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themselves abundantly with provisions for man and beast。 In Vauvert；
which was almost entirely inhabited by his co…religionists； Cavalier
assembled the inhabitants in the market…place； and made them join
with him in prayer to God； that He would prevent the king from
following evil counsel； he also exhorted his brethren to be ready to
sacrifice their goods and their lives for the re…establishment of
their religion； affirming that the Holy Spirit had revealed to him
that the arm of the Lord； which had always come to their aid； was
still stretched out over them。
Cavalier undertook these movements in the hope of interrupting the
work of destruction going on in Upper Cevennes； and partly obtained
the desired result； for M。 de Julien received orders to come down
into the open country and disperse the Camisards。
The troops tried to fulfil this task； but； thanks to the knowledge
that the rebels had of the country； it was impossible to come up with
them； so that Fleshier； who was in the thick of the executions；
conflagrations； and massacres； but who still found time to write
Latin verse and gallant letters； said； in speaking of them； 〃They
were never caught； and did all the damage they wished to do without
let or hindrance。 We laid their mountains waste； and they laid waste
our plain。 There are no more churches left in our dioceses； and not
being able either to plough or sow our lands； we have no revenues。
We dread serious revolt； and desire to avoid a religious civil war；
so all our efforts are relaxing； we let our arms fall without knowing
why； and we are told； 'You must have patience； it is not possible to
fight against phantoms。'〃 Nevertheless； from time to time； these
phantoms became visible。 Towards the end of October； Cavalier came
down to Uzes； carried off two sentinels who were guarding the gates；
and hearing the call to arms within； shouted that he would await the
governor of the city； M。 de Vergetot； near Lussan。
And indeed Cavalier； accompanied by his two lieutenants； Ravanel and
Catinat； took his way towards this little town； between Uzes and
Bargeac； which stands upon an eminence surrounded upon all sides by
cliffs； which serve it as ramparts and render it very difficult of
access。 Having arrived within three gun…shots of Lussan； Cavalier
sent Ravanel to demand provisions from the inhabitants； but they；
proud of their natural ramparts； and believing their town
impregnable； not only refused to comply with the requisition； but
fired several shots on the envoy； one of which wounded in the arm a
Camisard of the name of La Grandeur； who had accompanied Ravanel。
Ravanel withdrew； supporting his wounded comrade； followed by shots
and the hootings of the inhabitants。 When they rejoined Cavalier and
made their report； the young commander issued orders to his soldiers
to make ready to take the town the next morning； for； as night was
already falling； he did not venture to start in the dark。 In the
meantime the besieged sent post…haste to M。 de Vergetot to warn him
of their situation； and resolving to defend themselves as long as
they could； while waiting for a response to their message they set
about barricading their gates； turned their scythes into weapons；
fastened large hooks on long poles； and collected all the instruments
they could find that could be used in attack or defence。 As to the
Camisards； they encamped for the night near an old chateau called
Fan； about a gun…shot from Lussan。
At break of day loud shouts from the town told the Camisards that the
expected relief was in sight； and looking out they saw in the
distance a troop of soldiers advancing towards them； it was M。 de
Vergetat at the head of his regiment； accompanied by forty Irish
officers。
The Protestants prepared themselves； as usual； by reciting psalms and
prayers； notice without taking of the shouts and threats of any of
the townspeople； and having finished their invocations； they marched
out to meet the approaching column。 The cavalry； commanded by
Catinat； made a detour； taking a sheltered way to an unguarded bridge
over a small river not far off； so as to outflank the royal forces；
which they were to attack in the rear as soon as Cavalier and Ravanel
should have engaged them in front。
M。 de Vergetot； on his side； continued to advance； so that the
Calvinists and the Catholics were soon face to face。 The battle
began on both sides by a volley； but Cavalier having seen his cavalry
emerging from a neighbouring wood； and counting upon their
assistance； charged the enemy at the double quick。 Catinat judging
by the noise of the firing that his presence was necessary； charged
also at a gallop； falling on the flank of the Catholics。
In this charge； one of M。 de Vergetot's captains was killed by a
bullet； and the other by a sabre…cut； and the grenadiers falling into
disorder； first lost ground and then fled； pursued by Catinat and his
horsemen； who； seizing them by the hair； despatched them with their
swords。 Having tried in vain to rally his men； M； de Vergetot；
surrounded by a few Irish； was forced in his turn to fly； he was
hotly pursued； and on the point of being taken； when by good luck he
reached the height of Gamene； with its walls of rock。 Jumping off
his horse； he entered the narrow pathway which led to the top； and
entrenched himself with about a hundred men in this natural fort。
Cavalier perceiving that further pursuit would be dangerous； resolved
to rest satisfied with his victory； as he knew by his own experience
that neither men nor horses had eaten for eighteen hours； he gave the
signal far retreat； and retired on Seyne； where he hoped to find
provisions。
This defeat mortified the royal forces very deeply； and they resolved
to take their revenge。 Having learnt by their spies that on a
certain night in November Cavalier arid his band intended to sleep on
a mountain called Nages； they surrounded the mountain during the
night； so that at dawn Cavalier found himself shut in on every side。
As he wished to see with his own eyes if the investment was complete；
he ordered his troops to fall into rank on the top of the mountain；
giving the command to Ravanel and Catinat； and with a pair of pistols
in his belt and his carbine on his shoulder； he glided from bush to
bush and rock to rock； determined； if any weak spot existed； to
discover it； but the information he had received was perfectly
correct； every issue was guarded。
Cavalier now set off to rejoin his troops； passing through a ravine；
but he had hardly taken thirty steps when he found himself confronted
by a cornet and two dragoons who were lying in ambush。 There was no
time to run away； and indeed such a thought never entered the young
commander's head； he walked straight up to them。 On their side； the
dragoons advanced towards him； and the cornet covering him with his
pistol； called out； 〃Halt！ you are Cavalier； I know you。 It is not
possible for you to escape； surrender at discretion。〃 Cavalier's
answer was to blow out the cornet's brains with a shot from his
carbine； then throwing it behind him as of no further use； he drew
his two pistols from his belt； walked up to the two dragoons； shot
them both dead； and rejoined his comrades unwounded。 These； who had
believed him lost； welcomed him with cheers。
But Cavalier had something else to do than to celebrate his return；
mounting his horse； he put himself at the head of his men； and fell
upon the royal troops with such impetuosity that they gave way at the
first onset。 Then a strange incident occurred。 About thirty women
who had come to the camp with provisions； carried away by their
enthusiasm at the sight of this success； threw themselves upon the
enemy； fighting like men。 One young girl of about seventeen； Lucrese
Guigon by name； distinguished herself amongst the others by her great
valour。 Not content with encouraging her brethren by the cry of 〃The
sword of the Lord and of Gideon！〃 she tore sabres from the hands of
the dead dragoons to despatch the dying。 Catinat； followed by ten of
his men； pursued the flying troops as far as the plain of Calvisson。
There they were able to rally； thanks to