THE PRESENT STATE OF GENEVA With a brief DESCRIPTION Of that CITY And several changes and alterations it hath been subject to from the first foundation thereof untill this present year 1681. LONDON Printed for William Cademan at the Popes-head in the New-Exchange in the Strand 1681. TO THE REDER Courteous Reader THis Book was at first a Manuscript composed in Italian for the use of the present Great Duke of Florence by Signior Gregorio Leti the ingenious Author of the Cardinalismo and Nepotismo from whom the Translator had it at Geneva Some necessary occasions having called the Author lately into this Country the Translator communicated to him his design of turning that Treatise into English which he not only approved of as knowing the value of the thing but hath since added with his own hand some remarkable passages which conduce not a little to the accomplishment of the work and are of so fresh a date as cannot as yet have been published by any other So that Reader you have here within the narrow compass of so little a Treatise all that indeed can be said or is necessary to be known concerning that so famed City and Republick Farewel THE PESENT STATE OF GENEVA c. GENEVA Antiquity as appears by some Chronicles of the Country of Vaux is one of the ancientest Cities of Europe being commonly supposed to have been built by Lemanus Son of Hercules the great King of the Gaules who gave the name likewise to the Lake Lemane by many called the Lake of Geneva The first foundation of it was laid in the year of the World 3994. upon a little rising Hill covered with Juniper Trees called by the French Geneuriers from whence it afterwards took the name of Geneura Lemanus having granted many Priviledges to the place and erected the same into a City incorporated with great immunities and freedomes prescrib'd them a Form of Government suitable to the Customes of those times In the time of Julius Caesar this City was of great renown and by him called the Bulwork of Helvetia Julius Caesar and frontiere Town of the Allobrogi which name at present it deserves more than ever When the eruption was made upon the Swissers in the year of God 230. by the Emperor Heliogabalus Heliogabilus Geneva was almost utterly destroyed by Fire but in the time of Aurelian the Emperour Destroyed about the year of Grace 270. it was by the command of the same Emperor rebuilt Rebuilt who having bestowed many priviledges on those that came to repair it commanded it for the future to be called Aurelia but the Inhabitants could not easily banish from their minds the ancient name of Geneva which to this day it holds tho during the Life of Aurelian they called it Aurelia The Situation of this City is one of the pleasantest in Europe being on the North side washed by the Lake and on the South adorned with a spatious Neighbouring Plain reaching to the very Walls and encompassed by two large Rivers the Rone and the Arue This plain serves the Citizens for a place of diversion and Recreation There they walk to take the Air and refresh themselves in the delightful Gardens which inviron it of which there is a great number There likewise they train and exercise their Souldiers and divert themselves at Play in a long Mall Plain Palace This Plain is commonly called the Plain Palace and in a Corner thereof where the Arue falls into the Rone there is a spatious burying place for the dead Burying-Place The Confines of Geneva are on the East and South the Dutchy of Savoy on the West the Country of Gex belonging to the King of France and on the North side the Lake Lemane and beyond that Switzerland From the Steeple of St. Peters Church which is a strong high Tower might have been seen formerly six tho at present but five Principalities the Spanish Burgundy being united to France to wit Savoy France the Spanish Burgundy Switzerland Sion and Geneva a thing so singular as cannot be parallel'd in the World This City hath of a long time been walled Fortifications and indifferently well fortified but since the year 1659. the Fortifications both within and without have been augmented with Bastions half-Moons and Bulwarks at which they are still busily imployed the Engineer of the Republick an expert and skilful Artist daily assisting and over-seeing their work In the year 1662. The States and other private Persons of the United Netherlands made a Present to the Republick of above thirty thousand Crowns Hollanders which Sum was applyed to the raising of a strong and regular Bulwork on the side of the Rone whereon by Order of the Senate this Inscription was put Oppugna oppugnantes me ex munificentiâ Celsiss Ordinum Faederatorum Belgii 1663. The City seems divided Bridges because the Rone running through it maketh two Islands that sustain four Bridges two whereof which joyn to St. Gervase have houses and shops upon them but the other two that are united with the body of the City since the fire in the year 1670. have been left open without any houses to cover them Before the Reformation there were many casual fires sometimes in one Fires and sometimes in another part of the City but since the year 1534 that the Reformation began until 1670. by the grace of God and provident care of the Magistrates the City remained free from any such accident when on Monday the 17th of January about twelve of the Clock at night a dreadful fire broke out upon one of the largest and most inhabited of the four Bridges and burnt with so much force and rage that in the space of three hours tho the night was calm without a breath of Wind stirring the whole buildings to the number of threescore and ten houses were utterly consumed in the Conflagration above an hundred and thirty Families deprived of habitation and a hundred Persons Men Women and Children destroyed in the merciless flames a dreadfull argument that if the People could not escape with their Lives they cou'd not save their Goods The loss was reputed to amount to a French Million of Mony and was the greater because many substantial Merchants lived upon that Bridge Many Collections were presently made throughout the City for the relief of those poor People that were burnt out of all and the Protestants of Switzerland Germany and other places gave seasonable instances of their Charity to the distressed upon that occasion The Bridge is now rebuilt with most excellent Workmanship New-Bâ—idge but by Decree of the Senate no houses nor Shops are for the future to be built upon it tho it be much stronger now than it was before so that the City seems at present divided The Fabrick of their houses is not very considerable Their Building the People having been alwayes more addicted to convenience than magnificence so that we need say nothing
collected into a body and published have been reduced into a better forme and contain two parts the one concerning the Elections of Magistrates and their duty and the other relating to the decision of Civil causes Publick Revenue The publick Revenue of the State amounts to about one hundred thousand Crowns but the Subjects are not at all burthened paying only for maintaining of the Guards and some small duty for Grinding of their Corn Importation of Wine and at present a little voluntary Contribution for the fortifications so that a man for himself and Family of six persons may pay in all ten Crowns a year such as have real estates pay the accustomed tithes and Merchants the usual duties The publick and ordinary expence is considerable Expences forty thousand Crowns a year not being sufficient to pay the Sallaries of the Counsellers Ministers Professors Regents Soldiers and defray the charges of the publick Fabricks Arsenal Warlike provisions and the like besides many other casual and extraordinary charges that happen daily The Territory of Geneva is as healthfull Territory and as fruitful as it is little and narrow And therefore most part of the Geneveans settle their estates in Savoy and France and pay the same publick duties as the native subjects of those two Princes do none of the Neighbouring Princes come near the Territory of Geneva for plenty the Geneveans useing all dilligence to supply what it wants in extent by pains and cultivation so that it produces Corn Wine Turnips Barly Hay and all sorts of Graine the Fruits it commonly yields are Nuts Apples Pears Cherries Almonds Chesnuts Apricoks but very few Figs. The Air. The air is good and healthful being purified by the North-wind that frequently blows there the winter is not so sharp as in Germany and other Northen Countries nor the Summer so hot as in Italy and some places of Dauphiny the weather indeed is sometimes excessively hot in the Summer and as cold in the Winter but that continues but for a few dayes In times past the Inhabitants of Geneva have been reckoned dul The nature and temper of the people not to say of a silly and blockish Spirit but at present by their commerce with Forrainers they are pollished and refined and not only skilful in their workes but are become speculative and subtile managing their affiairs so cunningly that it is not easie to over-reach them Their jealousie over strangers They are very observant and jealous of strangers especially the inferior people nevertheless they are respected and made wellcome especially such as come to traffick or Sojourne and live in pension among them in a word they who have mony and afford them occasion of profit are there as in other places well esteemed of Geneveans good Politicians They are very expert in affairs of State and know well what measures to take with their Neighbours as they have on many occasions made appear and certainly if they were not so they had very often been embroyled with the Duke of Savoy which they have hitherto prudently avoided Rigour against delinquents They were accustomed for a long time to receive and protect all that came and embraced the Reformed Religion but at present the City being well peopled they are not so ready to admit of such Those who have committed any crime in any other place had not best flie to Geneva for that City is a cage for such as retreat thither to avoid punishment and many who have expected safety have been so far disappointed that though they had committed crimes in remote places yet at the suite of the plantiffs they have been made prisoners where they promised themselves all kind of liberty and afterwards brought to Trial and hanged Geneva hath no Soveraign upon earth Soverainry and depends upon none but God Almighty the Senate having the same authority in their state that the greatest Monarch in the world has in his own dominions and are as careful to preserve it Strangers who pass through or Sojourne at pensions in Geneva are kindly received by the Inhabitants and to gratifie them the Senate does affectionately protect them causing them to be treated with all imaginable civility insomuch that offences that in other places would be severely punished are passed over and connived at in Geneva for the honour and respects sake which is shewed there to Gentlemen Travelers It is a common but false report in Italy that Monks Friers Religions Priests of the Church of Rome are badly used when they pass through Geneva for they themselves find the contrary in their Travels and if any man should offer insolence to a Priest or Frier in that City he would certainly be punished nor do the people refuse Charity and lodging to the poor Religious when they demand it The rate of pensions for diet Pensions is commonly twelve Crowns a month for the Master and six for the Servant but there are inferiour pensions also to wit from seaven to eight Crowns a man and the entertainment according to the price nevertheless for Gentlemen who expect to be well treated the lowest is ten and the highest twelve Crowns a month all the City over Fishing in the Lake of this City is very considerable both for profit and pleasure Fishing they commonly take trouts of four score pound weight at twelve ounces the pound and in the midle of the River opposite to the Town preserve their fish alive for use in two little deal board houses made for that purpose In the Summer time it is a very pleasant recreation to go a Fishing here and both strangers and Citizens mightily delight in it All sorts of exercises are taught in this City Exercises as well as in any other place there is a good Master for riding the great Horse and for the first month four Pistols and three for every month after he has a Stable very well furnished with Horses For Fencing Danceing Mathematicks Geography and the Languages there is choice of Masters also so that Travellers may Sojourne in this City with as much ease to the purse and advantage for Education as in most parts of Europe Inns. There are many Inns and publick Houses here in all of which as a Traveller is of quality and intends to order his expences he will find entertainment answerable to the rate he payes The Arms of Geneva The Armes of Geneva are a half Eagle and Key the Eagle signifying that the City is Imperial and the Key that it hath been an Episcopal See but the Antient Arms of that City was a Sun which they still use on a Seal and has been retained since the time that Geneva as has been already observed worshipped Apollo The Posts The French Post comes hither twice a weak to wit on Monday at ten of the Clock in the morning and parts on Tuesday at noon and on Friday in the Morning which parts again in the Evening
above five thousand Souls in the City it is at present so populous by the great concourse of people who flock thither that it contains no fewer than thirty five thousand Souls of divers Nations and this is the reason why the humor of that people is so mixt and various that it is not easie to find out the temper of any person there without long experience and conversation every one retaining still some Tincture of the Antient instinct of their Original Country A Prince of the Family of Hesse being in Incognito in Geneva in the Month of July 1602 composed the following verses Mauritius Hassiae Landgravius Quisquis amat vitam sobriam castamque tueri Perpetua esto illi casta Geneva domus Quisquis amat vitam hanc bene vivere viveret illam Illi iterum fuerit pulchra Geneva locus Hic vitae invenies quicquid conducit utrique Relligio hic sana est aura ager atque lacus Englished A strict and sober life if you 'd embrace Let chast Geneva be your dwelling place Or wou'd you lead a lawless life and fice The same Geneva your abode must be Convenience here for either life is found The Air Land Water and Religion sound The people of Geneva are very industrious Industâ—y and since they have not land enough to take up their time in agriculture and Husbandy as other states of larger Territories have they apply themselves sedulously to the improvement of handycraft Trades Clocks and Watches Clock and Watch making is a Trade of great esteem and of Masters and servants there are above three hundred that follow that occupation of whom there are some that drive a good Trade by it not only in all the Countries of Europe but also in Turky Persia and other remote Kingdoms It is necessary tho that such as come hither to buy have their eyes in their heads if they would not be cheated because there are bad as well as good Artists among them Gold-Smiths Gun-Smiths There are many excellent and skillful Gold-smiths here also but above all things tire-Arms are here made in perfection such as Harquebuses Pistols Musquets and the like and many Gentlemen provide themselves from hence The Genevians want neither Courage nor resolution having given proofs of the same on many occasions against the Savoyards Liberty in great esteem but especially when their beloved liberty lies at stake for which they are ready as they have alwaies been to Sacrafice a thousand lives an instance of it Pecolat a Citizen of Geneva being taken in Savoy and made Prisoner by Charles the Third a declared enemy of the liberty of Geneva and put to the Rack because he wou'd confess nothing to the prejudice of his Country the Savoyards provoked by his constancy and thinking him enchanted called for a Barber to shave him and to wash off all suspition of a Charme Pecolat snatching the Razor out of the Barbers hand instantly cut out his tongue that thereby he might deprive himself of the means of discovering any thing to the hurt of his Country Antient Inscriptions In the time of Paganism Apollo was worshipped by the Genevians as appears by many ancient Inscriptions that are to be seen in the City In an old house in the great Street you 'l find Apolloni Munfustius and in a Wall of the Colledge there is still to be seen Apolloni Muestius Mercator without the Chain of the Harbour their is a Rock called Neptunes Stone but formerly Neptunes Prayer Neptunes rock because in time of Paganism the Boat men offered there Sacrifices there when they were upon undertaking of any voyage The Christian Religion planted By some Manuscripts and especially in a very ancient Bible kept in the Library it appears that the Church of Geneva was planted by the Disciples of the Apostles Consecration of St. Peters Church and that the Church of St. Peter was consecrated by St. Denis and Paradocus his Scholar who remained Bishop of Geneva when St. Denis was gone to preach the Gospel at Paris The Successors of Paradocus became afterwards not only Cheif in Spirituals but also Supream in Temporal Affairs so that until the Year 1535. Geneva was Governed by a Succession of 74 Bishops of which Peter de la Baume was the last who being a Prelate odious for his lascivious life and therefore very timorous upon information that the Citizens intended to embrace the reformed Religion already received by their Neighbours was so surpriz'd with fear of some unhappy accident in such a revolution that he with his Chanons on a sudden retired into Burgundy giving way as he said to this first popular commotion to spend it self but he was greatly mistaken for the people more encouraged by the absence of their Bishop and Clergy gave a beginning to the reformation and the chief Minister that preached there was one William Farrell a very Learned man The Senate ordered that on the right hand of the Gate of the publick Palace this inscription shou'd be put as it is to be seen by passengers at this day Profligatâ Romani Antichristi tyrannide abrogatisque ejus superstitionibus Sacro sancta Christi Religio Inscription of the Reformation hic in suam puritatem Ecclesia in meliorem ordinem singulari Dei benesicio reposita simul pulsis fugatisque hoslibus Vrbs ipsa in suam libertatem non sine insign miraculo restituto sucrit S. P. Q. G. Monumentum hoc perpetuae memoriae causa fieri atque hoc loco erigi curavit quo suam erga Deum gratitudinem ad Posteros testatam faceret Mony coyned In the same year 1535. And on the 24th of October the Senate began to coyn mony The first Inscription or Motto about the Arms was Post Tenebras spero Lucem but it was ordered to be altered and instead thereof only post tenebras lux to be stamped on the one side and on the other Deus noster pugna pro nobis Geneva was under the Jurisdiction of a Bishop Bishop as their Spiritual and Temporal Head and Governour He had under him thirty two Chanons one half of them being alwayes to be Citizens but all of them together exercised their Jurisdiction there were besides Eleven Chaplains Maccabees of whom six were called Maccabees and this Congregation was institued by John Alermet Bishop of Geneva in the year 1378. To serve in the Cathedrral of Saint Peter which he subjected to the Canonical Jurisdiction and endowed with considerable revenues ordering them to be called Maccabees besides them were six Clerks of the Quire and seven Curates The regular Clergy had five Monasteries three Frieries to wit Monasteries of St. Dominick St. Francis and St. Augustine And two Nunneries the 〈◊〉 of St. Clare and the other of Dominicans with their Chaplains Eection of the Bishop In the Primitive times the Bishop was elected by the general Council of the people which was the custome
likewise in other Bishopricks of Suitzerland but he was alwaies confirmed by the Pope who afterward deprived them of that Priviledge conferring the power of Election on the Chanons who by plurality of voices chose two of whom the Pope according to his pleasure confirmed the one There were moreover four Annual Syndicks as there are at present who governed as Temporal Princes Election of the Syndicks before the Reformation being Judges in Criminal causes Lords of the City Masters of the Gates and of all that belonged to the Militia which the Bishop never challenged or medled with The General Council consisted of Citizens and Burgesses and to it belonged the Election of the four Syndicks which was on Saint Martins day Every Syndick afterwards chose five Councellors and all together Elected a Treasurer From sun setting until break of day the foâ—â— Syndicks alone had absolute Jurisdiction within the City and acted what they judged convenient for the Publick by their own Supreame Authority When the Bishops Lieutenant or Vidone as they called him in that time aphrehended a Malefactor he remitted him to the Syndicks Administration of Justice before the Reformation who were obliged within the space of twenty four houres to do Justice upon him from which Sentence there was no appeal it is true the Bishop had the power of pardoning and shewing mercy if he pleased the Sentence being given by the Syndicks it was intimated to the Prisoner who was then again turned over into the hands of the Bishops Lieutenant with orders from them to cause the Sentence to be put in Execution and if the Bishop gave no pardon the Lieutenant delivered up the same Prisoner to another Lieutenant belonging to the Counts of Geneva who were feudatories of the Bishop and he it was that put the Sentence in Execution this was all the power and Authority that the Counts of Geneva had Counts of Geneva and it is also to be observed that Executions were alwayes performed without the City in a place called Champel where one of the Gibbets is to be seen to this day The Duke of Savoy as Successour to these Counts Pretentions of the Duke of Savoy pretends the Soveranity over Geneva though there be nothing more certain than that the said Counts never had any Jurisdiction of Command nor right of Dominion in that City His Highness indeed makes great pretentions and is very well satisfied with the reasonableness of the same though they be backt with very weak and frivolous evidences seeing the proofs that are alleadged to make good those pretentions come far short of what they are intended to assert one argument is that though the Bishop of Geneva was chief in Spirituals and Temporals and was honoured with the Title of Prince of the Empire nevertheless His Royal Highness would have it it behoved him to do homage to the Duke regent as to his Superiour and to Swear fealty to him the day of his Inauguration but there is not one Authentick act to be found of this and the only Oath the Bishop took was to the Syndicks to whom he swore to maintain and preserve the priviledges and liberties of the City It is further alledged that Duke Charles of Savoy went frequently to Geneva with his Dutchess Beatrix where all Imaginable honor and respect was shewed him This I am apt to beleive but the consequence is not good for the Genevians are civil and obliging to all strangers but especially to persons of high merit and quality It is certain that Geneva was alwaies a free City and that long before the House of Savoy was spoken of or came in play they were Governed by their own Laws and Statutes Imperial and municipal edicts the Bishops indeed of Geneva who in the fall of the Roman Empire raised themselves to Supremacy in temporals in that City as well as other Bishops had done in other places were commonly in contest with the Counts of Geneva for the dominion and Governmenr of the City a short account of which I shall hear give you After that one Humbert Bishop of Geneva had exchanged this for another life Andutius his Successor applied himself to the Emperor Frederick the first and obtained of him to be declared absolute Prince of the City of Geneva that in Temporals he should be subject to none but the Emperour alone and that he should be free and Exempt from all taxes and tribute but the Bishop being returned with design to enjoy the prerogative granted him by the Emperour the Counts raised greater trouble against him than before not suffering him to exercise any such priviledges though this storme was afterwards calmed by the Golden-bull of the same Emperour in favour of the Bishop and published in the year 1162. For some time after matters went on quietly to the satisfaction of the Bishop until that one William Count of the Geneveses who took upon himself the Title of Count of Geneva being for Rebellion and other heinous Crimes outlawed by the Emperour and deprived of the fief which he held of the Bishop betook himself to his friends for help and Assistance This having occasioned a long warr whereby the forces of this Bishop and the City were much impaired the Genevians call'd to their Assistance a Count of Maurianna who was afterwards Count of Savoy but this put no end to the War on the contrary it encreased dayly in so much that the Count of Maurianna being powerful he seized several places and Castles which belonged to those of Geneva encroching dayly more and more upon the City and not contented with what he he had Usurped under the Title of Homage he demanded to be reinbursed of the expences he had been at in the Wars Hence many new quarrels arose which lasted until the Counts of the Genevese were extinct of whom the last was the Antipope Clement the seventh To them the Dukes of Savoy with consent of the Bishop succeeded as Heires but Amadeus Prince of Savoy disdaining to be under the Jurisdiction of a Bishop procured of the Emporour the Vicarship of the Empire within all his own Territories thereby pretending that as Vicar of the Empire the Bishop in all his Jurisdictions ought to be subject to him but the Bishop protected by the Pope made vigorus resistance and threatned to Excommunicate the Duke as often as he should pretend to revive any such pretentions wherefore the Duke that he might not Embroil him self with the Court of Rome let fall his great pretentions expecting a more favourable time to raise them again and so the Bishop remained in peaceable possession of his Authority and the people of their antient liberty Afterwards in the year 1418. Pope Martin the fifth passing through Savoy was in all places entertained by the Duke regnant at great expences and with the highest Demonstrations of honour the Pope to gratifie him of his own free motion conferred on him the Temporal Jurisdiction over the City of Geneva but neither