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militia； the dragoons returned them； and a regular battle began。 The
lieutenant soon saw that this was no mere street row； but a
deliberate rising planned beforehand； and realising that very serious
consequences were likely to ensue； he sent a dragoon to the town hall
by a back way to give notice to the authorities。
M。 de Saint…Pons； major of the Nimes legion； hearing some noise
outside； opened his window； and found the whole city in a tumult：
people were running in every direction； and shouting as they ran that
the dragoons were being killed at the palace。 The major rushed out
into the streets at once； gathered together a dozen to fifteen
patriotic citizens without weapons； and hurried to the town hall：
There he found two officials of the town； and begged them to go at
once to the place de l'Eveche； escorted by the first company； which
was on guard at the town hall。 They agreed； and set off。 On the way
several shots were fired at them； but no one was hit。 When they
arrived at the square； the cebets fired a volley at them with the
same negative result。 Up the three principal streets which led to
the palace numerous red…tufts were hurrying； the first company took
possession of the ends of the streets； and being fired at returned
the fire； repulsing the assailants and clearing the square； with the
loss of one of their men； while several of the retreating cebets were
wounded。
While this struggle was going on at the palace； the spirit of murder
broke loose in the town。
At the gate of the Madeleine； M。 de Jalabert's house was broken into
by the red…tufts； the unfortunate old man came out to meet them and
asked what they wanted。 〃Your life and the lives of all the other
dogs of Protestants！〃 was the reply。 Whereupon he was seized and
dragged through the streets； fifteen insurgents hacking at him with
their swords。
At last he managed to escape from their hands； but died two days
later of his wounds。
Another old man named Astruc； who was bowed beneath the weight of
seventy…two years and whose white hair covered his shoulders； was met
as he was on his way to the gate of Carmes。 Being recognised as a
Protestant； he received five wounds from some of the famous
pitchforks belonging to the company of Froment。 He fell； but the
assassins picked him up； and throwing him into the moat； amused
themselves by flinging stones at him； till one of them； with more
humanity than his fellows； put a bullet through his head。
Three electorsM。 Massador from near Beaucaire； M。 Vialla from the
canton of Lasalle； and M。 Puech of the same place…were attacked by
red…tufts on their way home； and all three seriously wounded。 The
captain who had been in command of the detachment on guard at the
Electoral Assembly was returning to his quarters； accompanied by a
sergeant and three volunteers of his own company； when they were
stopped on the Petit…Cours by Froment； commonly called Damblay； who；
pressing the barrel of a pistol to the captain's breast； said；
〃Stand； you rascal； and give up your arms。〃 At the same time the
red…tufts； seizing the captain from behind by the hair； pulled him
down。 Froment fired his pistol； but missed。 As he fell the captain
drew his sword； but it was torn from his hands； and he received a cut
from Froment's sword。 Upon this the captain made a great effort； and
getting one of his arms free； drew a pistol from his pocket； drove
back his assassins； fired at Froment； and missed him。 One of the men
by his side was wounded and disarmed。
A patrol of the regiment of Guienne； attached to which was M。 Boudon；
a dragoon officer； was passing the Calquieres。 M。 Boudon was
attacked by a band of red…tufts and his casque and his musket carried
off。 Several shots were fired at him； but none of them hit him； the
patrol surrounded him to save him； but as he had received two bayonet
wounds； he desired revenge； and； breaking through his protectors；
darted forward to regain possession of his musket； and was killed in
a moment。 One of his fingers was cut off to get at a diamond ring
which he wore； his pockets were rifled of his purse and watch； and
his body was thrown into the moat。
Meantime the place…des…Recollets； the Cours； the place…des…Carmes；
the Grand…Rue； and rue de Notre Dame…de…l'Esplanade were filled with
men armed with guns； pitchforks； and swords。 They had all come from
Froment's house； which overlooked that part of Nimes called Les
Calquieres； and the entrance to which was on the ramparts near the
Dominican Towers。 The three leaders of the insurrectionFroment。
Folacher； and Descombieztook possession of these towers； which
formed a part of the old castle； from this position the Catholics
could sweep the entire quay of Les Calquieres and the steps of the
Salle de Spectacle with their guns； and if it should turn out that
the insurrection they had excited did not attain the dimensions they
expected nor gain such enthusiastic adherents； it would be quite
feasible for them to defend themselves in such a position until
relief came。
These arrangements were either the result of long meditation or were
the inspiration of some clever strategist。 The fact is that
everything leads one to believe that it was a plan which had been
formed with great care； for the rapidity with which all the
approaches to the fortress were lined with a double row of militiamen
all wearing the red tuft； the care which was taken to place the most
eager next the barracks in which the park of artillery was stationed；
and lastly； the manner in which the approach to the citadel was
barred by an entire company （this being the only place where the
patriots could procure arms）； combine to prove that this plan was the
result of much forethought； for； while it appeared to be only
defensive； it enabled the insurrectionists to attack without much；
danger； it caused others to believe that they had been first
attacked。 It was successfully carried out before the citizens were
armed； and until then only a part of the foot guard and the twelve
dragoons at the palace had offered any resistance to the
conspirators。
The red flag round which； in case of civil war； all good citizens
were expected to gather； and which was kept at the town hall； and
which should have been brought out at the first shot； was now loudly
called for。 The Abbe de Belmont； a canon； vicar…general； and
municipal official； was persuaded； almost forced； to become
standard…bearer； as being the most likely on account of his
ecclesiastical position to awe rebels who had taken up arms in the
name of religion。 The abbe himself gives the following account of
the manner in which he fulfilled this mandate：
〃About seven o'clock in the evening I was engaged with MM。 Porthier
and Ferrand in auditing accounts； when we heard a noise in the court；
and going out on the lobby； we saw several dragoons coming upstairs；
amongst whom was M。 Paris。 They told us that fighting was going on
in the place de…l'Eveche； because some one or other had brought a
note to the porter ordering him to admit no more dragoons to the
palace on pain of death。 At this point I interrupted their story by
asking why the ga