July 26, 2025 • 24 mins
Dumass Celebrated Crimes isnt a series designed for the faint-hearted. The novelist pulls no punches in his graphic depiction of a tumultuous era, sometimes distorting facts and levelling unfounded accusations. Its a riveting read intended for discerning, seasoned readers who can appreciate and account for the authors dramatic liberties. As per the publishers note.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter four, Section two of Celebrated Crimes, Volume two, The
Massacres of the South. This is a LibriVox recording. All
LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by
John Vanstand Savannah, Georgia. Celebrated Crimes, Volume two, The Massacres
(00:23):
of the South by Alexander Dumas, Chapter four, section two.
In crossing the market place, he met Catanaut walking between
two prophets, one called Moses and the other Daniel Ghee.
Catanat was just back from a visit to the mountains,
so that he had taken no part in the scene
of insubordination that had so lately been enacted. Cavalier felt
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a ray of hope. He was sure he could depend
on Catanat as on himself. He hurried to greet him,
holding out his hand, but Catanought drew back his What
does this mean, cried Cavalier, the blood mounting to his
forehead in me answered Catanat that you are a traitor
and I cannot give my hand to a trader. Cavalier
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gave a cry of rage, and advancing on Catanat, raised
his cane to strike him, but Moses and Daniel ghe
threw themselves between, so that the blow aimed at Catanaught
fell on Moses. At the same moment, Catanat, seeing Cavalier's gesture,
drew a pistol from his belt. As it was at
fool Cock. It went off in his hand, a bullet,
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piercing Ghie's hat, without, however, wounding him. At the noise
of the report, shouts were heard about one hundred yards away.
It was the commissards who had been put on the
point of leaving the town, but hearing the shot, had
turned back, believing that some of their brethren were being murdered.
On seeing them appear, Cavalier forgot Catanat and rode straight
towards them. As soon as they caught sight of him,
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they halted, and Ravenel advanced before them, Ready for every danger. Brethren,
he cried, the trader has come once more to tempt us. Begone,
judas you have no business here. But I have exclaimed Cavalier,
I have to punish a scoundrel called Ravenel if he
has courage to follow me. Come on, then, cried Ravenel,
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darting down a small side street, and let us have
done with it. The commissards made a motion as if
to follow them, but Ravenel, turning towards them, ordered them
to remain where they were. They obeyed, and thus Cavalier
could see that insubordinate as they had been towards him,
they were ready to obey another. Just at the moment
as he turned into the narrow street where the dispute
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was to be settled once for all, Moses and GhIE
came up, and, seizing the bridle of his horse, stopped him,
while the commissards, who were on the side of Cavalier,
surrounded Ravenel and forced him to return to his soldiers.
The troops struck up a psalm and resumed their march,
while Cavalier was held back by force. At last, however,
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the young Sevenole succeeded in breaking away from those who
surrounded him, and as the street by which the commissards
had reached Tired was blocked, he dashed down another. The
two prophets, suspecting his intention, hurried after the troops by
the most direct route and got up with them, just
as Cavalier, who had made the circuit of the town,
came galloping across the plain to intercept their passage. The
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troops halted, and Ravenel gave orders to fire. The first
rank raised their muskets and took aim, thus indicating that
they were ready to obey. But it was not a
danger of this kind that could frighten Cavalier. He continued
to advance. Then Moses, seeing his peril, threw himself between
the commissards and him, stretching out his arms and shouting, stop, stop,
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misguided men. Are you going to kill brother Cavalier like
a highwayman and thief. You must pardon him, my brethren,
you must pardon him. If he has done wrong in
the past, he will do better in the future. Then
those who had taken aim at Cavalier grounded their muskets,
and Cavalier, changing menace for entreaty, begged them not to
break the promise that he had made in their name,
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whereupon the prophets struck up a psalm, and the rest
of the soldiers, joining in his voice, was completely drowned. Nevertheless,
Cavalier did not lose heart, but accompanied them on their
march to Saint Aestev about a league further on. Unable
to relinquish all hope. On reaching Saint Oestev, the singing
ceased for a moment, and he made another attempt to
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recall them to obedience. Seeing however, that it was all
in vain, he gave up hope, and calling out, at
least defend yourselves as well as you can, for the
dragoons will soon be upon you. He set his horse's
head towards the town, Then, turning to them for the
last time, he said, brethren, let those who love me
follow me. He pronounced these words in tones so full
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of grief and affection that many were shaken in their resolution,
But Ravenel and Moses, seeing the effect he had produced,
began to shout the sword of the Lord. Immediately, all
the troops turned their back on cavalier, except about forty
men who had joined him on his first appearance. The
cavalier went into a house near by and wrote another
letter to Monsieur de Villar, in which he told him
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what had just taken place, the efforts he had made
to win back his troops, and the conditions they demanded.
He ended by assuring him that he would make still
for their efforts, and promised the Marischal that he would
keep him informed of everything that went on. He then
withdrew to Carday, not venturing to return to Cavisants. Both
Cavalier's letters reached Monsieur de Villar at the same time.
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In the first impulse of anger aroused by this unexpected check,
he issued the following order. Since coming to this province
and taking over the government by order of the King,
our sole thought has been how to put an end
to the disorders we found existing here by gentle measures,
and to restore peace, and to preserve the property of
those who had taken no part in the disturbances. To
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that end we obtained His Majesty's pardon for those rebels
who had, by the persuasion of their chiefs, been induced
to lay down their arms, the only condition exacted being
that they should throw themselves on the King's clemency and
beg his permission to expiate their crime by adventuring their
lives in his service. But being informed that instead of
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keeping the engagements they had made by signing petitions, by
writing letters, and by speaking words expressing their intentions, some
among them have been trying to delude the minds of
the people with false hopes of full liberty for the
exercise of this so called reformed religion, which there has
never been any intention of granting, but which we have
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always declared as clearly as we could, to be contrary
to the will of the King, and likely to bring
about great evils for which it would be difficult to
find a remedy. It becomes necessary to prevent those who
give belief to these falsehoods from expecting to escape from
well deserved chastisement. We therefore declare hereby that all religious
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assemblies are expressly forbidden under the penalties proclaimed in the
edicts and ordinances of His Magic, and that these will
be more strictly enforced in the future than in the past. Furthermore,
we order all the troops under our command to break
up such assemblies by force, as having been always illegal.
And we desire to impress on the new converts of
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this province that they are to give their obedience where
it is due, and we forbid them to give any
credence to the false reports which the enemies of their
repose are spreading abroad. If they let themselves be led astray,
they will soon find themselves involved in troubles and misfortunes.
Such as the loss of their lands, the ruin of
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their families, and the desolation of their country.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And we shall take care that the true.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Authors of these misfortunes shall receive punishment proportioned to their crime.
Marechal de Villar given at Nimes the twenty seventh day
of May seventeen o four. This order, which put everything
back upon the footing on which it had been in
the time of Monteur de Mantrave Well, had hardly been
issued than Dagliere's, in despair at seeing the result of
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so much labor destroyed in one day, set off for
the mountains to try and find Cavalier. He found him
at Carday, whither, as we have said, he had retired
after the day of Calvison. Despite the resolution which Cavalier
had taken never to show his face again to the Mareschal,
the baron repeated to him so many times that Monsieur
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de Villars was thoroughly convinced that what had happened had
not been his fault, he having done everything that he
could to prevent it, that the young chief began to
feel his self confidence and courage. Returning and hearing that
the Mareschal had expressed himself, as very much pleased with
his conduct, to which Vincel had borne high testimony, made
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up his mind to return to Nemes. They left Cardae
at once, followed by the forty men who had remained
true to Cavalier, ten on horse and thirty on foot,
and arrived on the thirty first May at Saint Jennie's,
whither Monsieur de Villar had come to meet them. The
assurances of Dagliere's were justified. The Marchal received Cavalier as
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if he were still the chief of a powerful party
and able to negotiate with him on terms of equality.
At Cavalier's request, in order to prove to him that
he stood as high in his good opinion as ever,
the Marechal returned once more to gentle methods and mitigated
the severity of his first proclamation by a second, granting
an extension of the amnesty. The principal chiefs of the rebels,
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with the greater number of their followers, having surrendered, and
having received the King's pardon, we declare that we give
to all those who have taken up arms until next Thursday,
the fifth Instant, inclusive, the opportunity of receiving the like
pardon by surrendering to us At Anduza, or to Monsieur
la Marquis de la Lande at Alais, or to Monsieur
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de Minon at Saint Hippolyte, or to the commandants of Uza,
Nimes and Lunel. But the fifth day passed, we shall
a heavy hand on all rebels, pillaging and burning all
the places which have given them refuge, provisions, or help
of any kind. And that they may not plead ignorance
of this proclamation, we order it to be publicly read
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and posted up in every suitable place. Marechal de Villar
at Saint Jenny's the first June seventeen o four. The
next day, in order to leave no doubt as to
his good intentions, the Mamachal had the gibbets and scaffolds
taken down, which until then had been permanent erections. At
the same time, all the Huguenots were ordered to make
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a last effort to induce the commissar chiefs to accept
the conditions offered them by Monsieur de Villar. The towns
of lat Andduza, Saint Jean, Sauve, Saint Hippolyti, and LaSalle
and the parishes of Cross, Saint Roman, Mannoblas, Saint Felix, Lucadierre, Cesas, Cambo,
Colonnac and Vabre were ordered to send deputies to Defort
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to confer as to the best means of bringing about
that piece which everyone desired. The deputies wrote at once
to Monsieur de Villarre to beg him to send them
Monsieur Dagliere, and to Monsieur Dagliere to request him to come.
Both consented to do as they were asked, and Monsieur
Daglieres arrived at d'orft on the third of June seventeen
o four. The deputies, having first thanked him for the
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trouble which he had taken to serve the common cause
during the past year, resolved to divide their assembly into
two parts, one of which was to remain permanently sitting,
while the other went to seek Roland and Ravenel to
try and obtain a cessation of hostilities. The deputies charged
with this task were ordered to make it quite clear
to the two chiefs that if they did not accept
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the proposals made by Monsieur de Villar, the Protestants in
general would take up arms and hunt them down, and
would cease to supply them with the means of subsistence.
On hearing this, Roland made reply that the deputies were
to go back at once to those who said them,
and threatened, should they ever show him their faces again,
to fire on them. This answer put an end to
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the assembly. The deputies dispersed, and Dagliere's returned to the
Marechal de Villars to make his report. Hardly had he
done this when a letter from Roland arrived, in which
the Commissar chief asked Monsieur de Villar to grant him
an interview such as he had granted the cavalier. This
letter was addressed to Daglieres, who immediately communicated its contents
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to the Marechale, from whom he received orders to set
out at once to find Roland, and to spare no
pains to bring him round. Daglires, who was always indefatigable
when working for his country, started the same day and
went to a mountain about three quarters of a league
from Aduza, where Roland awaited him. After a conference of
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two hours, it was agreed that hostages should be exchanged
and negotiations entered upon. Consequently, Monsieur de Villar, on his side,
sent Roland, Monsieur de Montrevelle in all, officer commanding a
battalion of marines, and Monsieur de la maison Blanche, captain
of the Froulet regiment, while Roland in return sent Monsieur
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de Villars four of his principal officers with the title
of plenipotentiaries. Unskilled in diplomacy as these envoys were, and
laughable as they appeared to contemporary historians, they received, nevertheless,
the Marechal's consent to the following conditions. One that Cavalier
and Roland should each be placed in charge of a
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regiment serving abroad, and that each of them should be
allowed a minister. Two that all the prisoners should be
released and the exiles recalled. Three that the Protestants should
be permitted to leave the kingdom, taking their effects with them. Four,
that those commissars who desired to remain might do so
on giving up their arms. Five that those who were
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abroad might return. Six that no one should be molested
on account of his religion, provided everyone remained quietly at home.
Seven that indemnities should be borne by the whole province
and not exacted specially from the Protestants. Eight that a
general amnesty should be granted to all without reserve. These
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articles were laid before Roland and Ravenel by Dagliere's cavalier, who,
from the day he went back to Nimes, had remained
in the governor's suite, asked leave to return with the baron,
and was permitted to do so. Daglires and he set
out together in consequence for Anduza and met Roland and
Ravenel about a quarter of a league from the town,
waiting to know the result of the negotiations. They were
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accompanied by monsieurs de mont bell and de maison Blanche,
the Catholic hostages. As soon as Cavalier and Roland met
they burst out into recriminations and reproaches, but through the
efforts of Daglieres, they soon became more friendly and even
embraced on parting. But Ravenel was made of harder stuff.
As soon as he caught sight of Cavalier, he called
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him traitor, saying that for his part, he would never
surrender till the Edict of Nantes was re enacted. Then,
having warned them that the governor's promises were not to
be trusted, and having predicted that a day would come
when they would regret their too great confidence in him,
he left the conference and rejoined his troops, which with
those of Roland, were drawn up on a mountain about
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three quarters of a league distant. The negotiators did not, however, despair.
Ravenel had gone away, but Roland had debated with them
at some length. So they determined to speak to the brethren,
that is, to the troops under Roland and Ravenel, whose
headquarters at the moment were at Luzzi, in order that
they might know exactly what articles had been agreed on
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between Roland's envoys and the Marechal. Those who made up
their minds to take this step were Cavalier Roland, Moise,
Saint Paul la forat Maya, and Dagliere's We take the
following account of what happened in consequence of this decision
from Daglierre's memoirs. We had no sooner determined on this
plan than anxious to carry it out.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
We set off.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
We followed a narrow mountain path on the face of
the cliff which rose up to our right, to our left,
flow the garden. Having gone about a league, we came
in sight of the troops about three thousand strong. An
advanced post barred our way. Thinking it was placed there
in our honor, I was advancing unsuspiciously when suddenly we
found our road cut off by kamisards to right and left,
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who threw themselves on Roland and forced him in. Among
their troops. Maya and Malplach were dragged from their horses,
as to cavalier, who was somewhat behind. As soon as
he saw people coming towards him with uplifted sabers and
shouting traitor, he put spurs to his horse and went
off at full gallop, followed by some townspeople from Anduza
who had come with us, and who, now that they
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saw the reception we met with, were ready to die.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
With fear. I was too far forward to escape.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Five or six muskets rested on my breast, and a
pistol pressed each ear. So I made up my mind
to be bold. I told the troopers to fire. I
was willing to die in the service of my prince,
my country, and my religion, as well as for themselves,
whom I was trying to benefit. By procuring them the
King's good will. These words, which I repeated several times
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in the midst of the greatest uproar, gave them pause.
They commanded me to retire, as they did not want
to kill me. I said, I should do nothing of
the kind. I was going into the middle of the
troops to defend Roland against the charges of treason, or
be put to death myself unless I could convince them
that what I had proposed to him and Cavalier was
for the good of the country, of our religion and
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the brethren. And having thus expostulated at the top of
my voice against thirty voices all trying to drown mine
for about an hour, I offered to fight the man
who had induced them to oppose us. At this offer,
they pointed their muskets at me once more, but Maya
Mauplach and some others through themselves before me, and although
they were unarmed, had enough influence to hinder my being insulted.
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I was, forced, however, to retreat. In leaving I warned
them that they were about to bring great misfortunes on
the province. Whereupon a man named Clarie stepped out from
among the troops and approached me. Exclaimed, go on, sir,
and God bless you. We know that you mean well
and were the first to be taken in. But go
on working for the good of the country, and God
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will bless you. Dagliere's returned to the Marechal, who, furious
at the turn things had taken, resolved instantly to break
off all negotiations and have recourse once more to measures
of severity. However, before actually carrying out this determination, he
wrote the following letter to the King. Sire, it is
always my glory to execute faithfully your Majesty's orders, whatever
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those orders may be. But I should have been able
on many occasions since coming here to display my zeal
for your Majesty's service in other ways, if I had
not had to deal with madmen on whom no dependants
could be placed. As soon as we were ready to
attack them, they offered to submit, but a little later
changed their minds again. Nothing could be a greater proof
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of madness than their hesitation to accept a pardon of
which they were unworthy and which was so generously offered
by your Majesty. If they do not soon make up
their minds, I shall bring them back to the paths
of duty by force, and thus restore this province to
that state of peace which has been disturbed by these fools.
The day after writing this letter to the King, Rolan
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sent to Maya to Monsieur de Bellaire to beg him
to wait till Saturday and Sunday, the seventh and the
eighth June were over, before resorting to severity that being
the end of the truce. He gave him a solemn
promise that he would, in the interval either bring in
his troops to the last man, or would himself surrender
along with one hundred and fifty followers. The Marechal consented
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to wait until Saturday morning, but as soon as Saturday
arrived he gave orders to attack the commissards, and the
next day led a conceit literal body of troops to Carnolet,
intending to take the Huguenots by surprise, as word had
been brought that they were all gathered there. They, however,
received intelligence of his plan and evacuated the village during
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the night. The village had to pay dearly for its
sin of hospitality. It was pillaged and burnt down. The
Nicolettes even murdered two women whom they found there, and
Dagliere's failed to obtain any satisfaction for this crime. In
this manner, Monsieur de Villar kept the fatal promise he
had given, and internecine war raged once more. Furious at
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having missed the Commissards de Menon, having heard from his
scouts that Roland was to sleep next night at the
Chateau de Prada, went to Moncheu de Vilar and asked
leave to conduct an expedition against the chief. He was
almost sure of taking Roland by surprise, having procured a
guide whose knowledge of the country was minute, the Marechal
gave him carte blanche. In the evening, Menon set out
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with two hundred grenadiers.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
He had already put three quarters of.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
The way behind him without being discovered, when an Englishman
met them by chance. This man was serving under Roland,
but had been visiting his sweetheart in the neighboring village
and was on his way home when he fell among
Menon's grenadiers. Without a thought for his own safety, he
fired off his gun, shouting, fly, Fly, the royals are
upon you. The sentinels took up the cry. Roland jumped
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out of bed, and without staying for clothes or horse,
ran off in his shirt, escaping by a poster harned
gait which opened on the forest. Just as de Menon
entered by another. He found Roland's bed still warm and
took possession of his clothes, finding in a coat pocket
a purse containing thirty five louis, and in the stables
three superb horses. The connoissards answered this beginning of hostilities
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by a murder, four of them, thinking they had reasons
for displeasure, against one of Monsieur de Baville's subordinates named Dodd,
who was both mayor and magistrate at le vigand hid
in a cornfield which he had to pass on his
way back from Lavalette, his country place. Their measures were successful.
Dotta came along just as was expected, and as he
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had not the slightest suspicion of the impending danger, he
continued conversing with Monsieur de Mondardier, a gentleman of the
neighborhood who had asked for the hand of Dotta's daughter
in marriage that very day. Suddenly he found himself surrounded
by four men who upbraiding him for his exactions and
cruelties shot him twice through the head with a pistol.
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They offered no violence to Monsieur de Mondardier, except to
deprive him of his laced hat and sword. The day
on which Monsieur de Villar heard of its murder, he
set a price on the heads of Roland, Ravenel and Catanac. Still,
the example set by Cavalier, joined to the resumption of
hostilities was not without influence on the commissards. Every day
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letters arrived from single troopers offering to lay down their arms,
and in one day thirty rebels came in and put
themselves into Lalanda's hands, while tent he surrendered to Grandval.
These were accorded not only pardon, but received a reward,
in hopes that they might be able to induce others
to do like them. And on the fifteenth June, eighth
of the troops which had abandoned Cavalier at Cavison made submission,
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while twelve others asked to be allowed to return to
their old chief to follow him wherever he went. This
request was at once granted. They were set to Valebregge,
where they found forty two of their old comrades amongst
whom were duplain and cavalier's young brother, who had been
ordered there a few days before. As they arrived, they
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were given quarters in the barracks and received good pay,
the chiefs forty sous a day and the privates ten.
So they felt as happy as possible, being well fed
and well lodged, and spent their time preaching, praying, and
psalms singing in season and out of season. All this,
says la Baum, was so disagreeable to the inhabitants of
the place who were Catholics, that if they had not
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been guarded by the King's soldiers, they would have been
pitched into the rhone. End of Chapter four, Section two.
Recording by John Vanstan Savannah, Georgia
Chapter four, Section two of Celebrated Crimes, Volume two, The
Massacres of the South. This is a LibriVox recording. All
LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by
John Vanstand Savannah, Georgia. Celebrated Crimes, Volume two, The Massacres
(00:23):
of the South by Alexander Dumas, Chapter four, section two.
In crossing the market place, he met Catanaut walking between
two prophets, one called Moses and the other Daniel Ghee.
Catanat was just back from a visit to the mountains,
so that he had taken no part in the scene
of insubordination that had so lately been enacted. Cavalier felt
(00:45):
a ray of hope. He was sure he could depend
on Catanat as on himself. He hurried to greet him,
holding out his hand, but Catanought drew back his What
does this mean, cried Cavalier, the blood mounting to his
forehead in me answered Catanat that you are a traitor
and I cannot give my hand to a trader. Cavalier
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gave a cry of rage, and advancing on Catanat, raised
his cane to strike him, but Moses and Daniel ghe
threw themselves between, so that the blow aimed at Catanaught
fell on Moses. At the same moment, Catanat, seeing Cavalier's gesture,
drew a pistol from his belt. As it was at
fool Cock. It went off in his hand, a bullet,
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piercing Ghie's hat, without, however, wounding him. At the noise
of the report, shouts were heard about one hundred yards away.
It was the commissards who had been put on the
point of leaving the town, but hearing the shot, had
turned back, believing that some of their brethren were being murdered.
On seeing them appear, Cavalier forgot Catanat and rode straight
towards them. As soon as they caught sight of him,
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they halted, and Ravenel advanced before them, Ready for every danger. Brethren,
he cried, the trader has come once more to tempt us. Begone,
judas you have no business here. But I have exclaimed Cavalier,
I have to punish a scoundrel called Ravenel if he
has courage to follow me. Come on, then, cried Ravenel,
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darting down a small side street, and let us have
done with it. The commissards made a motion as if
to follow them, but Ravenel, turning towards them, ordered them
to remain where they were. They obeyed, and thus Cavalier
could see that insubordinate as they had been towards him,
they were ready to obey another. Just at the moment
as he turned into the narrow street where the dispute
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was to be settled once for all, Moses and GhIE
came up, and, seizing the bridle of his horse, stopped him,
while the commissards, who were on the side of Cavalier,
surrounded Ravenel and forced him to return to his soldiers.
The troops struck up a psalm and resumed their march,
while Cavalier was held back by force. At last, however,
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the young Sevenole succeeded in breaking away from those who
surrounded him, and as the street by which the commissards
had reached Tired was blocked, he dashed down another. The
two prophets, suspecting his intention, hurried after the troops by
the most direct route and got up with them, just
as Cavalier, who had made the circuit of the town,
came galloping across the plain to intercept their passage. The
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troops halted, and Ravenel gave orders to fire. The first
rank raised their muskets and took aim, thus indicating that
they were ready to obey. But it was not a
danger of this kind that could frighten Cavalier. He continued
to advance. Then Moses, seeing his peril, threw himself between
the commissards and him, stretching out his arms and shouting, stop, stop,
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misguided men. Are you going to kill brother Cavalier like
a highwayman and thief. You must pardon him, my brethren,
you must pardon him. If he has done wrong in
the past, he will do better in the future. Then
those who had taken aim at Cavalier grounded their muskets,
and Cavalier, changing menace for entreaty, begged them not to
break the promise that he had made in their name,
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whereupon the prophets struck up a psalm, and the rest
of the soldiers, joining in his voice, was completely drowned. Nevertheless,
Cavalier did not lose heart, but accompanied them on their
march to Saint Aestev about a league further on. Unable
to relinquish all hope. On reaching Saint Oestev, the singing
ceased for a moment, and he made another attempt to
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recall them to obedience. Seeing however, that it was all
in vain, he gave up hope, and calling out, at
least defend yourselves as well as you can, for the
dragoons will soon be upon you. He set his horse's
head towards the town, Then, turning to them for the
last time, he said, brethren, let those who love me
follow me. He pronounced these words in tones so full
(04:43):
of grief and affection that many were shaken in their resolution,
But Ravenel and Moses, seeing the effect he had produced,
began to shout the sword of the Lord. Immediately, all
the troops turned their back on cavalier, except about forty
men who had joined him on his first appearance. The
cavalier went into a house near by and wrote another
letter to Monsieur de Villar, in which he told him
(05:05):
what had just taken place, the efforts he had made
to win back his troops, and the conditions they demanded.
He ended by assuring him that he would make still
for their efforts, and promised the Marischal that he would
keep him informed of everything that went on. He then
withdrew to Carday, not venturing to return to Cavisants. Both
Cavalier's letters reached Monsieur de Villar at the same time.
(05:28):
In the first impulse of anger aroused by this unexpected check,
he issued the following order. Since coming to this province
and taking over the government by order of the King,
our sole thought has been how to put an end
to the disorders we found existing here by gentle measures,
and to restore peace, and to preserve the property of
those who had taken no part in the disturbances. To
(05:50):
that end we obtained His Majesty's pardon for those rebels
who had, by the persuasion of their chiefs, been induced
to lay down their arms, the only condition exacted being
that they should throw themselves on the King's clemency and
beg his permission to expiate their crime by adventuring their
lives in his service. But being informed that instead of
(06:11):
keeping the engagements they had made by signing petitions, by
writing letters, and by speaking words expressing their intentions, some
among them have been trying to delude the minds of
the people with false hopes of full liberty for the
exercise of this so called reformed religion, which there has
never been any intention of granting, but which we have
(06:32):
always declared as clearly as we could, to be contrary
to the will of the King, and likely to bring
about great evils for which it would be difficult to
find a remedy. It becomes necessary to prevent those who
give belief to these falsehoods from expecting to escape from
well deserved chastisement. We therefore declare hereby that all religious
(06:54):
assemblies are expressly forbidden under the penalties proclaimed in the
edicts and ordinances of His Magic, and that these will
be more strictly enforced in the future than in the past. Furthermore,
we order all the troops under our command to break
up such assemblies by force, as having been always illegal.
And we desire to impress on the new converts of
(07:14):
this province that they are to give their obedience where
it is due, and we forbid them to give any
credence to the false reports which the enemies of their
repose are spreading abroad. If they let themselves be led astray,
they will soon find themselves involved in troubles and misfortunes.
Such as the loss of their lands, the ruin of
(07:35):
their families, and the desolation of their country.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And we shall take care that the true.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Authors of these misfortunes shall receive punishment proportioned to their crime.
Marechal de Villar given at Nimes the twenty seventh day
of May seventeen o four. This order, which put everything
back upon the footing on which it had been in
the time of Monteur de Mantrave Well, had hardly been
issued than Dagliere's, in despair at seeing the result of
(08:05):
so much labor destroyed in one day, set off for
the mountains to try and find Cavalier. He found him
at Carday, whither, as we have said, he had retired
after the day of Calvison. Despite the resolution which Cavalier
had taken never to show his face again to the Mareschal,
the baron repeated to him so many times that Monsieur
(08:26):
de Villars was thoroughly convinced that what had happened had
not been his fault, he having done everything that he
could to prevent it, that the young chief began to
feel his self confidence and courage. Returning and hearing that
the Mareschal had expressed himself, as very much pleased with
his conduct, to which Vincel had borne high testimony, made
(08:47):
up his mind to return to Nemes. They left Cardae
at once, followed by the forty men who had remained
true to Cavalier, ten on horse and thirty on foot,
and arrived on the thirty first May at Saint Jennie's,
whither Monsieur de Villar had come to meet them. The
assurances of Dagliere's were justified. The Marchal received Cavalier as
(09:07):
if he were still the chief of a powerful party
and able to negotiate with him on terms of equality.
At Cavalier's request, in order to prove to him that
he stood as high in his good opinion as ever,
the Marechal returned once more to gentle methods and mitigated
the severity of his first proclamation by a second, granting
an extension of the amnesty. The principal chiefs of the rebels,
(09:29):
with the greater number of their followers, having surrendered, and
having received the King's pardon, we declare that we give
to all those who have taken up arms until next Thursday,
the fifth Instant, inclusive, the opportunity of receiving the like
pardon by surrendering to us At Anduza, or to Monsieur
la Marquis de la Lande at Alais, or to Monsieur
(09:51):
de Minon at Saint Hippolyte, or to the commandants of Uza,
Nimes and Lunel. But the fifth day passed, we shall
a heavy hand on all rebels, pillaging and burning all
the places which have given them refuge, provisions, or help
of any kind. And that they may not plead ignorance
of this proclamation, we order it to be publicly read
(10:14):
and posted up in every suitable place. Marechal de Villar
at Saint Jenny's the first June seventeen o four. The
next day, in order to leave no doubt as to
his good intentions, the Mamachal had the gibbets and scaffolds
taken down, which until then had been permanent erections. At
the same time, all the Huguenots were ordered to make
(10:36):
a last effort to induce the commissar chiefs to accept
the conditions offered them by Monsieur de Villar. The towns
of lat Andduza, Saint Jean, Sauve, Saint Hippolyti, and LaSalle
and the parishes of Cross, Saint Roman, Mannoblas, Saint Felix, Lucadierre, Cesas, Cambo,
Colonnac and Vabre were ordered to send deputies to Defort
(11:00):
to confer as to the best means of bringing about
that piece which everyone desired. The deputies wrote at once
to Monsieur de Villarre to beg him to send them
Monsieur Dagliere, and to Monsieur Dagliere to request him to come.
Both consented to do as they were asked, and Monsieur
Daglieres arrived at d'orft on the third of June seventeen
o four. The deputies, having first thanked him for the
(11:22):
trouble which he had taken to serve the common cause
during the past year, resolved to divide their assembly into
two parts, one of which was to remain permanently sitting,
while the other went to seek Roland and Ravenel to
try and obtain a cessation of hostilities. The deputies charged
with this task were ordered to make it quite clear
to the two chiefs that if they did not accept
(11:44):
the proposals made by Monsieur de Villar, the Protestants in
general would take up arms and hunt them down, and
would cease to supply them with the means of subsistence.
On hearing this, Roland made reply that the deputies were
to go back at once to those who said them,
and threatened, should they ever show him their faces again,
to fire on them. This answer put an end to
(12:07):
the assembly. The deputies dispersed, and Dagliere's returned to the
Marechal de Villars to make his report. Hardly had he
done this when a letter from Roland arrived, in which
the Commissar chief asked Monsieur de Villar to grant him
an interview such as he had granted the cavalier. This
letter was addressed to Daglieres, who immediately communicated its contents
(12:28):
to the Marechale, from whom he received orders to set
out at once to find Roland, and to spare no
pains to bring him round. Daglires, who was always indefatigable
when working for his country, started the same day and
went to a mountain about three quarters of a league
from Aduza, where Roland awaited him. After a conference of
(12:48):
two hours, it was agreed that hostages should be exchanged
and negotiations entered upon. Consequently, Monsieur de Villar, on his side,
sent Roland, Monsieur de Montrevelle in all, officer commanding a
battalion of marines, and Monsieur de la maison Blanche, captain
of the Froulet regiment, while Roland in return sent Monsieur
(13:09):
de Villars four of his principal officers with the title
of plenipotentiaries. Unskilled in diplomacy as these envoys were, and
laughable as they appeared to contemporary historians, they received, nevertheless,
the Marechal's consent to the following conditions. One that Cavalier
and Roland should each be placed in charge of a
(13:30):
regiment serving abroad, and that each of them should be
allowed a minister. Two that all the prisoners should be
released and the exiles recalled. Three that the Protestants should
be permitted to leave the kingdom, taking their effects with them. Four,
that those commissars who desired to remain might do so
on giving up their arms. Five that those who were
(13:52):
abroad might return. Six that no one should be molested
on account of his religion, provided everyone remained quietly at home.
Seven that indemnities should be borne by the whole province
and not exacted specially from the Protestants. Eight that a
general amnesty should be granted to all without reserve. These
(14:13):
articles were laid before Roland and Ravenel by Dagliere's cavalier, who,
from the day he went back to Nimes, had remained
in the governor's suite, asked leave to return with the baron,
and was permitted to do so. Daglires and he set
out together in consequence for Anduza and met Roland and
Ravenel about a quarter of a league from the town,
waiting to know the result of the negotiations. They were
(14:36):
accompanied by monsieurs de mont bell and de maison Blanche,
the Catholic hostages. As soon as Cavalier and Roland met
they burst out into recriminations and reproaches, but through the
efforts of Daglieres, they soon became more friendly and even
embraced on parting. But Ravenel was made of harder stuff.
As soon as he caught sight of Cavalier, he called
(14:58):
him traitor, saying that for his part, he would never
surrender till the Edict of Nantes was re enacted. Then,
having warned them that the governor's promises were not to
be trusted, and having predicted that a day would come
when they would regret their too great confidence in him,
he left the conference and rejoined his troops, which with
those of Roland, were drawn up on a mountain about
(15:19):
three quarters of a league distant. The negotiators did not, however, despair.
Ravenel had gone away, but Roland had debated with them
at some length. So they determined to speak to the brethren,
that is, to the troops under Roland and Ravenel, whose
headquarters at the moment were at Luzzi, in order that
they might know exactly what articles had been agreed on
(15:39):
between Roland's envoys and the Marechal. Those who made up
their minds to take this step were Cavalier Roland, Moise,
Saint Paul la forat Maya, and Dagliere's We take the
following account of what happened in consequence of this decision
from Daglierre's memoirs. We had no sooner determined on this
plan than anxious to carry it out.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
We set off.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
We followed a narrow mountain path on the face of
the cliff which rose up to our right, to our left,
flow the garden. Having gone about a league, we came
in sight of the troops about three thousand strong. An
advanced post barred our way. Thinking it was placed there
in our honor, I was advancing unsuspiciously when suddenly we
found our road cut off by kamisards to right and left,
(16:24):
who threw themselves on Roland and forced him in. Among
their troops. Maya and Malplach were dragged from their horses,
as to cavalier, who was somewhat behind. As soon as
he saw people coming towards him with uplifted sabers and
shouting traitor, he put spurs to his horse and went
off at full gallop, followed by some townspeople from Anduza
who had come with us, and who, now that they
(16:46):
saw the reception we met with, were ready to die.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
With fear. I was too far forward to escape.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Five or six muskets rested on my breast, and a
pistol pressed each ear. So I made up my mind
to be bold. I told the troopers to fire. I
was willing to die in the service of my prince,
my country, and my religion, as well as for themselves,
whom I was trying to benefit. By procuring them the
King's good will. These words, which I repeated several times
(17:15):
in the midst of the greatest uproar, gave them pause.
They commanded me to retire, as they did not want
to kill me. I said, I should do nothing of
the kind. I was going into the middle of the
troops to defend Roland against the charges of treason, or
be put to death myself unless I could convince them
that what I had proposed to him and Cavalier was
for the good of the country, of our religion and
(17:37):
the brethren. And having thus expostulated at the top of
my voice against thirty voices all trying to drown mine
for about an hour, I offered to fight the man
who had induced them to oppose us. At this offer,
they pointed their muskets at me once more, but Maya
Mauplach and some others through themselves before me, and although
they were unarmed, had enough influence to hinder my being insulted.
(18:01):
I was, forced, however, to retreat. In leaving I warned
them that they were about to bring great misfortunes on
the province. Whereupon a man named Clarie stepped out from
among the troops and approached me. Exclaimed, go on, sir,
and God bless you. We know that you mean well
and were the first to be taken in. But go
on working for the good of the country, and God
(18:23):
will bless you. Dagliere's returned to the Marechal, who, furious
at the turn things had taken, resolved instantly to break
off all negotiations and have recourse once more to measures
of severity. However, before actually carrying out this determination, he
wrote the following letter to the King. Sire, it is
always my glory to execute faithfully your Majesty's orders, whatever
(18:46):
those orders may be. But I should have been able
on many occasions since coming here to display my zeal
for your Majesty's service in other ways, if I had
not had to deal with madmen on whom no dependants
could be placed. As soon as we were ready to
attack them, they offered to submit, but a little later
changed their minds again. Nothing could be a greater proof
(19:07):
of madness than their hesitation to accept a pardon of
which they were unworthy and which was so generously offered
by your Majesty. If they do not soon make up
their minds, I shall bring them back to the paths
of duty by force, and thus restore this province to
that state of peace which has been disturbed by these fools.
The day after writing this letter to the King, Rolan
(19:29):
sent to Maya to Monsieur de Bellaire to beg him
to wait till Saturday and Sunday, the seventh and the
eighth June were over, before resorting to severity that being
the end of the truce. He gave him a solemn
promise that he would, in the interval either bring in
his troops to the last man, or would himself surrender
along with one hundred and fifty followers. The Marechal consented
(19:52):
to wait until Saturday morning, but as soon as Saturday
arrived he gave orders to attack the commissards, and the
next day led a conceit literal body of troops to Carnolet,
intending to take the Huguenots by surprise, as word had
been brought that they were all gathered there. They, however,
received intelligence of his plan and evacuated the village during
(20:12):
the night. The village had to pay dearly for its
sin of hospitality. It was pillaged and burnt down. The
Nicolettes even murdered two women whom they found there, and
Dagliere's failed to obtain any satisfaction for this crime. In
this manner, Monsieur de Villar kept the fatal promise he
had given, and internecine war raged once more. Furious at
(20:33):
having missed the Commissards de Menon, having heard from his
scouts that Roland was to sleep next night at the
Chateau de Prada, went to Moncheu de Vilar and asked
leave to conduct an expedition against the chief. He was
almost sure of taking Roland by surprise, having procured a
guide whose knowledge of the country was minute, the Marechal
gave him carte blanche. In the evening, Menon set out
(20:56):
with two hundred grenadiers.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
He had already put three quarters of.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
The way behind him without being discovered, when an Englishman
met them by chance. This man was serving under Roland,
but had been visiting his sweetheart in the neighboring village
and was on his way home when he fell among
Menon's grenadiers. Without a thought for his own safety, he
fired off his gun, shouting, fly, Fly, the royals are
upon you. The sentinels took up the cry. Roland jumped
(21:23):
out of bed, and without staying for clothes or horse,
ran off in his shirt, escaping by a poster harned
gait which opened on the forest. Just as de Menon
entered by another. He found Roland's bed still warm and
took possession of his clothes, finding in a coat pocket
a purse containing thirty five louis, and in the stables
three superb horses. The connoissards answered this beginning of hostilities
(21:46):
by a murder, four of them, thinking they had reasons
for displeasure, against one of Monsieur de Baville's subordinates named Dodd,
who was both mayor and magistrate at le vigand hid
in a cornfield which he had to pass on his
way back from Lavalette, his country place. Their measures were successful.
Dotta came along just as was expected, and as he
(22:08):
had not the slightest suspicion of the impending danger, he
continued conversing with Monsieur de Mondardier, a gentleman of the
neighborhood who had asked for the hand of Dotta's daughter
in marriage that very day. Suddenly he found himself surrounded
by four men who upbraiding him for his exactions and
cruelties shot him twice through the head with a pistol.
(22:29):
They offered no violence to Monsieur de Mondardier, except to
deprive him of his laced hat and sword. The day
on which Monsieur de Villar heard of its murder, he
set a price on the heads of Roland, Ravenel and Catanac. Still,
the example set by Cavalier, joined to the resumption of
hostilities was not without influence on the commissards. Every day
(22:51):
letters arrived from single troopers offering to lay down their arms,
and in one day thirty rebels came in and put
themselves into Lalanda's hands, while tent he surrendered to Grandval.
These were accorded not only pardon, but received a reward,
in hopes that they might be able to induce others
to do like them. And on the fifteenth June, eighth
of the troops which had abandoned Cavalier at Cavison made submission,
(23:15):
while twelve others asked to be allowed to return to
their old chief to follow him wherever he went. This
request was at once granted. They were set to Valebregge,
where they found forty two of their old comrades amongst
whom were duplain and cavalier's young brother, who had been
ordered there a few days before. As they arrived, they
(23:35):
were given quarters in the barracks and received good pay,
the chiefs forty sous a day and the privates ten.
So they felt as happy as possible, being well fed
and well lodged, and spent their time preaching, praying, and
psalms singing in season and out of season. All this,
says la Baum, was so disagreeable to the inhabitants of
the place who were Catholics, that if they had not
(23:58):
been guarded by the King's soldiers, they would have been
pitched into the rhone. End of Chapter four, Section two.
Recording by John Vanstan Savannah, Georgia
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