t de Monvert, was
the first blow in the war. It was planned by Esprit Seguier, who at once
began to carry out his idea of a general massacre of the Catholic
priests. He soon fell, and was succeeded by Laporte, an old soldier,
who, as his troop increased, assumed the title of "the Colonel of the
Children of God," and named his camp the "Camp of the Eternal." He used
to lead his followers to the fight, singing Clement Marot's grand
version of the 68th Psalm, "Que Dieu se montre seulement," to the music
of Goudimel. Besides Laporte, the forest-ranger Castanet, the
wool-carders Conderc and Mazel, the soldiers Catinat, Joany and Ravenel
were selected as captains--all men whom the _theomanie_ or prophetic
malady had visited. But the most important figures are those of Roland,
who afterwards issued the following extraordinary despatch to the
inhabitants of St Andre:--"Nous, comte et seigneur Roland, generalissime
des Protestants de France, nous ordonnons que vous ayez a congedier dans
trois jours tous les pretres et missionnaires qui sont chez vous, sous
peine d'etre brules tout vifs, vous et eux" (Court, i.p. 219); and Jean
Cavalier, the baker's boy, who, at the age of seventeen, commanded the
southern army of the Camisards, and who, after defeating successively
the comte de Broglie and three French marshals, Montrevel, Berwick and
Villars, made an honourable peace. (See CAVALIER, JEAN.)

Cavalier for nearly two years continued to direct the war. Regular taxes
were raised, arsenals were formed in the great limestone caves of the
district, the Catholic churches and their decorations were burned and
the clergy driven away. Occasionally routed in regular engagements, the
Camisards, through their desperate valour and the rapidity of their
movements, were constantly successful in skirmishes, night attacks and
ambuscades. A force of 60,000 was now in the field against them; among
others, the Irish Brigade which had just returned from the persecutions
of the Waldenses. The rising was far from being general, and never
extended to more than three or four thousand men, but it was rendered
dangerous by the secret and even in many places the open support of the
people in general. On the other hand their knowledge of a mountainous
country clothed in forests and without roads, gave the insurgents an
enormous advantage over the royal troops. The rebellion was not finally
suppressed until Baville had constructed roads throughout this almost