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marechal was recalled to court； and left Nimes on January the 6th。
Before his departure he received the States of Languedoc； who
bestowed on him not only the praise which was his due for having
tempered severity with mercy； but also a purse of 12；000 livres；
while a sum of 8000 livres was presented to his wife。 But all this
was only a prelude to the favours awaiting him at court。 On the day
he returned to Paris the king decorated him with all the royal orders
and created him a duke。 On the following day he received him； and
thus addressed him： 〃Sir； your past services lead me to expect much
of those you will render me in the future。 The affairs of my kingdom
would be better conducted if I had several Villars at my disposal。
Having only one； I must always send him where he is most needed。 It
was for that reason I sent you to Languedoc。 You have； while there；
restored tranquillity to my subjects； you must now defend them
against their enemies； for I shall send you to command my army on the
Moselle in the next campaign。〃
The； Duke of Berwick arrived at Montpellier on the 17th March to
replace Marechal Villars。 His first care was to learn from M。 de
Baville the exact state of affairs。 M。 de Baville told him that they
were not at all settled as they appeared to be on the surface。
In fact； England and Holland； desiring nothing so much as that an
intestine war should waste France； were making unceasing efforts to
induce the exiles to return home； promising that this time they would
really support them by lending arms； ammunition； and men； and it was
said that some were already on their way back； among the number
Castanet。
And indeed the late rebel chief； tired of inaction； had left Geneva
in the end of February； and arrived safely at Vivarais。 He had held
a religious meeting in a cave near La Goree； and had drawn to his
side Valette of Vals and Boyer of Valon。 Just as the three had
determined to penetrate into the Cevennes； they were denounced by
some peasants before a Swiss officer named Muller； who was in command
of a detachment of troops in the village of Riviere。 Muller
instantly mounted his horse； and guided by the informers made his way
into the little wood in which the Camisards had taken refuge； and
fell upon them quite unexpectedly。 Boyer was killed in trying to
escape； Castanet was taken and brought to the nearest prison； where
he was joined the next day by Valette； who had also been betrayed by
some peasants whom he had asked for assistance。
The first punishment inflicted on Castanet was； that he was compelled
to carry in his hand the head of Boyer all the way from La Goree to
Montpellier。 He protested vehemently at first； but in vain： it was
fastened to his wrist by the hair； whereupon he kissed it on both
cheeks； and went through the ordeal as if it were a religious act；
addressing words of prayer to the head as he might have done to a
relic of a martyr。
Arrived at Montpellier； Castanet was examined； and at first persisted
in saying that he had only returned from exile because he had not the
wherewithal to live abroad。 But when put to the torture he was made
to endure such agony that； despite his courage and constancy； he
confessed that he had formed a plan to introduce a band of Huguenot
soldiers with their officers into the Cevennes by way of Dauphine or
by water； and while waiting for their arrival he had sent on
emissaries in advance to rouse the people to revolt； that he himself
had also shared in this work； that Catinat was at the moment in
Languedoc or Vivarais engaged in the same task； and provided with a
considerable sum of money sent him by foreigners for distribution；
and that several persons of still greater importance would soon cross
the frontier and join him。
Castanet was condemned to be broken on the wheel。 As he was about to
be led to execution； Abbe Tremondy； the cure of Notre…Dame； and Abbe
Plomet； canon of the cathedral； came to his cell to make a last
effort to convert him； but he refused to speak。 They therefore went
on before； and awaited him on the scaffold。 There they appeared to
inspire Castanet with more horror than the instruments of torture；
and while he addressed the executioner as 〃brother；〃 he called out to
the priests； 〃Go away out of my sight； imps from the bottomless pit！
What are you doing here； you accursed tempters？ I will die in the
religion in which I was born。 Leave me alone； ye hypocrites； leave
me alone！〃 But the two abbes were unmoved； and Castanet expired
cursing； not the executioner but the two priests； whose presence
during his death…agony disturbed his soul； turning it away from
things which should have filled it。
Valette was sentenced to be hanged； and was executed on the same day
as Castanet。
In spite of the admissions wrung from Castanet in March； nearly a
month passed without any sign of fresh intrigues or any attempt at
rebellion。 But on the 17th of April； about seven o'clock in the
evening； M。 de Baville received intelligence that several Camisards
had lately returned from abroad； and were in hiding somewhere； though
their retreat was not known。 This information was laid before the
Duke of Berwick； and he and M。 de Baville ordered certain houses to
be searched； whose owners were in their opinion likely to have given
refuge to the malcontents。 At midnight all the forces which they
could collect were divided into twelve detachments； composed of
archers and soldiers； and at the head of each detachment was placed a
man that could be depended upon。 Dumayne； the king's lieutenant；
assigned to each the districts they were to search； and they all set
out at once from the town hall； at half…past twelve； marching in
silence； and separating at signs from their leaders； so anxious were
they to make no noise。 At first all their efforts were of no avail；
several houses being searched without any result； but at length
Jausserand； the diocesan provost； having entered one of the houses
which he and Villa； captain of the town troops； had had assigned to
them； they found three men sleeping on mattresses laid on the floor。
The provost roused them by asking them who they were； whence they
came； and what they were doing at Montpellier； and as they； still
half asleep； did not reply quite promptly； he ordered them to dress
and follow him。
These three men were Flessiere； Gaillard； and Jean…Louis。 Flessiere
was a deserter from the Fimarcon regiment： he it was who knew most
about the plot。 Gaillard had formerly served in the Hainault
regiment； and Jean…Louis； commonly called 〃the Genevois；〃 was a
deserter from the Courten regiment。
Flessiere； who was the leader； felt that it would be a great disgrace
to let themselves be taken without resistance； he therefore pretended
to obey； but in lifting up his clothes； which lay upon a trunk； he
managed to secure two pistols； which he cocked。 At the noise made by
the hammers the provost's suspicions were aroused； and throwing
himself on Flessiere； he seized him round the waist from behind。
Flessiere； unable to turn； raised his arm and fired over his
shoulder。 The shot missed the provost； merely burning a lock of his
hair； but slightly wounded one of his servants； who was carrying a
lantern。 He then tried to fire a second shot； but Jausserand；
seizing him by the wrist with one hand； blew out his brains with the
other。 While Jausserand and Flessiere were thus struggling； Gaillard
threw himself on Villa； pinning his arms to his sides。 As he had no
weapons； he tried to push him to the wall； in order to stun him by
knocking his head against it； but when the servant； being wounded；
let the lantern fall； he took advantage of the darkness to make a
dash for the door； letting go his hold of his antagonist。
Unfortunately for him； the doors； of which there were two； were
guarded； and the guards； seeing a half…naked man running away at the
top of his speed； ran after him； firing several shots。 He received a
wound which； though not dangerous； impeded his flight； so that he was
boon overtaken and captured。 They brought him back a prisoner to the
town hall； where Flessiere's dead body already lay。
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