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not seeing a single Camisard in the streets； one of the soldiers
answered that they were probably still in town； but that they were
moving towards Les Garrigues de Calvisson。 Cavalier set off at a
gallop to overtake them。
In crossing the market…place he met Catinat； walking between two
prophets； one called Moses and the other Daniel Guy； Catinat 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 a ray of hope； he was sure he could depend on Catinat
as on himself。 He hurried to greet him； holding out his hand； but
Catinat drew back his。
〃What does this mean？〃 cried Cavalier； the blood mounting to his
forehead。
〃It means；〃 answered Catinat； 〃that you are a traitor； and I cannot
give my hand to a traitor。〃
Cavalier gave a cry of rage； and advancing on Catinat； raised his
cane to strike him； but Moses and Daniel Guy threw themselves
between； so that the blow aimed at Catinat fell on Moses。 At the
same moment Catinat； seeing Cavalier's gesture； drew a pistol from
his belt。 As it was at full cock； it went off in his hand； a bullet
piercing Guy's hat； without； however； wounding him。
At the noise of the report shouts were heard about a hundred yards
away。 It was the Camisards； who had been 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 Catinat； and rode straight towards them。 As soon as they
caught sight of him they halted； and Ravanel advanced before them
ready for every danger。
〃Brethren；〃 he cried； 〃the traitor 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 Ravanel； if he has courage to follow me。〃
〃Come on； then；〃 cried Ravanel； darting down a small side…street；
〃and let us have done with it。〃 The Camisards made a motion as if to
follow them； but Ravanel 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 was to be settled once for all； Moses and Guy came up； and
seizing the bridle of his horse stopped him； while the Camisards who
were on the side of Cavalier surrounded Ravanel 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； the young Cevenol succeeded in breaking away from
those who surrounded him； and as the street by which the Camisards
had retired 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 troops halted； and Ravanel 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 Camisards and him；
stretching out his arms and shouting； 〃Stop！ stop！ 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 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； 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…Esteve； about a league
farther on； unable to relinquish all hope。 On reaching Saint…Esteve
the singing ceased for a moment； and he made another attempt to
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 on 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 of grief and affection that
many were shaken in their resolution； but Ravanel 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。
Cavalier went into a house near by； and wrote another letter to M。 de
Villars； in which he told him 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 further efforts；
and promised the marechal that he would keep him informed of
everything that went on。 He then withdrew to Cardet； not venturing
to return to Calvisson。
Both Cavalier's letters reached M。 de Villars at the same time； 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 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 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 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 assemblies are expressly forbidden under the penalties
proclaimed in the edicts and ordinances of His Majesty； 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 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 their families； and the
desolation of their country； and we shall take care that the true
authors of these misfortunes shall receive punishment proportioned to
their crime。
〃 MARECHAL DE VILLARS
〃 Given at Nimes the 27th day of May 1704 〃
This order； which put everything back upon the footing on which it
had been in the time of M。 de Montrevel； had hardly been issued than
d'Aygaliers； in despair at seeing the result of so much labour
destroyed in one day； set off for the mountains to try and find
Cavalier。 He found him at Cardet； whither； as we have said； he had
retired after the day of Calvisson。 Despite the resolution which
Cavalier had taken never to show his face again to the marechal； the