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the origins of contemporary france-2-第95章

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other almost without interruption; the fever encroaching on parts

which were supposed to be cured; and to such an extent that the

virulent ulcers finally combine and form one over the whole surface

of the social body。



By the end of December; 1789; the chronic fermentation comes to a

head in Brittany。  Imagination; as usual; has forged a plot; and; as

the people say; if they make an attack it is in their own defense。

…  A report spreads'61' that M。 de Goyon; near Lamballe; has

assembled in his chateau a number of gentlemen and six hundred

soldiers。  The mayor and National Guard of Lamballe immediately

depart in force; they find everything tranquil there; and no company

but two or three friends; and no other arms than a few fowling…

pieces。  …  The impulse; however; is given; and; on the 15th of

January; the great federation of Pontivy has excited the wildest

enthusiasm。  The people drink; sing; and shout in honor of the new

decrees before armed peasants who do not comprehend the French

tongue; still less legal terms; and who; on their return home;

arguing with each other in bas…breton; interpret the law in a

peculiar way。  〃A decree of the Assembly; in their eyes; is a decree

of arrest〃 and as the principal decrees of the Assembly are issued

against the nobles; they are so many decrees of arrest against them。

…  Some days after this; about the end of January; during the whole

of February; and down to the month of April; the execution of this

theory is tumultuously carried out by mobs of villagers and

vagabonds around Nantes; Auray; Redon; Dinan; Plo?rmel; Rennes;

Guingamp; and other villages。  Everywhere; writes the Mayor of

Nantes;'62' 〃the country…people believe that in burning deeds and

contracts they get rid of their debts; the very best of them concur

in this belief;〃 or let things take their course; the excesses are

enormous; because many gratify 〃special animosities; and all are

heated with wine。  …  At Beuvres; 〃the peasants and vassals of the

manor; after burning title…deeds; establish themselves in the

chateau; and threaten to fire it if other papers; which they allege

are concealed there; are not surrendered。〃 Near Redon the Abbey of

Saint…Sauveur is reduced to ashes。  Redon is menaced; and Plo?rmel

almost besieged。  At the end of a month thirty…seven chateaux are

enumerated as attacked: twenty…five in which the title…deeds are

burnt; and twelve in which the proprietors are obliged to sign an

abandonment of their rights。  Two chateaux which began to burn are

saved by the National Guard。  That of Bois…au…Voyer is entirely

consumed; and several have been sacked。  By way of addition; 〃more

than fifteen procureurs…fiscaux; clerks; notaries; and officers of

seignorial courts have been plundered or burnt;〃 while proprietors

take refuge in the towns because the country is now uninhabitable

for them。



A second tumor makes its appearance at the same time at another

point。'63'  It showed itself in Lower Limousin in the beginning of

January。  From thence the purulent inflammation spreads to Quercy;

Upper Languedoc; Perigord; and Rouergue; and in February from Tulle

to Montauban; and from Agen to Périgueux and Cahors; extending over

three departments。  …  Then; also; expectancy is the creator;

according to rule; of its own object。  By dint of longing for a law

for the suppression of all claims; it is imagined that it is passed;

and the statement is current that 〃the King and the National

Assembly have ordered deputations to set up the maypole'64' and to

'light up' the chateaux。〃  …  Moreover; and always in accordance

with current practice; bandits; people without occupation; take the

lead of the furious crowd and manage things their own way。  As soon

as a band is formed it arrests all the peaceable people it can find

on the roads; in the fields; and in isolated farmhouses; and takes

good care to put them in front in case of blows。  …  These

miscreants add terror to compulsion。  They erect gibbets for any one

that pays casual duties or annual dues; while the parishes of Quercy

threaten their neighbors of Perigord with fire and sword in a week's

time if they do not do in Perigord as they have done in Quercy。  …

The tocsin rings; the drums beat; and 〃the ceremony 〃 is performed

from commune to commune。  The keys of the church are forcibly taken

from the curé the seats are burned; and; frequently; the woodwork

marked with the seigneur's arms。  They march to the seigneur's

mansion; tear down his weathercocks; and compel him to furnish his

finest tree; together with feathers and ribbons with which to deck

it; without omitting the three measures which he uses in the

collection of his dues in grain or flour。  The maypole is planted in

the village square; and the weathercocks; ribbons; and feathers are

attached to its top; together with the three measures and this

inscription; 〃By order of the King and National Assembly; the final

quittance for all rentals。〃 When this is done it is evident that the

seigneur; who no longer possesses weathercocks; or a seat in the

church; or measures to rate his dues by; is no longer a seigneur;

and can no longer put forth claims of any kind。  Huzzahs and

acclamations accordingly burst forth; and there is a revel and an

orgy on the public square。  All who can pay  …  the seigneur; the

curé; and the rich  …  are put under contribution for the festival;

while the people eat and drink 〃without any interval of sobriety。〃

…  In this condition; being armed; they strike; and when resistance

is offered; they burn。  In Agénois; a chateau belonging to M。 de

Lameth; and another of M。 d'Aiguillon; in Upper Languedoc; that of

M。 de Bournazel; and in Perigord that of M。 de Bar; are burnt down:



M。 de Bar is almost beaten to death; while six others are killed in

Quercy。  A number of chateaux in the environs of Montauban and in

Limousin are assaulted with firearms; and several are pillaged。  …

Bands of twelve hundred men swarm the country; 〃they have a spite

against every estate;〃 they redress wrongs; 〃they try over again

cases disposed of thirty years ago; and give judgments which they

put into execution。〃  …  If anybody fails to conform to the new code

he is punished; and to the advantage of the new sovereigns。  In

Agénois; a gentleman having paid the rent which was associated with

his fief the people take his receipt from him; mulct him in a sum

equal to that which he paid; and come under his windows to spend the

money on good cheer; in triumph and with derision。



Many of the National Guards who still possess some degree of energy;

several of the municipalities which still preserve some love of

order; and a number of the resident gentry; employ their arms

against these excited swarms of brutal usurpers。  Some of the

ruffians; taken in the act; are judged somewhat after the fashion of

a drum…head court…martial; and immediately executed as examples。

Everybody in the country sees that the peril to society is great and

urgent; and that if such acts go unpunished; there will be no such

thing as law and property in France。  The Bordeaux parliament;

moreover; insists upon prosecutions。  Eighty…three boroughs and

cities sign addresses; and send a special deputation to the National

Assembly to urge on prosecutions already commenced; the punishment

of criminals under arrest; and; above all; the maintenance of the

prév?tés。'65' In reply to this; the Assembly inflicts upon the

parliament of Bordeaux its disapprobation in the rudest manner; and

enters upon the demolition of every judicial corporation。'66'  After

this; the execution of all prévotal decisions is adjourned。  A few

months later the Assembly will oblige the King to declare that the

proceedings begun against the jacquerie of Brittany shall be

regarded as null and void; and that the arrested insurgents shall be

set free。  For repressive purposes; it dispatches a sentimental

exhortation to the French p

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