n, and followed by a
number of mules loaded with crowbars, axes, and other iron instruments
necessary for pulling down houses.

The approach of all these troops following close on the terrible
proclamations we have given above, produced exactly the contrary effect
to that intended. The inhabitants of the proscribed districts were
convinced that the order to gather together in certain places was given
that they might be conveniently massacred together, so that all those
capable of bearing arms went deeper into the mountains, and joined the
forces of Cavalier and Roland, thus reinforcing them to the number of
fifteen hundred men. Also hardly had M. de Julien set his hand to the
work than he received information from M. de Montrevel, who had heard
the news through a letter from Flechier, that while the royal troops
were busy in the mountains the Camisards had come down into the plain,
swarmed over La Camargue, and had been seen in the neighbourhood of
Saint-Gilles. At the same time word was sent him that two ships had been
seen in the offing, from Cette, and that it was more than probable that
they contained troops, that England and Holland were sending to help the
Camisards.

M. de Montrevel; leaving the further conduct of the expedition to MM. de
Julien and de Canillac, hastened to Cette with eight hundred men and
ten guns. The ships were still in sight, and were really, as had been
surmised, two vessels which had been detached from the combined fleets
of England and Holland by Admiral Schowel, and were the bearers of
money, arms, and ammunition to the Huguenots. They continued to cruise
about and signal, but as the rebels were forced by the presence of M.
de Montrevel to keep away from the coast, and could therefore make no
answer, they put off at length into the open, and rejoined the fleet. As
M. de Montrevel feared that their retreat might be a feint, he ordered
all the fishermen's huts from Aigues-Morte to Saint-Gilles to be
destroyed, lest they should afford shelter to the Camisards. At the same
time he carried off the inhabitants of the district of Guillan and
shut them up in the chateau of Sommerez, after having demolished their
villages. Lastly, he ordered all those who lived in homesteads, farms,
or hamlets, to quit them and go to some large town, taking with them all
the provisions they were possessed of; and he forbade any workman who
went outside the town to work to take more than one day's provisions
with