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Naples； several marshals of France； and many governors of Savoy；
Dauphine； and Bresse。
He was followed by twenty pieces of ordnance； five thousand bullets；
four thousand muskets； and fifty thousand pounds of powder； all of
which was carried down the river Rhone； while six hundred of the
skilful mountain marksmen called 'miquelets' from Roussillon came
down into Languedoc。
M。 de Montrevel was the bearer of terrible orders。 Louis XIV was
determined； no matter what it cost； to root out heresy； and set about
this work as if his eternal salvation depended on it。 As soon as M。
de Baville had read these orders； he published the following
proclamation：
〃The king having been informed that certain people without religion
bearing arms have been guilty of violence； burning down churches and
killing priests； His Majesty hereby commands all his subjects to hunt
these people down； and that those who are taken with arms in their
hands or found amongst their bands； be punished with death without
any trial whatever； that their houses be razed to the ground and
their goods confiscated； and that all buildings in which assemblies
of these people have been held； be demolished。 The king further
forbids fathers； mothers； brothers； sisters； and other relations of
the fanatics； or of other rebels； to give them refuge； food； stores；
ammunition； or other assistance of any kind； under any pretext
whatever； either directly or indirectly； on pain of being reputed
accessory to the rebellion； and he commands the Sieur de Baville and
whatever officers he may choose to prosecute such and pronounce
sentence of death on them。 Furthermore； His Majesty commands that
all the inhabitants of Languedoc who may be absent at the date of the
issue of this proclamation； return home within a week； unless their
absence be caused by legitimate business； in which case they shall
declare the same to the commandant； the Sieur de Montrevel； or to the
intendant； the Sieur de Baville； and also to the mayors and consuls
of the places where they may be； receiving from the latter
certificates that there is a sufficient reason for their delay； which
certificates they shall forward to the above…mentioned commandant or
intendant。 And His Majesty furthermore commands the said commandant
and intendant to admit no foreigner or inhabitant of any other
province into Languedoc for commercial purposes or for any other
reason whatsoever； unless provided with certificates from the
commandants or intendants of the provinces whence they come； or from
the judges of the royal courts in the places whence they come； or
from the nearest place containing such courts。 Foreigners must be
provided with passports from the ambassadors or ministers of the king
accredited to the countries to which they belong； or from the
commandants or intendants of the provinces； or from the judges of the
royal courts of the places in which they may be at the date of this
proclamation。 Furthermore； it is His Majesty's will that those who
are found in the； aforesaid province of Languedoc without such
certificates be regarded as fanatics and rebels； and that they be
prosecuted as such； and punished with death； and that they be brought
for this purpose before the aforesaid Sieur de Baville or the
officers whom he may choose。
（Signed）
（Countersigned）
LOUIS PHILIPPEAU
〃Given at Versailles the 25th day； of the month of February 1703。〃
M。 de Montrevel obeyed this proclamation to the letter。 For
instance； one daythe 1st of April 1703as he was seated at dinner
it was reported to him that about one hundred and fifty Reformers
were assembled in a mill at Carmes； outside Nimes； singing psalms。
Although he was told at the same time that the gathering was composed
entirely of old people and children； he was none the less furious；
and rising from the table； gave orders that the call to horse should
be sounded。 Putting himself at the head of his dragoons； he advanced
on the mill； and before the Huguenots knew that they were about to be
attacked they were surrounded on every side。 It was no combat which
ensued； for the Huguenots were incapable of resistance； it was simply
a massacre； a certain number of the dragoons entered the mill sword
in hand； stabbing all whom they could reach； whilst the rest of the
force stationed outside before the windows received those who jumped
out on the points of their swords。 But soon this butchery tired the
butchers； and to get over the business more quickly； the marshal； who
was anxious to return to his dinner； gave orders that the mill should
be set on fire。 This being done； the dragoons； the marshal still at
their head； no longer exerted themselves so violently； but were
satisfied with pushing back into the flames the few unfortunates who；
scorched and burnt； rushed out； begging only for a less cruel death。
Only one victim escaped。 A beautiful young girl of sixteen was saved
by the marshal's valet： both were taken and condemned to death； the
young girl was hanged； and the valet was on the point of being
executed when some Sisters of Mercy from the town threw themselves at
the marshal's feet end begged for his life： after long supplication；
he granted their prayer； but he banished the valet not only from his
service； but from Nimes。
The very same evening at supper word was brought to the marshal that
another gathering had been discovered in a garden near the still
smoking mill。 The indefatigable marshal again rose from table； and
taking with him his faithful dragoons； surrounded the garden； and
caught and shot on the spot all those who were assembled in it。 The
next day it turned out that he had made a mistake： those whom he had
shot were Catholics who had gathered together to rejoice over the
execution of the Calvinists。 It is true that they had assured the
marshal that they were Catholics； but he had refused to listen to
them。 Let us； however； hasten to assure the reader that this mistake
caused no further annoyance to the marshal； except that he received a
paternal remonstrance from the Bishop of Nimes； begging him in future
not to confound the sheep with the wolves。
In requital of these bloody deeds； Cavalier took the chateau of
Serras； occupied the town of Sauve； formed a company of horse； and
advancing to Nimes； took forcible possession of sufficient ammunition
for his purposes。 Lastly； he did something which in the eyes of the
courtiers seemed the most incredible thing of all； he actually wrote
a long letter to Louis XIV himself。 This letter was dated from the
〃Desert； Cevennes；〃 and signed 〃Cavalier； commander of the troops
sent by God〃； its purpose was to prove by numerous passages from Holy
Writ that Cavalier and his comrades had been led to revolt solely
from a sense of duty； feeling that liberty of conscience was their
right； and it dilated on the subject of the persecutions under which
Protestants had suffered； and asserted that it was the infamous
measures put in force against them which had driven them to take up
arms； which they were ready to lay down if His Majesty would grant
them that liberty in matters of religion which they sought and if he
would liberate all who were in prison for their faith。 If this were
accorded； he assured the king His Majesty would have no more faithful
subjects than themselves； and would henceforth be ready to shed their
last drop of blood in his service； and wound up by saying that if
their just demands were refused they would obey God rather than the
king； and would defend their religion to their last breath。
Roland； who； whether in mockery or pride； began now to call himself
〃Comte Roland；〃 did not lag behind his young brother either as
warrior or correspondent。 He had entered the town of Ganges； where a
wonderful reception awaited him； but not feeling sure that he would
be equally well received at St。 Germain and St。 Andre； he had written
the following letters：
〃Gentlemen and officers of the king's forces； and citizens of St。
Germain； make ready to receive seven hundred troops who have vowed to
set Babylon on fire； the seminary and the houses of MM。 de Fabregue；
de Sarrasin； de Moles； de La Rouvier