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Ferrier； of Alais； who at the moment was regarded as the most
eloquent preacher they had。 Needless to say； Alais was situated in
the mountains； that inexhaustible source of Huguenot eloquence。 At
once the controversial spirit was aroused； it did not as yet amount
to war； but still less could it be called peace： people were no
longer assassinated； but they were anathematised； the body was safe；
but the soul was consigned to damnation： the days as they passed were
used by both sides to keep their hand in； in readiness for the moment
when the massacres should again begin。
CHAPTER II
The death of Henri IV led to new conflicts； in which although at
first success was on the side of the Protestants it by degrees went
over to the Catholics； for with the accession of Louis XIII Richelieu
had taken possession of the throne： beside the king sat the cardinal；
under the purple mantle gleamed the red robe。 It was at this crisis
that Henri de Rohan rose to eminence in the South。 He was one of the
most illustrious representatives of that great race which； allied as
it was to the royal houses of Scotland； France； Savoy； and Lorraine；
had taken as their device； 〃Be king I cannot； prince I will not；
Rohan I am。〃
Henri de Rohan was at this time about forty years of age； in the
prime of life。 In his youth； in order to perfect his education； he
had visited England； Scotland； and Italy。 In England Elizabeth had
called him her knight； in Scotland James VI had asked him to stand
godfather to his son； afterwards Charles I； in Italy he had been so
deep in the confidence of the leaders of men； and so thoroughly
initiated into the politics of the principal cities； that it was
commonly said that； after Machiavel； he was the greatest authority in
these matters。 He had returned to France in the lifetime of
Henry IV； and had married the daughter of Sully； and after Henri's
death had commanded the Swiss and the Grison regimentsat the siege
of Juliers。 This was the man whom the king was so imprudent as to
offend by refusing him the reversion of the office of governor of
Poitou； which was then held by Sully； his father…in…law。 In order to
revenge himself for the neglect he met with at court； as he states in
his Memoires with military ingenuousness； he espoused the cause of
Conde with all his heart； being also drawn in this direction by his
liking for Conde's brother and his consequent desire to help those of
Conde's religion。
》From this day on street disturbances and angry disputes assumed
another aspect： they took in a larger area and were not so readily
appeased。 It was no longer an isolated band of insurgents which
roused a city； but rather a conflagration which spread over the whole
South； and a general uprising which was almost a civil war。
This state of things lasted for seven or eight years； and during this
time Rohan； abandoned by Chatillon and La Force； who received as the
reward of their defection the field marshal's baton； pressed by
Conde； his old friend； and by Montmorency； his consistent rival；
performed prodigies of courage and miracles of strategy。 At last；
without soldiers； without ammunition； without money； he still
appeared to Richelieu to be so redoubtable that all the conditions of
surrender he demanded were granted。 The maintenance of the Edict of
Nantes was guaranteed； all the places of worship were to be restored
to the Reformers； and a general amnesty granted to himself and his
partisans。 Furthermore； he obtained what was an unheard…of thing
until then； an indemnity of 300；000 livres for his expenses during
the rebellion； of which sum he allotted 240；000 livres to his
co…religioniststhat is to say； more than three…quarters of the
entire amountand kept； for the purpose of restoring his various
chateaux and setting his domestic establishment； which had been
destroyed during the war； again on foot； only 60；000 livres。 This
treaty was signed on July 27th； 1629。
The Duc de Richelieu； to whom no sacrifice was too great in order to
attain his ends； had at last reached the goal； but the peace cost him
nearly 40；000；000 livres； on the other hand； Saintonge； Poitou； and
Languedoc had submitted； and the chiefs of the houses of La
Tremouille； Conde； Bouillon； Rohan； and Soubise had came to terms
with him； organised armed opposition had disappeared； and the lofty
manner of viewing matters natural to the cardinal duke prevented him
from noticing private enmity。 He therefore left Nimes free to manage
her local affairs as she pleased； and very soon the old order； or
rather disorder； reigned once more within her walls。 At last
Richelieu died； and Louis XIII soon followed him； and the long
minority of his successor； with its embarrassments； left to Catholics
and Protestants in the South more complete liberty than ever to carry
on the great duel which down to our own days has never ceased。
But from this period； each flux and reflux bears more and more the
peculiar character of the party which for the moment is triumphant；
when the Protestants get the upper hand； their vengeance is marked by
brutality and rage； when the Catholics are victorious； the
retaliation is full of hypocrisy and greed。 The Protestants pull
down churches and monasteries； expel the monks； burn the crucifixes；
take the body of some criminal from the gallows； nail it on a cross；
pierce its side； put a crown of thorns round its temples and set it
up in the market…placean effigy of Jesus on Calvary。 The Catholics
levy contributions； take back what they had been deprived of； exact
indemnities； and although ruined by each reverse； are richer than
ever after each victory。 The Protestants act in the light of day；
melting down the church bells to make cannon to the sound of the
drum； violate agreements； warm themselves with wood taken from the
houses of the cathedral clergy； affix their theses to the cathedral
doors； beat the priests who carry the Holy Sacrament to the dying；
and； to crown all other insults； turn churches into slaughter…houses
and sewers。
The Catholics； on the contrary； march at night； and； slipping in at
the gates which have been left ajar for them； make their bishop
president of the Council； put Jesuits at the head of the college； buy
converts with money from the treasury； and as they always have
influence at court； begin by excluding the Calvinists from favour；
hoping soon to deprive them of justice。
At last； on the 31st of December； 1657； a final struggle took place；
in which the Protestants were overcome； and were only saved from
destruction because from the other side of the Channel； Cromwell
exerted himself in their favour； writing with his own hand at the end
of a despatch relative to the affairs of Austria； 〃I Learn that there
have been popular disturbances in a town of Languedoc called Nimes；
and I beg that order may be restored with as much mildness as
possible； and without shedding of blood。〃 As； fortunately for the
Protestants； Mazarin had need of Cromwell at that moment； torture was
forbidden； and nothing allowed but annoyances of all kinds。 These
henceforward were not only innumerable； but went on without a pause：