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burning； breaking on the wheel； had been in vain； the dragoons had
left their hoof…marks over all the countryside； there were men
rowing in the galleys； and women pining in the prisons of the
Church； and not a thought was changed in the heart of any upright
Protestant。
Now the head and forefront of the persecution … after Lamoignon de
Bavile … Francois de Langlade du Chayla （pronounce Cheila）；
Archpriest of the Cevennes and Inspector of Missions in the same
country； had a house in which he sometimes dwelt in the town of
Pont de Montvert。 He was a conscientious person； who seems to have
been intended by nature for a pirate； and now fifty…five； an age by
which a man has learned all the moderation of which he is capable。
A missionary in his youth in China； he there suffered martyrdom；
was left for dead； and only succoured and brought back to life by
the charity of a pariah。 We must suppose the pariah devoid of
second…sight； and not purposely malicious in this act。 Such an
experience； it might be thought； would have cured a man of the
desire to persecute； but the human spirit is a thing strangely put
together； and； having been a Christian martyr； Du Chayla became a
Christian persecutor。 The Work of the Propagation of the Faith
went roundly forward in his hands。 His house in Pont de Montvert
served him as a prison。 There he closed the hands of his prisoners
upon live coal； and plucked out the hairs of their beards； to
convince them that they were deceived in their opinions。 And yet
had not he himself tried and proved the inefficacy of these carnal
arguments among the Buddhists in China？
Not only was life made intolerable in Languedoc； but flight was
rigidly forbidden。 One Massip； a muleteer； and well acquainted
with the mountain…paths； had already guided several troops of
fugitives in safety to Geneva； and on him； with another convoy；
consisting mostly of women dressed as men； Du Chayla； in an evil
hour for himself； laid his hands。 The Sunday following； there was
a conventicle of Protestants in the woods of Altefage upon Mount
Bouges； where there stood up one Seguier … Spirit Seguier； as his
companions called him … a wool…carder； tall； black…faced； and
toothless； but a man full of prophecy。 He declared； in the name of
God； that the time for submission had gone by； and they must betake
themselves to arms for the deliverance of their brethren and the
destruction of the priests。
The next night； 24th July 1702； a sound disturbed the Inspector of
Missions as he sat in his prison…house at Pont de Montvert： the
voices of many men upraised in psalmody drew nearer and nearer
through the town。 It was ten at night； he had his court about him；
priests； soldiers； and servants； to the number of twelve or
fifteen； and now dreading the insolence of a conventicle below his
very windows； he ordered forth his soldiers to report。 But the
psalm…singers were already at his door； fifty strong； led by the
inspired Seguier； and breathing death。 To their summons； the
archpriest made answer like a stout old persecutor； and bade his
garrison fire upon the mob。 One Camisard （for； according to some；
it was in this night's work that they came by the name） fell at
this discharge： his comrades burst in the door with hatchets and a
beam of wood； overran the lower story of the house； set free the
prisoners； and finding one of them in the VINE； a sort of
Scavenger's Daughter of the place and period； redoubled in fury
against Du Chayla； and sought by repeated assaults to carry the
upper floors。 But he； on his side； had given absolution to his
men； and they bravely held the staircase。
'Children of God；' cried the prophet； 'hold your hands。 Let us
burn the house； with the priest and the satellites of Baal。'
The fire caught readily。 Out of an upper window Du Chayla and his
men lowered themselves into the garden by means of knotted sheets；
some escaped across the river under the bullets of the insurgents；
but the archpriest himself fell； broke his thigh； and could only
crawl into the hedge。 What were his reflections as this second
martyrdom drew near？ A poor； brave； besotted； hateful man； who had
done his duty resolutely according to his light both in the
Cevennes and China。 He found at least one telling word to say in
his defence； for when the roof fell in and the upbursting flames
discovered his retreat； and they came and dragged him to the public
place of the town； raging and calling him damned … 'If I be
damned；' said he； 'why should you also damn yourselves？'
Here was a good reason for the last； but in the course of his
inspectorship he had given many stronger which all told in a
contrary direction； and these he was now to hear。 One by one；
Seguier first； the Camisards drew near and stabbed him。 'This；'
they said； 'is for my father broken on the wheel。 This for my
brother in the galleys。 That for my mother or my sister imprisoned
in your cursed convents。' Each gave his blow and his reason； and
then all kneeled and sang psalms around the body till the dawn。
With the dawn； still singing； they defiled away towards Frugeres；
farther up the Tarn； to pursue the work of vengeance； leaving Du
Chayla's prison…house in ruins； and his body pierced with two…and…
fifty wounds upon the public place。
'Tis a wild night's work； with its accompaniment of psalms； and it
seems as if a psalm must always have a sound of threatening in that
town upon the Tarn。 But the story does not end； even so far as
concerns Pont de Montvert； with the departure of the Camisards。
The career of Seguier was brief and bloody。 Two more priests and a
whole family at Ladeveze； from the father to the servants； fell by
his hand or by his orders； and yet he was but a day or two at
large； and restrained all the time by the presence of the soldiery。
Taken at length by a famous soldier of fortune； Captain Poul； he
appeared unmoved before his judges。
'Your name？' they asked。
'Pierre Seguier。'
'Why are you called Spirit？'
'Because the Spirit of the Lord is with me。'
'Your domicile？'
'Lately in the desert； and soon in heaven。'
'Have you no remorse for your crimes？'
'I have committed none。 MY SOUL IS LIKE A GARDEN FULL OF SHELTER
AND OF FOUNTAINS。'
At Pont de Montvert； on the 12th of August； he had his right hand
stricken from his body； and was burned alive。 And his soul was
like a garden？ So perhaps was the soul of Du Chayla； the Christian
martyr。 And perhaps if you could read in my soul； or I could read
in yours； our own composure might seem little less surprising。
Du Chayla's house still stands； with a new roof； beside one of the
bridges of the town； and if you are curious you may see the
terrace…garden into which he dropped。
IN THE VALLEY OF THE TARN
A NEW road leads from