按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was sentenced to be dragged on hurdles and then burnt。 The execution
of this sentence was carried out with such pomp as made it impossible
for the one party to forget the punishment and for the other to
forget the martyrdom。 At the end the ashes of Roland were scattered
to the four winds of heaven。
The execution of the five officers followed close on that of their
chief's body； they were condemned to be broken on the wheel； and the
sentence was carried out on all at once。 But their death； instead of
inspiring the Calvinists with terror； gave them rather fresh courage；
for； as an eye…witness relates； the five Camisards bore their
tortures not only with fortitude； but with a light…heartedness which
surprised all present； especially those who had never seen a Camisard
executed before。
Malarte received his 200 Louis； but to…day his name is coupled with
that of Judas in the minds of his countrymen。
》From this time on fortune ceased to smile on the Camisards。 Genius
had gone with Cavalier； and； faith with Roland。 The very day of the
death of the latter； one of their stores； containing more than eighty
sacks of corn； had been taken at Toiras。 The next day； Catinat； who；
with a dozen men； was in hiding in a vineyard of La Vaunage； was
surprised by a detachment of Soissonnais； eleven of his men were
killed； the twelfth made prisoner； and he himself barely escaped with
a severe wound。 The 25th of the same month； a cavern near Sauve；
which the rebels used as a store； and which contained one hundred and
fifty sacks of fine wheat； was discovered； lastly； Chevalier de
Froulay had found a third hiding…place near Mailet。 In this； which
had been used not only as a store but as a hospital； besides a
quantity of salt beef； wine； and flour； six wounded Camisards were
found； who were instantly shot as they lay。
The only band which remained unbroken was Ravanel's； but since the
departure of Cavalier things had not gone well with his lieutenant。
In consequence of this； and also on account of the successive checks
which the other bodies of Camisard troops had met with； Ravanel
proclaimed a solemn fast； in order to intercede with God to protect
the Huguenot cause。 On Saturday； the 13th September； he led his
entire force to the wood of St。 Benazet； intending to pass the whole
of the next day with them there in prayer。 But treason was rife。
Two peasants who knew of this plan gave information to M。 Lenoir；
mayor of Le Vigan； and he sent word to the marechal and M。 de
Saville； who were at Anduze。
Nothing could have been more welcome to the governor than this
important information： he made the most careful disposition of his
forces； hoping to destroy the rebellion at one blow。 He ordered
M。 de Courten； a brigadier…colonel in command at Alais； to take a
detachment of the troops under him and patrol the banks of the Gardon
between Ners and Castagnols。 He was of opinion that if the Camisards
were attacked on the other side by a body of soldiers drawn from
Anduze； which he had stationed during the night at Dommersargues；
they would try to make good their retreat towards the river。 The
force at Dommersargues might almost be called a small army； for it
was composed of a Swiss battalion； a battalion of the Hainault
regiment； one from the Charolais regiment； and four companies of
dragoons from Fimarcon and Saint…Sernin。
Everything took place as the peasants had said： on Saturday the 13th；
the Camisards entered； as we have seen； the wood of St。 Benazet； and
passed the night there。
At break of day the royals from Dommersargues began their advance。
The Camisard outposts soon perceived the movement； and warned
Ravanel； who held his little council of war。 Everyone was in favour
of instant retreat； so they retired towards Ners； intending to cross
the Gardon below that town： just as M。 de Villars had foreseen； the
Camisards did everything necessary for the success of his plans； and
ended by walking right into the trap set for them。
On emerging from the wood of St。 Benazet； they caught sight of a
detachment of royals drawn up and waiting for them between Marvejols
and a mill called the Moulin…du…Pont。 Seeing the road closed in this
direction； they turned sharp to the left； and gained a rocky valley
which ran parallel to the Gardon。 This they followed till they came
out below Marvejols； where they crossed the river。 They now thought
themselves out of danger； thanks to this manoeuvre； but suddenly they
saw another detachment of royals lying on the grass near the mill of
La Scie。 They at once halted again； and then； believing themselves
undiscovered； turned back； moving as noiselessly as possible；
intending to recross the river and make for Cardet。 But they only
avoided one trap to fall into another； for in this direction they
were met by the Hainault battalion； which swooped down upon them。
A few of these ill…fated men rallied at the sound of Ravanel's voice
and made an effort to defend themselves in spite of the prevailing
confusion； but the danger was so imminent； the foes so numerous； and
their numbers decreased so rapidly under the fierce assault； that
their example failed of effect； and flight became general： every man
trusted to chance for guidance； and； caring nothing for the safety of
others； thought only of his own。
Then it ceased to be a battle and become a massacre； for the royals
were ten to one； and among those they encountered； only sixty had
firearms； the rest； since the discovery of their various magazines；
having been reduced to arm themselves with bad swords； pitchforks；
and bayonets attached to sticks。 Hardly a man survived the fray。
Ravanel himself only succeeded in escaping by throwing himself into
the river； where he remained under water between two rocks for seven
hours； only coming to the surface to breathe。 When night fell and
the dragoons had retired； he also fled。
This was the last battle of the war； which had lasted four years。
With Cavalier and Roland； those two mountain giants； the power of the
rebels disappeared。 As the news of the defeat spread； the Camisard
chiefs and soldiers becoming convinced that the Lord had hidden His
face from them； surrendered one by one。 The first to set an example
was Castanet。 On September 6th； a week after the defeat of Ravanel；
he surrendered to the marechal。 On the 19th； Catinat and his
lieutenant； Franqois Souvayre； tendered their submission； on the
22nd； Amet； Roland's brother； came in； on October 4th； Joanny； on the
9th； Larose； Valette； Salomon； Laforet； Moulieres； Salles； Abraham
and Marion； on the 20th； Fidele； and on the 25th； Rochegude。
Each made what terms he could； in general the conditions were
favourable。 Most of those who submitted received rewards of money；
some more； some less； the smallest amount given being 200 livres。
They all received passports； and were ordered to leave the kingdom；
being sent； accompanied by an escort and at the king's expense； to
Geneva。 The following is the account given by Marion of the
agreement he came to with the Marquis Lalande； probably all the
others were of the same nature。
〃I was deputed；〃 he says； 〃to treat