第 28 节
作者:铲除不公      更新:2021-02-20 18:50      字数:9322
  their passage。  The troops halted; and Ravanel gave orders to fire。
  The first rank raised their muskets and took aim; thus indicating
  that they were ready to obey。  But it was not a danger of this kind
  that could frighten Cavalier; he continued to advance。  Then Moses
  seeing his peril; threw himself between the Camisards and him;
  stretching out his arms and shouting; 〃Stop! stop! misguided men!
  Are you going to kill Brother Cavalier like a highwayman and thief?
  You must pardon him; my brethren! you must pardon him!  If he has
  done wrong in the past; he will do better in future。〃
  Then those who had taken aim at Cavalier grounded their muskets; and
  Cavalier changing menace for entreaty; begged them not to break the
  promise that he had made in their name; whereupon the prophets struck
  up a psalm; and the rest of the soldiers joining in; his voice was
  completely drowned。  Nevertheless; Cavalier did not lose heart; but
  accompanied them on their march to Saint…Esteve; about a league
  farther on; unable to relinquish all hope。  On reaching Saint…Esteve
  the singing ceased for a moment; and he made another attempt to
  recall them to obedience。  Seeing; however; that it was all in vain;
  he gave up hope; and %… calling out; 〃At least defend yourselves as
  well as you can; for the dragoons will soon be on you;〃 he set his
  horse's head towards the town。  Then turning to them for the last
  time; he said; 〃Brethren; let those who love me follow me!〃  He
  pronounced these words in tones so full of grief and affection that
  many were shaken in their resolution; but Ravanel and Moses seeing
  the effect he had produced; began to shout; 〃The sword of the Lord!〃
  Immediately all the troops turned their back on Cavalier except about
  forty men who had joined him on his first appearance。
  Cavalier went into a house near by; and wrote another letter to M。 de
  Villars; in which he told him what had just taken place; the efforts
  he had made to win back his troops; and the conditions they demanded。
  He ended by assuring him that he would make still further efforts;
  and promised the marechal that he would keep him informed of
  everything that went on。  He then withdrew to Cardet; not venturing
  to return to Calvisson。
  Both Cavalier's letters reached M。 de Villars at the same time; in
  the first impulse of anger aroused by this unexpected check; he
  issued the following order:
  〃Since coming to this province and taking over the government by
  order of the king; our sole thought has been how to put an end to the
  disorders we found existing here by gentle measures; and to restore
  peace and to preserve the property of those who had taken no part in
  the disturbances。  To that end we obtained His Majesty's pardon for
  those rebels who had; by the persuasion of their chiefs; been induced
  to lay down their arms; the only condition exacted being that they
  should throw themselves on the king's clemency and beg his permission
  to expiate their crime by adventuring their lives in his service。
  But; being informed that instead of keeping the engagements they had
  made by signing petitions; by writing letters; and by speaking words
  expressing their intentions; some among them have been trying to
  delude the minds of the people with false hopes of full liberty for
  the exercise of this so…called Reformed religion; which there has
  never been any intention of granting; but which we have always
  declared as clearly as we could; to be contrary to the will of the
  king and likely to bring about great evils for which it would be
  difficult to find a remedy; it becomes necessary to prevent those who
  give belief to these falsehoods from expecting to escape from
  well…deserved chastisement。  We therefore declare hereby that all
  religious assemblies are expressly forbidden under the penalties
  proclaimed in the edicts and ordinances of His Majesty; and that
  these will be more strictly enforced in the future than in the past。
  〃Furthermore; we order all the troops under our command to break up
  such assemblies by force; as having been always illegal; and we
  desire to impress on the new converts of this province that they are
  to give their obedience where it is due; and we forbid them to give
  any credence to the false reports which the enemies of their repose
  are spreading abroad。  If they let themselves be led astray; they
  will soon find themselves involved in troubles and misfortunes; such
  as the loss of their lands; the ruin of their families; and the
  desolation of their country; and we shall take care that the true
  authors of these misfortunes shall receive punishment proportioned to
  their crime。
  〃 MARECHAL DE VILLARS
  〃 Given at Nimes the 27th day of May 1704 〃
  This order; which put everything back upon the footing on which it
  had been in the time of M。 de Montrevel; had hardly been issued than
  d'Aygaliers; in despair at seeing the result of so much labour
  destroyed in one day; set off for the mountains to try and find
  Cavalier。  He found him at Cardet; whither; as we have said; he had
  retired after the day of Calvisson。  Despite the resolution which
  Cavalier had taken never to show his face again to the marechal; the
  baron repeated to him so many times that M。 de Villars was thoroughly
  convinced that what had happened had not been his fault; he having
  done everything that he could to prevent it; that the young chief
  began to feel his self…confidence and courage returning; and hearing
  that the marachal had expressed himself as very much pleased with his
  conduct; to which Vincel had borne high testimony; made up his mind
  to return to Nimes。  They left Cardet at once; followed by the forty
  men who had remained true to Cavalier; ten on horse and thirty on
  foot; and arrived on the 3lst May at Saint…Genies; whither M。 de
  Villars had come to meet them。
  The assurances of d'Aygaliers were justified。  The marechal received
  Cavalier as if he were still the chief of a powerful party and able
  to negotiate with him on terms of equality。  At Cavalier's request;
  in order to prove to him that he stood as high in his good opinion as
  ever; the marechal returned once more to gentle methods; and
  mitigated the severity of his first proclamation by a second;
  granting an extension of the amnesty:
  〃The principal chiefs of the rebels; with the greater number of their
  followers; having surrendered; and having received the king's pardon;
  we declare that we give to all those who have taken up arms until
  next Thursday; the 5th instant inclusive; the opportunity of
  receiving the like pardon; by surrendering to us at Anduze; or to M。
  le Marquis de Lalande at Alais; or to M。 de Menon at Saint Hippolyte;
  or to the commandants of Uzes; Nimes; and Lunel。  But the fifth day
  passed; we shall lay a heavy hand on all rebels; pillaging and
  burning all the places which have given them refuge; provisions; or
  help of any kind; and that they may not plead ignorance of this
  proclamation; we order it to be publicly read and posted up in every
  suitable place。
  〃MARECHAL DE VILLARS
  〃At Saint…Genies; the 1st June 1704〃
  The next day; in order to leave no doubt as to his good intentions;
  the marechal had the gibbets and scaffolds taken down; which until
  then had been permanent erections。
  At the same time all the Huguenots were ordered to make a last effort
  to induce the Camisard chiefs to accept the conditions offered them
  by M。 de Villars。  The towns of Alais; Anduze; Saint…Jean; Sauve;
  Saint…Hippolyte; and Lasalle; and the parishes of Cros; Saint…Roman;
  Manoblet; Saint…Felix; Lacadiere; Cesas; Cambo; Colognac; and Vabre
  were ordered to send deputies to Durfort to confer as to the best
  means of bringing about that peace which everyone desired。  These
  deputies wrote at once to M。 de Villars to beg him to send them M。
  d'Aygaliers; and to M。 d'Aygaliers to request him to come。
  Both consented to do as they were asked; and M。 d'Aygaliers arrived
  at Durfort on the 3rd of June 1704。
  The deputies having first thanked him for the trouble which he had
  taken to serve the common cause during the past year; resolved to
  divide their assembly into two parts; one of which; was to remain
  permanently sitting; while the other went to seek Roland and Ravanel
  to try and obtain a cessation of hostilities。  The deputies charged
  with this task were ordered to make it quite clear to the two chiefs
  that if they did not accept the proposals made by M。 de Villars; the
  Protestants in general would take up arms and hunt them down; and
  would cease to supply them with the means of subsistence。
  On hearing this; Roland made reply that the deputies were to go back
  at once to those who sent them; and threatened; should they ever show
  him their faces again; to fire on them。
  This answer put an end to the assembly; the deputies dispersed; and
  d'Aygaliers returned to the Marechal de Villars to make his report。
  Hardly had he done this when a letter from Roland arrived; in which
  the Camisard chief asked M。 de Villars to grant him an interview;
  such as he had granted to Cavalier。  This letter was addressed to
  d'Aygaliers; who immediately communicated its contents to the
  marechal; from whom he received orders to set out at once to f