massacres of the south-第31章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


and　to　the　stake；　and　our　readers　already　know　what　such　a　double
sentence　meant。　　Francezet　and　Brun　paid　both　penalties　on　the　30th
of　April；　betraying　no　secrets　and　uttering　no　complaints。

Boeton；　who　had　been　denounced　by　Villas　when　under　torture　（and　who
thereby　abridged　his　agony）　as　the　person　in　whose　house　the　plot　to
carry　off　the　Duke　of　Berwick　and　de　Baville　had　been　arranged；　still
remained　to　be　dealt　with。

He　was　moderate　in　his　religious　views；　but　firm　and　full　of　faith；
his　principles　resembled　those　of　the　Quakers　in　that　he　refused　to
carry　arms；　he　was；　however；　willing　to　aid　the　good　cause　by　all
other　means　within　his　reach。　　He　was　at　home　waiting；　with　that　calm
which　perfect　trust　in　God　gives；　for　the　day　to　come　which　had　been
appointed　for　the　execution　of　the　plan；　when　suddenly　his　house　was
surrounded　during　the　night　by　the　royals。　　Faithful　to　his
principles；　he　offered　no　resistance；　but　held　out　his　hands　to　be
bound。　　He　was　taken　in　triumph　to　Nimes；　and　from　there　to　the
citadel　of　Montpellier。　　On　the　way　he　encountered　his　wife　and　his
son；　who　were　going　to　the　latter　town　to　intercede　for　him。　　When
they　met　him；　they　dismounted　from　their　horse；　for　the　mother　was
riding　on　a　pillion　behind　the　son；　and　kneeling　on　the　highroad；
asked　for　Boeton's　blessing。　　Unfeeling　though　the　soldiers　were；
they　yet　permitted　their　prisoner　to　stop　an　instant；　while　he；
raising　his　fettered　hands　to　heaven；　gave　the　double　blessing　asked
for。　　So　touched　was　Baron　Saint…Chatte　by　the　scene　（be　it　remarked
in　passing　that　the　baron　and　Boeton　were　cousins　by　marriage）　that
he　permitted　them　to　embrace　one　another；　so　for　a　few　moments　they
stood；　the　husband　and　father　clasped　to　the　hearts　of　his　dear　ones；
then；　on　a　sign　from　Boeton；　they　tore　themselves　away；　Boeton
commanding　them　to　pray　for　M。　de　Saint…Chatte；　who　had　given　them
this　consolation。　　As　he　resumed　his　march　the　prisoner　set　them　the
example　by　beginning　to　sing　a　psalm　for　the　benefit　of　M。　de
Saint…Chatte。

The　next　day；　despite　the　intercession　of　his　wife　and　son；　Boeton
was　condemned　to　torture　both　ordinary　and　extraordinary；　and　then　to
be　broken　on　the　wheel。　　On　hearing　this　cruel　sentence；　he　said　that
he　was　ready　to　suffer　every　ill　that　God　might　send　him　in　order　to
prove　the　steadfastness　of　his　faith。

And　indeed　he　endured　his　torture　with　such　firmness；　that　M。　de
Baville；　who　was　present　in　the　hope　of　obtaining　a　confession；
became　more　impatient　than　the　sufferer；　and；　forgetting　his　sacred
office；　the　judge　struck　and　insulted　the　prisoner。　　Upon　this　Baeton
raised　his　eyes　to　heaven　and　cried；　〃Lord；　Lord！　how　long　shall　the
wicked　triumph？　　How　long　shall　innocent　blood　be　shed？　　How　long
wilt　Thou　not　judge　and　avenge　our　blood　with　cries　to　Thee？
Remember　Thy　jealousy；　O　Lord；　and　Thy　loving…kindness　of　old！〃　　Then
M。　de　Baville　withdrew；　giving　orders　that　he　was　to　be　brought　to
the　scaffold。

The　scaffold　was　erected　on　the　Esplanade：　being；　as　was　usual　when
this　sort　of　death　was　to　be　inflicted；　a　wooden　platform　five　or　six
feet　high；　on　which　was　fastened　flat　a　St。　Andrew's　cross；　formed　of
two　beams　of　wood　in　the　form　of　an　X。　　In　each　of　the　four　arms　two
square　pieces　were　cut　out　to　about　half　the　depth　of　the　beam；　and
about　a　foot　apart；　so　that　when　the　victim　was　bound　on　the　cross
the　outstretched　limbs　were　easy　to　break　by　a　blow　at　these　points；
having　no　support　beneath。　　Lastly；　near　the　cross；　at　one　corner　of
the　scaffold　an　upright　wooden　post　was　fixed；　on　which　was　fastened
horizontally　a　small　carriage　wheel；　as　on　a　pivot；　the　projecting
part　of　the　nave　being　sawn　off　to　make　it　flat。　　On　this　bed　of　pain
the　sufferer　was　laid；　so　that　the　spectators　might　enjoy　the　sight
of　his　dying　convulsions　when；　the　executioner　having　accomplished
his　part；　the　turn　of　death　arrived。

Boeton　was　carried　to　execution　in　a　cart；　and　drums　were　beaten　that
his　exhortations　might　not　be　heard。　　But　above　the　roll　of　drums　his
voice　rose　unfalteringly；　as　he　admonished　his　brethren　to　uphold
their　fellowship　in　Christ。

Half…way　to　the　Esplanade　a　friend　of　the　condemned　man；　who　happened
to　be　in　the　street；　met　the　procession；　and　fearing　that　he　could
not　support　the　sight；　he　took　refuge　in　a　shop。　　When　Boeton　was
opposite　the　door；　he　stopped　the　cart　and　asked　permission　of　the
provost　to　speak　to　his　friend。　　The　request　being　granted；　he　called
him　out；　and　as　he　approached；　bathed　in　tears；　Boeton　said；　〃Why　do
you　run　away　from　me？　　Is　it　because　you　see　me　covered　with　the
tokens　of　Jesus　Christ？　　Why　do　you　weep　because　He　has　graciously
called　me　to　Himself；　and　all　unworthy　though　I　be；　permits　me　to
seal　my　faith　with　my　blood？〃　　Then；　as　the　friend　threw　himself　into
Boeton's　arms　and　some　signs　of　sympathetic　emotion　appeared　among
the　crowd；　the　procession　was　abruptly　ordered　to　move　on；　but　though
the　leave…taking　was　thus　roughly　broken　short；　no　murmur　passed　the
lips　of　Boeton。

In　turning　out　of　the　first　street；　the　scaffold　came　in　sight；　the
condemned　man　raised　his　hands　towards　heaven；　and　exclaimed　in　a
cheerful　voice；　while　a　smile　lit　up　his　face；　〃Courage；　my　soul！　　I
see　thy　place　of　triumph；　whence；　released　from　earthly　bonds；　thou
shah　take　flight　to　heaven。〃

When　he　got　to　the　foot　of　the　scaffold；　it　was　found　he　could　not
mount　without　assistance；　for　his　limbs；　crushed　in　the　terrible
〃boot；〃　could　no　longer　sustain　his　weight。　　While　they　were
preparing　to　carry　him　up；　he　exhorted　and　comforted　the　Protestants；
who　were　all　weeping　round　him。　　When　he　reached　the　platform　he　laid
himself　of　his　own　accord　on　the　cross；　but　hearing　from　the
executioner　that　he　must　first　be　undressed；　he　raised　himself　again
with　a　smile；　so　that　the　executioner's　assistant　could　remove　his
doublet　and　small…clothes。　　As　he　wore　no　stockings；　his　legs　being
bandaged　the　man　also　unwound　these　bandages；　and　rolled　up　Boeton's
shirts…sleeves　to　the　elbow；　and　then　ordered　him　to　lay　himself
again　on　the　cross。　　Boeton　did　so　with　unbroken　calm。　　All　his　limbs
were　then　bound　to　the　beams　with　cords　at　every　joint；　this
accomplished；　the　assistant　retired；　and　the　executioner　came
forward。　　He　held　in　his　hand　a　square　bar　of　iron；　an　inch　and　a
half　thick；　three　feet　long；　and　rounded　at　one　end　so　as　to　form　a
handle。

When　Boeton　saw　it　he　began　singing　a　psalm；　but　almost　immediately
the　melody　was　interrupted　by　a　cry：　the　executioner　had　broken　a
bone　of　Boeton's　right　leg；　but　the　singing　was　at　once　resumed；　and
continued　without　interruption　till　each　limb　had　been　broken　in　two
places。　　Then　the　executioner　unbound　the　formless　but　still　living
body　from　the　cross；　and　while　from　its　lips　issued　words　of　faith　in
God　he　laid　it　on　the　wheel；　bending　it　back　on　the　legs　in　such　a
manner　that　the　heels　and　head　met；　and　never　once　during　the
completion　of　this　atrocious　performance　did　the　voice　of　the
sufferer　cease　to　sound　forth　the　praises　of　the　Lord。

No　execution　till　then　had　ever　produced　such　an　effect　on　the　crowd；
so　that　Abbe　Massilla；　who　was　present；　seeing　the　general　emotion；
hastened　to　call　M。　de　Baville's　attention　to　the　fact　that；　far　from
Boeton's　death　inspiring　the　Protestants　with　terror；　they　were　only
encouraged　to　hold　out；　as　was　proved　by　their　tears；　and　the　praises
they　lavished　on　the　dying　man。

M；　de　Baville；　recognising　the　truth　of　this　observation；　ordered
that　Boeton　should　be　put　out　of　misery。　　This　order　being　conveyed
to　the　executioner；　he　approached　the　wheel　to　break　in　Boeton's
chest　with　one　last　blow；　but　an　archer　standing　on　the　scaffold
threw　himself　before　the　sufferer；　saying　that　the　Huguenot　had　not
yet　suffered　half　enough。　　At　this；　Boeton；　who　had　heard　the
dreadful　dispute　going　on　beside　him；　interrupted　his　prayers　for　an
instant；　and　raising　his　head；　which　hung　down　over　the　edge　of　the
wheel；　said；　〃Friend；　you　think　I　suffer；　and　in　truth　I　do；　but　He
for　whom　I　suffer　is　beside　me　and　gives　me　strength　to　bear
everything　joyfully。〃　　Just　then　M。　de　Baville's　order　was　repeated；
and　the　archer；　no　longer　daring　to　interfere；　allowed　the
executioner　to　approach。　　Then　Boeton；　seeing　his　last　moment　had
come；　said；　〃My　dear　friends；　may　my　death　be　an　example　to　you；　to
incite　you　to　preserve　the　gospel　pure；　bear　faithful　testimony　that
I　died　in　the　religion　of　Christ　and　His　holy　apostles。〃　　Hardly　had
these　words　passed　his　lips；　than　the　death…blow　was　given　and　his
chest　crushed；　a　few　inarticulate　sounds；　apparently　prayers；　were
heard；　the　head　fell　back；　the　martyrdom　was　ended。

This　execution　ended　the　war　in　Languedoc。　　A　few　imprudent　preachers
still　delivered　belated　sermons；　to　which　the　rebels　listened
trembling　with　fear；　and　for　which　the　preachers　paid　on　the　wheel　or
gibbet。　　There　were　disturbances　in　Vivarais；　aroused　by　Daniel
Billard；　during　which　a　few　Catholics　were　found　murdered　on　the
highway；　there　were　a　few　fights；　as　for　instance　at　Sainte…Pierre…
Ville；　where　the　Camisards；　faithful　to　the　old　traditions　which　had
come　to　them　from　Cavalier；　Catinat；　and　Ravenal；　fought　one　to
twenty；　but　they　were　all　without　importance；　they　were　only　the　last
quiverings　of　the　dying　civil　strife；　the　last　shudderings　of　the
earth　when　the　eruption　of　the　volcano　is　over。

Even　Cavalier　understood　that　the　end　had　come；　for　he　left　Holland
for　England。　　There　Queen　Anne　distinguished　him　by　a　cordial
welcome；　she　invited　him　to　enter　her　service；　an　offer　which　he
accepted；　and　he　was　placed　in　command　of　a　regiment　of　refugees；　so
that　he　actually　received　in　England　the　grade　of　colonel；　which　he
had　been　offered　in　France。　　At　the　battle　of　Almanza　the　regiment
commanded　by　Cavalier　found　itself　opposed　by　a　French　regiment。　　The
old　enemies　recognised　each　other；　and　with　a　howl　of　rage；　without
waiting　for　the　word　of　command　or　executing　any　military　evolutions；
they　hurled　themselves　at　each　other　with　such　fury　that；　if　we　may
believe　the　Duke　of　Berwick；　who　was　present；　they　almost　annihilated
each　other　in　the　conflict。　　Cavalier；　however；　survived　the
slaughter；　in　which　he　had　performed　his　part　with　energy；　and　for
his　courage　was　made　general　and　governor　of　the　island　of　Jersey。
He　died　at　Chelsea　in　May　1740；　aged　sixty　years。　　〃I　must　confess；〃
says　Malesherbes；　〃that　this　soldier；　who　without　training　became　a
great　general　by　means　of　his　natural　gifts；　this　Camisard；　who　dared
in　the　face　of　fierce　troopers　to　punish　a　crime　similar　to　those　by
which　the　troopers　existed；　this　rude　peasant；　who；　admitted　into　the
best　society；　adopted　its　manners　and　gained　its　esteem　and　love；
this　man；　who　though　accustomed　to　an　adventurous　life；　and　who　might
justly　have　been　puffed　up　by　success；　had　yet　enough　philosophy　to
lead　for　thirty…five　years　a　tranquil　private　existence；　appears　to
me　to　be　one　of　the　rarest　characters　to　be　met　with　in　the　pages　of
history。〃




CHAPTER　VI

At　length　Louis　XIV；　bowed　beneath　the　weight　of　a　reign　of　sixty
years；　was　summoned　in　his　turn　to　appe