already
hanged, which was no wonder considering the marvellous celerity with
which executions were conducted at that epoch, he threw himself on his
knees, confessed who he was, and related for what reason he had joined
the fanatics. He went on to say that as he had not joined them of his
own free will, but had been forced to do so, he would, if they would
spare his life, reveal important secrets to them, by means of which they
could arrest the principal conspirators.

His offer was so tempting and his life of so little worth that the duke
and de Baville did not long hesitate, but pledged their word to spare his
life if the revelations he was about to make proved to be of real
importance. The bargain being concluded, the Genevois made the following
statement:

"That several letters having arrived from foreign countries containing
promises of men and money, the discontented in the provinces had leagued
together in order to provoke a fresh rebellion. By means of these letters
and other documents which were scattered abroad, hopes were raised that
M. de Miremont, the last Protestant prince of the house of Bourbon, would
bring them reinforcements five or six thousand strong. These
reinforcements were to come by sea and make a descent on Aigues-Mortes or
Cette,--and two thousand Huguenots were to arrive at the same time by way
of Dauphine and join the others as they disembarked.

"That in this hope Catinat, Clary, and Jonquet had left Geneva and
returned to France, and having joined Ravanel had gone secretly through
those parts of the country known to be infected with fanaticism, and made
all necessary arrangements, such as amassing powder and lead, munitions
of war, and stores of all kinds, as well as enrolling the names of all
those who were of age to bear arms. Furthermore, they had made an
estimate of what each city, town, and village ought to contribute in
money or in kind to the--League of the Children of God, so that they
could count on having eight or ten thousand men ready to rise at the
first signal. They had furthermore resolved that there should be risings
in several places at the same time, which places were already chosen, and
each of those who were to take part in the movement knew his exact duty.
At Montpellier a hundred of the most determined amongst the disaffected
were to set fire in different quarters to the houses of the Catholics,
killing all who attempted to extinguish the fires, and with the hel