their images in a hand's turn; and this time Captain Bouillargues was not
satisfied with looking on, but directed the operations.

The cathedral was still safe, and in it were entrenched the remnant of
the Catholic clergy; but it was apparent that at the earliest opportunity
it too would be turned into a meeting-house; and this opportunity was not
long in coming.

One Sunday, when Bishop Bernard d'Elbene had celebrated mass, just as the
regular preacher was about to begin his sermon, some children who were
playing in the close began to hoot the 'beguinier' [a name of contempt
for friars]. Some of the faithful being disturbed in their meditations,
came out of the church and chastised the little Huguenots, whose parents
considered themselves in consequence to have been insulted in the persons
of their children. A great commotion ensued, crowds began to form, and
cries of "To the church! to the church!" were heard. Captain
Bouillargues happened to be in the neighbourhood, and being very
methodical set about organising the insurrection; then putting himself at
its head, he charged the cathedral, carrying everything before him, in
spite of the barricades which had been hastily erected by the Papists.
The assault was over in a few moments; the priests and their flock fled
by one door, while the Reformers entered by another. The building was in
the twinkling of an eye adapted to the new form of worship: the great
crucifix from above the altar was dragged about the streets at the end of
a rope and scourged at every cross-roads. In the evening a large fire
was lighted in the place before the cathedral, and the archives of the
ecclesiastical and religious houses, the sacred images, the relics of the
saints, the decorations of the altar, the sacerdotal vestments, even the
Host itself, were thrown on it without any remonstrance from the consuls;
the very wind which blew upon Nimes breathed heresy.