ThenextdayChamillardannouncedtoCavalierthatthekingdesiredtoseehim,andthathewastokeephimselfpreparedforasummonstocourt。Twodayslater,Cavalierreceivedaletterfromtheministertellinghimtobeatthepalaceatfouro'clockintheafternoon,andhewouldplacehimonthegrandstaircase,upwhichthekingwouldpass。
Cavalierputonhishandsomestclothes,forthefirsttimeinhislifeperhapstakingtroublewithhistoilet。Hehadfinefeatures,towhichhisextremeyouth,hislongfairhair,andthegentleexpressionofhiseyeslentmuchcharm。Twoyearsofwarfarehadgivenhimamartialair;inshort,evenamongthemostelegant,hemightpassasabeaucavalier。
Atthreeo'clockhereachedVersailles,andfoundChamillardwaitingforhim;allthecourtiersofeveryrankwereinastateofgreatexcitement,fortheyhadlearnedthatthegreatLouishadexpressedawishtomeetthelateCevenolchief,whosenamehadbeenpronouncedsoloudandsoofteninthemountainsofLanguedocthatitsechoeshadresoundedinthehallsofVersailles。Cavalierhadnotbeenmistakeninthinkingthateveryonewascurioustoseehim,onlyasnooneyetknewinwhatlightthekingregardedhim,thecourtiersdarednotaccosthimforfearofcompromisingtheirdignity;themannerofhisreceptionbyHisMajestywouldregulatethewarmthofhisreceptionbyeveryoneelse。
Metthusbylooksofcuriosityandaffectedsilence,theyoungcolonelfeltsomeembarrassment,andthisincreasedwhenChamillard,whohadaccompaniedhimtohisappointedplace,lefthimtorejointheking。However,inafewmomentshedidwhatembarrassedpeoplesooftendo,hidhisshynessunderanairofdisdain,and,leaningonthebalustrade,crossedhislegsandplayedwiththefeatherofhishat。
Whenhalfanhourhadpassedinthismanner,agreatcommotionwasheard:Cavalierturnedinthedirectionfromwhichitcame,andperceivedthekingjustenteringthevestibule。Itwasthefirsttimehehadseenhim,butherecognizedhimatonce。Cavalier'skneesknockedtogetherandhisfaceflushed。
Thekingmountedthestairsstepbystepwithhisusualdignity,stoppingfromtimetotimetosayawordormakeasignwithheadorhand。Behindhim,twostepslower,cameChamillard,movingandstoppingasthekingmovedandstopped,andansweringthequestionswhichHisMajestyputtohiminarespectfulbutformalandprecisemanner。
ReachingthelevelonwhichCavalierstood,thekingstoppedunderpretextofpointingouttoChamillardanewceilingwhichLeBrunhadjustfinished,butreallytohaveagoodlookatthesingularmanwhohadmaintainedastruggleagainsttwomarshalsofFranceandtreatedwithathirdonequalterms。Whenhehadexaminedhimquiteathisease,heturnedtoChamillard,pretendinghehadonlyjustcaughtsightofthestranger,andasked:
"Whoisthisyounggentleman？"
"Sire,"answeredtheminister,steppingforwardtopresenthimtotheking,"thisisColonelJeanCavalier。"
"Ahyes,"saidthekingcontemptuously,"theformerbakerofAnduze！"
Andshrugginghisshouldersdisdainfully,hepassedon。
Cavalieronhissidehad,likeChamillard,takenastepforward,whenthescornfulanswerofthegreatkingchangedhimintoastatue。Foraninstanthestoodmotionlessandpaleasdeath,theninstinctivelyhelaidhishandonhissword,butbecomingconsciousthathewaslostifheremainedaninstantlongeramongthesepeople,whomnotoneofhismotionsescaped,althoughtheypretendedtodespisehimtoomuchtobeawareofhispresence,hedasheddownthestaircaseandthroughthehall,upsettingtwoorthreefootmenwhowereinhisway,hurriedintothegarden,ranacrossitatfullspeed,andregaininghisroomatthehotel,threwhimselfonthefloor,whereherolledlikeamaniac,utteringcriesofrage,andcursingthehourwhen,trustingtothepromisesofM。deVillars,hehadabandonedthemountainswherehewasasmuchakingasLouisXIVatVersailles。ThesameeveninghereceivedorderstoleaveParisandrejoinhisregimentatMacon。Hethereforesetoutthenextmorning,withoutseeingM。deChamillardagain。
CavalieronarrivingatMaconfoundthathiscomradeshadhadavisitfromM。d'Aygaliers,whohadcomeagaintoParis,inthehopeofobtainingmorefromthekingthanM。deVillarscouldorwouldgrant。
Cavalier,withouttellinghiscomradesofthestrangemannerinwhichthekinghadreceivedhim,gavethemtounderstandthathewasbeginningtofearthatnotonlywouldthepromisestheyhadreceivedbebroken,butthatsomestrangetrickwouldbeplayeduponthem。
Thereuponthesemen,whosechiefandoraclehehadbeenforsolong,askedhimwhattheyoughttodo;Cavalierrepliedthatiftheywouldfollowhim,theirbestcourseandhiswouldbetotakethefirstopportunityofgainingthefrontierandleavingthecountry。Theyalldeclaredthemselvesreadytofollowhimanywhere。ThiscausedCavalieranewpangofregret,forhecouldnothelprecollectingthathehadoncehadunderhiscommandfifteenhundredmenlikethese。
ThenextdayCavalierandhiscomradessetoutontheirmarchwithoutknowingwhithertheywerebeingtaken,nothavingbeenabletoobtainanyinformationastotheirdestinationfromtheirescort——asilencewhichconfirmedthemintheirresolution。Assoon,therefore,astheyreachedOnnan,Cavalierdeclaredthatheconsideredthatthelooked—foropportunityhadarrived,askingthemiftheywerestillinthesamemind:theyreturnedthattheywoulddowhateverheadvised。
Cavalierthenorderedthemtoholdthemselvesinreadiness,Danielofferedupaprayer,andtheprayerended,thewholecompanydesertedinabody,and,crossingMontBelliard,enteredPorentruy,andtooktheroadtoLausanne。
Meantimed'Aygaliers,inhisturn,arrivedatVersailles,withlettersfromM。deVillarsfortheDukeofBeauvilliers,presidentoftheking'scouncil,andforChamillard。Theeveningofhisarrivalhedeliveredtheseletterstothosetowhomtheywereaddressed,andbothgentlemenpromisedtopresenthimtotheking。
Fourdayslater,Chamillardsentwordtod'Aygaliersthathewastobenextdayatthedooroftheking'schamberatthetimewhenthecouncilentered。D'Aygalierswaspunctual,thekingappearedattheusualhour,andashepausedbefored'Aygaliers,ChamillardcameforwardandsaidBarond'Aygaliers,sire。"
"Iamverygladtoseeyou,sir,"saidtheking,"forIamverymuchpleasedwiththezealyouhavedisplayedinLanguedocinmyservice——verymuchpleasedindeed。"
"Sire,"answeredd'Aygaliers,"IconsidermyselfmostunfortunateinthatIhavebeenabletoaccomplishnothingdeservingofthegraciouswordswhichyourMajestydeignstoaddressme,andIprayGodofHisgracetograntmeinthefutureanopportunityofprovingmyzealandloyaltyinyourMajesty'sservicemoreclearlythanhitherto。"
"Nevermind,nevermind,"saidtheking。"Irepeat,sir,thatIamverymuchpleasedwithwhatyouhavedone。"
Andheenteredtheroomwherethecouncilwaswaiting。
D'Aygalierswentawayonlyhalfsatisfied:hehadnotcomesofaronlytoreceivecommendationfromtheking,butinthehopeofobtainingsomeconcessionforhisbrethren;butwithLouisXIVitwasimpossibleeithertointercedeorcomplain,onecouldonlywait。
ThesameeveningChamillardsentforthebaron,andtoldhimthatasMarechalVillarshadmentionedinhisletterthattheCamisardshadgreatconfidenceinhim,d'Aygaliers,hewishedtoaskhimifhewerewillingtogooncemoretothemandtryandbringthembacktothepathofduty。
"CertainlyIamwilling;butIfearthingshavenowgotsofarthattherewillbegreatdifficultyincalmingthegeneralperturbationofmind。"
"Butwhatcanthesepeoplewant？"askedChamillard,asifhehadjustheardthemspokenofforthefirsttime,"andbywhatmeanscanwepacifythem？"
"Inmyopinion,"saidthebaron,"thekingshouldallowtoallhissubjectsthefreeexerciseoftheirreligion。"
"What！legaliseoncemoretheexerciseoftheso—calledReformedreligion！"exclaimedtheminister。"Besureyounevermentionsuchathingagain。Thekingwouldratherseehiskingdomdestroyedthanconsenttosuchameasure。"
"Monseigneur,"repliedthebaron,"ifthatisthecase,thenImustsaywithgreatregretthatIknowofnootherwaytocalmthediscontentwhichwillultimatelyresultintheruinofoneofthefairestprovincesinFrance。"
"Butthatisunheard—ofobstinacy,"saidtheminister,lostinastonishment;"thesepeoplewilldestroythemselves,anddragtheircountrydownwiththem。Iftheycannotconformtoourreligion,whydotheynotworshipGodintheirownwayathome？Noonewilldisturbthemaslongastheydon'tinsistonpublicworship。"
"Atfirstthatwasalltheywanted,monseigneur;andIamconvincedthatifpeoplehadnotbeendraggedtoconfessionandcommunionbyforce,itwouldhavebeeneasytokeeptheminthatsubmissiveframeofmindfromwhichtheywereonlydrivenbydespair;butatpresenttheysaythatitisnotenoughtoprayathome,theywanttobemarried,tohavetheirchildrenbaptisedandinstructed,andtodieandbeburiedaccordingtotheordinancesoftheirownfaith。"
"Wheremayyouhaveseenanyonewhowasevermadetocommunicatebyforce？"askedChamillard。
D'Aygalierslookedattheministerinsurprise,thinkinghespokeinjoke;butseeinghewasquiteserious,heanswered:
"Alas,monseigneur,mylatefatherandmymother,whoisstillliving,arebothinstancesofpeoplesubjectedtothisindignity。"
"Areyou,then,notaCatholic？"askedChamillard。
"No,monseigneur,"repliedd'Aygaliers。
"ThenhowdidyoumanagetoreturntoFrance？"
"Tospeakthetruth,sir,Ionlycamebacktohelpmymothertoescape;butshenevercouldmakeuphermindtoleaveFrance,assuchastepwassurroundedbymanydifficultieswhichshefearedshecouldneversurmount。Sosheaskedmyotherrelationstopersuademetoremain。Iyieldedtotheirimportunitiesonconditionthattheywouldneverinterferewithmybeliefs。ToaccomplishthisendtheygotapriestwithwhomtheywereintimatetosaythatIhadchangedmyviewsoncemore,andIdidnotcontradictthereport。Itwasagreatsinonmypart,andIdeeplyrepentit。Imustadd,however,thatwheneveranyonehasaskedmethequestionyourExcellencyaskedmejustnowIhavealwaysgiventhesamereply。"
Theministerdidnotseemtotakethebaron'sfranknessinbadpart;
onlyheremarked,whendismissinghim,thathehopedhewouldfindoutsomewayofriddingthekingdomofthosewhorefusedtothinkinreligiousmattersasHisMajestycommanded。
D'Aygaliersrepliedthatitwasaproblemtowhichhehadgivenmuchthought,butwithouteverbeingabletofindasolution,butthathewouldthinkaboutitmoreearnestlyinfuture。Hethenwithdrew。
Somedayslater,Chamillardsentwardtod'Aygaliersthatthekingwouldgraciouslygivehimafarewellaudience。Thebaronrelateswhattookplaceatthissecondinterview,asfollows。
"HisMajesty,"sayshe,"receivedmeinthecouncilchamber,andwassogoodastorepeatoncemoreinthepresenceofallhisministersthathewasverymuchpleasedwithmyservices,butthattherewasonethingaboutmeheshouldliketocorrect。IbeggedHisMajestytotellmewhatthefaultwas,andIshouldtrytogetridofitat,theperilofmylife。"
"'Itisyourreligion,'saidtheking。'IshouldliketohaveyoubecomeagoodCatholic,sothatImightbeabletograntyoufavoursandenableyoutoservemebetter。'HisMajestyaddedthatIoughttoseekinstruction,andthatthenIshouldonedayrecognisewhatagreatbenefithedesiredtobringwithinmyreach。
"IansweredthatIwouldesteemmyselfhappyifatthecostofmylifeIcouldprovetheburningzealwithwhichIwasfilledfortheserviceofthegreatestofearthlykings,butthatIshouldbeunworthyoftheleastofhisfavoursifIobtaineditbyhypocrisyorbyanythingofwhichmyconsciencedidnotapprove,butthatIwasgratefulforthegoodnesswhichmadehimanxiousformysalvation。
ItoldhimalsothatIhadalreadytakeneveryopportunityofreceivinginstruction,andhadtriedtoputasidetheprejudicesarisingfrommybirth,suchasoftenhinderedpeoplefromrecognisingthetruth,withtheresultthatIhadatonetimealmostlostallsenseofreligion,untilGod,takingpityonme,hadopenedmyeyesandbroughtmeoutofthatdeplorablecondition,makingmeseethatthefaithinwhichIhadbeenbornwastheonlyoneforme。'AndI
canassureyourMajesty,'Iadded,'thatmanyoftheLanguedocbishopswhoought,itseemstome,totrytomakeusCatholics,aretheinstrumentswhichProvidenceusestopreventusfrombecomingso。
Forinsteadofattractingusbygentlenessandgoodexample,theyceaselesslysubjectustoallkindsofpersecutions,asiftoconvinceusthatGodispunishingusforourcowardiceingivingupareligionwhichweknowtobegood,bydeliveringusuptopastorswho,farfromlabouringtoassureoursalvation,usealltheireffortstodriveustodespair。"
"Atthisthekingshruggedhisshouldersandsaid,'Enough,donotsayanymore。'Iaskedforhisblessingasthekingandfatherofallhissubjects。Thekingburstoutlaughing,andtoldmethatM。deChamillardwouldgivemehisorders。"
Invirtueofthisintimationd'Aygalierswentnextdaytotheminister'scountryhouse;forChamillardhadgivenhimthataddress,andtherehelearnedthatthekinghadgrantedhimapensionof800
livres。Thebaronremarkedthat,nothavingworkedformoney,hehadhopedforabetterreward;asfarasmoneywasconcerned,hedesiredonlythereimbursementoftheactualexpensesofhisjourneystoandfrom,butChamillardansweredthatthekingexpectedallthatheofferedandwhateverheofferedtobeacceptedwithgratitude。Tothistherewasnopossiblereply,sothesameeveningd'AygalierssetoutonhisreturntoLanguedoc。
Threemonthslater,Chamillardforwardedhimanordertoleavethekingdom,tellinghimthathewastoreceiveapensionoffourhundredcrownsperannum,andenclosingthefirstquarterinadvance。
Astherewasnomeansofevadingthiscommand,D'AygalierssetoutforGeneva,accompaniedbythirty—threefollowers,arrivingthereonthe23rdofSeptember。Onceridofhim,LouistheMagnificentthoughtthathehaddonehispartnoblyandthatheowedhimnothingfurther,sothatd'Aygalierswaitedawholeyearinvainforthesecondquarterofhispension。
Attheendofthistime,ashisletterstoChamillardremainedunanswered,andfindinghimselfwithoutresourcesinaforeigncountry,hebelievedhimselfjustifiedinreturningtoFranceandtakinguphisresidenceonhisfamilyestate。Unfortunately,onhiswaythroughLyons,theprovostofmerchants,hearingofhisreturn,hadhimarrested,andsentwordtotheking,whoorderedhimtobetakentothechateaudeLoches。Afterayear'simprisonment,d'Aygaliers,whohadjustenteredonhisthirty—fifthyear,resolvedtotryandescape,preferringtodieintheattemptratherthanremainaprisonerforlife。Hesucceededingettingpossessionofafilewithwhichheremovedoneofthebarsofhiswindow,andbymeansofknottinghissheetstogether,hegotdown,takingtheloosenedbarwithhimtoserve,incaseofneed,asaweapon。A
sentinelwhowasnearcried,"Whogoesthere？"butd'Aygaliersstunnedhimwithhisbar。Thecry,however,hadgiventhealarm:asecondsentinelsawamanflying,firedathim,andkilledhimonthespot。
SuchwastherewardofthedevotedpatriotismofBarond'Aygaliers！
MeantimeRoland'stroopshadincreasedgreatlyinnumber,havingbeenjoinedbythemainbodyofthosewhohadoncebeencommandedbyCavalier,sothathehad,abouteighthundredmenathisdisposal。
Somedistanceaway,anotherchief,namedJoanny,hadfourhundred;
Larose,towhomCastanethadtransferredhiscommand,foundhimselfattheheadofthreehundred;BoizeaudeRochegudewasfollowedbyonehundred,SaltetdeSoustelbytwohundred,LouisCostebyfifty,andCatinatbyforty,sothat,inspiteofthevictoryofMontrevelandthenegotiationsofM。deVillars,theCamisardsstillformedaneffectiveforceofeighteenhundredandninetymen,nottospeakofmanysingletrooperswhoownednocommanderbutactedeachforhimself,andwerenonethelessmischievousforthat。Allthesetroops,excepttheselatter,obeyedRoland,whosincethedefectionofCavalierhadbeenrecognisedasgeneralissimooftheforces。
M。deVillarsthoughtifhecouldseparateRolandfromhistroopsashehadseparatedCavalier,hisplanswouldbemoreeasytocarryout。
SohemadeuseofeverymeanswithinhisreachtogainoverRoland,andassoonasoneplanfailedhetriedanother。AtonemomenthewasalmostsureofobtaininghisobjectbythehelpofacertainJourdandeMianet,agreatfriendofhis,whoofferedhisservicesasanintermediary,butwhofailedlikealltheothers,receivingfromRolandapositiverefusal,sothatitbecameevidentthatresortmustbehadtoothermeansthanthoseofpersuasion。Asumof100LouishadalreadybeensetonRoland'shead:thissumwasnowdoubled。
Threedaysafterwards,ayoungmanfromUzes,bynameMalarte,inwhomRolandhadeveryconfidence,wrotetoM。deParattethattheCamisardgeneralintendedtopassthenightofthe14thofAugustatthechateauCastelnau。
DeParatteimmediatelymadehisdispositions,andorderedLacoste—Badie,attheheadoftwocompaniesofdragoons,andalltheofficersatUzeswhowerewellmounted,toholdthemselvesinreadinesstostartonanexpeditionateighto'clockintheevening,butnotrevealingitsobjecttothemtillthetimecame。Ateighto'clock,havingbeentoldwhattheyhadtodo,theysetoffatsuchapacethattheycameinsightofthechateauwithinanhour,andwereobligedtohaltandconcealthemselves,lesttheyshouldappeartoosoon,beforeRolandhadretiredforthenight。Buttheyneednothavebeenafraid;theCamisardchief,whowasaccustomedtorelyonallhismenasonhimself,hadgonetobedwithoutanysuspicion,havingfullconfidenceinthevigilanceofoneofhisofficers,namedGrimaud,whohadstationedhimselfassentinelontheroofofthechateau。LedbyMalarte,Lacoste—Badieandhisdragoonstookanarrowcoveredway,whichledthemtothefootofthewalls,sothatwhenGrimaudsawthemitwasalreadytoolate,thechateaubeingsurroundedonallsides。Firingoffhisgun,hecried,"Toarms！"
Roland,rousedbythecryandtheshot,leapedoutofbed,andtakinghisclothesinonehandandhisswordintheother,ranoutofhisroom。AtthedoorhemetGrimaud,who,insteadofthinkingofhisownsafety,hadcometowatchoverthatofhischief。Theybothrantothestablestogethorses,butthreeoftheirmen——Marchand,Bourdalie,andBayos——hadbeenbeforethemandhadseizedonthebestones,andridingthembare—backedhaddashedthroughthefrontgatesbeforethedragoonscouldstopthem。ThehorsesthatwereleftweresowretchedthatRolandfelttherewasnochanceofout—distancingthedragoonsbytheirhelp,soheresolvedtoflyonfoot,thusavoidingtheopenroadsandbeingabletotakerefugeineveryravineandeverybushascover。HethereforehastenedwithGrimaudandfourotherofficerswhohadgatheredroundhimtowardsasmallbackgatewhichopenedonthefields,butastherewas,besidesthetroopswhichenteredthechateau,aringofdragoonsroundit,theyfellatonceintothehandsofsomemenwhohadbeenplacedinambush。
Seeinghimselfsurrounded,Rolandletfalltheclotheswhichhehadnotyethadtimetoputon,placedhisbackagainstatree,drewhissword,andchallengedtheboldest,whetherofficerorprivate,toapproach。Hisfeaturesexpressedsuchresolution,thatwhenhethus,aloneandhalfnaked,defiedthemall,therewasamoment'shesitation,duringwhichnooneventuredtotakeaforwardstep;butthispausewasbrokenbythereportofagun:thearmwhichRolandhadstretchedoutagainsthisadversariesfelltohisside,theswordwithwhichhehadthreatenedthemescapedfromhishand,hiskneesgaveway,sothathisbody,whichwasonlysupportedbythetreeagainstwhichheleaned,afterremaininganinstanterect,graduallysanktotheground。Collectingallhisstrength,RolandraisedhistwohandstoHeaven,asiftocalldownthevengeanceofGoduponhismurderers,then,withouthavingutteredasingleword,hefellforwarddead,shotthroughtheheart。ThenameofthedragoonwhokilledhimwasSoubeyrand。
Maillie,Grimaud,Coutereau,Guerin,andRessal,thefiveCamisardofficers,seeingtheirchiefdead,letthemselvesbetakenasiftheywerechildren,withoutthinkingofmakinganyresistance。
ThedeadbodyofRolandwascarriedbackintriumphtoUzes,andfromtheretoNimes,whereitwasputupontrialasifstillalive。Itwassentencedtobedraggedonhurdlesandthenburnt。Theexecutionofthissentencewascarriedoutwithsuchpompasmadeitimpossiblefortheonepartytoforgetthepunishmentandfortheothertoforgetthemartyrdom。AttheendtheashesofRolandwerescatteredtothefourwindsofheaven。
Theexecutionofthefiveofficersfollowedcloseonthatoftheirchief'sbody;theywerecondemnedtobebrokenonthewheel,andthesentencewascarriedoutonallatonce。Buttheirdeath,insteadofinspiringtheCalvinistswithterror,gavethemratherfreshcourage,for,asaneye—witnessrelates,thefiveCamisardsboretheirtorturesnotonlywithfortitude,butwithalight—heartednesswhichsurprisedallpresent,especiallythosewhohadneverseenaCamisardexecutedbefore。
Malartereceivedhis200Louis,butto—dayhisnameiscoupledwiththatofJudasinthemindsofhiscountrymen。
>FromthistimeonfortuneceasedtosmileontheCamisards。GeniushadgonewithCavalier,and,faithwithRoland。Theverydayofthedeathofthelatter,oneoftheirstores,containingmorethaneightysacksofcorn,hadbeentakenatToiras。Thenextday,Catinat,who,withadozenmen,wasinhidinginavineyardofLaVaunage,wassurprisedbyadetachmentofSoissonnais;elevenofhismenwerekilled,thetwelfthmadeprisoner,andhehimselfbarelyescapedwithaseverewound。The25thofthesamemonth,acavernnearSauve,whichtherebelsusedasastore,andwhichcontainedonehundredandfiftysacksoffinewheat,wasdiscovered;lastly,ChevalierdeFroulayhadfoundathirdhiding—placenearMailet。Inthis,whichhadbeenusednotonlyasastorebutasahospital,besidesaquantityofsaltbeef,wine,andflour,sixwoundedCamisardswerefound,whowereinstantlyshotastheylay。
TheonlybandwhichremainedunbrokenwasRavanel's,butsincethedepartureofCavalierthingshadnotgonewellwithhislieutenant。
Inconsequenceofthis,andalsoonaccountofthesuccessivecheckswhichtheotherbodiesofCamisardtroopshadmetwith,Ravanelproclaimedasolemnfast,inordertointercedewithGodtoprotecttheHuguenotcause。OnSaturday,the13thSeptember,heledhisentireforcetothewoodofSt。Benazet,intendingtopassthewholeofthenextdaywiththemthereinprayer。Buttreasonwasrife。
TwopeasantswhoknewofthisplangaveinformationtoM。Lenoir,mayorofLeVigan,andhesentwordtothemarechalandM。deSaville,whowereatAnduze。
Nothingcouldhavebeenmorewelcometothegovernorthanthisimportantinformation:hemadethemostcarefuldispositionofhisforces,hopingtodestroytherebellionatoneblow。HeorderedM。deCourten,abrigadier—colonelincommandatAlais,totakeadetachmentofthetroopsunderhimandpatrolthebanksoftheGardonbetweenNersandCastagnols。HewasofopinionthatiftheCamisardswereattackedontheothersidebyabodyofsoldiersdrawnfromAnduze,whichhehadstationedduringthenightatDommersargues,theywouldtrytomakegoodtheirretreattowardstheriver。TheforceatDommersarguesmightalmostbecalledasmallarmy;foritwascomposedofaSwissbattalion,abattalionoftheHainaultregiment,onefromtheCharolaisregiment,andfourcompaniesofdragoonsfromFimarconandSaint—Sernin。
Everythingtookplaceasthepeasantshadsaid:onSaturdaythe13th,theCamisardsentered,aswehaveseen,thewoodofSt。Benazet,andpassedthenightthere。
AtbreakofdaytheroyalsfromDommersarguesbegantheiradvance。
TheCamisardoutpostssoonperceivedthemovement,andwarnedRavanel,whoheldhislittlecouncilofwar。Everyonewasinfavourofinstantretreat,sotheyretiredtowardsNers,intendingtocrosstheGardonbelowthattown:justasM。deVillarshadforeseen,theCamisardsdideverythingnecessaryforthesuccessofhisplans,andendedbywalkingrightintothetrapsetforthem。
OnemergingfromthewoodofSt。Benazet,theycaughtsightofadetachmentofroyalsdrawnupandwaitingforthembetweenMarvejolsandamillcalledtheMoulin—du—Pont。Seeingtheroadclosedinthisdirection,theyturnedsharptotheleft,andgainedarockyvalleywhichranparalleltotheGardon。ThistheyfollowedtilltheycameoutbelowMarvejols,wheretheycrossedtheriver。Theynowthoughtthemselvesoutofdanger,thankstothismanoeuvre,butsuddenlytheysawanotherdetachmentofroyalslyingonthegrassnearthemillofLaScie。Theyatoncehaltedagain,andthen,believingthemselvesundiscovered,turnedback,movingasnoiselesslyaspossible,intendingtorecrosstheriverandmakeforCardet。Buttheyonlyavoidedonetraptofallintoanother,forinthisdirectiontheyweremetbytheHainaultbattalion,whichswoopeddownuponthem。
Afewoftheseill—fatedmenralliedatthesoundofRavanel'svoiceandmadeanefforttodefendthemselvesinspiteoftheprevailingconfusion;butthedangerwassoimminent,thefoessonumerous,andtheirnumbersdecreasedsorapidlyunderthefierceassault,thattheirexamplefailedofeffect,andflightbecamegeneral:everymantrustedtochanceforguidance,and,caringnothingforthesafetyofothers,thoughtonlyofhisown。
Thenitceasedtobeabattleandbecomeamassacre,fortheroyalsweretentoone;andamongthosetheyencountered,onlysixtyhadfirearms,therest,sincethediscoveryoftheirvariousmagazines,havingbeenreducedtoarmthemselveswithbadswords,pitchforks,andbayonetsattachedtosticks。Hardlyamansurvivedthefray。
Ravanelhimselfonlysucceededinescapingbythrowinghimselfintotheriver,whereheremainedunderwaterbetweentworocksforsevenhours,onlycomingtothesurfacetobreathe。Whennightfellandthedragoonshadretired,healsofled。
Thiswasthelastbattleofthewar,whichhadlastedfouryears。
WithCavalierandRoland,thosetwomountaingiants,thepoweroftherebelsdisappeared。Asthenewsofthedefeatspread,theCamisardchiefsandsoldiersbecomingconvincedthattheLordhadhiddenHisfacefromthem,surrenderedonebyone。ThefirsttosetanexamplewasCastanet。OnSeptember6th,aweekafterthedefeatofRavanel,hesurrenderedtothemarechal。Onthe19th,Catinatandhislieutenant,FranqoisSouvayre,tenderedtheirsubmission;onthe22nd,Amet,Roland'sbrother,camein;onOctober4th,Joanny;onthe9th,Larose,Valette,Salomon,Laforet,Moulieres,Salles,AbrahamandMarion;onthe20th,Fidele;andonthe25th,Rochegude。
Eachmadewhattermshecould;ingeneraltheconditionswerefavourable。Mostofthosewhosubmittedreceivedrewardsofmoney,somemore,someless;thesmallestamountgivenbeing200livres。
Theyallreceivedpassports,andwereorderedtoleavethekingdom,beingsent,accompaniedbyanescortandattheking'sexpense,toGeneva。ThefollowingistheaccountgivenbyMarionoftheagreementhecametowiththeMarquisLalande;probablyalltheotherswereofthesamenature。
"Iwasdeputed,"hesays,"totreatwiththislieutenant—generalinregardtothesurrenderofmyowntroopsandthoseofLarose,andtoarrangetermsfortheinhabitantsofthirty—fiveparisheswhohadcontributedtooursupportduringthewar。Theresultofthenegotiationswasthatalltheprisonersfromourcantonsshouldbesetatliberty,andbereinstatedintheirpossessions,alongwithalltheothers。Theinhabitantsofthoseparisheswhichhadbeenravagedbyfireweretobeexemptfromland—taxforthreeyears;andinnoparishweretheinhabitantstobetauntedwiththepast,normolestedonthesubjectofreligion,butweretobefreetoworshipGodintheirownhousesaccordingtotheirconsciences。"
Theseagreementswerefulfilledwithsuchpunctuality,thatLarosewaspermittedtoopentheprisondoorsofSt。Hippolytetofortyprisonerstheverydayhemadesubmission。