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he had once been a dragoon； offered him the post of leader； which he
accepted； and returned to his uncle at the head of an army。
Being thus reinforced； the Reformers divided themselves into three
bands； in order to spread abroad their beliefs through the entire
district。 One went towards Soustele and the neighbourhood of Alais；
another towards St。 Privat and the bridge of Montvert； while the
third followed the mountain slope down to St。 Roman le Pompidou； and
Barre。
The first was commanded by Castanet； the second by Roland； and the
third by Laporte。
Each party ravaged the country as it passed； returning deathblow for
deathblow and conflagration for conflagration； so that hearing one
after another of these outrages Captain Poul demanded reinforcements
from M。 de Broglie and M。 de Baville； which were promptly despatched。
As soon as Captain Poul found himself at the head of a sufficient
number of troops； he determined to attack the rebels。 He had
received intelligence that the band led by Laporte was just about to
pass through the valley of Croix； below Barre； near Temelague。 In
consequence of this information； he lay in ambush at a favourable
spot on the route。 As soon as the Reformers who were without
suspicion； were well within the narrow pass in which Poul awaited
them； he issued forth at the head of his soldiers； and charged the
rebels with such courage and impetuosity that they； taken by
surprise； made no attempt at resistance； but； thoroughly demoralised；
spread over the mountain…side； putting a greater and greater distance
at； every instant between themselves and the enemy； despite the
efforts of Laporte to make them stand their ground。 At last； seeing
himself deserted； Laporte began to think of his own safety。 But it
was already too late； for he was surrounded by dragoons； and the only
way of retreat open to him lay over a large rock。 This he
successfully scaled； but before trying to get down the other side he
raised his hands in supplication to Heaven； at that instant a volley
was fired； two bullets struck him； and he fell head foremost down the
precipice。
When the dragoons reached the foot of the rock； they found him dead。
As they knew he was the chief of the rebels； his body was searched：
sixty Louis was found in his pockets； and a sacred chalice which he
was in the habit of using as an ordinary drinking…cup。 Poul cut off
his head and the heads of twelve other Reformers found dead on the
field of battle； and enclosing them in a wicker basket； sent them to
M。 Just de Baville。
The Reformers soon recovered from this defeat and death； joined all
their forces into one body； and placed Roland at their head in the
place of Laporte。 Roland chose a young man called Couderc de Mazel…
Rozade； who had assumed the name of Lafleur； as his lieutenant； and
the rebel forces were not only quickly reorganised； but made complete
by the addition of a hundred men raised by the new lieutenant； and
soon gave a sign that they were again on the war…path by burning down
the churches of Bousquet； Cassagnas； and Prunet。
Then first it was that the consuls of Mende began to realise that it
was no longer an insurrection they had on hand but a war； and Mende
being the capital of Gevaudan and liable to be attacked at any
moment； they set themselves to bring into repair their counterscarps；
ravelins； bastions； gates； portcullises； moats； walls； turrets；
ramparts； parapets； watchtowers； and the gear of their cannon； and
having laid in a stock of firearms； powder and ball； they formed
eight companies each fifty strong； composed of townsmen； and a
further band of one hundred and fifty peasants drawn from the
neighbouring country。 Lastly； the States of the province sent an
envoy to the king； praying him graciously to take measures to check
the plague of heresy which was spreading from day to day。 The king
at once sent M。 Julien in answer to the petition。 Thus it was no
longer simple governors of towns nor even chiefs of provinces who
were engaged in the struggle； royalty itself had come to the rescue。
M。 de Julien； born a Protestant； was a； member of the nobility of
Orange； and in his youth had served against France and borne arms in
England and Ireland when William of Orange succeeded James II as King
of England； Julien was one of his pages； and received as a reward for
his fidelity in the famous campaign of 1688 the command of a regiment
which was sent to the aid of the Duke of Savoy； who had begged both
England and Holland to help him。 He bore himself so gallantly that it
was in great part due to him that the French were forced to raise the
siege of Cony。
Whether it was that he expected too much from this success； or that
the Duke of Savoy did not recognise his services at their worth； he
withdrew to Geneva； where Louis XIV hearing of his discontent； caused
overtures to be made to him with a view to drawing him into the
French service。 He was offered the same rank in the French army as
he had held in the English； with a pension of 3000 livres。
M。 de Julien accepted； and feeling that his religious belief would be
in the way of his advancement； when he changed his master he changed
his Church。 He was given the command of the valley of Barcelonnette；
whence he made many excursions against the Barbets； then he was
transferred to the command of the Avennes； of the principality of
Orange； in order to guard the passes； so that the French Protestants
could not pass over the frontier for the purpose of worshipping with
their Dutch Protestant brethren； and after having tried this for a
year； he went to Versailles to report himself to the king。 While he
was there； it chanced that the envoy from Gevaudan arrived； and the
king being satisfied with de Julien's conduct since he had entered
his service； made him major…general； chevalier of the military order
of St。 Louis； and commander…in…chief in the Vivarais and the
Cevennes。
M。 de Julien from the first felt that the situation was very grave；
and saw that his predecessors had felt such great contempt for the
heretics that they had not realised the danger of the revolt。 He
immediately proceeded to inspect in person the different points where
M。 de Broglie had placed detachments of the Tournon and Marsily
regiments。 It is true that he arrived by the light of thirty burning
village churches。
M。 de Broglie； M。 de Baville； M。 de Julien； and Captain Poul met
together to consult as to the best means of putting an end to these
disorders。 It was agreed that the royal troops should be divided
into two bodies； one under the command of M。 de Julien to advance on
Alais； where it was reported large meetings of the rebels were taking
place； and the other under M。 de Brogue； to march about in the
neighbourhood of Nimes。
Consequently； the two chiefs separated。 M。 le Comte de Broglie at
the head of sixty…two dragoons and some companies of foot； and having
under him Captain Poul and M。 de Dourville； set out from Cavayrac on
the 12th of January at 2 a。 m。； and having searched without finding
anything the vineyards of Nimes and La Garrigue de Milhau； took the
road to the bridge of Lunel。