spot, or hanged, or broken on the wheel in
Alais, Nismes, and St. Hippolyte. Villars succeeded so far, that
already on the 10th of May, Cavalier gave up the cause of the Camisards
as lost, and concluded a treaty, wherein he promised to surrender with
his party on condition that they should obtain liberty of conscience
and the right to assemble privately without the towns for the service
of God, that the prisoners should be set free, the emigrated recalled,
and the confiscated estates and privileges restored. On the 22nd the
confirmation of the treaty arrived from Paris, and at the same time
permission for Cavalier to form a regiment in the King's pay. In the
mean while, however, the affair rapidly took another turn, particularly
in consequence of the activity of Dutch emissaries, who, brought money
and weapons, and promised the support of their republic. Cavalier had
gone to Anglade to superintend the organization of his regiment, when
the wild peasantry, excited by his lieutenant and inspired by their
prophets, set out and marched into the neighbouring woods, declaring
firmly, the King should restore the edict of Nantes, without which
there was no security for them. At length, however, Villars succeeded
by his personal influence and by cutting off from them all means of
subsistence, to bring them under subjection. Many of them fled and
entered into the Piedmontese service, where they formed a regiment that
took part in the Spanish war, and later under Cavalier's command, was
destroyed at the battle of Almanza, which Berwick gave to the Count of
Stahremberg on the 25th of April, 1707. The whole insurrection,
however, was not, quelled by that subjugation. There were still
multitudes, among which one particularly distinguished itself, led on
by a certain Roland; but Villars sought only to become possessed of the
leaders. Roland, when taken prisoner, was shot by a dragoon, whereupon
the remaining leaders surrendered, and cards of security were given to
them, and their adherents by the Marshal, which secured them from every
persecution. Yet, before Villars had fully stilled the rebellion, he
was replaced by the Marshal of Berwick, who fell upon the chief leaders
of the Camisards in Montpellier, caused them to be burnt and broken on
the wheel, and the country cruelly laid waste. Driven to extremity by
this, the Camisards rose once again with more enthusiastic inspiration.
They were, however, too weak to finish this warfare su