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exchange for him。 Planche； consequently； is set at liberty and
welcomed with shouts of triumph。 Latierce； however； is not given
up； on the contrary； he is tormented for an hour and then massacred；
while the directory of the district； which is less submissive than
the municipal body； is forced to fly。 … Symptoms of this kind are
not to be mistaken； and similar ones exist in Brittany。 It is
evident that the minds of the people are permanently in revolt。
Instead of the social abscess being relieved by the discharge； it is
always filling up and getting more inflamed。 It will burst a second
time in the same places； in 1791 as in 1790； the jacquerie spreads
throughout Brittany as it has spread over Limousin。
This is because the determination of the peasant is of another
nature than ours； his will being more firm and tenacious。 When an
idea obtains a hold on him it takes root in an obscure and profound
conviction upon which neither discussion nor argument have any
effect； once planted； it vegetates according to his notions； not
according to ours； and no legislative text； no judicial verdict； no
administrative remonstrance can change in any respect the fruit it
produces。 This fruit； developed during centuries； is the feeling of
an excessive plunder； and； consequently； the need of an absolute
release。 Too much having been paid to everybody； the peasant now is
not disposed to pay anything to anybody； and this idea； vainly
repressed； always rises up in the manner of an instinct。 … In the
month of January； 1791；＇69＇ bands again form in Brittany； owing to
the proprietors of the ancient fiefs having insisted on the payment
of their rents。 At first the coalesced parishes refuse to pay the
stewards； and after this the rustic National Guards enter the
chateaux to constrain the proprietors。 Generally； it is the
commander of the National Guard； and sometimes the communal
attorney； who dictates to the lord of the manor the renunciation of
his claims； they oblige him； moreover； to sign notes for the benefit
of the parish； or for that of various private individuals。 This is
considered by them to be compensation for damages； all feudal dues
being abolished； he must return what he received from them during
the past year； and as they have been put to inconvenience he must
indemnify them by 〃paying them for their time and journey。〃 Such are
the operations of two of the principal bands； one of them numbering
fifteen hundred men； around Dinan and St。 Malo； for greater
security they burn title…deeds in the chateaux of Saint…Tual； Besso；
Beaumanoir； La Rivière； La Bellière； Chateauneuf； Chenay；
Chausavoir； Tourdelon； and Chalonge； and as a climax they set fire
to Chateauneuf just before the arrival of the regular troops。 … In
the beginning； a dim conception of legal and social order seems to
be floating in their brains； at Saint…Tual； before taking 2；000
livres from the steward； they oblige the mayor to give them his
consent in writing； at Yvignac； their chief； called upon to show the
authority under which he acted； declares that 〃he is authorized by
the general will of the populace of the nation。〃＇70＇ … But when； at
the end of a month； they are beaten by the regular troops； made
furious by the blows given and taken； and excited by the weakness of
the municipal authorities who release their prisoners； they then
become bandits of the worst species。 During the night of the 22nd
of February； the chateau of Villefranche； three leagues from
Malestroit； is attacked。 Thirty…two rascals with their faces
masked； and led by a chief in the national uniform； break open the
door。 The domestics are strangled。 The proprietor； M。 de la
Bourdonnaie； an old man； with his wife aged sixty； are half killed
by blows and tied fast to their bed； and after this a fire is
applied to their feet and they are warmed （chauffé）。 In the
meantime the plate； linen； stuffs； jewelry； two thousand francs in
silver； and even watches； buckles； and rings； … everything is
pillaged； piled on the backs of the eleven horses in the stables；
and carried off。 … ？When property is concerned； one sort of
outrage provokes another； the narrow cupidity of the lease…holder
being completed by the unlimited rapacity of the brigand。
Meanwhile； in the south…western provinces； the same causes have
produced the same results； and towards the end of autumn； when the
crops are gathered in and the proprietors demand their dues in money
or in produce； the peasant； immovably fixed in his idea； again
refuses。＇71＇ In his eyes； any law that may be against him is not
that of the National Assembly； but of the so…called seigneurs； who
have extorted or manufactured it； and therefore it is null。 The
department and district administrators may promulgate it as much as
they please： it does not concern him； and if the opportunity occurs；
he knows how to make them smart for it。 The village National
Guards； who are lease…holders like himself； side with him； and
instead of repressing him give him their support。 As a
commencement； he replants the maypoles； as a sign of emancipation；
and erects the gibbet by way of a threat。 … In the district of
Gourdon； the regulars and the police having been sent to put them
down； the tocsin is at once sounded： a crowd of peasants； amounting
to four or five thousand； arrives from every surrounding parish；
armed with scythes and guns； the soldiers； forming a body of one
hundred； retire into a church； where they capitulate after a siege
of twenty…four hours； being obliged to give the names of the
proprietors who demanded their intervention of the district； and who
are Messrs。 Hébray； de Fontange； and many others。 All their houses
are destroyed from top to bottom； and they effect their escape in
order not to be hung。 The chateaux of Repaire and Salviat are
burned。 At the expiration of eight days Quercy is in flames and
thirty chateaux are destroyed。 … The leader of a band of rustic
National Guards； Joseph Linard； at the head of a village army；
penetrates into Gourdon； installs himself in the H？tel…de…Ville；
declares himself the people's protector against the directory of the
district； writes to the department in the name of his 〃companions in
arms；〃 and vaunts his patriotism。 Meanwhile he commands as a
conqueror； throws open the prisons； and promises that； if the
regular troops and police be sent off； he and his companions will
withdraw in good order。 … This species of tumultuous authority；
however； instituted by acclamation for attack； is powerless for
resistance。 Scarcely has Linard retired when savagery is let loose。
〃A price is set upon the heads of the administrators； their houses
are the first devastated； all the houses of wealthy citizens are
pillaged； and the same is the case with all chateaux and country
habitations which display any signs of luxury。〃 … Fifteen
gentlemen； assembled together at the house of M。 d'Escayrac； in
Castel；