massacres of the south-第13节

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attacked　they　were　surrounded　on　every　side。　It　was　no　combat　which
ensued；　for　the　Huguenots　were　incapable　of　resistance；　it　was　simply
a　massacre；　a　certain　number　of　the　dragoons　entered　the　mill　sword
in　hand；　stabbing　all　whom　they　could　reach；　whilst　the　rest　of　the
force　stationed　outside　before　the　windows　received　those　who　jumped
out　on　the　points　of　their　swords。　　But　soon　this　butchery　tired　the
butchers；　and　to　get　over　the　business　more　quickly；　the　marshal；　who
was　anxious　to　return　to　his　dinner；　gave　orders　that　the　mill　should
be　set　on　fire。　　This　being　done；　the　dragoons；　the　marshal　still　at
their　head；　no　longer　exerted　themselves　so　violently；　but　were
satisfied　with　pushing　back　into　the　flames　the　few　unfortunates　who；
scorched　and　burnt；　rushed　out；　begging　only　for　a　less　cruel　death。

Only　one　victim　escaped。　　A　beautiful　young　girl　of　sixteen　was　saved
by　the　marshal's　valet：　both　were　taken　and　condemned　to　death；　the
young　girl　was　hanged；　and　the　valet　was　on　the　point　of　being
executed　when　some　Sisters　of　Mercy　from　the　town　threw　themselves　at
the　marshal's　feet　end　begged　for　his　life：　after　long　supplication；
he　granted　their　prayer；　but　he　banished　the　valet　not　only　from　his
service；　but　from　Nimes。

The　very　same　evening　at　supper　word　was　brought　to　the　marshal　that
another　gathering　had　been　discovered　in　a　garden　near　the　still
smoking　mill。　　The　indefatigable　marshal　again　rose　from　table；　and
taking　with　him　his　faithful　dragoons；　surrounded　the　garden；　and
caught　and　shot　on　the　spot　all　those　who　were　assembled　in　it。　　The
next　day　it　turned　out　that　he　had　made　a　mistake：　those　whom　he　had
shot　were　Catholics　who　had　gathered　together　to　rejoice　over　the
execution　of　the　Calvinists。　　It　is　true　that　they　had　assured　the
marshal　that　they　were　Catholics；　but　he　had　refused　to　listen　to
them。　　Let　us；　however；　hasten　to　assure　the　reader　that　this　mistake
caused　no　further　annoyance　to　the　marshal；　except　that　he　received　a
paternal　remonstrance　from　the　Bishop　of　Nimes；　begging　him　in　future
not　to　confound　the　sheep　with　the　wolves。

In　requital　of　these　bloody　deeds；　Cavalier　took　the　chateau　of
Serras；　occupied　the　town　of　Sauve；　formed　a　company　of　horse；　and
advancing　to　Nimes；　took　forcible　possession　of　sufficient　ammunition
for　his　purposes。　　Lastly；　he　did　something　which　in　the　eyes　of　the
courtiers　seemed　the　most　incredible　thing　of　all；　he　actually　wrote
a　long　letter　to　Louis　XIV　himself。　　This　letter　was　dated　from　the
〃Desert；　Cevennes；〃　and　signed　〃Cavalier；　commander　of　the　troops
sent　by　God〃；　its　purpose　was　to　prove　by　numerous　passages　from　Holy
Writ　that　Cavalier　and　his　comrades　had　been　led　to　revolt　solely
from　a　sense　of　duty；　feeling　that　liberty　of　conscience　was　their
right；　and　it　dilated　on　the　subject　of　the　persecutions　under　which
Protestants　had　suffered；　and　asserted　that　it　was　the　infamous
measures　put　in　force　against　them　which　had　driven　them　to　take　up
arms；　which　they　were　ready　to　lay　down　if　His　Majesty　would　grant
them　that　liberty　in　matters　of　religion　which　they　sought　and　if　he
would　liberate　all　who　were　in　prison　for　their　faith。　　If　this　were
accorded；　he　assured　the　king　His　Majesty　would　have　no　more　faithful
subjects　than　themselves；　and　would　henceforth　be　ready　to　shed　their
last　drop　of　blood　in　his　service；　and　wound　up　by　saying　that　if
their　just　demands　were　refused　they　would　obey　God　rather　than　the
king；　and　would　defend　their　religion　to　their　last　breath。

Roland；　who；　whether　in　mockery　or　pride；　began　now　to　call　himself
〃Comte　Roland；〃　did　not　lag　behind　his　young　brother　either　as
warrior　or　correspondent。　　He　had　entered　the　town　of　Ganges；　where　a
wonderful　reception　awaited　him；　but　not　feeling　sure　that　he　would
be　equally　well　received　at　St。　Germain　and　St。　Andre；　he　had　written
the　following　letters：

〃Gentlemen　and　officers　of　the　king's　forces；　and　citizens　of　St。
Germain；　make　ready　to　receive　seven　hundred　troops　who　have　vowed　to
set　Babylon　on　fire；　the　seminary　and　the　houses　of　MM。　de　Fabregue；
de　Sarrasin；　de　Moles；　de　La　Rouviere；　de　Musse；　and　de　Solier；　will
be　burnt　to　the　ground。　　God；　by　His　Holy　Spirit；　has　inspired　my
brother　Cavalier　and　me　with　the　purpose　of　entering　your　town　in　a
few　days；　however　strongly　you　fortify　yourselves；　the　children　of
God　will　bear　away　the　victory。　　If　ye　doubt　this；　come　in　your
numbers；　ye　soldiers　of　St。　Etienne；　Barre；　and　Florac；　to　the　field
of　Domergue；　we　shall　be　there　to　meet　you。　　Come；　ye　hypocrites；　if
your　hearts　fail　not。

〃COMTE　ROLAND。〃


The　second　letter　was　no　less　violent。　　It　was　as　follows：

〃We；　Comte　Roland；　general　of　the　Protestant　troops　of　France
assembled　in　the　Cevennes　in　Languedoc；　enjoin　on　the　inhabitants　of
the　town　of　St。　Andre　of　Valborgne　to　give　proper　notice　to　all
priests　and　missionaries　within　it；　that　we　forbid　them　to　say　mass
or　to　preach　in　the　afore…mentioned　town；　and　that　if　they　will　avoid
being　burnt　alive　with　their　adherents　in　their　churches　and　houses；
they　are　to　withdraw　to　some　other　place　within　three　days。

〃COMTE　ROLAND。〃


Unfortunately　for　the　cause　of　the　king；　though　the　rebels　met　with
some　resistance　in　the　villages　of　the　plain；　such　as　St。　Germain　and
St。　Andre；　it　was　otherwise　with　those　situated　in　the　mountains；　in
those；　when　beaten；　the　Protestants　found　cover；　when　victorious
rest；　so　that　M。　de　Montrevel　becoming　aware　that　while　these
villages　existed　heresy　would　never　be　extirpated；　issued　the
following　ordinance：

〃We；　governor　for　His　most　Christian　Majesty　in　the　provinces　of
Languedoc　and　Vivarais；　do　hereby　make　known　that　it　has　pleased　the
king　to　command　us　to　reduce　all　the　places　and　parishes　hereinafter
named　to　such　a　condition　that　they　can　afford　no　assistance　to　the
rebel　troops；　no　inhabitants　will　therefore　be　allowed　to　remain　in
them。　　His　Majesty；　however；　desiring　to　provide　for　the　subsistence
of　the　afore…mentioned　inhabitants；　orders　them　to　conform　to　the
following　regulations。　　He　enjoins　on　the　afore…mentioned　inhabitants
of　the　hereinafter…mentioned　parishes　to　repair　instantly　to　the
places　hereinafter　appointed；　with　their　furniture；　cattle；　and　in
general　all　their　movable　effects；　declaring　that　in　case　of
disobedience　their　effects　will　be　confiscated　and　taken　away　by　the
troops　employed　to　demolish　their　houses。　　And　it　is　hereby　forbidden
to　any　other　commune　to　receive　such　rebels；　under　pain　of　having
their　houses　also　razed　to　the　ground　and　their　goods　confiscated；
and　furthermore　being　regarded　and　treated　as　rebels　to　the　commands
of　His　Majesty。〃

To　this　proclamation　were　appended　the　following　instructions：

〃I。　　The　officers　who　may　be　appointed　to　perform　the　above　task
shall　first　of　all　make　themselves　acquainted　with　the　position　of
the　parishes　and　villages　which　are　to　be　destroyed　and　depopulated；
in　order　to　an　effective　disposition　of　the　troops；　who　are　to　guard
the　militia　engaged　in　the　work　of　destruction。

〃II。　　The　attention　of　the　officers　is　called　to　the　following：
When　two　or　more　villages　or　hamlets　are　so　near　together　that　they
may　be　protected　at　the　same　time　by　the　same　troops；　then　in　order
to　save　time　the　work　is　to　be　carried　on　simultaneously　in　such
villages　or　hamlets。

〃III。　　When　inhabitants　are　found　still　remaining　in　any　of　the
proscribed　places；　they　are　to　be　brought　together；　and　a　list　made
of　them；　as　well　as　an　inventory　taken　of　their　stock　and　corn。

〃IV。　　Those　inhabitants　who　are　of　the　most　consequence　among　them
shall　be　selected　to　guide　the　others　to　the　places　assigned。

〃V。　　With　regard　to　the　live　stock；　the　persons　who　may　be　found　in
charge　of　it　shall　drive　it　to　the　appointed　place；　save　and　except
mules　and　asses；　which　shall　be　employed　in　the　transport　of　corn　to
whatever　places　it　may　be　needed　in。　　Nevertheless；　asses　may　be
given　to　the　very　old；　and　to　women　with　child　who　may　be　unable　to
walk。

〃VI。　　A　regular　distribution　of　the　militia　is　to　be　made；　so　that
each　house　to　be　destroyed　may　have　a　sufficient　number；　for　the
task；　the　foundations　of　such　houses　may　be　undermined　or　any　other
method　employed　which　may　be　most　convenient；　and　if　the　house　can　be
destroyed　by　no　other　means；　it　is　to　be　set　on　fire。

〃VII。　　No　damage　is　to　be　done　to　the　houses　of　former　Catholics
until　further　notice；　and　to　ensure　the　carrying　out　of　this　order　a
guard　is　to　be　placed　in　them；　and　an　inventory　of　their　contents
taken　and　sent　to　Marechal　de　Montrevel。

〃VIII。　　The　order　forbidding　the　inhabitants　to　return　to　their
houses　is　to　be　read　to　the　inhabitants　of　each　village；　but　if　any
do　return　they　shall　not　be　harmed；　but　simply　driven　away　with
threats；　for　the　king　does　not　desire　that　blood　be　shed；　and　the
said　order　shall　be　affixed　to　a　wall　or　tree　in　each　village。

〃IX。　　Where　no　inhabitants　are　found；　the　said　order　shall　simply　be
affixed　as　above…mentioned　in　each　place。

（Signed）　〃MARECHAL　DE　MONTREVEL〃


Under　these　instructions　the　list　of　the　villages　to　be　destroyed　was
given。　　It　was　as　foll