Page:The Rebellion in the Cevennes (Volume 1).djvu/17

Rh 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 successfully. Thus they died, some with arms in their hands, some as emigrants, others submitted in order to preserve their faith, even under the greatest oppression, or were forcibly constrained to become Catholics. Thus ended this insurrection with the total devastation of the province and the annihilation, or exile of a large portion of its inhabitants. Since then, in the South of France, merely a war of opinion, lay smouldering, which after the restoration of the Bourbons in the year 1815, gave rise to frightful scenes in Nismes, and at other places. Only when in March