第 43 节
作者:铲除不公      更新:2021-02-20 18:51      字数:9322
  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 himself during the
  day in the house of a Catholic。  The next night he set off again; and
  reached the coast; where he embarked on board a vessel for Italy; in
  order to report to those who had sent him the disastrous result of
  his enterprise。
  For three whole days the carnage lasted。  The Protestants losing all
  control over themselves; carried on the work of death not only
  without pity but with refined cruelty。  More than five hundred
  Catholics lost their lives before the 17th; when peace was restored。
  For a long time recriminations went on between Catholics and
  Protestants; each party trying to fix on the other the responsibility
  for those dreadful three days; but at last Franqois Froment put an
  end to all doubt on the subject; by publishing a work from which are
  set forth many of the details just laid before our readers; as well
  as the reward he met with when he reached Turin。  At a meeting of the
  French nobles in exile; a resolution was passed in favour of
  M。 Pierre Froment and his children; inhabitants of Nimes。
  We give a literal reproduction of this historic document:
  〃We the undersigned; French nobles; being convinced that our Order
  was instituted that it might become the prize of valour and the
  encouragement of virtue; do declare that the Chevalier de Guer having
  given us proof of the devotion to their king and the love of their
  country which have been displayed by M。 Pierre Froment; receiver of
  the clergy; and his three sons; Mathieu Froment citizen; Jacques
  Froment canon; Francois Froment advocate; inhabitants of Nimes; we
  shall henceforward regard them and their descendants as nobles and
  worthy to enjoy all the distinctions which belong to the true
  nobility。  Brave citizens; who perform such distinguished actions as
  fighting for the restoration of the monarchy; ought to be considered
  as the equals of those French chevaliers whose ancestors helped to
  found it。  Furthermore; we do declare that as soon as circumstances
  permit we shall join together to petition His Majesty to grant to
  this family; so illustrious through its virtue; all the honours and
  prerogatives which belong to those born noble。
  〃We depute the Marquis de Meran; Comte d'Espinchal; the Marquis
  d'Escars; Vicomte de Pons; Chevalier de Guer; and the Marquis de la
  Feronniere to go to Mgr。 le Comte d'Artois; Mgr。 le Duc d'Angouleme;
  Mgr。 le Duc de Berry; Mgr。 le Prince de Conde; Mgr。 le Due de
  Bourbon; and Mgr。 le Duc d'Enghien; to beg them to put themselves at
  our head when we request His Majesty to grant to MM。 Froment all the
  distinctions and advantages reserved for the true nobility。
  〃At TURIN; 12th September 1790。〃
  The nobility of Languedoc learned of the honours conferred on their
  countryman; M。 Froment; and addressed the following letter to him:
  〃LORCH; July 7; 1792
  〃MONSIEUR; The nobles of Languedoc hasten to confirm the resolution
  adopted in your favour by the nobles assembled at Turin。  They
  appreciate the zeal and the courage which have distinguished your
  conduct and that of your family; they have therefore instructed