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this result； had hoped that it would have occurred in another manner；
so that his co…religionists would have been able to retain their
fortresses； but what was actually done was that the strong places
were first taken away； and then came the Revocation； after which the
Calvinists found themselves completely at the mercy of their mortal
enemies。
》From 1669； when Louis first threatened to aim a fatal blow at the
civil rights of the Huguenots； by abolishing the equal partition of
the Chambers between the two parties； several deputations had been
sent to him praying him to stop the course of his persecutions； and
in order not to give him any fresh excuse for attacking their party；
these deputations addressed him in the most submissive manner； as the
following fragment from an address will prove：
〃In the name of God； sire；〃 said the Protestants to the king； 〃listen
to the last breath of our dying liberty； have pity on our sufferings；
have pity on the great number of your poor subjects who daily water
their bread with their tears： they are all filled with burning zeal
and inviolable loyalty to you； their love for your august person is
only equalled by their respect； history bears witness that they
contributed in no small degree to place your great and magnanimous
ancestor on his rightful throne； and since your miraculous birth they
have never done anything worthy of blame； they might indeed use much
stronger terms； but your Majesty has spared their modesty by
addressing to them on many occasions words of praise which they would
never have ventured to apply to themselves； these your subjects place
their sole trust in your sceptre for refuge and protection on earth；
and their interest as well as their duty and conscience impels them
to remain attached to the service of your Majesty with unalterable
devotion。〃
But； as we have seen； nothing could restrain the triumvirate which
held the power just then； and thanks to the suggestions of Pere
Lachaise and Madame de Maintenon； Louis XIV determined to gain heaven
by means of wheel and stake。
As we see； for the Protestants； thanks to these numerous decrees；
persecution began at the cradle and followed them to the grave。
As a boy； a Huguenot couldenter no public school； as a youth； no
career was open to him； he could become neither mercer nor concierge；
neither apothecary nor physician； neither lawyer nor consul。 As a
man； he had no sacred house； of prayer； no registrar would inscribe
his marriage or the birth of his children； hourly his liberty and his
conscience were ignored。 If he ventured to worship God by the
singing of psalms； he had to be silent as the Host was carried past
outside。 When a Catholic festival occurred； he was forced not only
to swallow his rage but to let his house be hung with decorations in
sign of joy； if he had inherited a fortune from his fathers； having
neither social standing nor civil rights； it slipped gradually out of
his hands； and went to support the schools and hospitals of his foes。
Having reached the end of his life； his deathbed was made miserable；
for dying in the faith of his fathers； he could not be laid to rest
beside them； and like a pariah he would be carried to his grave at
night； no more than ten of those near and dear to him being allowed
to follow his coffin。
Lastly； if at any age whatever he should attempt to quit the cruel
soil on which he had no right to be born； to live； or to die； he
would be declared a rebel； his goads would be confiscated； and the
lightest penalty that he had to expect； if he ever fell into the
hands of his enemies； was to row for the rest of his life in the
galleys of the king； chained between a murderer and a forger。
Such a state of things was intolerable： the cries of one man are lost
in space； but the groans of a whole population are like a storm； and
this time； as always； the tempest gathered in the mountains； and the
rumblings of the thunder began to be heard。
First there were texts written by invisible hands on city walls； on
the signposts and cross…roads； on the crosses in the cemeteries：
these warnings； like the 'Mene； Mene； Tekel； Upharsin' of Belshazzar；
even pursued the persecutors into the midst of their feasts and
orgies。
Now it was the threat； 〃Jesus came not to send peace； but a sword。〃
Then this consolation； 〃For where two or three are gathered together
in My name； there am I in the midst of them。〃 Or perhaps it was this
appeal for united action which was soon to become a summons to
revolt； 〃That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you； that
ye also may have fellowship with us。〃
And before these promises； taken from the New Testament； the
persecuted paused； and then went home inspired by faith in the
prophets； who spake； as St。 Paul says in his First Epistle to the
Thessalonians； 〃not the word of men but the word of God。〃
Very soon these words became incarnate； and what the prophet Joel
foretold came to pass： 〃Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy；
your old men shall dream dreams； your young men shall see visions；。。。
and I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth； blood and
fire；。。。 and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the
name of the Lord shall be delivered。〃
In 1696 reports began to circulate that men had had visions； being
able to see what was going on in the most distant parts； and that the
heavens themselves opened to their eyes。 While in this ecstatic
state they were insensible to pain when pricked with either pin or
blade； and when； on recovering consciousness； they were questioned
they could remember nothing。
The first of these was a woman from Vivarais； whose origin was
unknown。 She went about from town to town； shedding tears of blood。
M。 de Baville； intendant of Languedoc； had her arrested and brought
to Montpellier。 There she was condemned to death and burnt at the
stake； her tears of blood being dried by fire。
After her came a second fanatic； for so these popular prophets were
called。 He was born at Mazillon； his name was Laquoite； and he was
twenty years of age。 The gift of prophecy had come to him in a
strange manner。 This is the story told about him：〃One day；
returning from Languedoc； where he had been engaged in the
cultivation of silkworms； on reaching the bottom of the hill of St。
Jean he found a man lying on the ground trembling in every limb。
Moved by pity； he stopped and asked what ailed him。 The man replied；
'Throw yourself on your knees； my son； and trouble not yourself about
me； but learn how to attain salvation and save your brethren。 This
can only be done by the communion of the Holy Ghost； who is in me；
and whom by the grace of God I can bestow on you。 Approach ；and
receive this gift in a kiss。' At these words the unknown kissed the
young man on the mouth； pressed his hand and disappeared； leaving the
other trembling in his turn； for the spirit of God was in him； and
being inspired he spread the word abroad。〃
A third fanatic； a prophetess； raved about the parishes of St。
Andeol de Clerguemont and St。 Frazal de Vantalon； but she addressed
herself principally to recent converts； to whom she preached
concerning the Eucharist that in swallowing the consecrated wafer
they had swallowed a poison as venomous as the head of the basilisk；
that they had bent the knee to Baal； and that no penitence on their
part could be great enough to save them。 These doctrines inspired
such profound terror that the Rev。 Father Louvreloeil himself tells
us that Satan by his efforts succeeded in nearly emptying the
churches； and that at the following Easter celebrations there were
only half as many communicants as the preceding year。
Such a state of licence； which threatened to spread farther and
farther； awoke the religious solicitude of Messire Francois Langlade
de Duchayla； Prior of Laval； Inspector of Missions of Gevaudan； and
Arch…priest of the Cevennes。 He therefore resolved to leave his
residence at Mende and to visit the parishes in which heresy had
taken the strongest hold； in order to oppose it by every mean's which
God and the king had put in his power。
The Abbe Duchayla was a younger s