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
Justice belongs but the Sentence must be immediatly executed and therefore the Executioner appears who taking the Prisoner by the hand leads him into a low room where having put the Halter about his neck and bound him an Auditor and the City Marshal on Horseback with the Officers and Executioner on foot bring him to the place of Execution and stirr not from thence till the Malefactor be dead Place of Execution Ordinarily persons are put to death in the plain Palace without the City and in the place of Molard Geneva has at several times contracted alliances Alliances both in the times of the Bishops and since and that with several Princes and Republicks particulary with the Common-wealth of Venice with which until this day they entertain a very good corespondence in so much that they willingly suffer their Captaines to levy men amongst them In the year 1518. 1518.1526 The Genevians made a League with the Canton of Fribourg which in the year 1526. Was confirmed with closer obligations of Friendship and enlarged with new Articles The Canton of Berne with that of Fribourg being therein comprehended and all three together obliged in a perpetual and individual League with one another The reformed Religion being afterwards in the year 1535. 1535. Established in Geneva the States of Fribourg moved by their Church men sent Ambassadors to Geneva declaring that if they would not returne into the bosome of the Catholick Church they would be obliged to break the League to these propositions the Genevians would not condescend but protested they would faithfully observe the alliance The year following which was 1536. 1536. The States of Berne understanding that the Fribourgers had made a League with the Genevians sent Ambassadors to Geneva where a League for twenty five years was concluded betwixt Geneva and Berne this Legue expiring in the year 1558. On the first of January of the same year a perpetual League was concluded betwixt these two States May the 8th 1559 Henry the third 1559. King of France and Poland made Alliance with Berne Solerne and Geneva in which treaty Geneva was by that King called the key of Switzerland and he alwaies esteemed it so having recommended to the Switzers the preservation of that City Lastly on the eighteenth of October 1584. 1584. Zurich made a mutual League with Geneva in memory whereof the Senate crected a Marble Monument with this inscription which is to be seen in the Hall of the Town house on the side as you go to the Arsenal Anno à vera religione divinitus cum vetere libertate Geneva restituta Inscription quasi novo Jubileo inennte plurimis vitatis domi foris insidijs supâ—ratis tempestatibus quod Helvetiorum primariâ—… Tigurini Bernarum exemplo aequo jure in societatem perpetuam nobiscum venerint prius novo vinculo adstrinxerint S. P. Q. G. quod faelix esse velit D. O. M. tanti benesicii Monumentum consecrarunt Besides the above mentioned alliances Geneva holds friendship and correspondence upon account of the Prorestant Religion with the English Hollanders and Protestant Princes of Germany all which in time of need would do them senâ—e good Offices but the truth is the Jealousie that reignes amongst neighbouring Princes has a greater influence upon the preservation of the Liberty of Geneva than any other consideration whatsoever Protestants of France This City is looked upon as the only City of refuge for the Protestants of France seeing upon occasion of any persecution they can retreat into this place and that makes them on their part so solicitous for its safety and preservation that on all occasions they would be ready to shew the effects of their good inclinations towards it as they have already done during the War with the Duke of Savoy and it is certain that no sooner would any new War begin in Geneva but that the Protestants of the best quality in France would come to its assistance knowing very well that if they be deprived of that Sanctuary they must remaine exposed to the will of their enemies As to the forces of Geneva without doubt they are but inconsiderable Forces Arsenal they have in the first place an Arsenal provided of all sorts of Armes for arming of six thousand men at least besides a great many old Armes and Colors taken from their enemies in the time of the War There is no great store of Cannon in the Arsenal because this City being a Frontier place has the Walls both day and night well furnished with great Gunns and certainly there is no frontiere place better provided with Cannon Private Arms. The private Houses are sufficiently furnished with Armes and there is no Citizen but hath Armes for two or three men there are several that can Arme twenty five or thirty and some are so well provided that they can conveniently Arme three hundred Soldiers so that every private House may be called an Arsenal hence according to computation it is commonly reckoned that in Geneva there are Armes for forty thousand men The City is alwaies well furnished with Provisions and Ammunition of all sorts conveniently distributed into Magazines and Store houses in the several quarters of the Town Provisiâ—â—â—… so that if an accident should happen in the place the City could sustaine no great prejudice thereby the other stores being sufficiently provided to supply the loss they keep constantly Ammunition as Powder Bullets Match and the like enough for a two years Siege and a sufficient quantity of Corne for three years having Mills within the Town alwaies in readiness to grind it Military exercises The Genevians are generally well trained in the exercises and discipline of Warr and though they can brag of no famous Commanders their wars having been more defensive than offensive yet they have Soldiers of long experience in the wars and take care to exercise their youth to Warlik exercises by conferring honor and reward on those especially who at some set times in the year obtaine the advantage of shooting Kings of the several kinds of Arms. They preforme those exercises chiefly in the Spring the fittest time for recreation and to raise in their youth a generous emulation for Honor they make him who hath shot best in the Cannon Musket Bow Cross-bow or Pistol King of that kind of Armes wherein he hath excelled giving him a mark of Honor and some priviledges in reward of his dexterity But the King of the Harquebuses is in greatest esteem amongst them and besides the Priviledges which are allowed him he is after his Election attended home by the Chief of the City with show and triumph The publick reaps no small benefit from those delightful exercises for the Citizens are thereby trained in the discipline of War and by the Honor and priviledges conferred upon the Kings encouraged to noble undertakings But though brave men and good Arms be the ordinary
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
Guards who is for most part the fourth Syndick and of the two Majors and at the same time receive their pay The Majors are members of the Council of twenty five Majors and commonly the two youngest are chosen It is really a place of great fatigue for they are obliged by turns once a week to releive the Guards every evening and to go the rounds twice a night about the City to visit the Sentinels they are allowed indeed to discharge their Office on horse back being attended by some Soldiers and a Lantern And certainly since the Scalado and surprize that the Duke of Savoy attempted to have made on this place there is no City in the world more vigilant and that uses greater diligence to prevent the like for the future for four of the Council of the two hundred every week go the rounds nightly both before and after the Majors rounds and every hour of the night the Sentinels are visited the Guards being alwaies doubled when there is any suspition of danger Pomps and vain shows There is a Court established here a gainst Pomps and vain Shows consisting of a Syndick as President the Procurator General and four Deputies who meet commonly on Monday after dinner The time when the Councils meet Twice a year the General Council of the People meets after morning Sermon in St. Peters Church to wit on the first Sunday of November for the Election of the Lieutenant and two Auditors and the first Sunday of January for the Election of the four Syndicks Procurator General and Treasurer The Council of 25. The Council of twenty five sits every morning and on occasion in the afternoon excepting Sunday and Thursday when they never meet unless matters of State or other things of great importance require their attendance The Council of 200. The Council of the two hundred meet the first Friday morning of every month after that the Council of 25 is up for treating of matters of State and affaires of publick benefit but if other necessary matters do require acâ—â—â—ding to exigency they meet oftner and because many Civil matters are transferred from the Council of twenty five to that of the two hundred they assemble sometimes three days a weak for the decision of such actions There is no appeal to be made to the Council of the two hundred in any action under fifty Crowns the parties being obliged to deposit twenty and besides alledge that the sentence given by the twenty five is against the Edict which is the Municipal Law of Geneva The Council of threescore There is moreover a Council of sixty the Members whereof are chosen out of the body of the two hundred and are men of mature judgment and such as have born the charge of an Auditor but this Council seldome meets and only upon matters of State You must observe that the Members of the Council of twenty five sit in all other Councils whether of the General that of the 200 or of the sixty The Lieutenant assisted by his six Auditors holds a Court daily Lieutenant and tho all be not present yet it is still a Court the first Auditor in absence of the Lieutenant being President thereof In the Court which is called the Court of Appeals a Syndick is President Appeals and it is composed of five Judges or Counsellors who are Members of the two hundred and continue in place for three years They are to meet once a week according as causes happen for from the sentence of the Lieutenant they remove to this Court of Appeals and from 〈◊〉 the Council of twenty five When an action whether Civil or Criminal is to be decided in the Counâ—â—â—… twenty five all the Kindred and Relations of the Parties withdraw so that to fill up the Quorum of that Court as of the other of Appeals they take Assessors out of the number of the two hundred who sit not on the bench but on certain seats provided for them in the middle of the Hall but if the number of the Judges not excepted against exceed the half the Court is compleat and no Assessors are called The Congregation of the Ministers The Congregation of Ecclesiasticks that is of the Ministers who Preach the Gospel consists of twenty four Church-men that is of twelve Ministers of the City and as many of the Country about which belongs to the Soverainity of Geneva Every Friday Morning this Assembly meets to treat of the affaires of their Ministery and the Purity of Religion thô upon urgent occasions they meet at other times not only all the Ministers but likewise the Professors are admitted into this Congregation the truth is the professors of Theology Greek and Hebrew are commonly Ministers and tho those of Philosophy be not yet they have place in the Congregation The Consistory The Consistory which is held every Thursday is composed of all the Ministers and nine other persons of exemplary life and Mature age whom they call Elders two of which are commonly members of the Council of twenty five A Minister with the title of Moderator is President of the Consistory who is changed weekly but the twelve Country Ministers are never admitted to be Moderators The Italians and Germans have likewise their Consistories composed of their Ministers and some Elders who meet commonly after Sermon and treat of the affairs of their several Churches but they depend on the greater Consistory There is a kind of Hospital commonly called the French-Box The French Box. which takes care to releive all the poor Families of strangers for none are received into the great Hospital but onely Burgesses Citizens and poor Travellers without any respect to their Religion or Country The Italian and German Boxes The Poor Families of the Italian Nation are releived out of the Box of the Italian Consistory and the Germans out of the German-Box Administration of the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is Administred to the People four times a year to wit at Easter Whitsuntide in the beginning of September and at Christmass but alwaies on a Sunday and that twice in every Church with great concourse of Communicants The Italians likewise and Germans receive four times a year in their seververal Churches so that the Sacrament is administred twelve times a year in Geneva that is once a Month a thing most convenient for Travellers and the sick The Italian Church is much antiener than that of the Germans Heretofore the Spaniards had a Church but for want of people of that Nation it is now lost The Colledge The Colledge for Letters is constituted of a Rector who is a Minister seaven Professours to wit three of Theology one of Hebrew another of Greek and two of Philosophy There is moreover a Principal who is a Minister also set over the Regents of the Schools where the youths study humanity a libruy keeper who has
the charge of the publick library and three Senators of the Council of twenty five whom they call commonly the Governours of the Schools The election of Ministers When a Minister is to be chosen for the City or Country the Congregation by secret voices makes the Election and then proposes the person elected to the Council of twenty five who have the absolute power of admitting or rejecting him If the party be rejected the Ministers proceed to a new Election until they please the humor of the Council The same method is observed in choosing of Professors but for the Regents of the Schools it is sufficient that they be examined by the body of the Colledge and then with their recommendation presented to the body of the twenty five There are in Geneva many Students called Proposants as well Natives as of other Countries as French Germans Switzers Hollanders and others These Students are employed weekly to say Prayers every Evening in three Churches to wit St. Peters St. Gervase's and St. Magdalens and besides to read in the Pulpit some Chapter of the bible every Morning and Evening between the first and last ringing into Church When any of these Ministers are to be ordained Ordination of Ministers that is when they are to receive Authority to Preach and Administer the Sacraments they are examined by the Ministers in the Congregation and afterwards without any Ceremony they receive their Authority the Council of twenty five not medling in that but leaveing the whole care thereof to the Ministers The Presâ— There are many Presses in Geneva which ought weekly to be visited by the Rector but to speak truth both that and Licensing of Bookes by the Rectors and Governors of Schools without which they should not be Printed for most part are neglected The Salary of the Ministers and Professors Adulterie The Salary of the Ministers of the City exceedeth not the sum of two hundred Crowns a year About fifty or threescore years agoe the Crime of Adultery was without any respect of persons punished with death but that rigour is at present remitted the punishment being now some months Imprisonment and a pecuniary fine but the poor that have not mony are punished Corporally Simple Fornication is also punished according to the quality of the offence the delinquent being confined to prison for nine dayes to eate nothing but Bread and Water none are exempted but must present themselves before the Consistory The course that is taken in time of fire There can no where better courses be taken in time of fire than in Geneva for all the men upon the first allarme are obliged in their armes to betake themselves to the several quarters appointed them and the serving Maids with their Buckets to carry water every house keeper being bound to send his Maid Masons Carpenters and the like are obliged to goe and carry their Instruments and tooles with them to the place where the fire is and the Members of the Council of twenty five repair to the Town Hall there to give the necessary orders The Lieutenant with his Staff of Justice two Auditors and the Syndick of the Guards with his Staff and another Syndick all accompanied with a considerable number of Officers go to the place where the fire is and there give all orders necessary every one being obliged exactly to obey them and to pull down what Contiguous Houses they shall think most convenient for quenching the fire the two Auditors take into their Custody all the goods they can which they transport to prevent theft and robbery and in a late fire a Burgess was hanged for stealing some small trifle whilst the people were in confusion The Guards of the Gates are doubled with a Company of Souldiers more than ordinary and in the day time when the Gates are open so soon as they crie fire fire they are shut and not opened again until the fire be quite out the two Majors on Horse back continually surrounding the City and visiting the posts and in a word no care and diligence is omitted Tryals of prisoners dispatched The Tryals of Prisoners are no where dispatched with greater expedition then in Geneva where they are not suffred as in other places to languish in a prison The Gaoler is one of the Council of the two hundred Gaoler who discharges that office only for a year but seeing it is a place of no great profit there are not many that seek after it Prisoners are commonly brought to Tryal at the suit of the Lieutenant and Procurator General before one of the Council of twenty five Trials who meet alwaies in a Room of the Prison appointed for that purpose where they examin the Prisoner who every time that the Council go to examin him is obliged to pay them eighty Florins which is about three Crowns but such as are condemned to death and have not wherewithal are exempted from payment no man being bound to do a thing impossible Malefactors are not tortured here so much as in other places and they never give the rack oftener then twice The Tryal ended Sentence the Members of the Council of twenty five having first prayed to God on their knees give Sentence from which the Citizens and Burgesses as soon as it is intimated to them appeale to the Council of the two hundred Execution of the Sentence After that Sentence of death has past it is next day an hour before Sun-rising intimated to the prisoner by two Ministers and from that time till ten of the Clock before noon he is constantly attended by two of them who are relieved every hour and who make it their business to prepare him for Death the Prisoner all that while being in the same Roome where the Council of twenty five sits when they examine any Malefactor and where he receives the intimation of his Sentence and continues till he be carried to the place of Execution Time of Execution At ten of the Clock then in the forenoon the Council of twenty five assembles before the Gate of the Town Hall where stands a seat of Justice on which sit the four Syndicks with their staves of Justice in hand the Counsellors sitting on each side of the bench but lower than the Syndicks the Prisoner assisted still by two Ministers is brought before them by an Auditor representing the Lieutenant and the City Marshal with his Officers where kneeling alone before the bench a Clerk with an Audible Voice reads to him all the Crimes he is guilty of which being confessed by himself the Sentence then read the City Marshal holding all this while an open Bible in his hand before the Court because before the Clarke begins to read the Sentence he pronounces these words aloud haveing before our eyes God and his holy Scripture The Sentence being read the Prisoner is instantly delivered over into the hands of the Officers of the Lieutenant to whom the execution of
means of the defence and preservation of the City On what Geneva builds its considence yet the Geneveans trust not altogether to their own strength they are sensible enough of their weakness and inability to withstand the designes of their powerful enemies who are very industrious in contriving their ruine Their chief trust therefore is in God under whose protection they are to sacrifice their lives and fortunes in maintaining of their dearly beloved darling Liberty as by experience they have already made appear They can muster of their own some thousands of well trained Soldiers but in case of War or Siege the four Protestant Cantons of Switzerland are obliged by mutual Articles to send them a supply of four thousand men and it being the common maxim of States-men and skilful Souldiers that the preservation of Geneva depends on the Friendship of Switzerland and the Liberty of Switzerland on the safety of Geneva the Catholick Cantons themselves for reasons of State and that they may not by losing that barrier expose their Liberty to the descretion of a Conquerour will in case of need contribute both men and mony for the assistance of that place In the year 1602. Experience confirmed this for in the space of few hours great supplies of men hastened in time of danger to Geneva And the Scalado hapned about midnight in the bitterest time of Winter yet next Evening about two thousand men under several Commanders came from the Neighbouring parts of Switzerland to the relief of the City and about four thousand more were upon the march thither but the danger being over they were with thanks dismissed The History of this enterprize deserves some mention On Saturday night the twelfth of December An account of the Scalado 1602. About midnight the Forces of Charles Emannel Duke of Savoy attacqued Geneva by Scalado in this manner The Signior D' Albigni the Dakes Licutenant the Duke in person being come post to Champey a Village near to Geneva with twelve hundred men advanced towards the wall of the City without any noise of Drum or Trumpet and an hour before midnight began the Scalado making use of three Ladders most artificially made as may be seen at present in the Arsenal one Father Alexander a Jesuite standing at the foot of the midle-most and encouraging all the Soldiers with assurance of indulgence and pardon in name of the Pope though the enterprize was attempted without the Popes knowledge Two hundred and fifty were already got into the City before any perceived it But God Almighty infatuated their Council seeing they might as easily have brought in above a thousand and cut all the Citizens to peices but by their own oversight or unskilfulness they were discovered three hours before day by a Sentinel from the Tower of the Mint House the City taking thereupon the Allarm the bravest and most active Citizens two hours before day put themselves in Armes and after some hot skirmishes and brisk fighting about break of day obtained the Victory and beate out the enemy who had the ill luck that their Petarde notwithstanding all their diligence did no execution seventeen of the Valientest Citizens were killed and ten wounded in the action the enemies had fifty four killed and thirteen taken Prisoners some of which were wounded by leaping over the walls the City Canon having broken their Ladders early next Morning the Council sate to consult what must be done with the thirteen Prisoners and because the people cried for Justice they were all condemned to be hanged though they were not persons of the least quality in Savoy amongst whom were the Barons of Sonaz Attignac and Chaffardon The Baron of Attignac having a broken Legg was carried to the Gallows in a chair all of them pretended to be used as Prisoners of War but the City told them they were traitors peace breakers and assassins and used them accordingly haveing on Sunday the thirteenth of December about noon caused them all to be hanged The bodies of those that were hanged as well as of those that were killed in the action were publickly exposed until Tuesday the fifteenth of the same month and then their Heads to the number of sixty seven cut off and placed upon Poles and their bodies cast into the Rone according to the Sentence pronounced by the Council of sixty who because they themselves had confessed that their orders were to kill men women and Children without distinction and to cast their bodies into the same River thought it just to do unto them what they intended to have done to others After this the Peace being broken the Geneveans made several incursions into Savoy but in the Month of July following by the Mediation of the seaven neutral Cantons of Switzerland and the Authority of the most Christian King which next to Providence had the chief influence on the negotiation peace was concluded betwixt the Duke of Savoy and the States of Geneva notwithstanding which peace the Duke afterwards left no means unassayed to surprize the City but all his industry and attempts have been successless Combourcier beheaded Wednesday April the 19th 1609. Signior della Cambourcier Lord of Terrail was beheaded in the place of Molard opposite to the Harbour because he had promised the Duke of Savoy as he himself confessed to assault Geneva on the side of the Harbour for which purpose he came to the City to view and mark out the place Peter De la Batide Peter della Batide an ingeneer and complice with Combourcier was on the 21st of April hanged in the same place As to wealth Riches Geneva is none of the Richest though it be Richer at present than it was before the Reformation It is true some private persons use their utmost endeavours to raise themselves by trading in Germany Italy Holland Switzerland and other Neighbouring places but the number of Merchants is inconsiderable in respect of the artificers and tradesmen The Trade of Bookselling is in great esteem here Booksellers and there are some Booksellers who have great stores and variety of books especially of such as are prohibited of all sorts and in all Languages by reason of the convenience of the Situation of the place Geneva being as it were the centre to Germany France and Italy There are about seven or eight in Geneva who trade for above a hundred thousand Crowns a year some of which are worth so much but trade not so openly as others do and above a hundred Families who live handsomly and commondiously by commerce but most part of the Towns people are employed in handicraft Trades Geneva hath its Laws and institutions by the Geneveans called Edicts Laws taken for most part from the Civil law and the particular customes of the Country that have been in practice for two or three hundred years but in such cases as are not determined by edicts they have alwaies recourse to the Civil Law these edicts since they were first
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