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The race was repulsed by the State。 Under the small local
governments they could hold no post whatsoever。 And they were barely
tolerated by the Church； although they were good Catholics； and
zealous frequenters of the mass。 They might only enter the churches
by a small door set apart for them； through which no one of the pure
race ever passed。 This door was low； so as to compel them to make an
obeisance。 It was occasionally surrounded by sculpture； which
invariably represented an oak…branch with a dove above it。 When they
were once in； they might not go to the holy water used by others。
They had a benitier of their own； nor were they allowed to share in
the consecrated bread when that was handed round to the believers of
the pure race。 The Cagots stood afar off； near the door。 There were
certain boundariesimaginary lines on the nave and in the isles
which they might not pass。 In one or two of the more tolerant of the
Pyrenean villages； the blessed bread was offered to the Cagots； the
priest standing on one side of the boundary； and giving the pieces of
bread on a long wooden fork to each person successively。
When the Cagot died； he was interred apart； in a plot burying…ground
on the north side of the cemetery。 Under such laws and prescriptions
as I have described； it is no wonder that he was generally too poor
to have much property for his children to inherit； but certain
descriptions of it were forfeited to the commune。 The only
possession which all who were not of his own race refused to touch；
was his furniture。 That was tainted； infectious； uncleanfit for
none but Cagots。
When such were； for at least three centuries； the prevalent usages
and opinions with regard to this oppressed race； it is not surprising
that we read of occasional outbursts of ferocious violence on their
part。 In the Basses…Pyrenees； for instance it is only about a
hundred years since； that the Cagots of Rehouilhes rose up against
the inhabitants of the neighbouring town of Lourdes； and got the
better of them； by their magical powers as it is said。 The people of
Lourdes were conquered and slain； and their ghastly； bloody heads
served the triumphant Cagots for balls to play at ninepins with！ The
local parliaments had begun； by this time； to perceive how oppressive
was the ban of public opinion under which the Cagots lay； and were
not inclined to enforce too severe a punishment。 Accordingly； the
decree of the parliament of Toulouse condemned only the leading
Cagots concerned in this affray to be put to death； and that
henceforward and for ever no Cagot was to be permitted to enter the
town of Lourdes by any gate but that called Capdet…pourtet： they
were only to be allowed to walk under the rain…gutters； and neither
to sit； eat； nor drink in the town。 If they failed in observing any
of these rules； the parliament decreed； in the spirit of Shylock；
that the disobedient Cagots should have two strips of flesh； weighing
never more than two ounces a…piece； cut out from each side of their
spines。
In the fourteenth； fifteenth； and sixteenth centuries it was
considered no more a crime to kill a Cagot than to destroy obnoxious
vermin。 A 〃nest of Cagots；〃 as the old accounts phrase it； had
assembled in a deserted castle of Mauvezin； about the year sixteen
hundred； and； certainly； they made themselves not very agreeable
neighbours； as they seemed to enjoy their reputation of magicians；
and； by some acoustic secrets which were known to them； all sorts of
moanings and groanings were heard in the neighbouring forests； very
much to the alarm of the good people of the pure race； who could not
cut off a withered branch for firewood； but some unearthly sound
seemed to fill the air； nor drink water which was not poisoned；
because the Cagots would persist in filling their pitchers at the
same running stream。 Added to these grievances； the various
pilferings perpetually going on in the neighbourhood made the
inhabitants of the adjacent towns and hamlets believe that they had a
very sufficient cause for wishing to murder all the Cagots in the
Chateau de Mauvezin。 But it was surrounded by a moat； and only
accessible by a drawbridge； besides which； the Cagots were fierce and
vigilant。 Some one； however； proposed to get into their confidence；
and for this purpose he pretended to fall ill close to their path； so
that on returning to their stronghold they perceived him； and took
him in； restored him to health； and made a friend of him。 One day；
when they were all playing at ninepins in the woods； their
treacherous friend left the party on pretence of being thirsty； and
went back into the castle； drawing up the bridge after he had passed
over it； and so cutting off their means of escape into safety。 Them；
going up to the highest part of the castle； he blew a horn； and the
pure race； who were lying in wait on the watch for some such signal；
fell upon the Cagots at their games； and slew them all。 For this
murder I find no punishment decreed in the parliament of Toulouse； or
elsewhere。
As any intermarriage with the pure race was strictly forbidden； and
as there were books kept in every commune in which the names and
habitations of the reputed Cagots were written； these unfortunate
people had no hope of ever becoming blended with the rest of the
population。 Did a Cagot marriage take place； the couple were
serenaded with satirical songs。 They also had minstrels； and many of
their romances are still current in Brittany； but they did not
attempt to make any reprisals of satire or abuse。 Their disposition
was amiable； and their intelligence great。 Indeed； it required both
these qualities； and their great love of mechanical labour； to make
their lives tolerable。
At last； they began to petition that they might receive some
protection from the laws； and； towards the end of the seventeenth
century； the judicial power took their side。 But they gained little
by this。 Law could not prevail against custom： and； in the ten or
twenty years just preceding the first French revolution； the
prejudice in France against the Cagots amounted to fierce and
positive abhorrence。
At the beginning of the sixteenth century； the Cagots of Navarre
complained to the Pope； that they were excluded from the fellowship
of men； and accursed by the Church； because their ancestors had given
help to a certain Count Raymond of Toulouse in his revolt against the
Holy See。 They entreated his holiness not to visit upon them the
sins of their fathers。 The Pope issued a bull on the thirteenth of
May； fifteen hundred and fifteenordering them to be well…treated
and to be admitted to the same privileges as other men。 He charged
Don Juan de Santa Maria of Pampeluna to see to the execution of this
bull。 But Don Juan was slow to help； and the poor Spanish Cagots
grew impatient； and resolved to try the secular power。 They
accordingly applied to the Cortes of Nava