One cask of sixteen hundred measures is half lost; the plate and the linen are carried off."-- Society is evidently being overthrown, while with the power, property is changing hands.
These are their very words.

In Franche-Comte[1339] the inhabitants of eight communes come and declare to the Bernardins of Grace-Dieu and of Lieu-Croissant "that, being of the Third-Estate, it is time now for the people to rule over abbots and monks, considering that the domination of the latter has lasted too long," and thereupon they carry off all the titles to property and to rentals belonging to the abbey in their commune.

In Upper Dauphiny, during the destruction of M.de Murat's chateau, a man named Ferreol struck the furniture with a big stick, exclaiming, "Hey, so much for you, Murat; you have been master a good while, now it's our turn!"[1340] Those who rifle houses, and steal like highway robbers, think that they are defending a cause, and reply to the challenge, "Who goes there ?" "We are for the brigand Third-Estate!"-- Everywhere the belief prevails that they are clothed with authority, and they conduct themselves like a conquering horde under the orders of an absent general.

At Remiremont and at Luxeuil they produce an edict, stating that "all this brigandage, pillage, and destruction" is permitted.

In Dauphiny, the leaders of the bands say that they possess the King's orders.