第13章

house。Attwoo\'clockP。M。therewasameetingheldintheJacobinchurch,consistingalmostexclusivelyofmilitiawearingtheredtuft。Themayorpronouncedapanegyriconthosewhoworeit,andwasfollowedbyPierreFroment,whoexplainedhismissioninmuchthesamewordsasthosequotedabove。Hethenorderedacaskofwinetobebroachedanddistributedamongthecebets,andtoldthemtowalkaboutthestreetsinthrees,andtodisarmallthedragoonswhomtheymightmeetawayfromtheirpost。Aboutsixo\'clockintheeveningared—tuftvolunteerpresentedhimselfatthegateofthepalace,andorderedtheportertosweepthecourtyard,sayingthatthevolunteersweregoingtogetupaballforthedragoons。Afterthispieceofbravadohewentaway,andinafewmomentsanotearrived,couchedinthefollowingterms:

"Thebishop\'sporteriswarnedtoletnodragoononhorseoronfootenterorleavethepalacethisevening,onpainofdeath。

13thJune1790。"

Thisnotebeingbroughttothelieutenant,hecameout,andremindedthevolunteerthatnobodybutthetownauthoritiescouldgiveorderstotheservantsatthepalace。Thevolunteergaveaninsolentanswer,thelieutenantadvisedhimtogoawayquietly,threateningifhedidnottoputhimoutbyforce。Thisaltercationattractedagreatmanyofthered—tuftsfromoutside,whilethedragoons,hearingthenoise,camedownintotheyard;thequarrelbecamemorelively,stoneswerethrown,thecalltoarmswasheard,andinafewmomentsaboutfortycebets,whowereprowlingaroundintheneighbourhoodofthepalace,rushedintotheyardcarryinggunsandswords。Thelieutenant,whohadonlyaboutadozendragoonsathisback,orderedthebugletosound,torecallthosewhohadgoneout;thevolunteersthrewthemselvesuponthebugler,draggedhisinstrumentfromhishands,andbrokeittopieces。Thenseveralshotswerefiredbythemilitia,thedragoonsreturnedthem,andaregularbattlebegan。Thelieutenantsoonsawthatthiswasnomerestreetrow,butadeliberaterisingplannedbeforehand,andrealisingthatveryseriousconsequenceswerelikelytoensue,hesentadragoontothetownhallbyabackwaytogivenoticetotheauthorities。

M。deSaint—Pons,majoroftheNimeslegion,hearingsomenoiseoutside,openedhiswindow,andfoundthewholecityinatumult:

peoplewererunningineverydirection,andshoutingastheyranthatthedragoonswerebeingkilledatthepalace。Themajorrushedoutintothestreetsatonce,gatheredtogetheradozentofifteenpatrioticcitizenswithoutweapons,andhurriedtothetownhall:

Therehefoundtwoofficialsofthetown,andbeggedthemtogoatoncetotheplacedel\'Eveche,escortedbythefirstcompany,whichwasonguardatthetownhall。Theyagreed,andsetoff。Onthewayseveralshotswerefiredatthem,butnoonewashit。Whentheyarrivedatthesquare,thecebetsfiredavolleyatthemwiththesamenegativeresult。Upthethreeprincipalstreetswhichledtothepalacenumerousred—tuftswerehurrying;thefirstcompanytookpossessionoftheendsofthestreets,andbeingfiredatreturnedthefire,repulsingtheassailantsandclearingthesquare,withthelossofoneoftheirmen,whileseveraloftheretreatingcebetswerewounded。

Whilethisstrugglewasgoingonatthepalace,thespiritofmurderbrokelooseinthetown。

AtthegateoftheMadeleine,M。deJalabert\'shousewasbrokenintobythered—tufts;theunfortunateoldmancameouttomeetthemandaskedwhattheywanted。"YourlifeandthelivesofalltheotherdogsofProtestants！"wasthereply。Whereuponhewasseizedanddraggedthroughthestreets,fifteeninsurgentshackingathimwiththeirswords。

Atlasthemanagedtoescapefromtheirhands,butdiedtwodayslaterofhiswounds。

AnotheroldmannamedAstruc,whowasbowedbeneaththeweightofseventy—twoyearsandwhosewhitehaircoveredhisshoulders,wasmetashewasonhiswaytothegateofCarmes。BeingrecognisedasaProtestant,hereceivedfivewoundsfromsomeofthefamouspitchforksbelongingtothecompanyofFroment。Hefell,buttheassassinspickedhimup,andthrowinghimintothemoat,amusedthemselvesbyflingingstonesathim,tilloneofthem,withmorehumanitythanhisfellows,putabulletthroughhishead。

Threeelectors——M。MassadorfromnearBeaucaire,M。ViallafromthecantonofLasalle,andM。Puechofthesameplace—wereattackedbyred—tuftsontheirwayhome,andallthreeseriouslywounded。ThecaptainwhohadbeenincommandofthedetachmentonguardattheElectoralAssemblywasreturningtohisquarters,accompaniedbyasergeantandthreevolunteersofhisowncompany,whentheywerestoppedonthePetit—CoursbyFroment,commonlycalledDamblay,who,pressingthebarrelofapistoltothecaptain\'sbreast,said,"Stand,yourascal,andgiveupyourarms。"Atthesametimethered—tufts,seizingthecaptainfrombehindbythehair,pulledhimdown。Fromentfiredhispistol,butmissed。Ashefellthecaptaindrewhissword,butitwastornfromhishands,andhereceivedacutfromFroment\'ssword。Uponthisthecaptainmadeagreateffort,andgettingoneofhisarmsfree,drewapistolfromhispocket,drovebackhisassassins,firedatFroment,andmissedhim。Oneofthemenbyhissidewaswoundedanddisarmed。

ApatroloftheregimentofGuienne,attachedtowhichwasM。Boudon,adragoonofficer,waspassingtheCalquieres。M。Boudonwasattackedbyabandofred—tuftsandhiscasqueandhismusketcarriedoff。Severalshotswerefiredathim,butnoneofthemhithim;thepatrolsurroundedhimtosavehim,butashehadreceivedtwobayonetwounds,hedesiredrevenge,and,breakingthroughhisprotectors,dartedforwardtoregainpossessionofhismusket,andwaskilledinamoment。Oneofhisfingerswascutofftogetatadiamondringwhichhewore,hispocketswererifledofhispurseandwatch,andhisbodywasthrownintothemoat。

Meantimetheplace—des—Recollets,theCours,theplace—des—Carmes,theGrand—Rue,andruedeNotreDame—de—l\'Esplanadewerefilledwithmenarmedwithguns,pitchforks,andswords。TheyhadallcomefromFroment\'shouse,whichoverlookedthatpartofNimescalledLesCalquieres,andtheentrancetowhichwasontherampartsneartheDominicanTowers。Thethreeleadersoftheinsurrection——Froment。

Folacher,andDescombiez——tookpossessionofthesetowers,whichformedapartoftheoldcastle;fromthispositiontheCatholicscouldsweeptheentirequayofLesCalquieresandthestepsoftheSalledeSpectaclewiththeirguns,andifitshouldturnoutthattheinsurrectiontheyhadexciteddidnotattainthedimensionstheyexpectednorgainsuchenthusiasticadherents,itwouldbequitefeasibleforthemtodefendthemselvesinsuchapositionuntilreliefcame。

Thesearrangementswereeithertheresultoflongmeditationorweretheinspirationofsomecleverstrategist。Thefactisthateverythingleadsonetobelievethatitwasaplanwhichhadbeenformedwithgreatcare,fortherapiditywithwhichalltheapproachestothefortresswerelinedwithadoublerowofmilitiamenallwearingtheredtuft,thecarewhichwastakentoplacethemosteagernextthebarracksinwhichtheparkofartillerywasstationed,andlastly,themannerinwhichtheapproachtothecitadelwasbarredbyanentirecompany（thisbeingtheonlyplacewherethepatriotscouldprocurearms）,combinetoprovethatthisplanwastheresultofmuchforethought;for,whileitappearedtobeonlydefensive,itenabledtheinsurrectioniststoattackwithoutmuch,danger;itcausedotherstobelievethattheyhadbeenfirstattacked。Itwassuccessfullycarriedoutbeforethecitizenswerearmed,anduntilthenonlyapartofthefootguardandthetwelvedragoonsatthepalacehadofferedanyresistancetotheconspirators。

Theredflagroundwhich,incaseofcivilwar,allgoodcitizenswereexpectedtogather,andwhichwaskeptatthetownhall,andwhichshouldhavebeenbroughtoutatthefirstshot,wasnowloudlycalledfor。TheAbbedeBelmont,acanon,vicar—general,andmunicipalofficial,waspersuaded,almostforced,tobecomestandard—bearer,asbeingthemostlikelyonaccountofhisecclesiasticalpositiontoawerebelswhohadtakenuparmsinthenameofreligion。Theabbehimselfgivesthefollowingaccountofthemannerinwhichhefulfilledthismandate:

"Aboutseveno\'clockintheeveningIwasengagedwithMM。PorthierandFerrandinauditingaccounts,whenweheardanoiseinthecourt,andgoingoutonthelobby,wesawseveraldragoonscomingupstairs,amongstwhomwasM。Paris。Theytoldusthatfightingwasgoingonintheplacede—l\'Eveche,becausesomeoneorotherhadbroughtanotetotheporterorderinghimtoadmitnomoredragoonstothepalaceonpainofdeath。AtthispointIinterruptedtheirstorybyaskingwhythegateshadnotbeenclosedandthebeareroftheletterarrested,buttheyrepliedtomethatithadnotbeenpossible;

thereuponMM。FerrandandPonthierputontheirscarfsandwentout。

"Afewinstantslaterseveraldragoons,amongstwhomIrecognisednonebutMM。LezanduPontet,Parisjunior,andBoudon,accompaniedbyagreatnumberofthemilitia,entered,demandingthattheredflagshouldbebroughtout。Theytriedtoopenthedoorofthecouncilhall,andfindingitlocked,theycalleduponmeforthekey。

Iaskedthatoneoftheattendantsshouldbesentfor,buttheywereallout;thenIwenttothehall—portertoseeifheknewwherethekeywas。HesaidM。Berdinghadtakenit。Meanwhile,justasthevolunteerswereabouttoforceanentrance,someoneranupwiththekey。Thedoorwasopened,andtheredflagseizedandforcedintomyhands。Iwasthendraggeddownintothecourtyard,andfromthencetothesquare。

"Itwasallinvaintotellthemthattheyoughtfirsttogetauthority,andtorepresenttothemthatIwasnosuitablestandard—beareronaccountofmyprofession;buttheywouldnotlistentoanyobjection,sayingthatmylifedependeduponmyobedience,andthatmyprofessionwouldoverawethedisturbersofthepublicpeace。SoIwenton,followedbyadetachmentoftheGuienneregiment,partofthefirstcompanyofthelegion,andseveraldragoons;ayoungmanwithfixedbayonetkeptalwaysatmyside。

Ragewasdepictedonthefacesofallthosewhoaccompaniedme,andtheyindulgedinoathsandthreats,towhichIpaidnoattention。

InpassingthroughtheruedesGreffestheycomplainedthatIdidnotcarrytheredflaghighenoughnorunfurlitfully。WhenwegottotheguardhouseattheCrownGate,theguardturnedout,andtheofficerwascommandedtofollowuswithhismen。HerepliedthathecouldnotdothatwithoutawrittenorderfromamemberoftheTownCouncil。ThereuponthosearoundmetoldmeImustwritesuchanorder,butIaskedforapenandink;everybodywasfuriousbecauseI

hadnonewithme。SooffensiveweretheremarksindulgedinbythevolunteersandsomesoldiersoftheGuienneregiment,andsothreateningtheirgestures,thatIgrewalarmed。Iwashustledandevenreceivedseveralblows;butatlengthM。deBoudonbroughtmepaperandapen,andIwrote:——\'Irequirethetroopstoassistustomaintainorderbyforceifnecessary。\'Uponthis,theofficerconsentedtoaccompanyus。WehadhardlytakenhalfadozenstepswhentheyallbegantoaskwhathadbecomeoftheorderIhadjustwritten,foritcouldnotbefound。Theysurroundedme,sayingthatIhadnotwrittenitatall,andIwasonthepointofbeingtrampledunderfoot,whenamilitiamanfounditallcrumpledupinhispocket。

Thethreatsgrewlouder,andoncemoreitwasbecauseIdidnotcarrytheflaghighenough,everyoneinsistingthatIwasquitetallenoughtodisplayittobetteradvantage。

"However,atthispointthemilitiamenwiththeredtuftsmadetheirappearance,afewarmedwithmusketsbutthegreaternumberwithswords;shotswereexchanged,andthesoldiersofthelineandtheNationalGuardarrangedthemselvesinbattleorder,inakindofrecess,anddesiredmetogoforwardalone,whichIrefusedtodo,becauseIshouldhavebeenbetweentwofires。

"Uponthis,curses,threats,andblowsreachedtheirheight。IwasdraggedoutbeforethetroopsandstruckwiththebuttendsoftheirmusketsandtheflatoftheirswordsuntilIadvanced。OneblowthatIreceivedbetweentheshouldersfilledmymouthwithblood。

"Allthistimethoseoftheoppositepartywerecomingnearer,andthosewithwhomIwascontinuedtoyellatmetogoon。IwentonuntilImetthem。Ibesoughtthemtoretire,eventhrowingmyselfattheirfeet。Butallpersuasionwasinvain;theysweptmealongwiththem,makingmeenterbytheCarmeliteGate,wheretheytooktheflagfrommeandallowedmetoenterthehouseofawomanwhosenameI

haveneverknown。Iwasspittingsuchaquantityofbloodthatshetookpityonmeandbroughtmeeverythingshecouldthinkofaslikelytodomegood,andassoonasIwasalittlerevivedIaskedtobeshownthewaytoM。Ponthier\'s。"

WhileAbbedeBelmontwascarryingtheredflagthemilitiaforcedtheTownCouncillorstoproclaimmartiallaw。Thishadjustbeendonewhenwordwasbroughtthatthefirstredflaghadbeencarriedoff,soM。FerranddeMissolgotoutanother,and,followedbyaconsiderableescort,tookthesameroadashiscolleague,AbbedeBelmont。WhenhearrivedattheCalquieres,thered—tufts,whostilladornedtherampartsandtowers,begantofireupontheprocession,andoneofthemilitiawasdisabled;theescortretreated,butM。

FerrandadvancedalonetotheCarmeliteGate,likeM。deBelmont,andlikehim,hetoo,wastakenprisoner。

Hewasbroughttothetower,wherehefoundFromentinafury,declaringthattheCouncilhadnotkeptitspromise,havingsentnorelief,andhavingdelayedtogiveupthecitadeltohim。

Theescort,however,hadonlyretreatedinordertoseekhelp;theyrushedtumultuouslytothebarracks,andfindingtheregimentofGuiennedrawnupinmarchingorderincommandofLieutenant—ColonelBonne,theyaskedhimtofollowthem,butherefusedwithoutawrittenorderfromaTownCouncillor。Uponthisanoldcorporalshouted,"BravesoldiersofGuienne！thecountryisindanger,letusnotdelaytodoourduty。""Yes,yes,"criedthesoldiers;"letusmarch"Thelieutenantcolonelnolongerdaringtoresist,gavethewordofcommand,andtheysetofffortheEsplanade。

Astheycameneartherampartwithdrumsbeating,thefiringceased,butasnightwascomingonthenew—comersdidnotdaretoriskattacking,andmoreoverthesilenceofthegunsledthemtothinkthattherebelshadgivenuptheirenterprise。Havingremainedanhourinthesquare,thetroopsreturnedtotheirquarters,andthepatriotswenttopassthenightinaninclosureontheMontpellierroad。

ItalmostseemedasiftheCatholicswerebeginningtorecognisethefutilityoftheirplot;foralthoughtheyhadappealedtofanaticism,forcedtheTownCounciltodotheirwill,scatteredgoldlavishlyandmadewineflow,outofeighteencompaniesonlythreehadjoinedthem。

"Fifteencompanies,"saidM。AlquierinhisreporttotheNationalAssembly,"althoughtheyhadadoptedtheredtuft,tooknopartinthestruggle,anddidnotaddtothenumberofcrimescommittedeitheronthatdayorduringthedaysthatfollowed。ButalthoughtheCatholicsgainedfewpartisansamongtheirfellow—citizens,theyfeltcertainthatpeoplefromthecountrywouldrallytotheiraid;

butaboutteno\'clockintheeveningtherebelringleaders,seeingthatnohelparrivedfromthatquartereither,resolvedtoapplyastimulustothosewithout。Consequently,FromentwrotethefollowinglettertoM。deBonzols,under—commandantoftheprovinceofLanguedoc,whowaslivingatLunel:

"SIR,Uptothepresentallmydemands,thattheCatholiccompaniesshouldbeputunderarms,havebeenofnoavail。Inspiteoftheorderthatyougaveatmyrequest,theofficialsofthemunicipalitywereofopinionthatitwouldbemoreprudenttodelaythedistributionofthemusketsuntilafterthemeetingoftheElectoralAssembly。ThisdaytheProtestantdragoonshaveattackedandkilledseveralofourunarmedCatholics,andyoumayimaginetheconfusionandalarmthatprevailinthetown。Asagoodcitizenandatruepatriot,IentreatyoutosendanordertotheregimentofroyaldragoonstorepairatoncetoNimestorestoretranquillityandputdownallwhobreakthepeace。TheTownCouncildoesnotmeet,noneofthemdarestoleavehishouse;andifyoureceivenorequisitionfromthemjustnow,itisbecausetheygointerroroftheirlivesandfeartoappearopenly。Tworedflagshavebeencarriedaboutthestreets,andmunicipalofficerswithoutguardshavebeenobligedtotakerefugeinpatriotichouses。AlthoughIamonlyaprivatecitizen,Itakethelibertyofaskingforaidfromyou,knowingthattheProtestantshavesenttoLaVannageandLaGardonninquetoaskyouforreinforcements,andthearrivaloffanaticsfromthesedistrictswouldexposeallgoodpatriotstoslaughter。KnowingasI

doofyourkindnessandjustice,Ihavefulltrustthatmyprayerwillreceiveyourfavourableattention。

FROMENT,CaptainofCompanyNo。39

"June13,1790,11o\'c。p。m。"

UnfortunatelyfortheCatholicparty,DupreandLieutaud,towhomthisletterwasentrustedfordelivery,andforwhompassportsweremadeoutasbeingemployedonbusinessconnectedwiththekingandtheState,werearrestedatVehaud,andtheirdespatcheslaidbeforetheElectoralAssembly。Manyotherlettersofthesamekindwerealsointercepted,andthered—tuftswentaboutthetownsayingthattheCatholicsofNimeswerebeingmassacred。

ThepriestofCourbessac,amongothers,wasshownalettersayingthataCapuchinmonkhadbeenmurdered,andthattheCatholicswereinneedofhelp。Theagentswhobroughtthislettertohimwantedhimtoputhisnametoitthattheymightshowiteverywhere,butweremetbyapositiverefusal。

AtBouillarguesandManduelthetocsinwassounded:thetwovillagesjoinedforces,andwithweaponsintheirhandsmarchedalongtheroadfromBeaucairetoNimes。AtthebridgeofQuartthevillagersofRedressanandMargueritejoinedthem。Thusreinforced,theywereabletobarthewaytoallwhopassedandsubjectthemtoexamination;ifamancouldshowhewasaCatholic,hewasallowedtoproceed,buttheProtestantsweremurderedthenandthere。Wemayremindourreadersthatthe"CadetsdelaCroix"pursuedthesamemethodin1704。

MeantimeDescombiez,Froment,andFolacherremainedmastersoftherampartsandthetower,andwhenveryearlyonemorningtheirforceswereaugmentedbytheinsurgentsfromthevillages（abouttwohundredmen）,theytookadvantageoftheirstrengthtoforceawayintothehouseofacertainTherond,fromwhichitwaseasytoeffectanentrancetotheJacobinmonastery,andfromtheretothetoweradjoining,sothattheirlinenowextendedfromthegateatthebridgeofCalquierestothatattheendofCollegeStreet。Fromdaylighttoduskallthepatriotswhocamewithinrangewerefiredatwhethertheywerearmedornot。

Onthe14thJune,atfouro\'clockinthemorning,thatpartofthelegionwhichwasagainsttheCatholicsgatheredtogetherinthesquareoftheEsplanade,wheretheywerejoinedbythepatriotsfromtheadjacenttownsandvillages,whocameininsmallpartiestilltheyformedquiteanarmy。AtfiveA。M。M。deSt。Pons,knowingthatthewindowsoftheCapuchinmonasterycommandedthepositiontakenupbythepatriots,wenttherewithacompanyandsearchedthehousethoroughly,andalsotheAmphitheatre,butfoundnothingsuspiciousineither。

Immediatelyafter,newswasheardofthemassacresthathadtakenplaceduringthenight。

Thecountry—housebelongingtoM。andMme。Noguieshadbeenbrokeninto,thefurnituredestroyed,theownerskilledintheirbeds,andanoldmanofseventywholivedwiththemcuttopieceswithascythe。

Ayoungfellowoffifteen,namedPayre,inpassingneartheguardplacedatthePontdesfiles,hadbeenaskedbyared—tuftifhewereCatholicorProtestant。OnhisreplyinghewasProtestant,hewasshotdeadonthespot。"Thatwaslikekillingalamb,"saidacomradetothemurderer。"Pooh！"saidhe,"IhavetakenavowtokillfourProtestants,andhemaypassforone。"

M。Maigre,anoldmanofeighty—two,headofoneofthemostrespectedfamiliesintheneighbourhood,triedtoescapefromhishousealongwithhisson,hisdaughter—in—law,twograndchildren,andtwoservants;butthecarriagewasstopped,andwhiletherebelsweremurderinghimandhisson,themotherandhertwochildrensucceededinescapingtoaninn,whithertheassassinspursuedthem,Fortunately,however,thetwofugitiveshavingastart,reachedtheinnafewminutesbeforetheirpursuers,andtheinnkeeperhadenoughpresenceofmindtoconcealthemandopenthegardengatebywhichhesaidtheyhadescaped。TheCatholics,believinghim,scatteredoverthecountrytolookforthem,andduringtheirabsencethemotherandchildrenwererescuedbythemountedpatrol。

TheexasperationoftheProtestantsrosehigherandhigherasreportsofthesemurderscameinonebyone,tillatlastthedesireforvengeancecouldnolongerberepressed,andtheywereclamorouslyinsistingonbeingledagainsttherampartsandthetowers,whenwithoutwarningaheavyfusilladebeganfromthewindowsandtheclocktoweroftheCapuchinmonastery。M。Massin,amunicipalofficer,waskilledonthespot,asapperfatallywounded,andtwenty—fiveoftheNationalGuardwoundedmoreorlessseverely。TheProtestantsimmediatelyrushedtowardsthemonasteryinadisorderlymass;butthesuperior,insteadoforderingthegatestobeopened,appearedatawindowabovetheentrance,andaddressingtheassailantsasthevilestofthevile,askedthemwhattheywantedatthemonastery。"Wewanttodestroyit,wewanttopullitdowntillnotonestonerestsuponanother,"theyreplied。Uponthis,thereverendfatherorderedthealarmbellstoberung,andfromthemouthsofbronzeissuedthecallforhelp;butbeforeitcouldarrive,thedoorwasburstinwithhatchets,andfiveCapuchinsandseveralofthemilitiawhoworetheredtuftwerekilled,whilealltheotheroccupantsofthemonasteryranaway,takingrefugeinthehouseofaProtestantcalledPaulhan。Duringthisattackthechurchwasrespected;amanfromSornmieres,however,stoleapyxwhichhefoundinthesacristy,butassoonashiscomradesperceivedthishewasarrestedandsenttoprison。

Inthemonasteryitself,however,thedoorswerebrokenin,thefurnituresmashed,thelibraryandthedispensarywrecked。Thesacristyitselfwasnotspared,itspressesbeingbrokeninto,itschestsdestroyed,andtwomonstrancesbroken;butnothingfurtherwastouched。Thestorehousesandthesmallcloth—factoryconnectedwiththemonasteryremainedintact,likethechurch。

Butstillthetowersheldout,anditwasroundthemthattherealfightingtookplace,theresistanceofferedfromwithinbeingallthemoreobstinatethatthebesiegedexpectedrelieffrommomenttomoment,notknowingthattheirlettershadbeeninterceptedbytheenemy。Oneverysidetherattlingofshotwasheard,fromtheEsplanade,fromthewindows,fromtheroofs;butverylittleeffectwasproducedbytheProtestants,forDescombiezhadtoldhismentoputtheircapswiththeredtuftsonthetopofthewall,toattractthebullets,whiletheyfiredfromtheside。Meantimetheconspirators,inordertogetabettercommandofthebesiegers,reopenedapassagewhichhadbeenlongwalledupbetweenthetowerDuPoidsandthetoweroftheDominicans。Descombiez,accompaniedbythirtymen,cametothedoorofthemonasterynearestthefortificationsanddemandedthekeyofanotherdoorwhichledtothatpartoftherampartswhichwasoppositetheplacedesCarmes,wheretheNationalGuardswerestationed。Inspiteoftheremonstrancesofthemonks,whosawthatitwouldexposethemtogreatdanger,thedoorswereopened,andFromenthastenedtooccupyeverypostofvantage,andthebattlebeganinthatquarter,too,becomingfiercerastheconspiratorsremarkedthateveryminutebroughttheProtestantsreinforcementsfromGardonninqueandLaVaunage。Thefiringbeganatteno\'clockinthemorning,andatfouro\'clockintheafternoonitwasgoingonwithunabatedfury。

Atfouro\'clock,however,aservantcarryingaflagoftruceappeared;hebroughtaletterfromDescombiez,Fremont,andFolacher,whostyledthemselves"CaptainscommandingthetowersoftheCastle。"

Itwascouchedinthefollowingwords:——

"TotheCommandantofthetroopsoftheline,withtherequestthatthecontentsbecommunicatedtothemilitiastationedintheEsplanade。

"SIR,——Wehavejustbeeninformedthatyouareanxiousforpeace。Wealsodesireit,andhaveneverdoneanythingtobreakit。Ifthosewhohavecausedthefrightfulconfusionwhichatpresentprevailsinthecityarewillingtobringittoanend,weoffertoforgetthepastandtolivewiththemasbrothers。

"Weremain,withallthefranknessandloyaltyofpatriotsandFrenchmen,yourhumbleservants,TheCaptainsoftheLegionofNimes,incommandofthetowersoftheCastle,"FROMENT,DESCOMBIEZ,FOLACHERNIMES,the14thJune1790,4。00P。M。"

Onthereceiptofthisletter,thecityheraldwassenttothetowerstooffertherebelstermsofcapitulation。Thethree"captainsincommand"cameouttodiscussthetermswiththecommissionersoftheelectoralbody;theywerearmedandfollowedbyagreatnumberofadherents。However,asthenegotiatorsdesiredpeacebeforeallthings,theyproposedthatthethreechiefsshouldsurrenderandplacethemselvesinthehandsoftheElectoralAssembly。Thisofferbeingrefused,theelectoralcommissionerswithdrew,andtherebelsretiredbehindtheirfortifications。Aboutfiveo\'clockintheevening,justasthenegotiationswerebrokenoff,M。Aubry,anartillerycaptainwhohadbeensentwithtwohundredmentothedepotoffieldartilleryinthecountry,returnedwithsixpiecesofordnance,determinedtomakeabreachinthetoweroccupiedbytheconspirators,andfromwhichtheywerefiringinsafetyatthesoldiers,whohadnocover。Atsixo\'clock,thegunsbeingmounted,theirthunderbegan,firstdrowningthenoiseofthemusketryandthensilencingitaltogether;forthecannonballsdidtheirworkquickly,andbeforelongthetowerthreatenedtofall。Thereupontheelectoralcommissionersorderedthefiringtoceaseforamoment,inthehopethatnowthedangerhadbecomesoimminenttheleaderswouldaccepttheconditionswhichtheyhadrefusedonehourbefore;andnotdesiringtodrivethemtodesperation,thecommissionersadvancedagaindownCollegeStreet,precededbyabugler,andthecaptainswereoncemoresummonedtoaparley。FromentandDescombiezcameouttomeetthem,andseeingtheconditionofthetower,theyagreedtolaydowntheirarmsandsendthemforthepalace,whiletheythemselveswouldproceedtotheElectoralAssemblyandplacethemselvesunderitsprotection。Theseproposalsbeingaccepted,thecommissionerswavedtheirhatsasasignthatthetreatywasconcluded。

Atthatinstantthreeshotswerefiredfromtheramparts,andcriesof"Treachery！treachery！"wereheardoneveryside。TheCatholicchiefsreturnedtothetower,whiletheProtestants,believingthatthecommissionerswerebeingassassinated,reopenedthecannonade;

butfindingthatittooktoolongtocompletethebreach,ladderswerebrought,thewallsscaled,andthetowerscarriedbyassault。

SomeoftheCatholicswerekilled,theothersgainedFroment\'shouse,where,encouragedbyhim,theytriedtoorganisearesistance;buttheassailants,despitetheoncomingdarkness,attackedtheplacewithsuchfurythatdoorsandwindowswereshatteredinaninstant。

FromentandhisbrotherPierretriedtoescapebyanarrowstaircasewhichledtotheroof,butbeforetheyreacheditPierrewaswoundedinthehipandfell;butFromentreachedtheroof,andspranguponanadjacenthousetop,andclimbingfromrooftoroof,reachedthecollege,andgettingintoitbyagarretwindow,tookrefugeinalargeroomwhichwasalwaysunoccupiedatnight,beingusedduringthedayasastudy。

Fromentremainedhiddenthereuntileleveno\'clock。Itbeingthencompletelydark,hegotoutofthewindow,crossedthecity,gainedtheopencountry,andwalkingallnight,concealedhimselfduringthedayinthehouseofaCatholic。Thenextnighthesetoffagain,andreachedthecoast,whereheembarkedonboardavesselforItaly,inordertoreporttothosewhohadsenthimthedisastrousresultofhisenterprise。

Forthreewholedaysthecarnagelasted。TheProtestantslosingallcontroloverthemselves,carriedontheworkofdeathnotonlywithoutpitybutwithrefinedcruelty。MorethanfivehundredCatholicslosttheirlivesbeforethe17th,whenpeacewasrestored。

ForalongtimerecriminationswentonbetweenCatholicsandProtestants,eachpartytryingtofixontheothertheresponsibilityforthosedreadfulthreedays;butatlastFranqoisFromentputanendtoalldoubtonthesubject,bypublishingaworkfromwhicharesetforthmanyofthedetailsjustlaidbeforeourreaders,aswellastherewardhemetwithwhenhereachedTurin。AtameetingoftheFrenchnoblesinexile,aresolutionwaspassedinfavourofM。PierreFromentandhischildren,inhabitantsofNimes。