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among their troops。 Maille 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 sabres and shouting Traitor！
he put spurs to his horse and went off at full gallop； followed by
some townspeople from Anduze who had come with us； and who； now that
they saw the reception we met with； were ready to die with fear。
〃I was too far forward to escape： 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
goodwill。
〃These words； which I repeated several times 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 charge 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 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
Maille； Malplach； and some others threw themselves before me； and
although they were unarmed； had enough influence to hinder my being
insulted； 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 Claris stepped out
from among the troops； and approaching 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
will bless you。'〃
D'Aygaliers 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 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 dependence 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 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； Roland sent Maille to
M。 de Villars to beg him to wait till Saturday and Sunday the 7th and
the 8th 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 a hundred and fifty followers。 The
marechal consented to wait till Saturday morning； but as soon as
Saturday arrived he gave orders to attack the Camisards； and the next
day led a considerable body of troops to Carnoulet； 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 the night。
The village had to pay dearly for its sin of hospitality； it was
pillaged and burnt down： the miquelets even murdered two women whom
they found there； and d'Aygaliers failed to obtain any satisfaction
for this crime。 In this manner M； de Villars kept the fatal promise
he had given； and internecine war raged once more。
Furious at having missed the Camisards； de Menon having heard from
his scouts that Roland was to sleep next night at the chateau de
Prade； went to M。 de Villars 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
with two hundred grenadiers。 He had already put three…quarters of
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 a neighbouring 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 out of bed； and； without
staying for clothes or horse； ran off in his shirt； escaping by a
postern gate 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 Camisards
answered this beginning of hostilities by a murder。 Four of them；
thinking they had reasons for displeasure against one of M。 de
Baville's subordinates； named Daude； who was both mayor and
magistrate； at Le Vigan； hid in a corn…field which he had to pass on
his way back from La Valette； his country place。 Their measures
were successful： Daude came along just as was expected； and as he had
not the slightest suspicion of the impending danger； he continued
conversing with M； de Mondardier； a gentleman of the neighbourhood
who had asked for the； hand of Daude'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。 They offered no violence to M。 de
Mondardier except to deprive him of his laced hat and sword。 The day
on which M。 de Villars heard of its murder he set a price on the
heads of Roland； Ravanel； and Catinat。 Still the example set by
Cavalier； joined to the resumption of hostilities； was not without
influence on the Camisards； every day letters arrived from single
troopers offering to lay down their arms； and in one day thirty
rebels came in and put themselves into Lalande's hands； while twenty
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 15th June eight of the troops which had
abandoned Cavalier at Calvisson made submission； 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 sent
to Valabregues； where they found forty…two of their old comrades；
amongst whom were Duplan and Cavalier's young brother； who had been
ordered there a few days before。 As they arrived they were given
quarters in the barracks； and received good paythe 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 psalm…singing； in season and out of season。 All this；
says La Baume； was so disagreeable to the inhabitants of the place；
who were Catholics； that if they had not been guarded by the king's
soldiers they would have been pitched into the Rhone。
CHAPTER V
Meantime the date of Cavalier's departure drew near。 A town was to
be named in which he was to reside at a sufficient distance from the
theatre of war to prevent the rebels from depending on him any more；
in this town he was to organise his regiment； and as soon as it was
complete it was to go； under his command； to Spain； and fight for the
king。 M。 de Villars was still on the same friendly terms with him；
trea