtheenvoys,barringhisdoorsbehindthem。
Butwhilethisparleywasgoingontheconspiratorshadapproachedthechateau,andthusreceivedthevaliantanswertotheirdemandssoonerthanM。deLavezehadcountedon。Resolvingnottoleavehimtimetotakedefensivemeasures,theydashedatthehouse,andbystandingoneachother'sshouldersreachedtheroominwhichM。deLavezeandhisentirefamilyhadtakenrefuge。Inaninstantthedoorwasforced,andthefanatics,stillreekingwiththelife—bloodofAbbeDuchayla,beganagaintheirworkofdeath。Noonewasspared;neitherthemasterofthehouse,norhisbrother,norhisuncle,norhissister,whoknelttotheassassinsinvain;evenhisoldmother,whowaseightyyearsofage,havingfromherbedfirstwitnessedthemurderofallherfamily,wasatlaststabbedtotheheart,thoughthebutchersmighthavereflectedthatitwashardlyworthwhilethustoanticipatethearrivalofDeath,whoaccordingtothelawsofnaturemusthavebeenalreadyathand。
Themassacrefinished,thefanaticsspreadoverthecastle,supplyingthemselveswitharmsandunder—linen,beingbadlyinneedofthelatter;forwhentheylefttheirhomestheyhadexpectedsoontoreturn,andhadtakennothingwiththem。Theyalsocarriedoffthecopperkitchenutensils,intendingtoturnthemintobullets。
Finally,theyseizedonasumof5000francs,themarriage—portionofM。deLaveze'ssister,whowasjustabouttobemarried,andthuslaidthefoundationofawarfundThenewsofthesetwobloodyeventssoonreachednotonlyNimesbutallthecountryside,androusedtheauthoritiestoaction。M。leComtedeBrogliecrossedtheUpperCevennes,andmarcheddowntothebridgeofMontvert,followedbyseveralcompaniesoffusiliers。FromanotherdirectionM。leComtedePeyrebroughtthirty—twocavalryandthreehundredandfiftyinfantry,havingenlistedthematMarvejols,LaCanourgue,Chiac,andServerette。M。deSt。Paul,AbbeDuchayla'sbrother,andtheMarquisDuchayla,hisnephew,broughteightyhorsemenfromthefamilyestates。TheCountofMorangiezrodeinfromSt。AubanandMalzieuwithtwocompaniesofcavalry,andthetownofMendebyorderofitsbishopdespatcheditsnoblesattheheadofthreecompaniesoffiftymeneach。
Butthemountainshadswallowedupthefanatics,andnothingwaseverknownoftheirfate,exceptthatfromtimetotimeapeasantwouldrelatethatincrossingtheCevenneshehadheardatdawnordusk,onmountainpeakorfromvalleydepths,thesoundgoinguptoheavenofsongsofpraise。ItwasthefanaticassassinsworshippingGod。
Oroccasionallyatnight,onthetopsoftheloftymountains,firesshoneforthwhichappearedtosignalonetoanother,butonlookingthenextnightinthesamedirectionallwasdark。
SoM。deBroglie,concludingthatnothingcouldbedoneagainstenemieswhowereinvisible,disbandedthetroopswhichhadcometohisaid,andwentbacktoMontpellier,leavingacompanyoffusiliersatCollet,anotheratAyres,oneatthebridgeofMontvert,oneatBarre,andoneatPompidon,andappointingCaptainPoulastheirchief,ThischoiceofsuchamanaschiefshowedthatM,deBrogliewasagoodjudgeofhumannature,andwasalsoperfectlyacquaintedwiththesituation,forCaptainPoulwastheverymantotakealeadingpartinthecomingstruggle。"Hewas,"saysPereLouvreloeil,priestoftheChristiandoctrineandcureofSaint—GermaindeCalberte,"anofficerofmeritandreputation,borninVille—Dubert,nearCarcassonne,whohadwhenyoungservedinHungaryandGermany,anddistinguishedhimselfinPiedmontinseveralexcursionsagainsttheBarbets,[AnameappliedfirsttotheAlpinesmugglerswholivedinthevalleys,latertotheinsurgentpeasantsintheCevennes。——
Translator'sNote。]notablyinoneofthelaterones,when,enteringthetentoftheirchief,Barbanaga,hecutoffhishead。Histallandagilefigure,hiswarlikeair,hisloveofhardwork,hishoarsevoice,hisfieryandausterecharacter,hiscarelessnessinregardtodress,hismatureage,histriedcourage,histaciturnhabit,thelengthandweightofhissword,allcombinedtorenderhimformidable。Thereforenoonecouldhavebeenchosenmoresuitableforputtingdowntherebels,forforcingtheirentrenchments,andforputtingthemtoflight。
HardlyhadhetakenupapositioninthemarkettownofLabarre,whichwastobehisheadquarters,thanhewasinformedthatagatheringoffanaticshadbeenseenonthelittleplainofFondmorte,whichformedapassbetweentwovalleys。HeorderedouthisSpanishsteed,whichhewasaccustomedtorideintheTurkishmanner——thatis,withveryshortstirrups,sothathecouldthrowhimselfforwardtothehorse'sears,orbackwardtothetail,accordingashewishedtogiveoravoidamortalblow。Takingwithhimeighteenmenofhisowncompanyandtwenty—fivefromthetown,heatoncesetofffortheplaceindicated,notconsideringanylargernumbernecessarytoputtoroutabandofpeasants,howevernumerous。
Theinformationturnedouttobecorrect:ahundredReformersledbyEspritSeguierhadencampedintheplainofFondmorte,andabouteleveno'clockinthemorningoneoftheirsentinelsinthedefilegavethealarmbyfiringoffhisgunandrunningbacktothecamp,shouting,"Toarms！"ButCaptainPoul,withhisusualimpetuosity,didnotgivetheinsurgentstimetoform,butthrewhimselfuponthemtothebeatofthedrum,notintheleastdeterredbytheirfirstvolley。Ashehadexpected,thebandconsistedofundisciplinedpeasants,whooncescatteredwereunabletorally。Theywerethereforecompletelyrouted。Poulkilledseveralwithhisownhand,amongwhomweretwowhoseheadshecutoffascleverlyasthemostexperiencedexecutionercouldhavedone,thankstothemarvelloustemperofhisDamascusblade。Atthissightallwhohadtillthenstoodtheirgroundtooktoflight,Poulattheirheels,slashingwithhisswordunceasingly,tilltheydisappearedamongthemountains。Hethenreturnedtothefieldofbattle,pickedupthetwoheads,andfasteningthemtohissaddlebow,rejoinedhissoldierswithhisbloodytrophies,——thatistosay,hejoinedthelargestgroupofsoldiershecouldfind;forthefighthadturnedintoanumberofsinglecombats,everysoldierfightingforhimself。Herehefoundthreeprisonerswhowereabouttobeshot;butPoulorderedthattheyshouldnotbetouched:notthathethoughtforaninstantofsparingtheirlives,butthathewishedtoreservethemforapublicexecution。ThesethreemenwereNouvel,aparishionerofVialon,MoiseBonnetofPierre—Male,andEspritSeguiertheprophet。
CaptainPoulreturnedtoBarrecarryingwithhimhistwoheadsandhisthreeprisoners,andimmediatelyreportedtoM。JustdeBaville,intendantofLanguedoc,theimportantcapturehehadmade。Theprisonerswerequicklytried。PierreNouvelwascondemnedtobeburntaliveatthebridgeofMontvert,MoliseBonnettobebrokenonthewheelatDeveze,andEspritSeguiertobehangedatAndre—de—Lancise。Thusthosewhowereamateursinexecutionshadasufficientchoice。
However,MoiseBonnetsavedhimselfbybecomingCatholic,butPierreNouvelandEspritSeguierdiedasmartyrs,makingprofessionofthenewfaithandpraisingGod。
TwodaysafterthesentenceonEspritSeguierhadbeencarriedout,thebodydisappearedfromthegallows。AnephewofLaportenamedRolandhadaudaciouslycarrieditoff,leavingbehindawritingnailedtothegibbet。ThiswasachallengefromLaportetoPoul,andwasdatedfromthe"CampoftheEternalGod,inthedesertofCevennes,"Laportesigninghimself"ColonelofthechildrenofGodwhoseeklibertyofconscience。"Poulwasabouttoacceptthechallengewhenhelearnedthattheinsurrectionwasspreadingoneveryside。AyoungmanofVieljeu,twenty—sixyearsofage,namedSolomonCouderc,hadsucceededEspritSeguierintheofficeofprophet,andtwoyounglieutenantshadjoinedLaporte。OneofthesewashisnephewRoland,amanofaboutthirty,pock—marked,fair,thin,cold,andreserved;hewasnottall,butverystrong,andofinflexiblecourage。Theother,HenriCastanetofMassevaques,wasakeeperfromthemountainofLaygoal,whoseskillasamarksmanwassowellknownthatitwassaidhenevermissedashot。Eachoftheselieutenantshadfiftymenunderhim。
Prophetsandprophetessestooincreasedapace,sothathardlyadaypassedwithoutreportsbeingheardoffreshoneswhowererousingwholevillagesbytheirravings。
InthemeantimeagreatmeetingoftheProtestantsofLanguedochadbeenheldinthefieldsofVauvert,atwhichithadbeenresolvedtojoinforceswiththerebelsoftheCevennes,andtosendamessengerthithertomakethisresolutionknown。
LaportehadjustreturnedfromLaVaunage,wherehehadbeenmakingrecruits,whenthisgoodnewsarrived;heatoncesenthisnephewRolandtothenewallieswithpowertopledgehiswordinreturnfortheirs,andtodescribetothem,inordertoattractthem,thecountrywhichhehadchosenasthetheatreofthecomingwar,andwhich,thankstoitshamlets,itswoods,itsdefiles,itsvalleys,itsprecipices,anditscaves,wascapableofaffordingcovertoasmanybandsofinsurgentsasmightbeemployed,wouldbeagoodrallying—groundafterrepulse,andcontainedsuitablepositionsforambuscades。Rolandwassosuccessfulinhismissionthatthesenew"soldiersoftheLord,"astheycalledthemselves,onlearningthathehadoncebeenadragoon,offeredhimthepostofleader,whichheaccepted,andreturnedtohisuncleattheheadofanarmy。
Beingthusreinforced,theReformersdividedthemselvesintothreebands,inordertospreadabroadtheirbeliefsthroughtheentiredistrict。OnewenttowardsSousteleandtheneighbourhoodofAlais,anothertowardsSt。PrivatandthebridgeofMontvert,whilethethirdfollowedthemountainslopedowntoSt。RomanlePompidou,andBarre。
ThefirstwascommandedbyCastanet,thesecondbyRoland,andthethirdbyLaporte。
Eachpartyravagedthecountryasitpassed,returningdeathblowfordeathblowandconflagrationforconflagration,sothathearingoneafteranotheroftheseoutragesCaptainPouldemandedreinforcementsfromM。deBroglieandM。deBaville,whichwerepromptlydespatched。
AssoonasCaptainPoulfoundhimselfattheheadofasufficientnumberoftroops,hedeterminedtoattacktherebels。HehadreceivedintelligencethatthebandledbyLaportewasjustabouttopassthroughthevalleyofCroix,belowBarre,nearTemelague。Inconsequenceofthisinformation,helayinambushatafavourablespotontheroute。AssoonastheReformerswhowerewithoutsuspicion,werewellwithinthenarrowpassinwhichPoulawaitedthem,heissuedforthattheheadofhissoldiers,andchargedtherebelswithsuchcourageandimpetuositythatthey,takenbysurprise,madenoattemptatresistance,but,thoroughlydemoralised,spreadoverthemountain—side,puttingagreaterandgreaterdistanceat,everyinstantbetweenthemselvesandtheenemy,despitetheeffortsofLaportetomakethemstandtheirground。Atlast,seeinghimselfdeserted,Laportebegantothinkofhisownsafety。Butitwasalreadytoolate,forhewassurroundedbydragoons,andtheonlywayofretreatopentohimlayoveralargerock。Thishesuccessfullyscaled,butbeforetryingtogetdowntheothersideheraisedhishandsinsupplicationtoHeaven;atthatinstantavolleywasfired,twobulletsstruckhim,andhefellheadforemostdowntheprecipice。
Whenthedragoonsreachedthefootoftherock,theyfoundhimdead。
Astheyknewhewasthechiefoftherebels,hisbodywassearched:
sixtyLouiswasfoundinhispockets,andasacredchalicewhichhewasinthehabitofusingasanordinarydrinking—cup。PoulcutoffhisheadandtheheadsoftwelveotherReformersfounddeadonthefieldofbattle,andenclosingtheminawickerbasket,sentthemtoM。JustdeBaville。
TheReformerssoonrecoveredfromthisdefeatanddeath,joinedalltheirforcesintoonebody,andplacedRolandattheirheadintheplaceofLaporte。RolandchoseayoungmancalledCoudercdeMazel—
Rozade,whohadassumedthenameofLafleur,ashislieutenant,andtherebelforceswerenotonlyquicklyreorganised,butmadecompletebytheadditionofahundredmenraisedbythenewlieutenant,andsoongaveasignthattheywereagainonthewar—pathbyburningdownthechurchesofBousquet,Cassagnas,andPrunet。
ThenfirstitwasthattheconsulsofMendebegantorealisethatitwasnolongeraninsurrectiontheyhadonhandbutawar,andMendebeingthecapitalofGevaudanandliabletobeattackedatanymoment,theysetthemselvestobringintorepairtheircounterscarps,ravelins,bastions,gates,portcullises,moats,walls,turrets,ramparts,parapets,watchtowers,andthegearoftheircannon,andhavinglaidinastockoffirearms,powderandball,theyformedeightcompanieseachfiftystrong,composedoftownsmen,andafurtherbandofonehundredandfiftypeasantsdrawnfromtheneighbouringcountry。Lastly,theStatesoftheprovincesentanenvoytotheking,prayinghimgraciouslytotakemeasurestochecktheplagueofheresywhichwasspreadingfromdaytoday。ThekingatoncesentM。Julieninanswertothepetition。Thusitwasnolongersimplegovernorsoftownsnorevenchiefsofprovinceswhowereengagedinthestruggle;royaltyitselfhadcometotherescue。
M。deJulien,bornaProtestant,wasa,memberofthenobilityofOrange,andinhisyouthhadservedagainstFranceandbornearmsinEnglandandIrelandwhenWilliamofOrangesucceededJamesIIasKingofEngland,Julienwasoneofhispages,andreceivedasarewardforhisfidelityinthefamouscampaignof1688thecommandofaregimentwhichwassenttotheaidoftheDukeofSavoy,whohadbeggedbothEnglandandHollandtohelphim。HeborehimselfsogallantlythatitwasingreatpartduetohimthattheFrenchwereforcedtoraisethesiegeofCony。
Whetheritwasthatheexpectedtoomuchfromthissuccess,orthattheDukeofSavoydidnotrecognisehisservicesattheirworth,hewithdrewtoGeneva,whereLouisXIVhearingofhisdiscontent,causedoverturestobemadetohimwithaviewtodrawinghimintotheFrenchservice。HewasofferedthesamerankintheFrencharmyashehadheldintheEnglish,withapensionof3000livres。