who ought chiefly to be a Secretary to Truth and not to Falshood or Flattery He who writes to shew his Eloquence publisheth rather his own History than that of the States or Persons whom he pretends to write of and it often happens that such a one climbs upon the Scaffold of his Vanity that he may make himself the more ridiculous and have the greater fall Truth hath no need of Varnish or any affected dress to make it lovely and provided it be not unseasonably or carelesly expos'd its beauty which it borrows from none but it self can never want hearty admirers But before I enter upon the description of this History of Geneva it will be expected I should say something concerning its Name Geneva is the most ancient it ever had and the same we meet with in Caesar's Commentaries A late Author hath mistook in saying it hath been call'd Geneüa neither do I know upon what grounds he affirms Genes to be a Colony of the Genevoises seeing Genes is a very ancient City and bore that name in Hannibal's time Livy relating 't was taken by â—â—go Hamilcar his Son. Genabum as some Moderns have call'd Geneva is the name of Orleans That of Gebenna by which Geneva hath been known for several Ages began to be in use about Charlemain's time for so we find it in that Emperours Life written by Aimoin the Monk in the Chronicles of the Abby of Rheginon and thus used by almost all Authors and Publick Acts for above eight hundred years down to 1536. Notwithstanding there be some who would make us believe that Lucan meant Geneva under the name of Gevenna in these Verses Qua Rhodâ—nus raptum velocibus undis In Mare fert Ararim qua montibus ardua summis Gens habitat canâ— pendentes rupe Gebennas Where Araris with Rhodanus now meet Runs joyn'd into the Sea the Men whose Seat Is on Gebenna Mount covered with Snow But there he speaks not of a City but of the Mountains of Cevennes which Câ—sar means by the same word I shall likewise make it appear in the sequel of this Discourse that it hath never been call'd Colonia Equestris The Genevoises restored it to its ancient name in the year 1536. taking away that of Gebenna which the rudeness of former Ages had given it The Learn'd Scaliger hath observ'd that Geneva must be sounded the second syllable short and at this day in the Language of the Countrey 't is pronounc'd Zéneva Geneva is a City of great Antiquity and were we not so inform'd by Authors the Beauty and Commodiousness of its Scituation would incline us to believe it for it is seated on a rising ground wash'd on one side by the Lake Leman and the Rhosne which thence takes its course bordered with fruitful Plains and Mountains Hence we may imagine a place so commodious as well for necessity as delight hath drawn thither Inhabitants at the same time the Countrey began to be cultivated But Cities and Persons have the same fate The more any Family is anciently Noble the more difficult a matter it is to produce its Titles Antiquity is as a dark Night whose obscurity cannot be dissipated and in which a man can do nothing but search about to no purpose How many Fables do we find mixt with the Original of Troy Rome or Carthage And if this hath happened to such flourishing States what can be expected from mean ones whose mishap having been to have no Author to be the Guardian or Depositary of their History they have therefore lain in obscurity Julius Caesar is the first who mentions Geneva yet there is no doubt but it was then a City under Government and a place of strength which kept one of the passages out of Gaule into Italy and Germany For it was undoubtedly the Interest of the Allobroges or Inhabitants of Gallia Transalpina being neighbours to the Helvetians and Latobriges a people of Gallia Belgica who held Switzerland and the Country of Vaud at that time to have a Fort which should shelter them from the Incursions of this warlike people and might serve as a place of Traffick and Correspondence The Allobroges whose chief City was Geneva held a great part of the Alps and low Countrey betwixt Rhosne and the Mountains They were a valiant people and had gained great reputation by their courage neither were they inferiour to the rest of the Gaules in Riches Stephen de Byzance and Livy who cannot be suspected of flattery give them these Elogies Geneva then was a great while before Caesar's time And as well his silence as other Authors inclines us to believe that its Original was unknown All that the Moderns have asserted concerning this matter is founded on an uncertain Author and on a Chronological Manuscript of the Countrey of Vaud being about four hundred years since it was written as we may judge by the time which endeth the History The Author of the Genevoise Citizen relates that it was kept in his time in the Castle of Chillon on the Lake and there is now one there to be seen which perhaps is the same with that in the City of Orbe in the Countrey of Vaud The little Book Printed at Lyons in 1614. Entituled A Chronology of the Countrey of Vaud is an Epitome of it and 't is out of one or the other of these that the Manuscripts of the History of Geneva have taken out several particulars relating to that City which are not to be met with elsewhere Although to speak ingenuously this Chronicle appears to be nothing else but a slight exercise of some half-witted Scribler of former times and therefore deserves not much to be credited howsoever I shall here offer what he asserts concerning the Foundation of Geneva leaving the Reader to his own liberty to judge and believe if he pleases that in these fabulous relations there is some truth See here then what he saith In the year of the Worlds Creation 2729. and 1073. years after the Flood the great Hercules coming into Spain to go over into Italy he pass'd near the Lake which hath been since call'd Leman where seeing so fine a Countrey inhabited he left there one part of his Army which was sick under the Command of Arpentinus This Captain liking the Countrey built on the side of the Lake a City which he call'd Arpentras or Arpentrine which was seated higher than where lyes now Lausanne and in effect there yet may be seen some marks of a City this was founded in the year of the Worlds Creation 2730. and fifty three years before the destruction of Troy. Arpentinus was succeeded by his Son Rigo after the destruction of Troy when Francus Aeneas Antenor with many more came to inhabit other Countreys about which time Lemannus Paris's Son arriv'd in those parts with his Trojans driving out Rigo from Arpentras and being in full possession call'd the Lake after his own Name Leman This Lemannus having reign'd
a considerable time was at length drove out from Arpentras by his own Subjects who rebelled against him and killed one of his Sons whereupon he in revenge having taken again the City demolish'd it and seeking a new place whereon to build another he came to the end of the Lake whence issues forth the Rhosne and finding a little Hill of Genevriers or Shrubs he layes there the foundations of a City which he call'd for this reason Genevra or Genebra This was in the year of the Worlds Creation 2833. and fifty years after the destruction of Troy and three hundred seventy nine years before the Building of Rome and eleven hundred and thirty years before the Birth of our Saviour After Lemannus who dyed whilst they were building Geneva his Son Eructonius reigned eight and twenty years leaving three Sons who divided the Kingdom betwixt them viz. Sequanus Allobrox and Helvetius This Chronicle likewise makes mention of several other Kings of these Countreys as Milius Ergogus Tigurus Epantalus Aviticus Carphas and his three Sons Conodus Gavotus and Equester Caturigus Flenans Arulus Centronius Benevits Algurus Ciricus and Oblius who built a Fortress at Geneva in the Isle of Rhosne These names readily offer themselves for the finding out the Founders of Cities and the Etymology of the names of Provinces which gives us plainly to understand that this is a History devised at pleasure seeing there are many of these Latin words although that Tongue was not known till some Ages after Sequanus sayes the Chronicle gave his name to the County of Burgundy from whence the people were call'd Sequaeni Allobrox gave his name to the Countrey of the Allobroges Equester to the Country of Vaud where was Colonia Equestris Ergogus to that of Ergau Helvetius to that of Helvetia Aventica Helvetius his Concubine to Avanche Centronius to the Centrons who are them of Tarantoise Arulus to Arles Gavotus to Gavots Benevits to the City of the same name and in short Ciricus to St. Ciergâ—e Now that which I find the worst contriv'd in all this account is the Etymology of the word Geneva which it derives from Genévres or Jumper Shrubs with which this little Hill on which the City was built was over-spread as if the Latin or French Tongue were spoken four Ages before Rome was built for the word Genévre comes from the Latin Juniperus So it is also with the word Equestris which was never heard of in the Countrey of Vaud till Caesur's time as we shall have occasion to mention hereafter Not that this great Antiquity of eight and twenty Ages need be suspected seeing there are Cities as that of Athens ancienter by five hundred years But we are never obliged to believe without proof neither do we find Homer to mention Lemannus Paris his Son although it may well be expected he should say something of him to inform us of the posterity of that Heroe in his Poem 'T is certainly a very idle humour of some people who would needs perswade the World their Ancestors were sprung from the Ashes of Troy and were no less than Founders of Cities as if Troy had been sufficient to people all the World after it self had been ruin'd Be it how it will concerning these eleven Ages before the coming of our Saviour we read of no considerable matters or Warlike feats performed by the Genevoises during that time but what we have from this Chronicle They laid waste the City of Benevits which stood distant from that place where now standeth Nyons because it would Lord it over the neighbouring Countreys and exact Tribute It addeth that this Oblius dyed without Children and left all these Countreys to the disposal of their own people who by this means became free and under no Monarchy The Genevoises had the advantage of the Lake and the Rhosne which serv'd them instead of Ditches and the Alps which sheltered them as Ramparts They separated them especially from the Romans whose neighbourhood was chiefly to be feared and against whom they have signalized their Valour with the rest of the Allobrogeses who extended their Borders as far as Isere The Air of the Mountains which they breathed and the ignorance of carnal delights which renders us soft and effeminate made them Warlike and Dreadful to their Neighbours The Romans have tryed them sufficiently in their Wars against them The first proof which they gave of their Courage was under the Consul Marcus Fulvius in the year six hundred twenty eight from the Building of Rome and one hundred twenty five years before the Birth of our Saviour The Auvergnats and them of Roüergue were joyned with the Allobroges The Romans bragg'd they had defeated them though 't is certain the Consul obtain'd not the Triumph which is a sufficient proof that the loss on the Gaules side was not great and in effect the War broke out again three years after and the Allobroges raised greater Forces They fought the Romans near Orange not far from the place where the Sorgue dischargeth it self into the Rhosne the Romans got the Victory by a Stratagem after they had for a long time vigorously disputed it They had brought with them Elephants which they had caused to march against the Allobroges believing the Gaules having never seen them would be affrighted as it indeed fell out their Horses being startled set a running after the same manner as it had happened heretofore to the Romans themselves when Pyrrhus who first brought them into Italy fought against them so bloody a Battel in which they were overthrown the Gaules lost in this Conflict twenty thousand men and Bituitus King of Auvergne one of their chiefest Captains was taken Prisoner and led away in Triumph by the Consul Domitius Ahenobarbus to whom the care of this War was committed Notwithstanding this overthrow the Allobroges who had been overcome rather by their Enemies Craft than through their own want of Courage took again the Field the year following with their Confederates and advanc'd as far as Isere offering the Romans Battel The Consul Fabius Maximus who was General lost his Quartan Ague in the heat of the fight and accompanied with his usual good fortune obtain'd a signal Victory Twenty six thousand Gaules were cut in pieces and the Consul obtain'd the glorious Title of Allobrogick and the great Triumph at his return to Rome There might have been seen not many years since in the Village of Versoy about a League distant from Geneva an old Marble Stone on which was engraven the Elogy of the Conqueror of the Allobroges Caesar hath observ'd in the Conference which he had with Arioviste that after this Victory the Romans generously forgave the Auvergnats and them of Rouergue not exacting of them any Tribute nor so much as reducing them into a Province From whence 't is likely that the Allobroges who were their Allies in this War were no worse us'd and that the Romans considering them rather as
succeeded by Denis who was followed by Paracodus to whom Victor wrote to the same effect So that here is already a great mistake to believe that Denis and Paracodus first planted the Christian Faith at Geneva for seeing they were both Bishops of Vienna then chief City of the Allobroges it is hence most likely they sent some to Geneva to preach the Gospel it lying in their Circuit But that which gives greater confirmation is what hath been found written in an old Manuscript Parchment Bible in the Library at Geneva viz. Genevensis Ecclesia à discipulis Apostolorum Paracodo ac Dionysio fundata Viennensibus Episcopis that is to say Paracodus and Denis Bishops of Vienna who have founded the Church at Geneva were called the Apostles Disciples because they taught the same Doctrine So that Paracodus could not be one of the Seventy Disciples seeing he lived towards the end of the second Century Likewise some would make him Contemporary with S. Irenaeus who was Bishop of Lyons and suffered Martyrdom under the Emperour Severus about the end of the same Age before which time the Gospel had made but small progress in Gaule as we may read in Gregory of Tours At the end of this fore-mentioned Manuscript Bible there is a list of the names of Bishops of Geneva which is now almost worn out with these three Verses towards the end of it Hos mensae Christi constat libamine pasci Vascula terra Dei proprio de sanguine facti In templo Domini prisca de Gente notati The first we meet with in this Catalogue of Bishops is Diogenus the next Domnus whom they of S. Martha call Dominius and so in order Salvianus Cassianus Eleutherius Theolastus Fraternicus Pallascus all which flourished about the third and fourth Century but we know nothing more of them than their names The fourth Century was lamentable to several Countreys by the Invasions of those Nations which began to tear the Roman Empire Geneva cruelly suffered so that in a Council held at Turin in the year 397. there was care taken for its reparation And from that time encreasing in Authority it presided over the neighbouring Countreys even to the Alpes it being agreed in this Council that the Bishops of Metropolitan Cities should be acknowledged Primates of their respective Provinces so that the Primate of Geneva had under him the Chablaises and Genevoises About the beginning of the next Century after the death of Theodosius the Vandals over-ran the Gauls one part of them setling themselves in the Countrey of Vaud to which it is thought they gave the name They built likewise several Borroughs which occasioned their being called Bourguignons at which time there was one Isaac called by others Isarius Bishop of Geneva whom S. Euchere mentions in the Life of S. Maurice These Bourguignons established a Kingdom amongst them whose first King was Gundicaire or Gonderic who dying divided his Realm between his four Sons Gondebaud had Vienna Chilperic Lyons Godesigile Geneva and Gotmar Besançon Sidonius Apollinaris who lived in those times gave them the name of Tetrarchs These Brethren being at variance Chilperic and Gotmar drave Gondebaud from his Territories but he having vanquished them returns in which conflict Gotmar was slain couragiously defending himself Chilperic who was taken Prisoner was beheaded and his Wife thrown into the Rhosne But some years after Cloüis King of France having espoused Clotilde Chilperic's Daughter that he might be revenged on Gondebaud for his cruelty proclaims War against him Godesigile to whose share Geneva had fallen joyned with Cloüis against his Brother Gondebaud who being vanquished was forced to receive Laws from the Conqueror He therefore renders himself Tributary to Cloüis and left Vienna to Godesigile but Gondebaud re-took Vienna and the wretched Godesigile was slain in a Church by the Sword. Cloüis moved at this barbarous action drove out Gondebaud and gave his Son Sigismond the Kingdom 'T was this Sigismond who founded on the Alpes S. Maurice's Monastery which foundation was subscribed by Maximus Bishop of Geneva This same Emperour caused to assemble the Council called Ponense Paunense or Epaunense as Mr. Chorier hath very well observed in his History of Dauphiné and after him the Abbot in his Epitome of Councils at Ponas near Vienna in Dauphiné Maximus was also at this Council His Successor Pappulus was present at that of Orleans After him the Manuscript Bible afore mentioned recites Gregorius Nicetius Rusticus Patricius Hugo the First Andreas Graecus and Domitianus whom they of S. Martha call Donatianus There is an Inscription in S. Victor relating to this Council which is this Haec acta sunt Episcopo Genevensi Domitiano These things were done when Domitian was Bishop of Geneva 'T was also in his time the Body of S. Victor was transported from Soleurre to Geneva Salonius his Successor was present at the Council of Lyons and Paris There hath been a Bishop of Geneva of the same name in the last Age The Bishop of Geneva writ himself Salonius Episcopus Genavensis After him succeeded Cariatho one of the Domesticks of King Gontran of Burgundy This King encreased the Church Revenues and was the Founder of S. Peter's Cathedral Monsieur Morus the Author of an Harangue Entituled De duobus Genevae Miraculis proves by some passages out of Avitus's Homilies that it was he who consecrated that Church there being there before a Temple dedicated to Apollo But the building was intermitted till the year 990 at which time the Emperour Othon caused it to be continued and Conradus finished it in the year 1024. But I doubt whether we ought to credit those Chronological Manuscrips which relate that under the Reign of Gontran a certain City named Taurodinum was overthrown into the Rhosne by an Earthquake whose course being stopped there followed such a great Inundation that it ran over the Walls of Geneva But there is not so much as any single Geographer who mentions this City Monsieur la Mothe le Vayer relates the matter after a different manner and more likely to be true Marius saith he Bishop of Laufare reports in his Chronicle that the Hill which he calls Tauretunensem in Valay fell so suddenly on a Castle and neighbouring Burroughs that it overwhelmed all the Inhabitants being followed with such an Inundation of Water as very much damnified the City of Geneva Appellinus whom some call Abelenus succeeded Cariatho The Legend of S. Columban Abbot of Lussienx mentions him he lived till the year 613. The French King Clotairius the Second drove out the Burgundians from the Countrey of the Allobroges and setled Magistrates at Geneva Dagobert his Son succeeded him and Theodoric second Son to Dagobert built several Churches according to the relation of Volfangus Lazius whose words are these Theodoricus secundus ultimus Merovingiorum in Burgundia qui cum ex Brunchilde uxore nihil procreasset multa
account William of Constant who was then Bishop would have him be satisfied with what he had already gotten without the City fearing to give him footing within He also proposed an agreement to be made with the Earl of Genevois but that party which was for Savoy carried it They granted him what the Earl of Genevois possessed carried fore in the City and were willing he should use the City as a place of retreat to defend his neighbouring States In this reciprocal Alliance he promised on his part to defend them at his cost That he would not conclude any Peace without their consents And that there should be a free commerce betwin his Courtrys and the City Which Treaty was observed whilst he and his two Sons Edward and Amé the Great lived The Bishop seeing the greatest part on the Earls side was forced to agree and confirm it So that at this Treaty it was concluded That the Earl of Savoy should become Earl of Genevois But the name of Earl being hateful to the City he was content with only that of Vidame which signifies the same with Vice-Dominus he had also a Bayliff who was called in the Language of that Country Chatelatn du Vidomne But he acknowledged his dependance notwithstanding on the Bishop and Church of Geneva who granted him this during their pleasure But in process of time the Princes of Savoy encreasing in power scorned to be acknowledged by a Word importing Subjection wherefore they gave their Bayliff this Title of Vidame Six years after Humbert Dauphin of Viennois who was one of the Earl of Genevois's Confederates set upon the Town whilst the Earl of Savoy was fortifying it that he might make him quit so advantagious a Post Bâ—atrix of Savoy Mother-in-law to this Dauphin assisted him with a considerable number of Souldiers which she had caused to be raised in Focigny He would have secretly surprized the City on Sunday after the Ascension but he could not carry it so sliely but his design was discovered Notwithstanding which he fell on the Suburbs and burnt a great part of them and encamped before the City intending to besiege it and win it by Assault The Earl of Savoy was not in the City and the good Bishop William of Constance knowing not which way to turn himself in this affair writ to the Dauphin very submissive Letters entreating him to desist from his purpose but all his submissions and Tears were ineffectual For the Dauphin attacked the City with all his Force and had near won it had not the Citizens defended themselves most gallantly and forced him to raise his Siege but in requital he pillaged the Castles of Thy and Sala belonging to the Bishop and placed therein Garrisons The Bishop finding himself not able to encounter him with Secular Weapons makes use of the Spiritual Sword and Excommunicates him and his Mother-in-law About the twenty seventh of October in the same year and a Month after he aggravated his Excommunication The Earl of Savoy having taken the Field to repel the Duke marched to L'Ecluse and the Castle of Laye which places were very advantagious to him William of Constance being dead one called Martin succeeded him who held that Seat but a very small time and had for Successor Aimé du quart who had been Chanon and Chanter of the Church at Lyons He found himself likewise to be in the same troubles as his Predecessors occasioned by the differences betwixt the Earl of Savoy and Genevois and inclining sometimes to one side and sometimes to the other he caused himself to be suspected by both parties Amé Earl of Genevois built the Castle of Gaillard a League distant from Geneva from whence he made inroads into Savoy Nevertheless he paid Homage to the Church for several Lands and made an Alliance with the Bishop and Commonalty of Geneva This Bishop made a remarkable Decree to wit That they should begin the year from Christmas and not as heretofore from Easter And in the year following he made a Declaration by consent of the Earl of Savoy touching the Office of the Vidame or Steward The enmity continued betwixt the two Earls Amé III. Son of Amé the II. Earl of Genevois would drive away Edward who was then Earl of Savoy and hinder his settling himself in Geneva where he continually strengthned himself Fain would he have gotten the other out that he might come in and joyning with the Dauphin Hugues he deals with the Governour of the Castle of Entremont who was the Earl of Savoy's Vassal and so far prevails with him as to obtain liberty to put in there a Garrison from the Dauphin Whereupon the Earl to whom this place was of importance leaves Geneva to take if possible this Castle again But whilst he was busied about this Siege the Earl of Genevois accompanied with the Dauphin Lord of Focigny came to the Bridge of Arve where he desired to speak with some Chanons and Citizens who inclined to his side He shews them they could promise to themselves no advantage in driving him away and receiving in his stead the Earl of Savoy who had deserted them in their necessities that he could if he pleased enter by force and put all to Fire and Sword were he not withheld by the fear of God the respect which he had for S. Peter who was Patron of the City and the kindness which he had for them who took his part in it That he had more right than his Enemy and that if they would not receive him as a Friend he would treat them as Enemies The Deputies finding his request reasonable made an alliance with him under which they also comprehended the Dauphin mutually promising to defend one another and maintain the Priviledges of the City But when it came to have the peoples consent they of the Faction of Savoy would by no means hear of it so that one half of the Town took up Arms against the other The Captain of the Castle in the Isle was for the Earl of Savoy and he of the Borough of Four for the Earl of Genevois Each of which parties betook themselves to these two Captains The first of these puts in a Garrison into S Peters and under the Piazzas whilst the others introduce the Earl of Genevois and Dauphin into the City by the Ivâ—ry-Gate called then by the name of Porta aquaria with both his Horse and Foot. Notwithstanding all which the Faction of Savoy prepares to encounter them animated by Widon Tavel Guiges of S. Apre Vincent Frombert and Perissodin of Bourdignin who were principal Men amongst them The Earl of Genevois was routed one hundred thirty and two being left dead upon the place The Conquerors lay hold on the chief of the contrary Faction causing Jacquemet and Peter Bosselets to be hanged and confiscated the Goods of several others of their accomplices In the Month of August these two Lords
name of the Commonalty by Hudriol Heremite a Citizen that seeing for near four hundred years the City and dependances had been under the power of the Church under which they and their predecessors had received gentle usage and been governed in peace it seemed to them neither profitable nor honourable for the Church and Prelate but rather dangerous and of bad consequence to the State and Commonalty to think of any Translation or Alienation and although that in times past there have been greater occasion for it than at present seeing there were Territories and Lordships contiguous to Geneva such as of the Earl of Vaux Lord of Statigny and the Lord of Gex brother of the Earl of Genevois and several others then living who disturbed the peace and quiet of the Prelate But now all the said Lordships being ended and reduced under one single Prince the Duke of Savoy who exercises Justice in his own Dominions and keeps a good correspondence with them his Neighbours They would never permit any alteration but would remain both they and their successors under the Government of the Church and Prelate Requiring him therefore according to his duty and Pastoral charge in pursuit of the Oath which he had taken at his entrance well and faithfully to govern the Church and keep its Rights as he had hitherto done promising for their parts to afford him any requisite aid and assistance against any who should molest him The Bishop thereupon makes an accord with the Citizens and Syndicks never to suffer any alteration or change in the State without the express consent of the Syndicks and Citizens Which he solemnly vowed to observe according to the usual Ceremony at his first entrance with his hand upon his breast and the Syndicks and Counsel took their Oath on the four Evangelists This Treaty is intitled in Latine A Transaction between the Reverend father John Patriarch and Minister of the Bishoprick of Geneva on the one part and the Citizens Burgesses and Commonalty of Geneva on the other against the endevours and suit of Duke Amé to Pope Martyn At the bottom of which are written the most part of the Names and Sirnames of them who were present at the said Council general who represented the Commonalty being in all to the number of 727. There being likewise the four Syndicks Aymé Sallanche a Lawyer Peter Gaillard Nicod of Vigier and John of Jussy After whom some of the principal Chanons set their hands Namely John and Amé of Arenthon Anselm of Chesnay Chanon of S. Peters Rodolphus of Porta and John of S. Thomas Divinity Professors Bartholmew Lombard Dr. of Laws Aymé Maillet Raymond of Orsieres Henry of Barmes Lawyers Mounsieur Authony Dr. of Physick Peter Roset Pancasel de la Rive Aymonet Fabry Nicolas of New-Castle Mermet Lulin Jaquemet Gautier John de la Roche James Revilliod Henry Chevalier John of Boloz Girard Milliet In short the said Act was signed by four Notaries Fulsend of Bruille John of Vaud Nicholas Chevrier and Anthony Fontanelle in the year and month aforesaid All persons who were interessed in the City were very well satisfied at this days work and they had new cause to rejoyce some months after by a declaration from the Emperor Sigismond which contained that Geneva was an Imperial City terming it Nobile Imperit Membrum wherein are mentioned at large the priviledes of Geneva which he declares he would take into his protection strictly charging all Princes Barons Captains and all other Officers of what quality soever and especially Amé Duke of Savoy not to molest in any sort the said Patriarch and Bishop of the Church of Geneva unless they would incur the indignation of the sacred Empire given at the Monastery of the Royal Court near Prague the sixth of June 1421. Signed Michael Chanon of Prague It is likely it was this Prelate who built the Bishops Palace his Arms standing on the outside of it which is a Band charged with three Dolphins For Frison in his Book intitled Gallia Purpurata blazons the Arms of this Bishop with Gules on a golden bar charged with three Dolphins in azure moreover in these Arms there 's behind the shield an Archbishops Cross which cannot agree with Amé of Gransons as we have already mentioned seeing he never was an Archbishop whereas John of Pierre-scize hath been Archbishop of Besançon and Roüen After John of Pierre-scize whom others call John of Rochetaillé there was chosen in his place John of Brievecuisse or of Courtecuisse Confessor to the French King Charles the sixth and Bishop of Paris who was Bishop of Geneva but one year he was of the Country of Normandy and had left Paris because he had opposed the K. of Englands interest there hath been one of this same family Bishop of Grenoble This last Bishop of Geneva was succeeded by John of Brognier who was born in a mean Village near Annecy called Brogny where when a Boy he kept Swine A Cardinal passing by took a likeing to him and carried him with him to Avignon where he brought him up to Learning It is reported before he went thither he came to Geneva to buy a pair of Shooes at the Taconnerie which is the street wherein is sold Leather and Shooes for Tacon in the ancient Language of the Savoyards signified Leather but he having not mony enough to pay for them the Shoomaker observing his perplexity said to him Go go friend you shall pay me when you come to be a Cardinal which proved a kind of a Prophecy for being one he called to mind this man and requited him with the Office of Steward of his Houshold He was called Cardinal of Ostie and it is for this reason that John of Bertrandis having had the same Title it was thought it was he who built the Chappel joyning to the Maccabees which at present is called the Philosophy School for it is certain it was John of Brognier who founded it seeing there is yet seen a little Hog carved on the outside of it which he caused to be set up for a memorial of his profession and in several parts of his Arms which are a Cross doubly traversed covered with a Cardinals Cap. The same Arms are in a Chappel at Brogny which he likewise founded as Mounsieur Morery hath observed passing through this Village he lies buried in the Chappel of Geneva and had for his successor Francis of Mies Priest of S. Marcel his Nephew or Sisters son some name him Francis of Savoy Severt would have him called though I know not with what reason John of Chalan which is the name of a Noble Family in the Country of Vaud In the Year 1430. there hapned a great Fire at Geneva which the Book called the Citizen affirms to have happened in the Year 1330. telling us he had it out of a Manuscript belonging to the Library at Geneva several others have mentioned it after him for most Authors
This advanced not a little the design of the Alliance with Fribourg it being the only private and publick discourse of the Town but all would not consent to it so that Besançon Huges one of the Syndicks and several of the Council approved of it and had several meetings about it with those who were men of courage and resolution They concluded that if a general Alliance could not be effected there should be a particular one made in behalf of those who had subscribed to the number of three hundred with charge to the Deputies to confer abut it with those Fribourgers on whom Berthelier had prevailed which was done not without opposition from them who were Pensioners to the Duke for he had such as well in Fribourg as Geneva The Deputies had this answer both from the great and lesser Councils that if the City or at least the greatest part of it would make such a contract it should be accepted on reasonable terms provided no foreign claim hindred them especially that of the Duke of Savoy for if Geneva was subject to him this could not be done without violating the Alliance with him they then would be ready to consent to this Alliance or Burgership and from that time would protect them as their own Citizens The Deputies returned with an Express from Fribourg to make relation of their negotiation some accepted it others refused it so that this heated them one against another notwithstanding the remonstrances made them by the Deputy of Fribourg There were continually seen Assemblies of both parties which day and night circuiting about the Town made songs of one another with mutual gibes and reproaches Those on the Dukes side termed them who had accepted the Burgership Eignots meaning Eidgnossen which they counted not injurious but rather honourable this being a Dutch word signifying Allyed by an Oath it being the same the first Switzers made use of when they mutually assisted one another against the Tyrannical usurpations of the gentrv of their Country and from hence hath sprung the word Huguenots of which there hath been such different and ridiculous Etymologies for some affirm that this term Huguenot came from the two first words which were delivered in an Harangue of some deputed Switzers to the French King beginning thus Huc nos venimus Others imagine it is derived from a certain Gate called Hugon in I know not what City near the which Gate they held the first Synod the learned Monsieur Peteau found out another original derivation as I have read in the Memoires of M. de Pieresk He tells us then that at Tours or Amboisé where as is pretended this name first began to be used the people have a tradition of I know not what kind of spirit who ran in the night about the streets whom they called Frier Bourru and afterward King Hugues Ghost It is well known the Protestants at first went only to hear Sermons by night not daring to assemble in the day and for that reason were called Huguenots which is as much as to say Spirits people who appeared only in the night like King Hugue's Ghost but the true Etymology is that which we have already given they who understand not the Dutch Language differently pronounce it The Boys of the Town ran about the streets hollowing Long live the Eignots The note of distinction was a Cross marked on their Doublet They called the Dukes party Mammelusses by the name of those Souldiers who were the Soudan of Egypt's slaves who having been Christians had renounced their Christianity and abjured the liberty of their Country to joyn with Tyrants designing by this name to accuse them of the Dukes faction of the same baseness and from hence hath sprung the Original of these factions which lasted several years These Eidgnots assembled in the night took upon them to watch the City and feasted one another Which the Princes understanding sent Embassadors to Fribourg to make their complaints saying they perverted their Subjects contrary to the ancient Alliances in admitting them Citizens entreating the Magistrates to desist to which they answered that they had not done any thing to the prejudice of their former agreements with them in treating with Geneva for as to what concerned the Bishop they had no Alliance with him and consequently might contract with the Citizens who although they acknowledged him their Prince yet did not that hinder them from being free and at their own disposal he having accepted them upon this and not any other condition yet would they do him no wrong for if he could prove them of Geneva to be others than what they termed themselves the Alliance should be void that they were so far from diminishing his Ecclesiastical Authority that they were rather on the contrary for maintaining of it to the utmost of their power and as to the Duke of Savoy they would make a reserve in what concerned his Rights in the Treaty and that if he could make it appear the City was subject to him they would proceed no farther And lastly if both of them had found themselves aggrieved they were content to stand to the judgment which should be given and not to act contrary to their Alliance The Deputies from Savoy not satisfied with this came to Geneva where by flattery and threatnings they required there should be no farther contracting of Burgership and after all their endeavours perceiving they could not obtain their design they complained against the Fribourgers in the general Assembly of the Consedrate Cantons declaring the wrong which was done the Duke of Savoy in admitting them of Geneva into the Burgership of their City seeing they were his subjects which was contrary to former Treaties for supposing the Genevoises were not his subjects yet were they comprehended under the title of Hindersassen which is as much as to say inhabitants of their own Country which the Treaties of Alliance forbad to change into Burgership The Deputies of Geneva answered that their City had never been subject to the Duke or any of his Predecessors that by this word Hindersassen was not so much meant a City surrounded by his Countrys as strangers setled in his Dominions that it was rather the Duke who dwelt with them seeing the Country he held about Geneva had heretofore belonged to the Bishop of whom the Dukes held it for the confirmation of which they produced their Titles These contests and proceedings held a long time before the War broke out The Abbot of Beaumont and Francis Bonnivard Prior of S. Victor young Citizens were zealous for the liberty of their Country they together with several others sent to Fribourg to request the priviledge of Burgership which was granted them upon condition the general Council of Geneva consented to it which was sworn to by the greater number of suffrages which carried it In the mean time the Duke and Bishop united in their interest gave Commission dated at Montcallier to the Sieur de
pro fulcienda sancta religione apud Gebennam fundavit Theodorick the Second was the last King of the Franks in Burgundy who having no Children by his Wife Brunchilde erected several Churches and Religious Houses in Geneva Soon after the death of Dagobert Pappolus the Second whom some call Paulus and the Centuriators of Magdebourg Papulus Genuensis was present at the Council of Chalons The Book called the Citizene tells us there was one remained at Geneva to reconcile the people of the Country of Vavx with them of New Castle in the year 726. who was succeeded by Robertus Aridanus Epoaldus Albo Huportunus Eucherius Gilabertus whom they of S. Martha call Gubertus Renembertus Leutherius and Galbertus who held that Seat sixteen years and whom some call Postbertus Towards the end of the eighth Century Charlemain came to Geneva where he called a Council of War about his passing into Italy against Didier King of the Lombards He confirmed the Liberties and Priviledges of Geneva both in Church and State and caused to be set up on the great Gate of S. Peter his own Statue of Marble and under it an Imperial Eagle with two heads the Eagle remains yet to be seen Some say it was Conradus the Second who caused it to be carved and set up when he had finished the Church The following Bishops were Valternus who held the Seat six and thirty years Apradus the First whom some call Artaldus or Cataldus Domitianus the Second Boso held the Bishoprick but seventeen Months after him Ansegisus half of whose Epitaph is yet to be seen in a Marble Stone taken out of the ruines of S. Victor's Church The Chronological Manuscripts of Geneva inform us he was the same who was Archbishop of Sens but they of S. Martha affirm the contrary saying he was buried in the Church of Sens where his Epitaph is yet to be seen They call the aforementioned Bishop of Geneva Anseguinus contrary to the Manuscripts and Marble Inscriptions which we shall produce at the end of the Book The Centuriatours of Magdebourg term Ansegisus only Archbishop of Sens saying that he was declared Primate of Gaule in the year 876. The Author call'd the Citizen tells us the Bishop of Geneva dyed in the year 840. but then there would be too great an Interregnum between him and his Successor Optandus who was not Consecrated before the year 881. His mistake lyes in taking Ansegisus who hath written a Summary of Charlemain and was but an Abbot for him resemblance of names oftentimes occasioning confusion in History The Allobroges having been for a long time under Emperours after the death of the Kings of Burgundy which were Transiurane Gundicaire and his Successors they fell again under the power of the new Kingdom of Burgundy of which Boson of Vienna was the first King who sometimes took upon him the Title of King of Burgundy otherwhiles that of Vienna after the same manner as his Successors Lewis Hugo Rodolphus I. Conradus and Rodolphus II. with whom ended this Kingdom in the year 1032. The Geneva Manuscripts in this particular are full of fabulous relations mentioning one Boson the Second who in fighting against the Genevoises was slain whereas there has been but one of that name This State of Burgundy sayes Monsieur Chorior in his History of Dauphiny after the death of Rodolphus the Second called the Sluggard fell into a confused Anarchy the Prelates making themselves Masters in the Cities of their Residency and Earls in their Jurisdictions The German Emperours not being able to hinder their Usurpations were forced to agree with them and gave them in trust what they saw was impossible to get out of their hands and from hence hath happened to apply this more particularly to Geneva the Original of those Differences and Feuds betwixt the Bishops and Earls of that City During the ninth and tenth Ages after Ansegisus the Bishops of Geneva were Optandus or Apradus II. consecrated by Pope John the VIII as we gather by the Letters of this Pope to the Genevoises after whom succeeded Bernardus Riculphus Fraudo Aldagundus or Aldagandus I. Aymo I. Girardus I. Hugo II. who joyned S. Victors Monastery at Geneva to the Church of Clugny by the consent of Rodolphus King of Burgundy and his Brother Burchard Archbishop of Lyons Conradus Aldagundus the Second Bernardus the Second and Frederick who was present at the Dedication of the Church called S. Stevens of Besançon by the Popes order who was Leo the Ninth Frederick was Bishop according to the account of them of S. Martha thirty seven years and according to the Annals of Geneva fifty years Borsadus who succeeded him exercised the Episcopal Government but five years This is the Epitome of the eleven first Ages since the coming of our Saviour and is in a manner all we can learn of them Now the reason of this is because the City hath been several times burnt as in the years 1291 1321 1334 1430. The following Ages will yield us more matter through the ambition of three Lords who would become Masters of Geneva Which three were the Bishop the Earl of Genevois and the Earl of Savoy who have several times brought it near to destruction But this their striving who should become Masters of it hath been a means to continue its Priviledges and Liberties as an Imperial City which the Magistracy claims time out of mind as well by the death of Oblius who left his Countreys free as also by the priviledge of a Roman Colony under the first Emperours and by a Confirmation from Charlemain For they tell us the Kings of Burgundy were Usurpers It belongs not to me to decide the contrary Pretensions of these three above mentioned Lords Guichenon and other Authors call the Earls of Genevois Earls of Geneva which is contrary to several ancient Titles of these Earls which name them Comites Gebennesii and not Gebennenses for it is well known that Gebennesium is Genevois which is separate from the Jurisdiction of Geneva But it is very likely some have taken upon them this Title as may be seen on an ancient Coin of an Earl who lived about the year 1370. who called himself Petrus Comes Gebennensis which the Bishops have resented ill especially John Lewis of Savoy The first Wars wherein Geneva was concerned happened since the twelfth Century upon occasion of Wido Bishop of Geneva's Grant to his Brother Ame. They were both Sons to an Earl of Genevois whose posterity for above five hundred years had possessed this Lordship The Bishops would have these Earls to be but only as Bayliffs in Genevois but Wido to strengthen his Family gave his Brother in this Investiture besides his Paternal Inheritance several Villages and Castles belonging to the Diocess of Geneva as Bonmont and Hautecombe and what Temporal Offices he had in the City making him his Rent-Gatherer or Bayliff Wido or Guido who
several small skirmishes on both sides on the Bridge of Chancy where some remained on the place and Seyssel was forced to yield to the strongest Duke Charles the Second being dead there started up in Foucigny one John Gay of Megiva who raised the Peasants into a Mutiny against the Nobility who oppressed them setting before them the hope of Liberty and the example of the Cantons of Switzerland with whom and the City of Geneva they might make a League These Peasants to the number of sixscore wore Red Coats who set upon the Gentry of the Countrey without any exception but the Lord of Bresse having gotten them of Berne and Fribourg to send to them Deputies they drew to Geneva the chief promoters of these Tumults and with fair promises softned them and sent them home but being scattered they were laid hold on and hanged Bishop Champion after the usual Oath called a Synod in which the Decrees and Constitutions of the Bishops were reviewed and amended which were Printed in the same year under the Title of Constitutions of the Synod of the Bishoprick of Geneva He dyed two years after having held the Seat but four years Philip of Savoy being but seven years of age Son of the Lord of Bresse was chosen in his stead at the suit of Blanche Mary of Montferrat Widow of Charles the First Pope Alexander the Sixth who confirmed his Election assigned Aymâ— of Monfalcon Bishop of Lausane and the Bishop of Nice to be his Guardians which Philip was Bishop under four Dukes of Savoy Charles his Uncle Philip his Father and Philbert and Charles his Brethren As he increased in years he grew more fit to be a Soldier than a Church-man as his Uncle Lewis before him 'T was commonly said of him that he was more fitting to be made a Duke than his Brother Whilst he was young and his Father alive he was forced to wear an Ecclesiastical Garb but after his death Charles then being Duke and very familiar with him he threw it off but not the Revenue Return we now to the Government of Philbert This Duke came to Geneva with his Bastard Brother René They were so greatly pleased with the City that they desired leave of the Bishop and Council to keep Courts of Justice in it only for their own Subjects which was granted them for some time Philbert giving himself over to pleasure left the management of his affairs to René a fierce and imperious young man and who watched all opportunities to make his brother Master of Geneva that he might be revenged on the Syndicks who had refused to let him have some Writings wherein the City were concerned his first attempt was the imprisoning of a Genevois called Peter Levrier by virtue of Letters Decretory from the Duke The Lieutenant of Gex had laid hold on him near the Town-house from whence he carried him to the Castle of the Isle which was the Dukes abode whereupon the Attorny-General and Syndicks made their complaints to René shewing him that such an imprisonment was wholly unlawful forasmuch as that jurisdiction and power belonged only to the Bishop his Vicar or Steward or other secular Officers so that not being able to suffer such an action they desired the Lieutenant should bring back the Prisoner to the place from whence he had taken him upon which there was an Act made in favour of the Bishop Church and Syndicks These last returned him the same measure for being informed that a Savoyard called Thomas Papuli had coyned brass mony in the City having given notice to René of the power and jurisdiction of the Church and City they sentenced the malefactor to have his right hand cut off before his own door and from thence to be led to Champel where he was beheaded and his body to hang on the gallows and his hands and head to be set up in the place called the Liberties A marriage was resolved upon between the Duke of Savoy and Yoland of Savoy his Cousin German the better to strengthen him in his Countrys but she died before the marriage could be consummated and was buried in the Chappel situated at the Cordeliers of Rive René who had the sole management of affairs intrusted him by his brother endeavoured to strengthen his Authority and make him absolute in Geneva both publick and particulars had every day some new oppression laid upon them although he received from both more respect than he deserved for he had every day Presents made him in hopes they might at length win him by kindness and keep him from enterprizing any thing against them by which means he received more profit than the whole revenue of that City amounted to all which could not make him desist from his violences For remembring there was a gentleman called Eyria who in the time of the deceased Duke had been in great credit and whom he could not then injure he was resolved now together with his whole family He therefore accuses him to have designed to poyson the Duke by a perfumed Apple for a confirmation of this produces two witnesses who make Oath they heard him together with a Physitian at Lyons contriving how they should effect it the Duke being easie to be wrought on believed it whereupon it was resolved that they should surprize the Physitian they sent therefore to Monlâ—el the Provost of the Dukes houshold who desired the Physitian by his man to visit him the poor Physitian who mistrusted nothing as being innocent came to him without delay where instead of a Patient he finds a Provost who seized on him and carried him away bound hand and foot to Geneva where he was thrown into the Prison of the Island and Judged by the Provost At which the Syndicks and people were exceedingly moved and complained to the Duke shewing him this was an infringement of their Liberties and Jurisdiction which the Duke himself was sworn to observe yet did not René forbear to pass on putting him to the Rack and made him confess and accuse whom he pleased which done he caused him to be beheaded and set up his Quarters in the Liberties notwithstanding the Citizens opposition Afterwards he seized on Eyria and most of his kindred and friends whom he had caused to be accused by the Physician and would have dealt after the same manner with them but several Persons of Quality having interposed their sentence was deferred and René began to grow odious to the people The Duke after his affianced Ladies death espoused Margaret Maximilian's daughter who was first betrothed to the young King Charles of France but being repudiated by him and married afterwards to the King of Castile after his decease she was married to this Duke Philbert They made their publick entrance together into Geneva which put the Town to great charge in Plays Masquerades and other divertisements This drew insensibly the Youth into
debaucheries and the Duke being young himself and a great lover of these pleasures it is no wonder if these pomps and divertisements were as so many charms to lay asleep the Genevoises Eyria escaping out of Prison at Chilon flies to Berne and makes his complaint to the Council there against René beseeching them to shelter him under their protection and to shew to the Duke his brothers oppressions which they did so that he began to lessen his affection towards him There was at that time a Preacher belonging to the Dukes Court of the Order of Dechausser or bare-legged called Frater Mulet who set before him one day in his Sermons The poverty and misery of his Subjects exhorting him to help them thenceforward in driving away the Thieves from about him the real blood-suckers of the People He compared the Duke to a great purse full of little purses filled with mony the biggest of which was empty meaning thereby them who enriched themselves at the Dukes cost and advising that all the little purses should be emptied into the great The Duke and those present perceived very plainly that he designed the Bastard by these words who was the greatest of those Tyrants that robbed the people and indeed his credit from that time diminisht as well for what had past in the Pulpit as his great pride for he had ordinarily a greater attendance than his Master The Duke beginning to slight him his followers likewise deserted him this abated a little his pride and fearing he should be shamefully sent away he thought it was better handsomely to ask leave than to stay till it was granted him without asking He came then one day to the Duke to whom he held this discourse My Lord I have ever been and am still your most humble Servant and Subject and moreover your poor Bastard brother for your deceased father acknowledged me as such I have served you hitherto with that zeal and devotion as might be expected from a servant and brother so that if my service hath not been such as you deserve yet hath it been to the best of my power but for as much as I perceive of late that my service hath not been acceptable to you therefore I am not willing to trouble you any longer wherefore I beseech you to suffer me to retire into my own house notwithstanding which you shall find me most ready to obey you as often as you shall please to command me To whom the Earl thus answered Bastard you say you have truly and faithfully served me be it so yet am I glad you ask leave to be gone and I will have you depart not only from the Court but likewise out of my Dominions in three days upon pain of death The wretched René finding his brother so angry departed weeping attended only by his Domesticks and made what haste he could to be gone of which the Syndicks having notice notwithstanding his oppressions came to take leave of him offering him their service He went into France to King Lewis the Eleventh whom he endeavoured to exasperate against the Savoyards At the same time Duke Philbert and Margaret his Dutchess departed for Chambery being informed by the President of Divonne and Amblard Goyet Deputies of the Town that they had no right to that City The Dutchess then perceiving Geneva belonged not to the Duke she built not there a Church and Monastery as she intended but at Brou near the Borough in Bresse After René's departure Eyria was called home and entertained in the Princes Service and thus Geneva was freed from a great deal of trouble and vexation by René and the Dukes departure but instead of this it had worser sorrows for besides the plague which raged violently in the City there hapned another sad accident the Syndicks kept in Prison one called Cotton sufficiently convicted of a crime deserving no less than death but it being customary not to pronounce sentence before the Prisoner confessed his crime he was therefore put upon the Rack but whatsoever torment he suffered he would not make any acknowledgement At length a certain Person of the Country of Piedmont informed them that the way of his Country was in such like cases to put a napkin with water in it down the throat of the malefactor to his stomach and then at one jerk they pulled it out again The Syndicks would needs try this fellows experiment which was immediately followed by the death of the Malefactor which put the Council and City into a great fear leâ—t their enemies should lay hold on this occasion to trouble them as indeed it happened for some belonging to the Duke and who had the same kindness for the City as René represented this mishap to the Duke with the greatest aggravations imaginable adding they deserved to have their priviledges taken away from them and that moreover he might justly do it seeing the City by right belonged to him the Duke hearkning to them Commanded his chief Attorny to undertake the business the Syndicks sent Bonna and Levreri their Deputies who shewed the Duke it neither belonged to him or his Council to take cognisance of that affair The Duke not much moved by this tart reply tells them it should be put to Arbitration He for his part chuses some of his Counsellors who with the rest of the Arbitrators were sworn to be impartial and judge according to Right The Titles of both parties were diligently enquired into but they of Geneva got the better the Arbitrators declaring by joynt consent that he had no right or title to the said Town which having said he plainly declared himself in these words I have been given to understand otherwise but seeing it is as you say I vow to God and S. Peter to contest no farther and touching this particular cause I confess and acknowledge it belongeth to the Bishop my brother to take cognisance of it and not to me so that I refer the whole matter to him when he shall be of age to judge of it After this manner all was pacified The plague which continued at Geneva was attended with a great want of rain which brought along with it a scarcity of provision which forced the Country people who dared not before approach the Town to come into it whether moved by devotion or urged by want for they came in procession from all parts to our Lady of Grace to desire of her Rain but they could not obtain it and the scarcity continuing the next year following a bushel of Corn which was worth before but two shillings was now valued at a Crown the Crown going but for three shillings and two pence so that the poor Peasants were forced to live on herbs and roots which sometimes they had not patience to dress One Le Mortel a famous Thief made himself much talked of in those times it was known by all what trade he followed the people about the Town securing
in it being hindred by more urgent affairs which the Duke had then beyond the Mountains This Prince willing to try the Syndicks affections towards him desired them to send him three pieces of the Cannon left by Bonnivard which being refused him he thereupon conceived a deadly hatred against the City which was fomented by one of his Courtiers called Claudius of Seyssel who had been Professor of the Civil Law at Turin and since Master of the Requests under the French King Lewis the twelfth afterwards Bishop of Marseilles and lastly Archbishop of Turin He Counselled the Duke not to suffer two Bishopricks in the heart of his Countries to wit Geneva and Lausane The City was frequently disturbed by disagreements among themselves There was no small strife once amongst them upon a very silly occasion about a Mules skin The Bishop had an Officer called Claudius Grossi who was at variance with a young man of the City who was related to his wife named Andrew Malvenda his father came of a Noble Family at Valence in Spain This young man aforementioned having one day hamstringed Grossi his Mule in the Stable spread a report it was the Children of the houses Master who had done it and not content with this he gets ten or twelve young men of the Town of which Berthelier was one and took along with them a fool called little John with whom they walked about the City all night making him bawl out at every turning O yes if any person wants a skin of the grossest beast in all the Town they may be furnished at a very reasonable rate alluding to the name of Grossi whereat he makes his complaint to the Vidame and Episcopal Council telling them that they were not content in putting this trick upon him who was in Office but they must needs expose it in raillery throughout the Town The Council ordered the Vidame to search into the matter which having done he found Berthelier whom he mortally hated to be one of the Crew he would have apprehended them but fearing they would be too strong for him he requires the Syndicks and Council to assist him which they did but the young men hearing of it hid themselves They were publickly summoned to appear in the Castle of the Isle on forfeiture of a hundred Florins a piece which turned to their advantage for it being contrary to the custom of the City to lay any greater Fine than a Crown unless in case of Felony or such like they complained by their Attorny that they observed not the Statutes in their particular this not being a Orime their complaint was brought before the Episcopal Council where it was declared they might defend themselves being at liberty pede non ligato they came forth therefore from the places where they had hid themselves and came and followed their suit in the mean time the Duke and Bishop being informed of the matter came to Geneva with the Archbishop of Turin who advised them not to be too hasty in taking vengeance that this was not sufficient to make the Cardinals consent to the taking away their Temporalities but this might serve to continue the disunion amongst the people The Bishop sends for the persons accused and particularly those whom he knew were not against him to whom he makes a remonstrance by the Archbishop of Turin shewing them they had committed an action for which they might be justly punished having affronted the Bishop and his Lieutenant yet their Pastour was more inclinable to mercy than justice having respect to their youth and would therefore pardon all but the Authors whom he said were Berthelier and his Confederates desiring them not to take part with him which having heard they thanked him and promised him they would submit to what he had enjoyned them being glad they had thus escaped The Duke returned to Chambery from whence he sent his Brother the Earl of Genevois to Geneva He makes a hunting match and the place appointed to meet in was at Wache The Bishop the Abbot of Beaumont and several other persons of quality accompanied him whom he liberally treated consulting privately with the Bishop about what they were suddenly to enterprize The Bishop withdrew to a seat he had in Focigny called Thy accompanied with some gentlemen belonging to the Earl whom he sent to the Village of Presinge where were two Genevoises Claudius Servant and John Pecolat whom having apprehended they brought them to the Bishop who committed them to Prison but he soon released the first of these which caused it to be suspected that the said Servant had betrayed his companion which made him odious to the people Pecolat was questioned about the Fish pyes and the words he had spoken non videbis dies Petri it being laid to his charge that he and his companions whom they charged him to discover had a design to poyson the Bishop he was Racked three times without confessing any thing at length the Bishop caused him to be hanged up by the arms all the time he was at Dinner his servants blaming him for his folly in suffering himself to be thus tormented rather than confess the truth telling him Servant had confessed the whole matter and named particular persons amongst others the Bishop of Maurienne and the Abbot of Beaumont whom his accomplices would make their Bishop after they had dispatched John of Savoy and entertaining him with these words they made him say what they pleased not being able any longer to endure the torments After this the Bishop chiefly desired to get Berthelier into his power but he kept in the City and stood upon his guard and at length got away being attired like a Herald of Fribourg where he went in company of some Merchants of that Canton the Bishop and Vidame hearing of his escape summoned him publickly to appear and answer to his Accusation He addresseth himself to the Council of Fribourg complaining to them of the unjust dealings he met with at Geneva adding moreover that all this had hapned to him for no other reason but because he had been a Citizen of Fribourg that they would entreat the Council of Geneva to inform the Duke and Bishop that if they would send any one to Fribourg to impeach him he would render himself Prisoner or if he could obtain of them a safe-conduct to make his defence at Geneva before the Syndicks his lawful Judges he would there make his appearance provided they of Fribourg would depute some person to be present at the hearing of the Tryal the Fribourgers granted his request and sent an Express to the Princes lodging Berthelier in the mean time who was but poor in the Hospital The Messenger found the Princes at Geneva who had purposely come there in expectation of meeting with Berthelier They returned answer that they would gratifie them of Fribourg in any reasonable request but as to the sending one to prosecute Berthelier they could in no wise consent to
after it was taken down and buried in Holy Ground by some Soldiers from Fribourg who passed by that way There have been some who considering the Heroical constancy of Berthelier and the tyranny of his Judges have given him this Epitaph Quid mihi mors nocuit virtus post fata virescit Nec cruce nec saevigladio perit illa Tyranni How can death hurt since virtue death survives And Tyranny of Gibbets Swords or Knives His death affrighted them of Geneva who did not then dare to deny the Duke and Bishop any thing but it enraged the Fribourgers who had a great desire to revenge it Yet they thought it not convenient to raise an Army every time the Duke gave them cause of offence they made their complaints to the Cantons and demanded their Pay due to them for the former Levies and that he should give them satisfaction for Berthelier's death The Duke acquitted himself from this Article laying the blame on the Bishop assuring them he did it unknown to him and as to the payment he denied that he was obliged to it seeing the War had been unjust referring them to the Genevoises and demanding on his side reparation for the Damages done in his Country of Vaud This set the Genevoises in an uproar and the Princes took the advantage of their Dissentions to ruine the Eidgnots party and bring their own in credit They required the Council to be assembled and caused Eustache Chappuis the Bishops Chancellor who was afterwards sent Deputy into England to shew the people that the Election of Syndicks for that year had not been duly made by the violence of some who preferred their own private interest before the publick and who had brought into the general Council persons excluded by the Statutes and ancient Customs it belonging to none to sit there but those who were of principal Families that they did this to have persons of their own Faction which tended to nothing but to foment Rebellion that the people for this effect had made an Alliance with Fribourg which had put the Bishop their Prince upon calling in the Duke of Savoy his Cousin to his assistance who had spared neither his estate nor his person to hinder such a bad effect which would not only fall on his Countries but likewise the City it self as hath been found already by experience seeing the Fribourgers demanded yet great summs of mony which could not be raised without impovershing the City The Duke endeavoured to hinder them from paying the mony and withal shewed them there could be no good correspondence between him and them whilst they were governed by the Authors of this Alliance and concluded desiring the people to declare the said Syndicks not duly elected and to put others less suspected in their places The people desirous of Peace and that the mony should be paid easily embraced this proposal The Syndicks were discharged of their Office after a declaration made to shew this dismission proceeded from no other cause but only for want of a due Election which done they laid down their staves and others were chosen in their places they substituted likewise some Councellors who were best acceptable to the Princes especially them who were for breaking off with Fribourg They caused the general Council to retract that Alliance and deputed Richardet and Goulaz as from the Syndicks to meet the Cantons assembled at Zurich with this instruction First that they should excuse the Duke touching the execution of Berthelier and acquaint them it was done against his knowledge the Bishop having punished him according to his deserts as a Seditious person and as one guilty of the crime of High-Treason the term likewise of his Safe-conduct being expired Secondly concerning the payment to be made to them of Fribourg they should require it of them who called them who were since put out of their Office as Authors of these disturbances Thirdly that they should be urgent with the Fribourgers to renounce the Burgership contracted with Geneva The Assembly being sat the Deputies from Fribourg made their complaints and were answered by them of Geneva and Savoy according to the instructions given them The Fribourgers replied that whosoever had put Berthelier to death had done unjustly seeing he had been cleared by a definitive sentence of the Syndicks who were his lawful judges and he who had pronounced sentence against him being but a pitiful Tooth-drawer and that the Princes had broken their promise which they made them before they left Morges that they would introduce no innovations till this difference was accommodated that they had reason to desire a re-imbursement of their charges they having taken up Arms on just grounds it being to help their fellow Citizens received into their alliance according to Law the Duke nor Bishop having no power to hinder them They likewise maintained that the former Deputies were persons of worth neither would they acknowledge these latter whom the people say they have chosen by constraint There were some replies made by both parties but the Cantons decreed it after the same manner and form as at Morges to which they were forced to yield and agree with Savoy The Duke ever since he had married Beatrix the Infanta of Portugal kept his Court at Geneva and desirous to leave a man of Authority for his Lieutenant he displaced Consilii and put the Sieur Salaigne in his room who was of the family of the Beauforts In the Year following before the Election of the Syndicks on the twelfth day the Chanons were accustomed with other Ecclesiasticks to chuse one of the Chapter King by a bean with great expence now it hapned to fall to Marcossay's share who was Governour of Pillounay and being of the Country of Focigny he had brought along with him as King several of his Countrymen for his Guard at which the Townsmen who bore them ill will were displeased and specially one Matthew of Confignon Sieur of Marglie who having been heretofore wounded by one of Bonne whose name was Goudard resolved then to be revenged and being accompanied with about a dozen resolute fellows slid through the press and singled out his man who bore the Standard ran him through the back for want of armour and having left him dead on the place made his escape out of the Town through the Halbards The Duke and Bishop laid this Murther to the Charge of the Eidgnots though guiltless but they who had done it returned two years after into the City having obtained their pardon through Confignon's means The Bishop John of Savoy lived not long after these troubles he died in the Abby of Pignerol before he could arrive to S. Peters years that is to say before he had finished the twenty fifth year of his Office according to Pecolat's prediction it was thought he was poysoned search having been made accordingly but a scandalous Chronicle relates he died of the Venereal distemper which brought him into
complain'd they could not attend so much to the Government of the City and seeing the Bishop laid aside all business it were better to depute Judges for this matter Which proposal being approved Claudius Richardet was chosen Steward and had Four Assistants allotted him who have been since called Auditors This having been heretofore the Vidame's Office the Bishop was sent to for his approbation of this choice who was at that time in the Franche-Comté He privately told the Deputies He was very well satisfied but he would have his consent concealed from the Duke because he did not like to be troubled with him for he had promised never to come into Geneva but in the Dukes company There were sent other Deputies to him who were not suffered to speak with him In the year following the Plague raging in Geneva there was one Michael Caddoz who pretending to be struck with it desired to be put into the Hospital Which being granted and his forty days expired he began to acquaint himself with the Keeper of the Hospital with the Priest and several poor People belonging to it who commonly for a small gain were wont to perfume and clean the Sores of the infected Caddoz finding them disposed to hearken to his pernicious designs he thereupon proposes to them an infallible means to get mony in bringing the Plague where it had not yet been especially in great Houses whose Estates might fall to them by Inheritance or otherwise they might pilfer without controul They needed not much entreaty all the difficulty lay in the manner how they should effect this They concluded then to make a pestilential powder of Linen-rags with which they had wiped the Sores of the sick and to disperse them in several places Caddoz passing then one day over the Bridge of Rhosne let fall a Linen-Cloth thinking no body had seen him but a certain Person perceiving he had dropt something cried out This Rascal Caddoz hath let fall a Cloth in which I believe there 's not any thing of value which said he would have taken it up Another more cautious bid him have a care what he handled They therefore with a Stick tumbled open this packet from whence proceeded such a stink as infected the whole Bridge no Body knowing whence it came There was a Woman sent for lately recovered of the Plague who seeing it said It was the matter of a Plague-sore The Syndicks informed of the business caused Caddoz to be apprehended and carried to the Bishoprick where he was examined It being asked him what was in that Cloth he had dropt He replied It was the Corruption of a venereal Cancer in his Leg. Being questioned what moved him to do it He answered There were several who jeared him because he had the Pox whereupon he in revenge would give it them The Magistrates not content with this answer ordered him to be put upon the Rack He then confessed it was designed for to breed the Plague He was examined again wherefore he did it and having told them who were his Accomplices and their designs they were apprehended and he and the Keeper of the Hospital had their Flesh torn off with red hot Pinchers their Heads cut off and their Bodies quartered the Priest was degraded and afterwards executed The Keeper of the Hospital's Son was much pitied being very young but a word slipt from him which cost him his life for being demanded if he knew how to make this Drug as well as his Father He replied Yes and so was beheaded and immediately after the Plague ceased In the Month following the Genevoises having granted to Ronnivard a monthly allowance of four Crowns and a half in consideration of the loss of the Revenues of S. Victor which the Savoyards had seized on and which he had bequeathed after his Death to the City of Geneva The Duke being informed thereof endeavoured to do him an injury He had to draw him into his Dominions given him a Letter of Safe-conduct with which he went to Seâ—ssel to visit his Mother who lay sick being very ancient A while after he went to the Bishop at Modon where there was held an Assembly He became acquainted with Francis Neel who called himself Monsieur of Bellegarde he trusted a Gentleman whom he gave him for his Guide and Companion to Lausane but he was betrayed by this perfidious Wretch For he had no sooner come up to the top of Mount Jura but he was set upon by one called Rosey of Thonon who had espoused one of D. Philberts Bastards and Bishop Eyries the Duke of Beaufort's Bastard These were two desperate Villains who having spent their Estates needed a Recruit which they expected from Bonnivard Their Accomplices at Modon had observed his Purse and it being full of Parpilloles which was a Coin used in those days of small value all of them which he had about him not amounting to above twenty Crowns of Gold they believed each piece was a Crown It was known since the Duke did not give order to take him but Bellegarde and the others having written to him about it he consented he should be detained Bonnivard perceiving he was like to be set upon spur'd on his Horse but being not well mounted he could not ride far they soon overtaking him Nevertheless he lost not his Courage but clapt his hand to his Sword but his guide planting himself before him gave the others opportunity to enclose him they took him and then carried him away to Chillon where he remained Prisoner six years and an half the first two years he was not kept close Prisoner but the rest of the time he spent in a Dungeon which lay lower than the Lake in which the Duke when he was at Chillon caused him to be put During all which time he was not examined nor put upon the Rack At last when the Bernoises had taken the Country of Vaud they drew him out thence It was observed that he had hollowed and worn the Rock by much walking in the Dungeon The Bishop favoured the Insultings of the Gentlemen of the Spoon for his Letters dated from Arbois were intercepted in which he gave Commission to chastise his rebellious Subjects of Geneva who intrenched upon his Authority One of the hottest of these Gentlemen was called Monsieur of Alussans who killed one day a Merchant of Geneva's Servant in the Country of Vaud The Deputations from the Allies to the Duke availed nothing because he could not hinder this disorder and was moreover glad to see the Genevoises damnified Notice was given that these Gentlemen having gathered Soldiers from all Parts were resolved to make themselves Masters of the Town three days after the Feast of S. Michael and to put all to the Sword. An account of which was sent to Berne and Fribourg the City in the mean time standing upon their guard and continued to strengthen themselves There was a Skirmish passed betwixt them and the
especially the Lutherans Calvin composed a Catechism for the instruction of Youth whilst they who had sworn to live according to the Protestant Discipline becoming unruly made a disturbance in the Council crying out They had made them Perjured The Syndicks for that Year favoured the discontented Party and indeed were yet Catholicks in their heart Calvin Farel and Courant who was blind but accounted learned presented themselves before the Council offering to make good their Confession of Faith. But this not prevailing they under pretence of preserving the Liberties and Priviledges of the City and because they would not conform to the custom of Berne in Celebrating the Communion they therefore made an Order in Council enjoyning these three Ministers to leave the City in three days Calvin had no maintenance from the City living at his own charge there wherefore he went to Basle and from thence to Strasbourg where being entertained by Martin Bucer Capito Hedio and other learned men he obtained leave of the Magistrates to set up a French-Church and became the Pastor of it and had a competent maintenance allowed him Farel withdrew to Neuf-Chatel After the departure of these three Ministers the Minister of Jussy Henry la Mare refusing as the rest had done before him to Administer the Sacrament with Wafers was thrown into Prison But he was soon released and served the City together with the other Ministers who were sent for out of the Villages Their opinion was required before they were admitted concerning the old Ceremony of Womens being Married with their Hair hanging down loose about their Ears They made answer for fear this trifle should hinder their entrance That they did not find it forbidden any where in the Holy Scripture Whereupon they were admitted and gave the Communion in the Easter following with Bread without Leaven which custom continued a long time after at Geneva They who had been the chief instruments of the Ministers banishment did not a little triumph at the matter carrying along with them throughout the City a Stove on which things are wont to be broiled and the Wick or Cotton of a Candle which is called in that Country Language Farets as much as to say they had broiled Farel Yet this hindred him not from writing to them Exhorting them to Union in Doctrine the same did Calvin one of whose Letters had this Superscription To my well-beloved Brethren in the Lord the remnant of the scattered Church of Geneva By which and what he wrote at the end of his Letter it seemed that he foretold the confusion in which his Enemies would be involved 16 months after At Christmas Anthony Saunier Maturin Cordier Master of the Free-School and several others refusing to give the Sacrament with Wafers were ordered to depart the City In the Year following there was a Decree made in the General Council That whosoever should so much as advise a change of Government should lose his Head. In another Session of the said Council three Deputies were condemned for having made an agreement with the City of Berne touching the Lordship of S. Victor which they demanded and upon other Articles which tended to the oppression of the City Two of these three Deputies had been Syndicks in the Year 1538 and had procured Farel and Calvin's banishment This condemnation made a great noise and moved the People to Sedition because these Persons were some of the Principal Men in the City and had great Friends John Philippe who was Captain General and had been Syndick in that Year and moreover joyned in Friendship and in the same Faction with them spake publickly against it and was the first Author of the Sedition He killed a Man with his Leading-staff in this quarrel And a German on his side was slain in the place The Council issued out a Warrant to apprehend Philippe who having shut himself up in his House made some resistance there having been a Man shot dead in this tumult he got away at last over the tops of the Houses and hid himself in the Stable belonging to the Tower of Perse amongst the Hay where having been found out he was carried to Prison The Syndicks with the Watch guarded him from the violence of the People who otherwise would have torn him in pieces Whereupon we may observe the inconstancy of the vulgar and how little their Friendship is to be relied on It was not eight days since Philippe was exceedingly respected and had more credit than all the rest of the Syndicks besides but now every body exclaimed against him and desired he should be put to death even those who were most obliged to him He had made a Party who were no friends to the Protestants and who had already procured the banishment of several Ministers The two Syndicks who were condemned were of it They were called Artichauds or Artychokes because this Faction had taken these Plants to distinguish themselves having cut down as many of these Roots as they could find in the Gardens It was likewise a word used in the Wars amongst them Others say this word of Artichaud came by corruption of Speech from Articlers by reason of the Articles which they had inserted in the Treaty at Berne The contrary Faction had green Flowers for a mark of distinction and their word was Farel which name was often heard about Streets and likewise that of Artichaud Claudius Richardet chief Syndick in the Year 1538 one of the Principal of the Artichaud Faction having been ingaged in this Sedition would have made his escape over the City Walls but being a corpulent Man he was so bruised by the fall that he immediately killed himself These are the misfortunes usually attending diversity of opinions in Religion Philippe was condemned to lose his Head notwithstanding the intercession of the Bernoises So that this Faction of the Artichauds was very much daunted by the disgrace of the four who were Syndicks in the Year 1538 and who had been the chief upholders of it Yet the three Deputies at length obtained favour by the intercession of them of Berne and Basle and were only enjoyned to make an humble acknowledgment of their fault before the Council of 200 and had a small Fine laid upon them These differences made them think of calling back Calvin who was busied in the Ecclesiastical Synods of the Empire About the end of these troubles the Genevoises received Letters from Charles the Fifth Dated the eighth of August 1540. by which he gave them to understand that he had been informed That they of Berne sollicited Geneva to do them Homage which he did not believe they would consent to strictly charging them the contrary upon pain of his high displeasure expecting likewise that the Bernoises to whom he intended to write would desist from these demands and enjoyning the City of Geneva to remain as heretofore in obedience to the Empire
of a Minister but they had notice that he privately endeavoured to get some other Bishoprick which was the occasion that at his return he was more narrowly observed and his former life searched into It was found that he had a child before he was married of her whom he had espoused and to the end it might not be declared a Bastard he had forged a Contract of an antedated Marriage and false Seals for a greater confirmation to make his Son capable of his inheritance which was very considerable for all which he was imprisoned and having confessed the whole matter he was beheaded at Molard being very penitent for what he had done expressing his sorrow by an excellent speech which he made on the scaffold Some persons have thought that these accusations were only for a colour when in effect it was to gratifie Catherine de Medicis who had prevailed on the Syndicks at the instance of the Pope Duke Emanuel Philbert who had been a long time urgent with the Bernoises to restore him his lands prevailed so far by the Emperors intercession that they released to him Gex Gaillard and Terny with Chablais on condition they should remain in the state they were in having the free exercise of the Protestant Religion permitted them which agreement when he was in possession he did not observe The Country of Vaux fell to them of Berne as it was agreed by the Decree made at S. Julien and Payerne in case he violated the agreement The Duke D' Alva being to pass through Savoy and near Geneva Emanuel Philbert would have laid hold of this opportunity to make himself Master of that City and therefore raised great numbers of Soldiers on this side and beyond the Mountains The report of his enterprise being spread in France there came in a short time several French men especially Burgundians and them of Provence to offer their service to the City the Magistrates likewise took all possible care for its preservation they made out seven Companies of these strangers four of which were commanded by Captains belonging to the City and the three others by them of Provence besides the inhabitants who mounted the Guard by turn I. F. Bernard second Syndick was made Captain-General Amy Varro Sergeant-Major Amblard Corne Colonel of the Infantry and Paul de Mouvans his Lieutenant The Duke De Alva being informed of the nature of the place would not stop there but traversing the Franche Comté he passed over into Flanders where there were affairs expected of greater concernment the Hollanders having taken up Arms the Troops composed of strangers which were at Geneva were not willing to remain idle but took likewise the same road to assist them of the Religion they Alarm'd Gex and Versoy as they passed by the inhabitants being seized with a panick fear forsook these two Boroughs this exploit hath been since called The battel of Gex no sooner begun than ended concerning which there is a poem extant in Burlesque Verse in that Country Language It was about this time that the Arsenal of Geneva was built These rumours of War were followed by the Plague which swept away several people there was again a discovery made of several persons who endeavoured to spread the infection about the City and who had learned this cursed art in Lentilles School There were divers burnt for this fact amongst others one called Grimaud and his Accomplices yet the Plague ceased not till 1572. which year being very cold put an end to it being one of the sharpest as could be remembred to have hapned in Geneva People passed over the Lake on the Ice almost over against Cologny and the Mills could not work which caused a great scarcity of flower The City was likewise twice shaken with Earthquakes the first of which overthrew the Gate of Cornevin into the Ditch and in the years 1576 and 78. there appeared two Comets which were followed by the joyful news of an Alliance which Henry the third made with the Switzers in which Geneva was comprised it being stipulated that for the defence of the said City which was stiled the Key and Bulwark of Switzerland the Cantons should send in case it should be besieged a sufficient number of men to its assistance at the Kings charge and on the other hand the City should suffer his Troops to pass through it marching orderly in rank and file granting no retreat or passage to his Majesties enemies This Treaty was concluded at Soleurre betwixt the King and the Cities of Berne Soleurre and Geneva Zurich was afterwards comprehended at the suit of the Sieur of Cocumartin Ambassador from the King to the Switzers This hindred not the Duke of Savoy from making a new Tryal upon Geneva A Dauphinoise who lived at Thonon informed him that he held intelligence with the chief of that City which put the Duke upon raising some Regiments of Horse and Foot out of Piedmont Provence and Savoy under the conduct of Bernardin of Savoy Earl of Raconis These Forces lay hid in several Castles and Monasteries the place of their Rendezvouz was to be the great Wood of Ripaille which was enclosed with Walls where they were to have Arms and other necessaries In the mean time they tampered with some of the City who let themselves be won but they more especially applied themselves to the Captain Lieutenant Lance who commanded at S. Gervais He took what mony soever they brought him and promised great things but he informed the Council of the whole transcation The Dukes Forces marched through Terny and came to Gex from whence they were to march to S. Gervais Lance having promised to set open the Gates to them The day appointed being come the Earl of Raconis told the Dauphinoise that he would not have him leave him but he fearing if the enterprize took not effect it would go hard with him got away and came to Geneva so that Raconis perceiving how the matter went dared not to approach the Town although the Gate stood a long time open and he had the appointed sign given him but he withdrew to Terny and S. Julien his conjecture was not ill grounded for besides the inhabitants of the City who were all in Arms there were five hundred Musqueteers with other Companies who waited his coming The Earl having mist his mark and considering what a gallant Army he had under his command there being besides others one thousand five hundred Switzers belonging to the Catholick Cantons whom he had raised maugre their Allies for to set them by this means at variance he resolved not to return home without doing something On the other side the City was very well mann'd with Soldiers both French and Switzers who were Protestants a considerable number of which they posted near the Bridge of Arve where there passed some skirmishes The Enemy was worsted which made him withdraw having
being a very pleasant Village having near seventy Houses in it The Baron of Conforgien was sent for to oppose the Marquiss of Treffort but it was two Months before he came about the time when there was a Truce made to last three Months betwixt the King of France and the Confederate Princes The Duke of Savoy likewise was comprehended and accepted of the proposal The Duke's Secretary Esdiguieres bringing a Copy along with him of this Truce to Geneva to know whether they would accept of it which was consented to by the Council of two hundred and published on the 16th of September Six days after arrived Deputies from the four Cantons making offer of their mediation between the Duke and the City for which they had thanks And answer was returned them That they could not leave the French-Kings interest who would be sure to resent it should they conclude a Peace The Truce was afterwards continued and lasted two Years without any publication and during this time the City Officers demolished the Fort of Arve it occasioning oftentimes the Enemy to invade them During this Truce the Genevoises kept a Governor under the Kings name in the Country of Gex who held his Court of Justice in Geneva after the same maner as the Stewards of Gaillard Chablais and of the Country beyond the Arve The Savoyards and Genevoises began to be conversant one with another and to exchange Prisoners There was a Genevois who had been taken thirty Years since and had all that time served in the Gallies never sending word what was become of him so that he was supposed to be dead his Wife seven Years after his detention was married again and had lived another seven Years with her second Husband At the end of thirty Years this her first Husband returned to Geneva and would have entred into his House His Wife took him at first for an Impostor whether that this long space of time had deprived her of all knowledge of him or that the grayness of his Hair and wrinkles in his Fore-head had made this alteration he having few charms left him to attract a Womans love The Husband might swear as long as he pleased that he was the Man yet for all this would she not believe him The business at length came to a trial at Law where he brought such proofs of his being her Husband that she openly acknowledged that it were impossible for any but him to have knowledge of so many minute particulars Having then at length owned him for her Husband they lived afterwards a great while together In the Year 1597. there was spread a report throughout Germany Holland and Italy that Beza had renounced his Religion before the Senate and had exhorted the Magistrates to reconcile themselves to the Church of Rome And that by a special order from the Pope the Bishop had absolved him before his death and that in effect the City had sent Deputies to Rome to yield obedience to the Pope which caused several People in Italy to resort to Rome to see these supposed Deputies And yet Beza died not till six Years after There was a more likely report of a Peace concluded betwixt the King and the confederate Princes it was not yet known whether Geneva should be comprehended for the Dukes Subjects committed acts of Hostility having driven away some Herds of Cattel belonging to the Genevoises whereupon they detained some Troopers who were Spaniards being in the Dukes service The Savoyards had apprehended Hosea André a Minister whom they had taken in Michaille and for a requital the Earl of Salenove was detained at Geneva Two days after Dom Philippin the Bastard of Savoy made his entrance into the City with a moderate Train where he was highly treated by the Citizens He on his part sparing no complements He departed the next Morning and promised to procure the releasement of Hosea André upon which the Earl of Salenove was released before-hand Yet the Minister was not set at liberty neither was there any likelihood of it had he not dexterously made his escape The Peace was at length concluded betwixt the King of France of Spain and the Duke of Savoy in which were likewise comprehended the Switzers and their Allies and so by consequence Geneva as the King of France openly declared it by word of Mouth as well as by Letters understanding thereby that the Duke should withdraw his Army The Duke who affirmed it was not comprehended having not been named as the other Cities were would not return answer by writing lest he should prejudice his pretensions causing only those Forces to withdraw who had marched over into Lombardy Monsieur Villeroy in the printed Copy of the Treaty of Peace had added to the 34th Article written with his own Hand for the instruction of the Sieur Botheon who was sent by the Duke to take the Copy of the Oath That under the generality of the Allies and confederate Lords were comprehended them of Geneva Chapeaurouge their Deputy to the French-King brought home Letters wherein that King promised to defray all charges of the War. The City to testifie how acceptable this news was to them caused their great Guns to be discharged and solemn Thanks to be returned to God in all their Churches Yet was this rejoycing allaied by the return of the Plague although the mortality was not great and by the troubles wherein they of Thonon were involved upon the account of Religion occasioned by a Capucin-Frier called Peter Cherubin who would constrain the Inhabitants of that place and them in the Countries thereabouts who were thought under obedience to the Duke to return likewise to their old Religion This Frier challenged the Ministers to dispute publickly with them which they would not agree to chusing rather to defend themselves by writing yet the Magistrates of Geneva made them consent to a verbal Conference and in the mean the Duke arriving at Thonon to forward the matter the greatest part of the People returned to their old Religion alledging they were forsaken upon which there were printed several Disputes and Libels which served only to exasperate Mens spirits Towards the end of May John Serres died at Geneva having withdrew there after he had wrote the History of France his Wife and he were buried both together in the same day The Duke of Savoy continued his claims on the City and got the Magistrates to consent to a Conference which was held at Hermance by Deputies from both Parties and lasted from the seventeenth of October to the eleventh of November His Highness's Deputies were the Sieur Jacob his Lieutenants on this side of the Mountains the President Rochette the President Berliet Baron of Bourget Lambert Baron of Terny and Marin Earl of Viry The Deputies of Geneva were the Councellors Maillet Daufin Lect and Roset together with Secretary John Sarrasin Them of Savoy made their demands and
overflowing of the Arve which swept away most of the Bridges and made the Rhosne rise on the side of the Lake even to the making the Mills turn backwards In the Month following there hapned an Earthquake in the Evening which yet did no hurt Two Years after the Subjects of the Countrys in Germany under the Jurisdiction of Berne complained they were overburdened by their Bayliffs and thereupon rebelled against their Sovereigns under the Conduct of one named Leüberg the City of Berne was in great danger being blocked up by this multitude of Peasants Geneva sent 300 Men to their assistance who were divided into three Companies which were commanded by three Captains viz. Debons Corne and Dumont divers of the chief of these Rebels were hanged and Leüberg quartered In this Year 1653. Isaac Gautier of Portentru was arrested Prisoner at Geneva at the suit of the Republick of Venice in whose service he had been a Captain having been found guilty of a Massacre committed by him on a Spanish Family which were passing over to their own Country and pillaged the Vessel The Command of which had been intrusted to him He was hanged on the ninth of August The Genevoises received a Letter from Cromwel written in the Latin Tongue The Contents whereof were these He told them That the extream miseries wherein to the Duke of Savoy had reduced the Protestants in the Vallies of Piedmont had so far moved him with compassion that he had ordered Collections to be made throughout all England that he might give proofs of the great Charity of that Nation towards its afflicted Brethren And forasmuch as these Collections required some time and the necessities of these poor People admitted no delay he hath therefore judged it meet to send in the mean while the summ of 2000 l. Sterling out of his own Treasury which summ he ordered to be paid into the hands of the Officers of Geneva to distribute it to them who had most need according to their prudence supposing they would readily accept this trouble in their Neighbours behalf as in whose miseries he believed they had a fellow-feeling beseeching God to strengthen all those who profess the Orthodox Religion that they may maintain their common cause and assist one another against their Enemies in which service he shall be glad to be employed Dated from the Palace in Westminster the seventh of June 1655. He sent afterwards the Lord Morland to the Duke of Savoy to interceed for the said poor People of the Vallies and whilst this affair was in agitation this Ambassador resided several Months in Geneva In the Year following the Protestant Cantons had a War with the lesser Cantons upon the account of their exercise of the Reformed Religion who dwelt in the individual Bayliwicks Geneva sent immediately 300 Men to assist their Allies of Zurich and Berne who set out from Geneva on the fifth of January under the Command of Captain Debons Captain Girard and Captain Fabry and were at the Siege of Rappersvil A Peace was concluded a while after and these Companies called home There was begun a Work on the Mount of S. Victor before the Bastions of Pin and S. Anthony whose corners reached a great way into the Country but it was pulled down again in the Year following as being judged to require more Men than they could spare to guard it it was at first carried on by People of all ranks and qualities of both Sexes who wrought unweariedly at it The French-King much about this time being come to Lyons the State sent the Sieurs Voysine and Pictet to complement him as well for that he had recovered his Health having been sick of the Small-Pox as for to intreat him to continue his favour to their City To which the King answered I thank my Friends of Geneva for the sense they have had of my sickness and for the joy they have received at the news of my recovery I shall always keep them under my Protection and ye may assure them of this from me He gave each of them a Golden-Chain with a Medal And they presented him with delicate Trouts weighing forty or fifty pound apiece for these are the greatest which are to be met with at Geneva although some Persons would make us believe there are Trouts which are of eighty and a hundred pound weight In the Year following there was a Work carried on in the form of a Moon in the same place where the other was begun but not so far advanced from the City There were found several Urns and Medals in the Ditch of Ravelin de la Noüe But it being determined that the City should be considerably Fortified and Mony falling short there was sent the Sieur Turretin Professor in Divinity into Holland to intreat their assistance who ordered Collections to be made throughout all their States and there was gathered a hundred thousand Franks with which Mony he returned to Geneva where they immediately fell to work again The Ingineer Ivoy who is at present chief Ingineer to the Prince of Orange traced four great Bastions Royal with Courtines on the side of Plein-Palais inclosing them from the Rhosne to the Bulwark of S. Leger these take up no less than 1700 paces in compass round the Walls they were finished and inclosed with a Wall in ten Years space but the Mony from Holland held out no longer than to finish the first Bastion near the Rhosne which hath therefore been called the Dutch Bastion there was an Inscription Engraven on a black Marble-Pillar for an acknowledgment of the Hollanders liberality In the Year 1661. the Bishop of Geneva residing at Annecy made an Address to the King as being Sovereign of the Country of Gex which is part of his Diocess beseeching him to suffer him to settle Curates in the Villages of Chansy Avoully and Moin which were held by the Republick of Geneva and over which as this Bishop affirmed the King was Sovereign Now the better to understand this affair it is needful for us to speak something of these Villages Moin belongs wholly to the Chapter that is to say the Jurisdiction the Tenths Fee-Farms Salt Ministers sentences of Death all these belong to Geneva and the King hath the last Appeal in Civil Causes and the execution of the Sword. As to Chansy and Avoully these are Lands belonging to S. Victor which are almost of the same nature as them of the Chapter these appertaining to the Chanons of S. Peter and the others to the Prior of S. Victor but by the Treaty at Lyons in the Year 1601. the King in restoring all the Countries of Savoy to the Duke which he had taken from him reserved to himself all the Ports of Rhosne from Geneva as far as Lyons and so that the Sovereignty of Chansy and Avoully which are Ports belonging to the King although situated on the Borders of Savoy The
CIVITAS EQVESTRI In effect what reason had Munster and Gailliman to place the Cavalry in Chablais which is a Country surrounded with Mountains or in Geneva which is situated on a little Hill The Country of Vaux which abounds with pasturage and which is hardly any thing else but a flat Campagne was far more proper for this There are likewise several Villages in this Country which seem to have taken their names from some ancient Romans who perhaps had been Lords of it in the time when this Country flourished There are yet such names as these Roscy which perhaps might come from Roscius Crassy from Crassius Dudy from Duelliâ—s Seâ—â—y from Sissius who are mentioned in an Inscription at Geneva Pâ—â—rmenâ—on which is not far from Nions taketh likewise its name from the neighbouring Cape of this Village for the Latins called a Cape promontorium The Tower in the Isle of Geneva is attributed to Julius Caesar which hath his name given it but I know not for what reason for my part I see no cause to make me believe that this was built in his time on the contrary the materials which are the most part of but Mollasse Stone as one of S. Peters Steeples is moves me rather to think that it is the work of some King of Burgundy several of which have dwelt at Geneva and perhaps not to oppose a received oppinion it hath been raised on foundations of another building by Julius Caesar or by some one of his successors in the Empire who have all taken upon them the name of Caesars Munster hath misunderstood that passage of Caesars Commentaries thinking that the Bridge which is there mentioned belonged to the Switzers Exâ—eo oppido pons ad Helvetios pertinet where this last word signifies not appertaâ—neth but only looketh towards or spectat for on this Bridge men passed over from Geneva into the Country of the Helvetians who â—â—ld that which we now call Switzerland and the Country of Vaud This likewise may serve to convince us of the popular error which taketh a row of stakes which appear above water in the Lake for the remains of this Bridge for it doth not face the Helvetians Country but the Country of Chablais which then belonged to the Allobroges and it being a hard matter to root out opinions which have sunk deep into peoples minds I shall therefore make bold to relate here the observations made by a friend of mine to whom I am obliged for several Memoires relating to this present History Be pleased then to observe what he hath written to me thereof In a walk said he I made some days past on the Lake to inform myself in the matter of these pretended ruins of a Bridge I observed that these were two rows of Stakes which were all like one another one row being only two paces distant from the other which beginning at the head of the Isle where stands Caesars Tower and from thence going up the River reach through the Chains and the Isles called Barques drawing towards the Village of Cologny and reaching no farther than the end of it so that these two rows are in length about three thousand paces the Fishermen call them Fiches These Stakes are of Oak squared and about the thickness of a mans thigh and being not above two or three foot above ground are always at the bottom of the water the Stakes on either row are not above three foot distant one from another which makes me believe that this never never was a Bridge because the States are too small and too near one another and that the Bridge thereupon would have been too narrow moreover how absurd would it have been to have made a Bridge of this length which doth not cross the River but leads upwards against the stream and besides what occasion could there be of making a Bridge to pass from Geneva to Cologâ—e seeing one may go by Land thither I suppose therefore that these stumps have served heretofore for a Ditch or Entrenchment which had been raised to make the Rhosne pass cleverty between the Isle and S. Gervais and to hinder the water from overflowing the low streets as it has done heretofore when the pavement was not raised so that this Bridge which is mentioned in Caesars Commentaries stood no where else but in the same place where is at present that whereon we pass over from the City to S. Gervais XXIV L IVL. P. F. VOL. BROC CHVS VAL. BASSVS PRAEF FABR. BIS TRIB MIL. LEG VIII AVG. II VIR IVR. D. IIIVIR LOC P. P. AVGVR PONTIF IIVIR FLAMEN IN COL EQVESTRE VIANIS GENAVENSIBVS LACVVS DAT THis curious Inscription was not known to Gruterus having been found since the impression of his Book Monsieur Godefroy had caused this Stone to be brought into his Court where it still lies Guichenon had seen it but hath not exactly copied it or the Printer hath not followed his Copy for there is five or six mistakes which spoil the sense LEVI for L. IVL. BROCCIVS for BROCCHVS AVG. for AVGVR VTANIS for VIANIS LACCVS instead of LACVVS and D. M. for DAT Observe here how it must be read without abbreviations Lucius Julius Publii filius Voltinia tribu Brocchus Valerius or Valerianus Bassus Praefectus Fabrum bis Tribunus Militum Legionis Octavae Augustae Duumvir juri dicundo Triumvir locorum publicor persequendorum Augur Pontifex Duumvir Flamen in Colonia Equestre Vianis Genavensibus Lacuus dat Except the word Vianis which may be a mistake of the Carver all the rest is easie and is thus in English Lucius Julius Brocchus Valerianus Bassus Son of Publius and of the Tribe of Voltinia Overseer of the Workmen appointed to make Engines for War twice Camp master of the eighth August Legion one of the Magistrates who are appointed Judges in matters of Equity Superintendant of the publick Buildings Augure chief Prelate Duumvir and Priest in the Colony of Equestres giveth the Lakes to the Genevoises The Lords and Roman Magistrates who were Lieutenants for the Emperors in their Provinces had great Authority seeing we read that they have sometimes disposed of Crowns So that it need not seem strange to us that this Person here-mentioned hath given the Lakes to the Genevoises for he puts Laâ—uâ—s in the Plural comprising perhaps other lesser Lakes of the Country with the Lake Leman His great Offices in the Province and the advantage he had in being of the Family of the Juliusses gave him without doubt this power and what can make more plainly appear the esteem which the Romans had for the City of Geneva That I may therefore the better set forth this illustrious Family of Julius Brocchus I shall produce some other Marbles which are to be seen at Geneva and its adjacent places XXV At Nions D. IVL. F. VOL. RIPANO CAPITONI BASSIANO EQVO PVBLICO HONORATO PRAEFECTO FABRVM TRIB MIL. COH I. GAL. L. IVL. BROCCHVS VALER BASSVS FILIO DEcimus Julius Ripanus