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and； unmoved by the cries and tears of the unfortunate wife and the
poor little children； they finished the wounded man； and as the wife
made an effort to prevent them； they murdered her also； treating her
dead body； when they discovered her condition； in a manner too
revolting for description； while a neighbour； called Marie Silliot；
who tried to rescue the children； was shot dead； but in her case they
did not pursue their vengeance any further。 They then went into the
open country and meeting Pierre and Jean Bernard； uncle and nephew；
one aged forty…five and the other ten； seized on them both； and
putting a pistol into the hands of the child； forced him to shoot his
uncle。 In the meantime the boy's father had come up； and him they
tried to constrain to shoot his son； but finding that no threats had
any effect； they ended by killing both； one by the sword； the other
by the bayonet。
〃The reason why they put an end to father and son so quickly was that
they had noticed three young girls of Bagnols going towards a grove
of mulberry trees； where they were raising silk…worms。 The men
followed them； and as it was broad daylight and the girls were
therefore not afraid； they soon came up with them。 Having first
violated them； they hung them by the feet to a tree； and put them to
death in a horrible manner。〃
All this took place in the reign of Louis the Great； and for the
greater glory of the Catholic religion。
History has preserved the names of the five wretches who perpetrated
these crimes： they were Pierre Vigneau； Antoine Rey； Jean d'Hugon；
Guillaume； and Gontanille。
CHAPTER III
Such crimes； of which we have only described a few； inspired horror
in the breasts of those who were neither maddened by fanaticism nor
devoured by the desire of vengeance。 One of these； a Protestant；
Baron d'Aygaliers； without stopping to consider what means he had at
his command or what measures were the best to take to accomplish his
object； resolved to devote his life to the pacification of the
Cevennes。 The first thing to be considered was； that if the
Camisards were ever entirely destroyed by means of Catholic troops
directed by de Baville； de Julien； and de Montrevel； the Protestants；
and especially the Protestant nobles who had never borne arms； would
be regarded as cowards； who had been prevented by fear of death or
persecution from openly taking the part of the Huguenots： He was
therefore convinced that the only course to pursue was to get； his
co…religionists to put an end to the struggle themselves； as the one
way of pleasing His Majesty and of showing him how groundless were
the suspicions aroused in the minds of men by the Catholic clergy。
This plan presented； especially to Baron d'Aygaliers； two apparently
insurmountable difficulties； for it could only be carried out by
inducing the king to relax his rigorous measures and by inducing the
Camisards to submit。 Now the baron had no connection with the court；
and was not personally acquainted with a single Huguenot chief。
The first thing necessary to enable the baron to begin his efforts
was a passport for Paris； and he felt sure that as he was a
Protestant neither M。 de Baville nor M。 de Montrevel would give him
one。 A lucky accident； however； relieved his embarrassment and
strengthened his resolution； for he thought he saw in this accident
the hand of Providence。
Baron d'Aygaliers found one day at the house of a friend a M。 de
Paratte； a colonel in the king's army； and who afterwards became
major…general； but who at the time we are speaking of was commandant
at Uzes。 He was of a very impulsive disposition； and so zealous in
matters relating to the Catholic religion and in the service of the
king； that he never could find himself in the presence of a
Protestant without expressing his indignation at those who had taken
up arms against their prince； and also those who without taking up
arms encouraged the rebels in their designs。 M。 d'Aygaliers
understood that an allusion was meant to himself； and he resolved to
take advantage of it。
So the next day he paid a visit to M。 de Paratte； and instead of
demanding satisfaction； as the latter quite expected； for the
rudeness of his remarks on the previous day； he professed himself
very much obliged for what he had said； which had made such a deep
impression on him that he had made up his mind to give proof of his
zeal and loyalty by going to Paris and petitioning the king for a
position at court。 De Paratte； charmed with what he had heard； and
enchanted with his convert； embraced d'Aygaliers； and gave him； says
the chronicler； his blessing； and with the blessing a passport； and
wished him all the success that a father could wish for his son。
D'Aygaliers had now attained his object； and furnished with the lucky
safe…conduct； he set out for Paris； without having communicated his
intentions to anyone； not even to his mother。
On reaching Paris he put up at a friend's house； and drew up a
statement of his plan： it was very short and very clear。
〃The undersigned has the honour to point out humbly to His Majesty：
〃That the severities and the persecutions which have been employed by
some of the village priests have caused many people in the country
districts to take up arms； and that the suspicions which new converts
excited have driven a great many of them to join the insurgents。 In
taking this step they were also impelled by the desire to avoid
imprisonment or removal from their homes； which were the remedies
chosen to keep them in the old faith。 This being the case； he thinks
that the best means of putting an end to this state of things would
be to take measures exactly the contrary of those which produced it；
such as putting an end to the persecutions and permitting a certain
number of those of the Reformed religion to bear arms； that they
might go to the rebels and tell them that far from approving of their
actions the Protestants as a whole wished to bring them back to the
right way by setting them a good example； or to fight against them in
order to show the king and France； at the risk of their lives； that
they disapproved of the conduct of their co…religionists； and that
the priests had been in the wrong in writing to the court that all
those of the Reformed religion were in favour of revolt。〃
D'Aygaliers hoped that the court would adopt this plan； for if they
did； one of two things must happen： either the Camisards； by refusing
to accept the terms offered to them； would make themselves odious to
their brethren （for d'Aygaliers intended to take with him on his
mission of persuasion only men of high reputation among the
Reformers； who would be repelled by the Camisards if they refused to
submit）； or else； by laying down their arms and submitting； they
would restore peace to the South of France； obtain liberty of
worship； set free their brethren from the prisons and galleys； and
come to the help of the king in his war against the allied powers； by
supplying him in a moment with a large body of disciplined troops
ready to take the field against his enemies； for not only would the
Camisards； if they were sup