Abraham Mazel, a woolcomber by trade, was a "prophet", who received a "divine" inspiration giving him the instruction to "deliver" huguenots made prisoners and tortured by François Langlade, the abbé of Chayla from Pont-de-Montvert. He and his protestant artisans and labourers requested their release, and on being refused savagely slaughtered François Langlade and the guards.
This act was the starting point of the Wars in the Cévennes (1702-1704), which more recently has become called The Wars of the Camisards.