handed to me a paper authorizing you to take such steps as you may
think fit, as soon as you receive news of such risings, to aid the
civil authorities, if they should take place at any point within
reasonable reach. The regiments stationed at Metz will naturally
maintain order north of Pont-a-Mousson, while you will send
detachments to points south and east of Nancy. You will understand
that you are not to move troops on the strength of mere rumours,
but only when requests for aid are sent by local authorities."

Indeed, during the winter of 1644-45, as in that preceding it,
troubles broke out in many parts of France, and in some the risings
of "the barefooted ones," as they were called, became for a time
very formidable. The rage of the unhappy peasantry was principally
directed, as during the Jacquerie, against the nobles, and any
chateaux were sacked and burned, all within killed, and terrible
excesses committed.

In February serious outbreaks took place. A messenger arrived at
Nancy with an urgent appeal for help, and Hector took four companies
and marched with all speed to the disturbed district. As soon as
he reached it he broke up his force, despatching each company in a
different direction, his instructions being that any body of armed
peasants they might meet were to be dispersed, but, once beaten,
were not to be pursued and cut up, and that life was not to be
unnecessarily sacrificed. He himself, with one company, marched
towards Poissons. He was within a mile of the town when a mounted
man, bleeding from several wounds, rode up.

"The chateau of Blenfoix has been attacked by two hundred peasants,"
he said. "My lady and a dozen retainers are holding a tower, but