As far back as the twelfth century, religions sects were formed in this district (the Cevennes) under the names of "The Poor of Lyons," "The Albigenses," "Waldenses," &c. Notwithstanding the crusades and inquisitions raised against them by the popes for centuries, numerous remnants had preserved themselves, who, when the Reformation found a footing, obtained a signal increase, and finally, through the edict of Nantes, were protected from further persecutions. But when Louis XIV., 1685, revoked the edict and purposed to reconduct all his subjects by force into the bosom of the Catholic Church, then began a series of the most cruel persecutions against the Protestant inhabitants of the districts bordering on the Cevennes, especially after the peace of Ryswick, 1697. Missionaries were accompanied by dragoons in order to support by force of arms the preachings of the monks, (hence these conversions called _dragoonings_) and the tax collectors were directed to require all, especially those, suspected of protestantism, to pay up their taxes. The most savage cruelties, in which children were torn from their parents, in order to bring them up in the Catholic faith, men, who were gone to their houses of prayer, sent to the galleys, and women thrown into prisons, their priests hanged, the churches destroyed, at length produced despair. Those, who did not emigrate, fled into the retired mountain districts. Prophets and prophetesses arose, promising victory to the peasantry, and esteeming him a martyr, who fell into the hands of the dragoons. A remarkable fanaticism took possession of the Protestant people, which, in many, even in children, shewed itself in the most fantastic trances of a really epidemic nature. See Bruyes "Histoire du fanatisme de notre temps" (Utrecht, 1757). The struggle began first with the murder of the tax-gatherers; the assassination of the Abbé du Chaila, 1703, who was at the head of those dragoonings, at length gave the signal for a general rising. The revolted peasants were called "Camisards," either from the provincial word Camise (shirt) in derision of their poverty, or, because they wore a shirt in their surprises by which they might recognise one another, or from the word "Camisade" (nightly surprise). Their numbers and their fanaticism continued to increase, Louis's power was rendered the less effective in putting an end to this insurrection, as the chain of mountains presented sufficient places of refuge, and his troops were every moment in danger of being cut off and surprised, or of being destroyed by cold and hunger. The boldness of the Camisards increased daily, especially as they placed at their head intrepid leaders, among whom Cavalier[1] particularly distinguished himself. The state of affairs became most critical, for Louis XIV., when the Spanish war of succession required him to extend his forces on all sides, and Marlborough and the Duke of Savoy, through promises and small succours,