Some  of  these  troops  took  part  in  the  defence
of  the  Bastille,  and  all  were  regarded  with  dislike
and  suspicion  by  the  people.  The  Chateau vieux
regiment,  however,  stationed  at  Nancy,  was
stirred  by  the  rebellious  spirit  of  the  age,  and
went  on  strike  for  better  pay,  and  the  abolition
of  flogging.  They  were  attacked  by  the  ferocious
Marquis  de  Bouille,  with  two  other  Swiss  regi-
ments, and  subdued  after  a  fierce  struggle.
Dog,  it  is  said,  will  not  eat  dog ;  but  at  the  court-
martial  that  followed,  the  mutineers  were  sen-
tenced by  their  fellow-countrymen,  one  to  be
broken  on  the  wheel,  twenty-two  to  be  hanged,
and  forty-one  to  the  galleys.  The  sentences  of
death  were  at  once  executed.  An  appeal  was
made  on  behalf  of  the  prisoners  to  their  own
government  ;  but  that  detestable  little  oligarchy
approved  the  sentences  and  declared  that  if  the

150


The   Lion  of  Lucerne

men  were  pardoned  they  would  not  be  per-
mitted to  re-enter  their  corps.  Notwithstand-
ing, the  forty-one  mutineers  were  set  at  hberty
by  order  of  the  National  Assembly  and  were
welcomed  with  enthusiasm  at  the  bar  of  the
house.
