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oblige their members to wear a medal as a visible mark of
recognition； all assume the title of executive power； and declare
that they act of their own authority； and that it is necessary to
〃quicken the law。〃＇59＇ Their pretext is the protection of sworn
priests； and for twenty months； beginning with April； 1791； they
operate to this effect with heavy knotted dubs garnished with iron
points；〃 without counting sabers and bayonets。 Generally； their
expeditions are nocturnal。 Suddenly； the houses of 〃citizens
suspected of a want of patriotism；〃 of nonjuring ecclesiastics； of
the monks of the Christian school； are invaded； everything is broken
or stolen； and the owner is ordered to leave the place in twenty…
four hours： sometimes； doubtless through an excess of precaution； he
is beaten to death on the spot。 Besides this； the band also works
by day in the streets； lashes the women； enters the churches saber
in hand； and drives the nonjuring priest from the altar。 All of
this is done with the connivance and in the sight of the paralyzed
or complaisant authorities； by a sort of occult and complementary
government； which not only supplies what is missing in the
ecclesiastical law； but also searches the pockets of private
individuals。 … At N？mes； under the leadership of a patriotic
dancing…master； not content with 〃decreeing proscriptions； killing；
scourging； and often murdering；〃 these new champions of the Gallican
Church undertake to reanimate the zeal of those liable to
contribution。 A subscription having been proposed for the support
of the families of the volunteers about to depart； the executive
power takes upon itself to revise the list of offerings： it
arbitrarily taxes those who have not given； or who； in its opinion；
have given too little some 〃poor workmen fifty livres； others two
hundred； three hundred； nine hundred； and a thousand； under penalty
of wrecked houses and severe treatment。〃 Elsewhere； the volunteers
of Baux and other communes near Tarascon help themselves freely；
and； 〃under the pretext that they are to march for the defense of
the country； levy enormous contributions on proprietors；〃 on one
four thousand； and on another five thousand livres。 In default of
payment； they carry away all the grain on one farm； even to the
reserve seed； threatening to make havoc with everything； and even to
burn； in case of complaint； so that the owners dare not say a word；
while the attorney…general of the neighboring department； afraid on
his own account； begs that his denunciation may be kept secret。 …
》From the slums of the towns the jacquerie has spread into the rural
districts。 This is the sixth and the most extensive seen for three
years。＇60＇
Two spurs impel the peasant on。 … On the one hand he is frightened
by the clash of arms； and the repeated announcements of an
approaching invasion。 The clubs and the newspapers since the
declaration of Pilnitz； and the Orators in the Legislative Assembly
for four months past； have kept him alarmed with their trumpet…
blasts； and he urges on his oxen in the furrow with cries of 〃Woa；
Prussia！〃 to one； and to the other； 〃Gee up； Austria！〃 Austria and
Prussia； foreign kings and nobles in league with the emigrant
nobles； are going to return in force to re…establish the salt…tax；
the excise； feudal…dues； tithes； and to retake national property
already sold and re…sold； with the aid of the gentry who have not
left； or who have returned； and the connivance of non…juring priests
who declare the sale sacrilegious and refuse to absolve the
purchasers。 … On the other hand； Holy Week is drawing near； and
for the past year qualms of conscience have disturbed the
purchasers。 Up to March 24； 1791； the sales of national property
had amounted to only 180 millions； but； the Assembly having
prolonged the date of payment and facilitated further sales in
detail； the temptation proves too strong for the peasant； stockings
and buried pots are all emptied of their savings。 In seven months
the peasant has bought to the amount of 1；346 millions；＇61＇ and
finally possesses in full and complete ownership the morsel of land
which he has coveted for so many years； and sometimes an unexpected
plot； a wood； a mill； or a meadow。 At the present time he has to
settle accounts with the church； and； if the pecuniary settlement is
postponed； the Catholic settlement comes on the appointed day。
According to immemorial tradition he is obliged to take the
communion at Easter；＇62＇ his wife also； and likewise his mother； and
if he； exceptionally； does not think this of consequence； they do。
Moreover； he requires the sacraments for his old sick father； his
new…born child； and for his other child of an age to be confirmed。
Now； communion； baptism； confession； all the sacraments； to be of
good quality； must proceed from a safe source； just as is the case
with flour and coin； there is only too much counterfeit money now in
the world； and the sworn priests are daily losing credit； like the
assignats。 There is no other course to pursue； consequently； but to
resort to the non…juror； who is the only one able to give valid
absolutions。 And it so happens that he not only refuses this； but
be is said to be inimical to the whole new order of things。 … In
this dilemma the peasant falls back upon his usual resource； the
strength of his arms； he seizes the priest by the throat； as
formerly his lord； and extorts an acquittance for his sins as
formerly for his feudal dues。 At the very least he strives to
constrain the non…jurors to swear； to close their separatist
churches； and bring the entire canton to the same uniform faith。 …
Occasionally also he avenges himself against the partisans of the
non…jurors； against chateaux and houses of the opulent； against the
nobles and the rich； against proprietors of every class。
Occasionally； likewise； as； since the amnesty of September； 1791；
the prisons have been emptied； as one…half of the courts are not yet
installed；＇63＇ as there has been no police for thirty months； the
common robbers； bandits； and vagrants； who swarm about without
repression or surveillance； join the mob and fill their pockets。
Here； in Pas…de…Calais；＇64＇ three hundred villagers； headed by a
drummer； burst open the doors of a Carthusian convent； steal
everything； eatables； beverages； linen； furniture； and effects；
whilst； in the neighboring parish； another band operates in the same
fashion in the houses of the mayor and of the old curé； threatening
〃to kill and burn all；〃 and promising to return on the following
Sunday。 … There； in Bas…Rhin； near Fort Louis； twenty houses of
the aristocrats are pillaged。 … Elsewhere in Ile…et…Vilaine；
bodies of rural militia； combined； go from parish to parish； and；
increasing in numbers in consequence of their very violence until
they form bands of two thousand men。 They close churches； drive
away nonjuring priests； remove clappers from the bells； eat an