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of Bailly； two other proprietors in the neighborhood are
assassinated in their houses。 Finally； on a journey to Lyons； M。 de
Bussy learns 〃that the chateaux in Poitou are again in flames； and
that the work is to begin again everywhere。〃 … Alarmed at all
these indications； 〃he resolves to form a company of volunteers；
which； taking up their quarters in his chateau； can serve the whole
canton on a legal requisition。〃 He thinks that about fifteen brave
men will be sufficient。 He has already six men with him in the
month of October； 1790； green coats are ordered for them； and
buttons are bought for the uniform。 Seven or eight domestics may be
added to the number。 In the way of arms and munitions the chateau
contains two kegs of gunpowder which were on hand before 1789； seven
blunderbusses； and five cavalry sabers； left there in passing by M。
de Bussy's old dragoons： to these must be added two double…barreled
fowling…pieces； three soldiers' muskets； five brace of pistols； two
poor common guns； two old swords； and a hunting…knife。 Such is the
garrison； such the arsenal； and these are the preparations； so well
justified and so slight； which prejudice conjointly with gossip is
about to transform into a great conspiracy。
The chateau； in effect； was an object of suspicion in the village
from the very first day。 All its visitors； whenever they went out
or came in； with all the details of their actions； were watched；
denounced； exaggerated； and misinterpreted。 If through the
awkwardness or carelessness of so many inexperienced National
Guards； a stray ball reaches a farm…house one day in broad daylight；
it comes from the chateau； it is the aristocrats who have fired upon
the peasants。 … There is the same state of suspicion in the
neighboring towns。 The municipal body of Valence； hearing that two
youths had ordered coats made 〃of a color which seemed suspicious；〃
send for the tailor； he confesses the fact； and adds that 〃they
intended to put the buttons on themselves。〃 Such a detail is
alarming。 An inquiry is set on foot and the alarm increases； people
in a strange uniform have been seen passing on their way to the
chateau of Villiers； from thence； on reaching the number of two
hundred； they will go and join the garrison of Besan？on； they will
travel four at a time in order to avoid detection。 At Besan？on they
are to meet a corps of forty thousand men； commanded by M。
Autichamp； which corps is to march on to Paris to carry off the
King； and break up the National Assembly。 The National Guards along
the whole route are to be forced into the lines。 At a certain
distance each man is to receive 1；200 francs； and； at the end of the
expedition； is to be enrolled in the Artois Guard； or sent home with
a recompense of 12；000 francs。 … ？Meanwhile； the Prince de Condé；
with forty thousand men； will come by the way of Pont Saint…Esprit
in Languedoc； rally the disaffected of Carpentras and of the Jalès
camp to his standard； and occupy Cette and the other seaports； and
finally； the Comte d'Artois； on his side； will enter by Pont…
Beauvoisin with thirty thousand men。 … A horrible discovery！ The
municipal authorities of Valence immediately inform those of Lyons；
Besan？on； Chalons； Ma？on； and others beside。 On the strength of
this the municipal body of Ma？on； 〃considering that the enemies of
the Revolution are ever making the most strenuous efforts to
annihilate the Constitution which secures the happiness of this
empire；〃 and 〃that it is highly important to frustrate their
designs；〃 sends two hundred men of its National Guard to the chateau
of Villiers；〃 empowered to employ armed force in case of
resistance。〃 For greater security； this troop is joined by the
National Guards of the three neighboring parishes。 M。 de Bussy； on
being told that they were climbing over the wall into his garden；
seizes a gun and takes aim； but does not fire； and then； the
requisition being legal； throws all open to them。 There are found in
the house six green coats； seven dozens of large buttons； and
fifteen dozens of small ones。 The proof is manifest。 He explains
what his project was and states his motive … it is a mere pretext。
He makes a sign； as an order； to his valet … there is a positive
complicity。 M。 de Bussy； his six guests； and the valet； are
arrested and transported to Ma？on。 A trial takes place； with
depositions and interrogatories； in which the truth is elicited in
spite of the most adverse testimony； it is clear that M。 de Bussy
never intended to do more than defend himself。 … But prejudice is
a blindfold to hostile eyes。 It cannot be admitted that； under a
constitution which is perfect； an innocent man could incur danger；
the objection is made to him that 〃it is not natural for an armed
company to be formed to resist a massacre by which it is not menaced
；〃 they are convinced beforehand that he is guilty。 On a decree of
the National Assembly the minister had ordered all accused persons
to be brought to Paris by the constabulary and hussars； the National
Guard of Ma？on； 〃in the greatest state of agitation；〃 declares that；
〃as it had arrested M。 de Bussy； it would not consent to his
transport by any other body。 。 。 Undoubtedly； the object is to
allow him to escape on the way；〃 but it will know how to keep its
captive secure。 The guard； in fine； of its own authority； escorts
M。 de Bussy to Paris； into the Abbaye prison； where he is kept
confined for several months … so long； indeed； that； after a new
trial and investigation； the absurdity of the accusation being too
palpable； they are obliged to set him at liberty。 … Such is the
situation of most of the gentry on their own estates； and M。 de
Bussy； even acquitted and vindicated； will act wisely in not
returning home。
III。
Domiciliary visits。 … The fifth jacquerie。 … Burgundy and
Lyonnais in 1791。 … M。 de Chaponay and M。 Guillin…Dumoutet
He would be nothing but a hostage there。 Alone against thousands；
sole survivor and representative of an abolished régime which all
detest； it is the noble against whom everybody turns whenever a
political shock seems to shake the new régime。 He is at least
disarmed； as he might be dangerous； and； in these popular
executions； brutal instincts and appetites break loose like a bull
that dashes through a door and rages through a dwelling…house。 In
the same department； some months later； on the news arriving of the
arrest of the King at Varennes； 〃all nonjuring＇13＇ priests and ci…
devant nobles are exposed to the horrors of persecution。〃 Bands
forcibly enter houses to seize arms： Commarin； Grosbois； Montculot；
Chaudenay； Créancé； Toisy； Chatellenot； and other houses are thus
visited； and several are sacked。 During the night of June 26…27；
1791； at the chateau of Créancé 〃there is pillaging throughout； the
mirrors are broken； the pictures are torn up； and the doors are
broken down。〃 The master of the ho