doors were opened, and Froment hastened to occupy every post of vantage,
and the battle began in that quarter, too, becoming fiercer as the
conspirators remarked that every minute brought the Protestants
reinforcements from Gardonninque and La Vaunage. The firing began at ten
o'clock in the morning, and at four o'clock in the afternoon it was going
on with unabated fury.

At four o'clock, however, a servant carrying a flag of truce appeared; he
brought a letter from Descombiez, Fremont, and Folacher, who styled
themselves "Captains commanding the towers of the Castle." It was couched
in the following words:--

"To the Commandant of the troops of the line, with the request that the
contents be communicated to the militia stationed in the Esplanade.

"SIR,--We have just been informed that you are anxious for peace. We
also desire it, and have never done anything to break it. If those who
have caused the frightful confusion which at present prevails in the city
are willing to bring it to an end, we offer to forget the past and to
live with them as brothers.

"We remain, with all the frankness and loyalty of patriots and Frenchmen,
your humble servants,

"The Captains of the Legion of Nimes, in command of the towers of the
Castle,

"FROMENT, DESCOMBIEZ, FOLACHER NIMES, the 14th June 1790, 4.00 P.M."

On the receipt of this letter, the city herald was sent to the towers to
offer the rebels terms of capitulation. The three "captains in command"
came out to discuss the terms with the commissioners of the electoral
body; they were armed and followed by a great number of adherents.
However, as the negotiators desired peace before all things, they
proposed that the three chiefs should surrender and place themselves in
the hands of the Electoral Assembly. This offer being refused, the
electoral commissioners withdrew, and the rebels retired behind their
fortifications. About five o'clock in the evening, just as the
negotiations were broken off, M. Aubry, an artillery captain who had been
sent with two hundred men to the depot of field artillery in the country,
returned with six pieces of ordnance, determined to make a breach in the
tower occupied by the conspirators, and from which they were firing in
safety at the soldiers, who had no cover. At six o'clock, the guns being
mounted, their thunder began, first drowning the noise of the musketry
and then silencing it altogether; for the cannon balls did their work
qu