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shirts…sleeves to the elbow； and then ordered him to lay himself
again on the cross。 Boeton did so with unbroken calm。 All his limbs
were then bound to the beams with cords at every joint； this
accomplished； the assistant retired； and the executioner came
forward。 He held in his hand a square bar of iron； an inch and a
half thick； three feet long； and rounded at one end so as to form a
handle。
When Boeton saw it he began singing a psalm； but almost immediately
the melody was interrupted by a cry： the executioner had broken a
bone of Boeton's right leg； but the singing was at once resumed； and
continued without interruption till each limb had been broken in two
places。 Then the executioner unbound the formless but still living
body from the cross； and while from its lips issued words of faith in
God he laid it on the wheel； bending it back on the legs in such a
manner that the heels and head met； and never once during the
completion of this atrocious performance did the voice of the
sufferer cease to sound forth the praises of the Lord。
No execution till then had ever produced such an effect on the crowd；
so that Abbe Massilla； who was present； seeing the general emotion；
hastened to call M。 de Baville's attention to the fact that； far from
Boeton's death inspiring the Protestants with terror； they were only
encouraged to hold out； as was proved by their tears； and the praises
they lavished on the dying man。
M； de Baville； recognising the truth of this observation； ordered
that Boeton should be put out of misery。 This order being conveyed
to the executioner； he approached the wheel to break in Boeton's
chest with one last blow； but an archer standing on the scaffold
threw himself before the sufferer； saying that the Huguenot had not
yet suffered half enough。 At this； Boeton； who had heard the
dreadful dispute going on beside him； interrupted his prayers for an
instant； and raising his head； which hung down over the edge of the
wheel； said； 〃Friend； you think I suffer； and in truth I do； but He
for whom I suffer is beside me and gives me strength to bear
everything joyfully。〃 Just then M。 de Baville's order was repeated；
and the archer； no longer daring to interfere； allowed the
executioner to approach。 Then Boeton； seeing his last moment had
come； said； 〃My dear friends； may my death be an example to you； to
incite you to preserve the gospel pure； bear faithful testimony that
I died in the religion of Christ and His holy apostles。〃 Hardly had
these words passed his lips； than the death…blow was given and his
chest crushed； a few inarticulate sounds； apparently prayers； were
heard； the head fell back； the martyrdom was ended。
This execution ended the war in Languedoc。 A few imprudent preachers
still delivered belated sermons； to which the rebels listened
trembling with fear； and for which the preachers paid on the wheel or
gibbet。 There were disturbances in Vivarais； aroused by Daniel
Billard； during which a few Catholics were found murdered on the
highway； there were a few fights； as for instance at Sainte…Pierre…
Ville； where the Camisards； faithful to the old traditions which had
come to them from Cavalier； Catinat； and Ravenal； fought one to
twenty； but they were all without importance； they were only the last
quiverings of the dying civil strife； the last shudderings of the
earth when the eruption of the volcano is over。
Even Cavalier understood that the end had come； for he left Holland
for England。 There Queen Anne distinguished him by a cordial
welcome； she invited him to enter her service； an offer which he
accepted； and he was placed in command of a regiment of refugees； so
that he actually received in England the grade of colonel； which he
had been offered in France。 At the battle of Almanza the regiment
commanded by Cavalier found itself opposed by a French regiment。 The
old enemies recognised each other； and with a howl of rage； without
waiting for the word of command or executing any military evolutions；
they hurled themselves at each other with such fury that； if we may
believe the Duke of Berwick； who was present； they almost annihilated
each other in the conflict。 Cavalier； however； survived the
slaughter； in which he had performed his part with energy； and for
his courage was made general and governor of the island of Jersey。
He died at Chelsea in May 1740； aged sixty years。 〃I must confess；〃
says Malesherbes； 〃that this soldier； who without training became a
great general by means of his natural gifts； this Camisard； who dared
in the face of fierce troopers to punish a crime similar to those by
which the troopers existed； this rude peasant； who； admitted into the
best society； adopted its manners and gained its esteem and love；
this man； who though accustomed to an adventurous life； and who might
justly have been puffed up by success； had yet enough philosophy to
lead for thirty…five years a tranquil private existence； appears to
me to be one of the rarest characters to be met with in the pages of
history。〃
CHAPTER VI
At length Louis XIV； bowed beneath the weight of a reign of sixty
years； was summoned in his turn to appear before God； from whom； as
some said； he looked for reward； and others for pardon。 But Nimes；
that city with the heart of fire； was quiet； like the wounded who
have lost the best part of their blood； she thought only； with the
egotism of a convalescent； of being left in peace to regain the
strength which had become exhausted through the terrible wounds which
Montrevel and the Duke of Berwick had dealt her。 For sixty years
petty ambition had taken the place of sublime self…sacrifice； and
disputes about etiquette succeeded mortal combats。 Then the
philosophic era dawned； and the sarcasms of the encyclopedists
withered the monarchical intolerance of Louis XIV and Charles IX。
Thereupon the Protestants resumed their preaching； baptized their
children and buried their dead； commerce flourished once more； and
the two religions lived side by side； one concealing under a peaceful
exterior the memory of its martyrs； the other the memory of its
triumphs。 Such was the mood on which the blood…red orb of the sun of
'89 rose。 The Protestants greeted it with cries of joy； and indeed
the promised liberty gave them back their country； their civil
rights； and the status of French citizens。
Nevertheless； whatever were the hopes of one party or the fears of
the other； nothing had as yet occurred to disturb the prevailing
tranquillity； when； on the 19th and 20th of July； 1789； a body of
troops was formed in the capital of La Gard which was to bear the
name of the Nimes Militia： the resolution which authorised this act
was passed by the citizens of the three orders sitting in the hall of
the palace。
It was as follows：
〃Article 10。 The Nimes Legion shall consist of a colonel； a
lieutenant…colonel； a major； a lieutenant…major； an adjutant；
twenty…four captains； twenty…four lieutenants； seventy…two sergeants；
seventy…two corporals； and eleven hundred and fifty…two privatesin
all； thirteen hundred and forty…nine men； forming eighty companies。
〃 Article 11。 The p