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two servants； but the carriage was stopped； and while the rebels were
murdering him and his son； the mother and her two children succeeded
in escaping to an inn； whither the assassins pursued them；
Fortunately； however； the two fugitives having a start； reached the
inn a few minutes before their pursuers； and the innkeeper had enough
presence of mind to conceal them and open the garden gate by which he
said they had escaped。 The Catholics； believing him； scattered over
the country to look for them； and during their absence the mother and
children were rescued by the mounted patrol。
The exasperation of the Protestants rose higher and higher as reports
of these murders came in one by one； till at last the desire for
vengeance could no longer be repressed； and they were clamorously
insisting on being led against the ramparts and the towers； when
without warning a heavy fusillade began from the windows and the
clock tower of the Capuchin monastery。 M。 Massin； a municipal
officer； was killed on the spot； a sapper fatally wounded； and
twenty…five of the National Guard wounded more or less severely。 The
Protestants immediately rushed towards the monastery in a disorderly
mass； but the superior； instead of ordering the gates to be opened；
appeared at a window above the entrance； and addressing the
assailants as the vilest of the vile； asked them what they wanted at
the monastery。 〃We want to destroy it； we want to pull it down till
not one stone rests upon another；〃 they replied。 Upon this； the
reverend father ordered the alarm bells to be rung； and from the
mouths of bronze issued the call for help； but before it could
arrive； the door was burst in with hatchets； and five Capuchins and
several of the militia who wore the red tuft were killed； while all
the other occupants of the monastery ran away； taking refuge in the
house of a Protestant called Paulhan。 During this attack the church
was respected； a man from Sornmieres； however； stole a pyx which he
found in the sacristy； but as soon as his comrades perceived this he
was arrested and sent to prison。
In the monastery itself； however； the doors were broken in； the
furniture smashed； the library and the dispensary wrecked。 The
sacristy itself was not spared； its presses being broken into； its
chests destroyed； and two monstrances broken； but nothing further was
touched。 The storehouses and the small cloth…factory connected with
the monastery remained intact； like the church。
But still the towers held out； and it was round them that the real
fighting took place； the resistance offered from within being all the
more obstinate that the besieged expected relief from moment to
moment； not knowing that their letters had been intercepted by the
enemy。 On every side the rattling of shot was heard； from the
Esplanade； from the windows； from the roofs； but very little effect
was produced by the Protestants； for Descombiez had told his men to
put their caps with the red tufts on the top of the wall； to attract
the bullets； while they fired from the side。 Meantime the
conspirators； in order to get a better command of the besiegers；
reopened a passage which had been long walled up between the tower
Du Poids and the tower of the Dominicans。 Descombiez； accompanied by
thirty men； came to the door of the monastery nearest the
fortifications and demanded the key of another door which led to that
part of the ramparts which was opposite the place des Carmes； where
the National Guards were stationed。 In spite of the remonstrances of
the monks； who saw that it would expose them to great danger； the
doors were opened； and Froment hastened to occupy every post of
vantage； and the battle began in that quarter； too； becoming fiercer
as the conspirators remarked that every minute brought the
Protestants reinforcements from Gardonninque and La Vaunage。 The
firing began at ten o'clock in the morning； and at four o'clock in
the afternoon it was going on with unabated fury。
At four o'clock； however； a servant carrying a flag of truce
appeared； he brought a letter from Descombiez； Fremont； and Folacher；
who styled themselves 〃Captains commanding the towers of the Castle。〃
It was couched in the following words：
〃To the Commandant of the troops of the line； with the request that
the contents be communicated to the militia stationed in the
Esplanade。
〃SIR；We have just been informed that you are anxious for peace。 We
also desire it； and have never done anything to break it。 If those
who have caused the frightful confusion which at present prevails in
the city are willing to bring it to an end； we offer to forget the
past and to live with them as brothers。
〃We remain； with all the frankness and loyalty of patriots and
Frenchmen； your humble servants；
The Captains of the Legion of Nimes； in command of the towers of the
Castle；
〃FROMENT； DESCOMBIEZ； FOLACHER NIMES； the 14th June 1790； 4。00 P。M。〃
On the receipt of this letter； the city herald was sent to the towers
to offer the rebels terms of capitulation。 The three 〃captains in
command 〃 came out to discuss the terms with the commissioners of the
electoral body； they were armed and followed by a great number of
adherents。 However； as the negotiators desired peace before all
things； they proposed that the three chiefs should surrender and
place themselves in the hands of the Electoral Assembly。 This offer
being refused； the electoral commissioners withdrew； and the rebels
retired behind their fortifications。 About five o'clock in the
evening； just as the negotiations were broken off； M。 Aubry； an
artillery captain who had been sent with two hundred men to the depot
of field artillery in the country； returned with six pieces of
ordnance； determined to make a breach in the tower occupied by the
conspirators； and from which they were firing in safety at the
soldiers； who had no cover。 At six o'clock； the guns being mounted；
their thunder began； first drowning the noise of the musketry and
then silencing it altogether； for the cannon balls did their work
quickly； and before long the tower threatened to fall。 Thereupon the
electoral commissioners ordered the firing to cease for a moment； in
the hope that now the danger had become so imminent the leaders would
accept the conditions which they had refused one hour before； and not
desiring to drive them to desperation； the commissioners advanced
again down College Street； preceded by a bugler； and the captains
were once more summoned to a parley。 Froment and Descombiez came out
to meet them； and seeing the condition of the tower； they agreed to
lay down their arms and send them for the palace； while they
themselves would proceed to the Electoral Assembly and place
themselves under its protection。 These proposals being accepted； the
commissioners waved their hats as a sign that the treaty was
concluded。
At that instant three shots were fired from the ramparts； and cries
of 〃Treachery！ treachery！〃 were heard on every side。 The Catholic
chiefs returned to the tower； while the Protestants； believing that
the commissioners were being assassinated； reopened the cannonade；
but finding that it took too long to complete the breach； ladders
were brought； the walls scaled； and the towers carried by assault。
Some of the Catholics were killed； the others gained Froment's house；
where； encouraged by him； they tried to organise a resistance； but
the assailants； despite the oncoming darkness； attacked the place
with such fury that doors and windows were shattered in an instant。
Froment and his brother Pierre tried to escape by a narrow staircase
which led to the roof； but before they reached it Pierre was wounded
in the hip and fell； but Froment reached the roof； and sprang upon an
adjacent housetop； and climbing from roof to roof； reached the
college； and getting into it by a garret window； took refuge in a
large room which was always unoccupied at night； being used during
the day as a study。
Froment remained hidden there until eleven o'clock。 It being then
completely dark； he got out of the window； crossed the city； gained
the open country； and walking all night； concealed hims