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unskillful； gratuitous； compulsory fusion； and； consequently； from
those who effected it。
But never will a victorious party admit that it has made a mistake。
In its eyes the nonjuring priests are alone culpable； it is
irritated against their factious conscience； and； to crush the
rebellion even in the inaccessible sanctuary of personal conviction；
there is no legal or brutal act of violence which it will not allow
itself to commit。
Behold； accordingly； a new sport thrown open； and the game is
immensely plentiful。 For it comprises not only the black or gray
robes； more than forty thousand priests； over thirty thousand nuns；
and several thousand monks； but also the devoted orthodox； that is
to say the women of the low or middle class； and； without counting
provincial nobles； a majority of the serious； steady bourgeoisie； a
majority of the peasantry…almost the whole population of several
provinces； east； west； and in the south。 A name is bestowed on
them； as lately on the nobles； it is that of fanatic； which is
equivalent to aristocrat； for it also designates public enemies
likewise placed by it beyond the pale of the law。
Little does it matter whether the law favors them； for it is
interpreted against them； arbitrarily construed and openly violated
by the partial or intimidated administrative bodies which the
Constitution has withdrawn from the control of the central authority
and subjected to the authority of popular gatherings。 From the
first months of 1791； the hounding begins； the municipalities；
districts； and departments themselves often take the lead in beating
up the game。 Six months later； the Legislative Assembly； by its
decree of November 29；＇54＇ sounds the tally…ho； and； in spite of the
King's veto； the hounds on all sides dash forward。 During the month
of April； 1792； forty…two departments pass against nonjuring priests
〃acts which are neither prescribed nor authorized by the
Constitution；〃 and； before the end of the Legislative Assembly；
forty…three others will have followed in their train。 … Through
this series of illegal acts； without offense； without trial； non…
jurors are everywhere in France expelled from their parishes；
relegated to the principal town of the department or district； in
some places imprisoned； put on the same footing with the emigrants；
and despoiled of their property； real and personal。＇55＇ Nothing
more is wanting against them but the general decree of deportation
which is to come as soon as the Assembly can get rid of the King。
In the meantime； the National Guards； who have extorted the laws；
endeavor to aggravate them in their application； and there is
nothing strange in their animosity。 Commerce is at a standstill；
industry languishes； the artisan and shopkeeper suffer； and； in
order to account for the universal discontent； it is attributed to
the insubordination of the priest。 Were it not for his stubbornness
all would go well； since the Constitution is perfect； and he is the
only one who does not accept it。 But； in not accepting it； he
attacks it。 He； therefore； is the last obstacle in the way of
public happiness； he is the scapegoat； let us drive the obnoxious
creature away！ And the urban militia； sometimes on its own
authority； sometimes instigated by the municipal body its
accomplice； is seen disturbing public worship； dispersing
congregations； seizing priests by the collar； pushing them by the
shoulders out of the town； and threatening them with hanging if they
dare to return。 At Douay；＇56＇ with guns in hand； they force the
directory of the department to order the closing of all the
oratories and chapels in hospitals and convents。 At Caen； with
loaded guns and with a cannon； they march forth against the
neighboring parish of Verson； break into houses； gather up fifteen
persons suspected of orthodoxy … canons； merchants； artisans；
workmen； women； girls； old men； and the infirm … cut off their
hair； strike them with the but…ends of their muskets； and lead them
back to Caen fastened to the breach of the cannon； and all this
because a nonjuring priest still officiated at Verson； and many
pious persons from Caen attended his mass： Verson； consequently； is
a focal center of counter…revolutionary gatherings。 Moreover； in
the houses which were broken into； the furniture was smashed； casks
stove in； and the linen； money； and plate stolen； the rabble of Caen
having joined the expedition。 … Here； and everywhere； there is
nothing to do but to let this rabble have its own way； and as it
operates against the possessions； the liberty； the life； and the
sense of propriety of dangerous persons； the National Militia is
careful not to interfere with it。 Consequently； the orthodox； both
priests and believers； men and women； are now at its mercy； and；
thanks to the connivance of the armed force； which refuses to
interpose； the rabble satisfy on the proscribed class its customary
instincts of cruelty； pillage； wantonness； and destructiveness。
Whether public or private； the order of the day is always to hinder
worship； while the means employed are worthy of those who carry them
out。 … Here； a nonjuring priest having had the boldness to
minister to a sick person； the house which he has just entered is
taken by assault； and the door and windows of a house occupied by
another priest are smashed。＇57＇ There； the lodgings of two workmen；
who are accused of having had their infants baptized by a refractory
priest； are sacked and nearly demolished。 Elsewhere； a mob refuses
to allow the body of an old curé； who had died without taking the
oath； to enter the cemetery。 Farther on； a church is assaulted
during vespers； and everything is broken to pieces： on the following
day it is the turn of a neighboring church； and； in addition； a
convent of Ursuline nuns is devastated。 … At Lyons； on Easter…day；
1791； as the people are leaving the six o'clock mass； a troop； armed
with whips； falls upon the women。＇58＇ Stripped； bruised； prostrated；
with their heads in the dirt； they are not left until they are
bleeding and half…dead； one young girl is actually at the point of
death； and this sort of outrage occurs so frequently that even
ladies attending the orthodox mass in Paris dare not go out without
sewing up their garments around them in the shape of drawers。 …
Naturally； to make the most of the prey offered to them； hunting
associations are formed。 These exist in Montpellier； Arles； Uzès；
Alais； N？mes； Carpentras； and in most of the towns or burgs of Gard；
Vaucluse； and l'Hérault； in greater or less number according to the
population of the city： some counting from ten to twelve； and others
from two to three hundred determined men； of every description：
among them are found 〃strike…hards〃 （tape…dur）； former brigands； and
escaped convicts with the brand still on their backs。 Some of them
oblige their members to wear a medal as a visible mark of
recognition； al