word was
better than twenty cities of refuge, and that after all the trouble we
had given him we should regard it as showing great clemency on his part
that he had granted us the greater part of what we had asked. This
reasoning was not entirely convincing, but as there was no more time for
deliberation, and as I was as anxious for peace as the king himself, I
decided to accept gracefully what was offered."

All the further advantage that Cavalier could obtain from M. de Villars
was that the treaty should bear the date of the day on which it had been
drawn up; in this manner the prisoners who were to be set at liberty in
six weeks gained one week.

M. de Villars wrote at the bottom of the treaty, which was signed the
same day by him and M. de Baville on the part of the king, and by
Cavalier and Daniel Billard on the part of the Protestants, the following
ratification:

"In virtue of the plenary powers which we have received from the king, we
have granted to the Reformers of Languedoc the articles above made known.
"MARECHAL DE VILLARS J. CAVALIER
"LAMOIGNON DE BAVILLE DANIEL BILLARD

"Given at Nimes, the 17th of May 1704"

These two signatures, all unworthy as they were to stand beside their
own, gave such great delight to MM. de Villars and de Baville, that they
at once sent off fresh orders to Calvisson that the wants of the
Camisards should be abundantly supplied until the articles of the treaty
were executed--that is to say, until the prisoners and the galley slaves
were set at liberty, which, according to article 2 of the treaty, would
be within the next six weeks. As to Cavalier, the marechal gave him on
the spot a commission as colonel, with a pension of 1200 livres attached,
and the power of nominating the subordinate officers in his regiment, and
at the same time he handed him a captain's commission for his young
brother.

Cavalier drew up the muster-roll of the regiment the same day, and gave
it to the marechal. It was to consist of seven hundred and twelve men,
forming fifteen companies, with sixteen captains, sixteen lieutenants, a
sergeant-major, and a surgeon-major.

While all this was happening, Roland, taking advantage of the suspension
of hostilities, was riding up and down the province as if he were viceroy
of the Cevennes, and wherever he appeared he had a magnificent reception.
Like Cavalier, he gave leave of absence and furnished escorts, and held
himself haughtily, sure that