munication with France, and became very uneasy about difficulties and obstructions cast up in Holland. In October he was at Turin to apply for leave to remove his quarters to Switzerland. From the camp de la Turin, 13th October 1705, he addressed this letter to Mr. Hill:—
“Sir, — I give myself the honour of writing this, having learnt from a man who came from Languedoc the manner in which things are going on there, and I was unwilling to fail in sending information to your Excellency. I wished to send him to you : but he would not go for fear of being recognised. He assures me that the man named Claris had 200 men with him (this man was one of my troop), and that another named Portefrajeue had as many. As their route is given to all men, great and small, to go to Catalonia, they are always increasing. There even are many Papists who are joining them every day. I hope that your Excellency seeing this will have the goodness to obtain leave of absence for me from His Royal Highness, to go to Switzerland. I am making efforts to find a good number of men to go thither, as the opportunity is so manifestly favourable. I would go to join the Marquis de Guiscard in Holland, as they are disagreeing very much with the Marquis de Miremont. It is known that they will do nothing, and the time will still slip away without any succour being given to the poor people. As for me I have the honour to say to you that at the peril of my blood and of my life I will do all I possibly can to go and join them wherever I may be, whether here or elsewhere. If I see no sign of diligence, I for my part will do all that shall be possible to me, with the help of God, and I hope that I shall not lose my time. I am entirely persuaded that your Excellency will have the goodness to lend a hand and to give your approbation to this, since it is for nothing but the deliverance of poor down-trodden people [des pauvres catis] and for the advancement of the glory of God that I act. I continually demand the honour of your powerful protection, since I for ever am with profound respect, &c.
In November the Duke sent him with formal instructions to concert measures in Switzerland for the relief of Montmelian. It appears, however, that his actual orders were different. Mr. Hill wrote to Godolphin from Turin 14, 25 Nov. — “Mr. Cavallier is gone disguised over the Alps to try if he can find the way once more into the Cevennes. The enemies have few or no troops left in Languedoc, and if he can once more get at the head of an army, he may prove of great use to his friends who are now in Catalonia. I have provided him with 400 louis d’or, half of which I must require from your lordship. We do yet conceal his journey with all the care that is possible.” By a devious route he managed to reach Berne, and to report himself to the Duke’s Ambassador, but news had just come from Savoy of the surrender of Montmelian. Cavalier had been several times recognised in his route by Frenchmen, and had narrowly escaped being taken prisoner. Instead, therefore, of returning to the Valley of Luzerne, he traversed Germany, and reached his new destination, namely, Holland.
The States granted him a regiment of foot, to receive its pay to the extent of two-thirds from Queen Anne, one-third being promised by Holland. Cavalier had the naming of the officers and the giving of commissions. The Duke of Marlborough wrote to him from St. James’s, “ce 22 Fevrier 1706,” “Monsieur, J’ai recu votre lettre du 16 de ce mois et ne puis assez louer votre zéle, en faveur de vos pauvres frères opprimés en France, et pour le bien de la cause commune. La Reine, je vous assure, en est sensible.” The Duke felt really glad to have his services, and had already written to Spain to the Prince of Lichtenstein (5th Feb.), “By the next convoy from Holland, we expect a batalion of Cevenols. It will be commanded by Colonel Cavallier, who has so highly distinguished himself in the Cevennes, and who gives us reason to hope that from Catalonia he will always keep up communications with his people, which cannot but occasion a good diversion.” Some months, however, were required to complete the enlistments; a large number responded to the Colonel’s call in Prussia and Hanover. Mr. Howe wrote to Mr. Stepney from Hanover, April 4th, 1706: “On the 27th past, about 120 French refugees and others, by the name of Camisards, listed to serve in Cavallier’s regiment of foot, came from Berlin to the neighbouring places in this town; and fourteen of these men, with a Swiss sergeant at the head of them, came hither, and were quartered by billets. They listed some few men, and set out on the 31st for Minden, the appointed place for their rendezvous, from whence they are to continue their march to Holland.” (Stepney Papers, quoted by Kemble.)
Cavalier arrived in England the 31st July 1706. Next day he had an interview with the Lord Treasurer (Godolphin), and went to St Helen’s. His regiment was among the reinforcements sent to Spain for the campaign of the following year, and he himself went out with them. His inventive mind had some suggestions to make though it is not recorded what they were), as appears from a sentence in the letter of instructions from the Earl of Sunderland to General the Earl of Galway:—
