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that the villages through which they passed furnished him with all
that was needed。 They left Sauves on May 16th very early in the
morning； in order to get to Calvisson； which； as our readers may
remember； was the place appointed for the residence of Cavalier
during the truce。 In passing through Quissac； where they stopped for
refreshments； they were joined by Castanet who delivered a long
sermon； at which all the Protestants of the neighbourhood were
present。
The two battalions of the Charolais regiment which were quartered at
Calvisson had received orders on the evening of the 17th to march out
next morning； so as to make room for the Camisards。
On the 18th the head of the commissary department； Vincel； ordered
suitable accommodation to be provided for Cavalier and his troops；
the muster roll being in the hands of M。 d'Aygaliers； it would be
sent by him or brought in the course of the day。 In the meantime；
vans were arriving filled with all sorts of provisions； followed by
droves of cattle； while a commissary and several clerks； charged with
the distribution of rations； brought up the rear。
On the 19th； Catinat； accompanied by twelve Camisards； rode into the
town； and was met at the barrier by the commandant and eighty
townspeople。 As soon as the little band came in sight the commandant
reiterated his orders that nothing should be said or done in the
town； on pain of corporal punishment； that could offend the
Camisards。
At one o'clock P。 M。 Baron d'Aygaliers arrived； followed in his turn
by the chief of the commissariat； Vincel； by Captain Cappon； two
other officers named Viala and Despuech； and six dragoons。 These
were the hostages Cavalier had given。
At six o'clock there was heard a great noise； and shouts of
〃Cavalier！ Cavalier！〃 resounded on all sides。 The young Cevenol was
in sight； and the whole population hastened to meet him。 He rode at
the head of his cavalry； the infantry following； and the whole
numberabout six hundred mensang psalms in a loud voice。
When they reached the church； Cavalier drew up before it with all his
men in review order； and for some time the singing went on。 When it
stopped； a long prayer was offered up； which was most edifying to all
the bystanders； and this being over； Cavalier went to the quarters
assigned him； which were in the best house in Calvisson。 Arrived
there； he sent out for a dozen loaves that he might judge how his men
were going to be fed； not finding them white enough； he complained to
M。 Vincel； whom he sent for； and who promised that in future the
bread should be of a better quality。 Having received this assurance；
Cavalier gave orders that the loaves in hand should be distributed
for that day； but probably fearing poison； he first made M。 de Vincel
and his clerks taste them in his presence。 These duties
accomplished； he visited in person all the gates of the town； placed
guards and posted sentinels at all the entrances and along all the
avenues； the most advanced being three…quarters of a league from the
town。 Besides this； he placed guards in the streets； and a sentinel
at each door of the house he occupied； in addition； thirty guards
always slept outside the door of his bedroom； and these accompanied
him as an escort when he went out； not that he was afraid； for he was
not of a mistrustful character； but that he thought it politic to
give people an exalted idea of his importance。 As to his soldiers；
they were billeted on the inhabitants； and received each as daily
rations a pound of meat； a quart of wine； and two and a half pounds
of bread。
The same day a convocation was held on the site of the old
meeting…house which had been destroyed by the Catholics。 It was a
very numerous assembly； to which crowds of people came from all
parts； but on the following days it was still more numerous ； for； as
the news spread； people ran with great eagerness to hear the
preaching of the word of which they had been so long deprived。
D'Aygaliers tells us in his Memoirs that〃No one could help being
touched to see a whole people just escaped from fire and sword；
coming together in multitudes to mingle their tears and sighs。 So
famished were they for the manna divine； that they were like people
coming out of a besieged city； after a long and cruel famine； to whom
peace has brought food in abundance； and who； first devouring it with
their eyes； then throw themselves on it； devouring it bodilymeat；
bread； and fruitas it comes to hand。 So it was with the
unfortunate inhabitants of La Vannage； and even of places more
distant still。 They saw their brethren assembling in the meadows and
at the gates of Calvisson； gathering in crowds and pressing round
anyone who started singing a psalm； until at last four or five
thousand persons； singing； weeping； and praying； were gathered
together； and remained there all day； supplicating God with a
devotion that went to every heart and made a deep impression。 All
night the same things went on； nothing was to be heard but preaching；
singing； praying； and prophesying。〃
But if it was a time of joy for the Protestants； it was a time of
humiliation for the Catholics。 〃Certainly；〃 says a contemporary
historian； 〃it was a very surprising thing； and quite a novelty； to
see in a province like Languedoc； where so many troops were
quartered； such a large number of villainsall murderers；
incendiaries； and guilty of sacrilegegathered together in one place
by permission of those in command of the troops； tolerated in their
eccentricities； fed at the public expense； flattered by everyone； and
courteously； received by people sent specially to meet them。〃
One of those who was most indignant at this state of things was M。 de
Baville。 He was so eager to put an end to it that he went to see the
governor； and told him the scandal was becoming too great in his
opinion： the assemblies ought to be put an end to by allowing the
troops to fall upon them and disperse them； but the governor thought
quite otherwise； and told Baville that to act according to his advice
would be to set fire to the province again and to scatter for ever
people whom they had got together with such difficulty。 In any case；
he reminded Baville that what he objected to would be over in a few
days。 His opinion was that de Baville might stifle the expression of
his dissatisfaction for a little； to bring about a great good。 〃More
than that；〃 added the marechal； 〃the impatience of the priests is
most ridiculous。 Besides your remonstrances； of which I hope I have
now heard the last； I have received numberless letters full of such
complaints that it would seem as if the prayers of the Camisards not
only grated on the ears of the clergy but flayed them alive。 I
should like above everything to find out the writers of these
letters； in order to have them flogged； but they have taken good care
to put no signatures。 I regard it as a very great impertinence for
those who caused these disturbances to grumble and express their
disapproval at my efforts to bring them to an end。〃 After this
speech； M； de Baville saw there was nothing for him to do but to let
things take their cour