Protestantism in France From Death of Henry IV to the Revolution - James Aitken Wylie
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no violence could s<strong>to</strong>p <strong>the</strong>se field-preach<strong>in</strong>gs. They<br />
grew ever larger <strong>in</strong> numbers, and ever more<br />
frequent <strong>in</strong> time, till at last, we are assured, it was<br />
noth<strong>in</strong>g uncommon, <strong>in</strong> travers<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> mounta<strong>in</strong>side<br />
or <strong>the</strong> forest where <strong>the</strong>y had met, <strong>to</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d, at<br />
every four paces, dead bodies dott<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> sward,<br />
and corpses hang<strong>in</strong>g suspended from <strong>the</strong> trees.<br />
The outbreak <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Camisards came <strong>to</strong><br />
diversify with new and even greater horrors this<br />
terrible tragedy. Driven <strong>to</strong> desperation and stung <strong>to</strong><br />
madness by <strong>the</strong> numberless cruelties, <strong>in</strong>justices,<br />
and <strong>in</strong>famies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Government, and permitt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>the</strong>m. selves <strong>to</strong> be directed by certa<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own<br />
number whom <strong>the</strong>y regarded as prophets, <strong>the</strong><br />
peasants <strong>of</strong> Vivarais and Languedoc rose <strong>in</strong> arms<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> royal troops. Ignorant <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> art <strong>of</strong> war,<br />
and provided only with such weapons as <strong>the</strong>y <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
from <strong>the</strong>ir enemies, <strong>the</strong>y lurked beh<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> bushes<br />
and crags <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir mounta<strong>in</strong>s, and sold <strong>the</strong>ir lives as<br />
dearly as <strong>the</strong>y were able. They never amounted <strong>to</strong><br />
more than 10,000, but at times <strong>the</strong>y held <strong>in</strong> check<br />
armies <strong>of</strong> double that number.<br />
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