this following Harangue to the Lords of that City and to endeavor to palliate the matter according to the instructions sent him from the Duke by his Secretary Caron These were his Words Most Mighty Lords c. FRom the day and hour I heard of the enterprize against Geneva I was desirous of nothing more than of knowing from my Soveraign Lord and Prince how the matter really had passed to the end that I might in the name of his Highness inform your Lordships and other affectionate Friends seeing that in such like affairs false Reports never fail to be spread abroad by the Adversaries For being destitute of all lawful reasons and equity they have endeavoured to colour over their bad cause to the dishonour and prejudice of his Highness and to render him odious to his friends Wherefore having been advertised by his Highness as well by word of mouth as by writing and also by his Secretary who is joyned with me in this affair of the whole truth of the matter and having received an express charge to communicate the same unto you according to the good correspondence which ought to be amongst Neighbours to the end ye may no longer doubt of my Masters good will and affection My self I say and his Secretary would not be wanting likewise to inform you according to the instructions given us of this late undertaking this then in short is the true account of it Your Lordships know very well the reasons moving his Highness to make the late War against the City of Geneva it being upon the account of the Tallies Imposts and other ordinary Charges on the Estates which the Genevoises hold in his Highnesses Dominions They were sollicited and intreated to submit to reason and equity after the same manner as their other Neighbours who possess Estates in his Highnesses Countries But they on the other side have never ceased from making their complaints and representing their cause to his Majesty of France as also to your Lordships although they have been rebuked by several noble Lords about his Majesty for their unseasonable requests and sent back to make satisfaction to those equitable demands after the same manner as your Lordships have dealt with them Yet have they still obstinately continued in their unjust pretensions and have not only endeavoured by force to maintain their pretended right as his Highness hath been well informed but endeavouring moreover contrary to his Highness's declaration to bring and convey into their City Corn which ought not to be transported out of his Highness's Countries for the relief of his Subjects and to preserve in store against time of need so that they have by this means infringed and violated this Edict for which just causes and reasons his Highness had a design of bringing Geneva to Reason but he hath deferred his resentments till some other opportunity especially till his Highness can be present in his own person to prevent all mischief and confusion which commonly happens in such like occasions But forasmuch as the said Genevoises do alledge the priviledges granted them by your predecessors of blessed memory against the pretensions of hs Higness they are of no validity seeing they have not acquitted themselves in what they were obliged to on their parts and have by this means made void their priviledges And thus it is likewise in the claims which they lay to the Treaty as if they were comprehended in it and included with his Majesty of France and the Duke of Savoy my Master whereas it ought to be considered in this case they have no grounds or reasons for their pretensions for it is certain they cannot be understood under this word of Allies seeing they are not in League with all the Cantons of Switzerland and that they have not been expressly specified and named as the other Allies and so consequently could they not be inserted in his Highness's absence against his will and pleasure as being a party principally concerned Moreover I will not forbear to tell your Lordships that his Highness has been credibly informed that my Lord Esdiguieres designed to surprize the said City which had he effected it would have proved highly prejudicial to his Highness and to your selves and therefore his Highness thought it his most prudent course to prevent him But lest your Lordships should suspect that he had any design against you his ancient Neighbours with whom he hath all this while held so good a correspondence He hath therefore withdrawn his men on this side the Mountains resolving to keep up a good understanding with you as his predecessors had done before him and for this effect he will maintain and encourage all Traffick and Commerce betwixt the two States expecting in the mean time an answer from you which we hope will prove satisfactory to our desires and worthy your resolutions This Harangue of the Earl of Tournon was heard by the Council of Berne yet did it not satisfie them for they dismissed both him and the Secretary without answer and had they not speedily departed it is very probable the people forgetting the respect due to persons of their quality would have affronted them so much did they slight his apology for an attempt which was not only condemned by them but as it is said by all Europe and even by the Pope himself The Duke of Boüillon passing about that time through Geneva was desirous of being informed of all the circumstances of the enterprize and went to see the places where they entred and made their efforts In the mean time they of Geneva strengthened by the Troops of their Allies and several French Soldiers both Horse and Foot whom the King permitted to assist them maintained themselves against the Garrisons with which they were surrounded and drove away them who approached their Walls they cut down the Trees about the City to take away all shelter for the Enemy and made several incursions into the Countries of Savoy and surprized the City of S. Genis d' Aoste where they setled the Baron of Vilars Governor from whence they continually molested the Dukes Subjects and kept Chambery in exercise marching many times up to their Gates and had it not been for the death of a valorous Gentleman named Monsieur de Nesle Chambery would have run the same risque as S. Genis The King gave order to de Vic his Ambassador in Switzerland that in his return home through Geneva he should assure the Citizens that he was not one of them who only love their friends whilst they advantage themselves by them and that he would never be wanting to defend and protect them he therefore desired to know of them the means they intended to use in making an offensive War to the end that the succours which he should send them might be profitably imployed They received the Sieur of Vic with the greatest respect and heard his general proposals and particular remonstrances which tended rather to exhort them to a
Friends than Vassals did let them live after their own manner and protected them against the insultings of their neighbours For not long after the Tigurits who are they of the Canton of Zurich had made themselves formidable and ceased not to molest them the Romans sent their Consul Lucius Cassius to repell the Tigurins into their own Countrey but he himself was defeated and slain near Geneva Lucius Piso his Lieutenant General and Father-in-law to Caesar had the same fortune and from that time the Tigurins having joyn'd with the Teutons Cimbres and Ambrons made dreadful havock in Gaule and often beat the Romans till such time as they were subdued by the Consul Marius who having slain great multitudes of them forc'd the rest to return into their own Countrey by which means he secured the Allobroges who lay most in danger by their incursions About forty years after the Allobroges took up Arms again against the Romans wasting Gaule Narbonnoise the Senate sent the Praetor Pomptinus who caus'd Vence to be besieged a considerable City of the Voconces by Manlius Ventinus but he was forc'd to raise his Siege and depart after he had wasted the Countrey Catugnatus who commanded the Allobroges came to help the Voconces and falls into an Ambuscade laid for him by Ventinus Pomptinus marches towards the Countrey of the Allobroges and after some skirmishes with Catugnatus he subdues them who remain'd from that time faithful to the Romans Two years after the Helvetians thinking themselves pent up in their own Countrey invaded the Gaules burning their Towns and Villages with an Army of ninety two thousand men besides old people and children which in all were about three hundred sixty eight thousand souls They first began with the Allobroges pretending only to pass thorough their Countrey but were timely prevented by Julius Caesar who was then Proconsul of Gaule who as soon as he had notice given him raised Soldiers and came to Geneva where he makes all necessary preparation to stop this Torrent There was in this City a Bridge to pass over into the Countrey of the Helvetians Caesar caused it to be broken down to hinder the Enemies from coming into the Countrey of the Allobroges and the rest of the Gaules The Helvetians having heard that Caesar was come sent Embassadors to him at Geneva shewing him they had no design upon any of the Countreys belonging to the Romans intending only to pass thorough them Caesar remembring how they had used Lucius Casstus and Lucius Piso his Father-in-law thought it not convenient to grant their request Howsoever that he might be better provided he desires time to deliberate and that they would return to him some few dayes after In the mean time he gathers what Forces he could and passing the Rhosne he employes his Army in the making a Wall sixteen foot high and about twenty thousand foot in length with a Ditch of the same extent The day which he had appointed them being come he absolutely refuses their request and this was the beginning of that bloody War described by Caesar himself in his Commentaries but which belongs not to our subject There are yet some Remains of this great Prince who by degrees made himself absolute Lord of the Roman Republick in the Names of divers of the Families of the Julius's at Geneva which may be seen there in several ancient Inscriptions There are mention'd one Cajus Julius Caesar Longinus a Free-man of this Emperour and Quintus Julius Sergius Julius Macrinus and Julius Brocchus an Aedile and one of the Duumviri as also Julius Marcianus Julius Capito Julia Vera and Titus Julius Valerianus Overseer of the Publick Buildings Although perhaps not one of these were nearly related to him yet this shews at least that he had brought many Romans with him thither especially them of his own Family of which he himself was at that time the greatest We must not here omit one Historical passage of which ancient Authors have taken no notice which is that after the overthrow of the Swedes and spoil of the whole Countrey of Vaud which was then comprehended under the name of Pagus Vrbigenus to whom the City of Orbe gave that name these parts were extreamly depopulated which caused Julius Caesar to send a Colony thither either to furnish the Countrey again with Inhabitants or else to withstand the Helvetians in case they should again set upon the Gaules Now the greatest strength of this Colony lying in their Cavalry they were hence called Colonia Equestris or Civitas Equestrium the Colony or Commonalty of the Equestres as we find it in the four ancient Inscriptions which are at Geneva and in a fifth Julia Equestris which is an evident proof that Julius Caesar had founded it For when the Civil War broke out between him and Pompey he sent for the Troops which quartered near the Lake Leman to assist him Geneva kept firm thenceforward to the Emperours who succeeded Julius Caesar and the Stones which are yet to be seen there engraven in honour of several Emperours witness as much Some there are which are dedicated to Augustus others to Trajan Antoninus Marc. Aurelius and Trebonian which we shall recite at the end of this History There is also mention of several Roman Magistrates who administred Justice after the same manner as in other Colonies There were likewise Sextumviri who were six men established since Augustus's Reign also Duumviri to determine Cases of Equity and Surveyors of Publick Buildings Prelats and Pagan Priests and every thing else which the Religion and Custom of the Romans were wont to bring into conquered Contreys There were also to be seen on these ancient Marble Stones several kind of Vows engraven to Jupiter Mars and Apollo whom they worshipped before the coming of the Romans after the manner of the other Gaules under the name of Tamaris Theautate and Belenus The little Rock in the Lake served instead of an Altar which was dedicated to Neptune God of the Watry Element And 't is from his name that the Rock called Neiton hath been deriv'd There 's to be seen on the biggest for there are two near one another a hollow place which hath been cut to kindle therein the fire for Sacrifices and 't is not long since some Fisher-men found at the foot of it two small Hatchets and a Brass Knife which is the same which they call'd then Securis and Secespita to cut the throats of those Beasts they sacrificed To finish what may be said of Geneva in the time of Heathenism 't is certain that in Marc. Aurelius's Reign the City was wholly burnt he having taken upon him the care to have it built anew Others say this was done under Heliogabalus who likewise was called Marc. Aurelius There are some who attribute its rebuilding to Aurelian Neither is it to be doubted but that nearness of Names hath occasioned this confusion in History There 's yet to
that City and places adjacent peaceably resigning them to the Church and Commonalty And Felix the fifth although enjoying the Popedom and Bishoprick of Geneva declared by an Express but that his dear sons the Syndicks Citizens Burgesses and Commonalty of Geneva having been by him requested to send him some Companies of Soldiers to the assistance of the City of Lausane where he then made his residence having no obligation thereto they had sent him upon special favor a Company of 600. men which have been very serviceable to him and forasmuch as this may be made an instance of the Cities subjection hereafter he therefore being desirous to obviate whatsoever may be disadvantagious to it attested with Apostolical authority in truth and certain knowledge affirms that this assistance hath not proceeded from any acknowledgement of servitude but meerly out of a filial and kind liberality without any president or ancient custom and that the said Citizens Syndicks Burgesses and their Successors are no ways obliged to such things unless it come from their own free-will leaving them in their ancient liberty Two years after he was assisted by them against the Fribourgers under the Conduct of Captain Burdignin who was then principal Syndick Felix died soon-after at Lausane and was interred at Ripaille It is reported he had lying under his head in his Tomb instead of a Pillow an old Parchment Bible at the end of which were found these words touching Geneva Geneva Civitas situata inter montes Arenosa parva gentes semper petentes aliqua nova There was chosen in his stead Peter of Savoy his young son of eight years of age having left Thomas Cyprian Archbishop of Tarantaise his Administrator and Vicar of his Bishoprick But this young Bishop died in Piemont seven years and eight months after his election and there succeeded him in the said Bishoprick John Lewis of Savoy his youngest brother last son of Duke Lewis he was as yet very young his father had designed him for some Ecclesiastical promotion but his inclination lay not that way for he wore always the garb of a Soldier and was much esteemed for his skill in Warlike affairs defending Geneva from all oppression of its neighbours none daring to violate his Authority nor touch the liberties of the people He had a brother called Janus who was Earl of Genevois and who took on him the title of Earl of Geneva but he made him resign his Title and pretensions He had another brother named Philip commonly called Philip without Lands who troubled that his father should leave him without any provision made for him believing his mother was the cause of it endeavoured to set his father against her accusing her to him as having some Gallants on whom she bestowed her riches He was seldom seen with his father who lay for the most part at Thonon sick of the Gout This young man grew so insolent that at length he killed the Master of his Mothers houshold whilst he was hearing Mass and caused his fathers Chancelor to be seized on and carried away to Morges where by false accusations he procured his being drowned in the lake which disorders continuing the Duke thought himself not safe in his own Country and desired his son John Lewis Bishop of Geneva and the Syndicks and Council to receive him into their City as in a place of surety which having obtained of them he came and had lodgings in the Convent of Gray Fryers of Rive his Court being likewise at Geneva he lived some time in peace only disturbed with the pain of the Gout His Dutchess Anne of Chypre being she had an opportunity of concealing her treasure whether she feared some disgrace might befall her or whether she was willing to gratifie some friends She caused several large Cheeses to be bought the inside of which she made to be taken out that she might put therein several pieces of gold and lading them on mules sent them into her own Country of which her son Philip being informed and having learned through what parts they were to pass he got before them near Fribourg and caused the men to unload and took away with him their carriage he payed with one part of this booty those he had taken with him for his assistance and secretly conveys himself to Nions whence he sent to Geneva some of his company to treat with the young men of his acquaintance and with the Syndicks and others desiring them to let him enter by night which he obtained and had no sooner entred but he went directly to Rive to his fathers lodgings without the least stop and having knocked at the door one of the servants came and asked who was there he answers I am Philip of Savoy who would speak with my father upon business of concernment the servant returning to his Master with this answer Open saith he let what will happen Philip then being entred salutes his father saying good morrow father his father replies God grant thee unhappy days and years too what Devil brings thee hither at this time to whom Philip modestly answer'd Sir it is not the Devil but God almighty who occasions my coming here for your good for I come to give you notice you are robbed and you do not know of it Here is Madam my Mother who will leave us nothing so that if you do not take care she will leave not onely your Children the poorest Princes in Christendom after your death but even your self whilst living in saying which he shewed and gave him all the Treasure save that which he had spent which added he if you will suffer I will not but will punish these Thieves wheresoever I find them At the same time he began to look under the Bed if there were any of the Country of Cyprus for he mortally hated them especially since this trick of his Mothers for he imagined they were the inventors of it From thence he makes search in every chamber but as it hapned they having gotten notice of his coming had timely saved themselves in several houses in the Town where Philip durst not attempt to look for them fearing to raise a tumult amongst the people which occasioned his return without doing any hurt The Duke his father enraged at this desired the people to assemble in the Church where he was lodged which they did and he made his complaints but the Syndicks dared not to appear the people excused themselves and laid the blame on the Syndicks whom they sent for The two first of them were found innocent the third saved himself and departed the City and the fourth who had hid himself in the lowest rooms of the Convent of Rive was convicted confessing his intrigue with Philip and was immediately hanged This having not yet appeased the Duke he leaves Geneva and goes to his Son-in-law Lewis the Eleventh at Lyons with whom having treated concerning certain places of Dauphiné which
their goods in the City for fear of him where likewise it was no sooner night but the Masters called to their men to keep fast their doors for fear of Mortel which afterwards became a proverb but all their care did not avail them for he broke in every where especially where they were most cautious of him he seemed to be not so much sollicitous after the mony as how he should do his work dexterously for he took but small summs only to spend with his Comrades whether he did his work by slight of hand or by charms it is uncertain yet it is reported of him that he so enchanted the people that they lost all ability of speaking or resisting The first thing he did when he came in was to take the Keys even from under the Master of the houses pillow although awake he opened the Cup board Sellar door lighted a Candle laid the Cloth eat and drank no body hindring him The next morning after this he usually went to the Tavern with his companions the Vintners received him gladly for besides his being a good Customer to them he never defrauded them of any thing when he wanted mony he would bid his Host to seek in the Corner of such a Chamber which perhaps no body had entred a long time where they were sure to find their due to a farthing Every body wondered he was not punished by the Magistrates he was indeed several times imprisoned but the Syndicks dared not act contrary to their Laws and Customs which were to condemn no man without his own Confession for when he suffered the Rack he was more firm and constant in denying the truth than a Martyr could be in confessing it whether this came through want of the sense of pain or that he was so stout as to despise it so that he valued the Rack no more than a fillip for when he was stretched upon it he would pretend to have been exceedingly tortured and would desire them to take him off promising to confess the fact but when he was questioned about it he would answer Well what would you have me say repeating their words after them and desiring them to give him the other stroak for the sake of the Ladies He died not such a death as he deserved though dreadful enough for he was seized with the Plague so vehemently as that it took away his speech his Mother who attended him in his sickness fearing he should escape it and come one day to be hanged put him into a Coffin and caused him to be buried alive Duke Philbert died in the flower of his age of a cold gotten in hunting and being a good and virtuous Prince he was much lamented by Geneva especially who met not with the same good qualities in Charles the second his successor It was four years before he came to Geneva though he had often promised it which put the City to a needless charge in their preparations for him whilst in the mean time his Officers frequently violated the peoples Rights and Priviledges The Duke had daily complaints made of this but he did not regard it Monaton Secretary to the Bishops Chancellour having been dispatched to Ancy where the Duke then kept his Court to obtain Letters in favour of the City as to the maintaining of its Priviledges brought others exceeding his Commission There were sent other Deputies to annul what the former had done and were commanded to carry the President of Divonne a present who then governed to the value of one hundred Crowns Duke Charles being at difference with them of Valey required help from Geneva who sent him two hundred men under the Command of Captain Burdignin The Duke not contented with this sent for six piece of Ordnance which was fairly denied him being answered that those few they had were only sufficient for the guard of the Town upon which Rollet Nicholas who held a correspondence with the Duke sent him an account of those who had chiefly opposed his request who were Peter Faccon Levrery de Fonte Hurich and some others whom the Duke vowed to destroy The three first of these warned of this withdrew to Fribourg where they purchased the freedom of that City only paying a Crown every year by which means they might live safely at Geneva under the protection of this Canton and so avoid the Dukes displeasure who would not enter the Town nor swear to maintain its priviledges till Levrery was delivered into his hands The Prothonotary of Aux who was since Bishop succeeding Amblard Goyet Abbot of Filly in the charge of the Bishops Chancellor cast Levrery into Prison but his friends giving notice thereof immediately to Fribourg that City sent their Deputies with all speed to procure his release and from that time the Duke ceased his violences on Geneva fearing the Confederates yet his Officers brought in divers innovations contrary to the Cities Priviledges for which cause Levrery was sent to complain to the Bishop who was then in Piedmont and Anthony Pecolat to the Duke who having after long expectation now resolved to come to Geneva they presented him with two little barrels of Silver and the Dutchess his mother with a Vermilion Cup gilt with Gold weighing nine ounces At length he comes having first taken an Oath to observe the Priviledges and Liberties of the Town and made farther declaration wherein he acknowledged he had no power or jurisdiction in Geneva in these following Terms For asmuch as our well beloved the Syndicks and Council of the City of Geneva at our request have permitted us to keep our Court in the Hall over against the Statehouse during our residence we therefore attest and acknowledge this concession not to have proceeded from any sense of duty or acknowledgment of right from the Syndicks and Council but purely out of good will which we do not design shall extend to the prejudice of the Liberties of the said City After this he soon returned to Anecy Philip of Savoy Bishop of Geneva not liking the Ecclesiastical State having presided fifteen years gave his place to Charles of Seyssel brother to the Baron of Aix who had been chosen seventeen years before but driven out by Champion Philip was by his brother made Earl of Genevois and afterwards betook himself to King Francis the first who gave him the Dukedom of Nemours marrying Charlotte of the house of Longueville in the year 1528. he died at Marseilles and was buried at Anecy Charles of Seyssel was of a sweet and pleasant temper but unlearned and imprudent He made a journey to Strasburg at the Cities charge to request of Maximilian King of the Romans a Confirmation of the Cities Liberties Authorized by an Edict made by the Emperor Frederick Barberousse by which it appeared the City was free and exempt from some certain dues which were claimed at that time from her It was in the
met at first with gentle usage to make them accuse those who were the objects of the Dukes and Bishops hatred But they answering They knew nothing of that matter were again sent back to Prison In the mean time Bonnivard of S. Victor whom we have already mentioned passing through Turin in his Journey to Rome recommended their cause to a Lawyer his Friend and wrote to them a Letter before he parted which he sent to the Jaylor to deliver it to them who conveyed it to the Bishop who upon the receit thereof was exceedingly enraged against Victor who had already occasioned Pecolat's Release he therefore caused them to be kept close Prisoners and put them on the Rack The great Torments they underwent made them confess the pretended Conspiracy of Pecolat and to bring in Victor as a party At the same time the Bishop sent this Deposition to the Syndicks and withal that if they would not believe it they should send two Persons to hear their Confession but not giving credit to the matter they sent no Body This forced Confession declared that Victor with two other Persons in custody had determined to poyson him which if they could not effect they would after this manner one Evening come a Mumming to his House and raising a quarrel he should be stabbed in the tumult by which means Victor might succeed him Which plainly appeared to be ill contrived seeing Victor was not so familiar with the Bishop as to give him such kind of divertisement being rather his professed Enemy and farther the Bishoprick was not so easily obtained seeing the Abbot of Beaumont elected by the Clergy at the Peoples request could not obtain the Papal Confirmation who certainly would never have gratified an Assassin These two poor Creatures then were by beheaded by the Dukes Authority having publickly retracted their Confession and asked Almighty God forgiveness for their other sins The Provost hastened their Execution to silence them Their Bodies being quartered Three of them were sent into several parts of Piedmont and the Fourth part parboiled with the Heads to be sent to Geneva Victor returning awhile after from Rome passed through Turin where the Bishop had given order to have him apprehended of which having notice and having many Friends he walked near eight days about the City to affront the Bishop at the end of which he choused his Spies pretending to stay there longer but took Post one fair Morning for Geneva whither within a short time were brought the Heads and Quarters of the Two fore-mentioned young Men in Two Barrels marked with the Arms of the Earl of Genevois the Dukes Brother they who brought them lodged that Night on this side the Bridge of Arve and the next Morning early they set them up on a Walnut-tree with a White Cross and this Inscription These are the Traitors of Geneva The first who saw them ran to carry the News about the Town a great part of which came to behold them This was a sad Spectacle especially to the Father and Mother of Navis The Father was still the Vidame's Solicitor against Berthelier and saw himself so ill requited for his Services The good Citizens were grieved but durst not shew their indignation contenting themselves only with the Renovation of the Propositions made them by the Burgers of Fribourg The Council of the City as likewise that of the Bishop being met together to consult of the means to appease the Princes whose displeasure they feared deputed the Vidame Aymé Consilii Michael Nergaz and Francis Talichet all three of the Dukes Faction to shew the Prince in all Humility that the City was very much amazed that they had thus used Two of their Citizens and that the generality of the City had given them no occasion of offence but if any particular Person had they might have had him punished at Geneva and therefore desired them to declare who had offended them and if they were in fault they should be obliged to a speedy reparation They departed then to find the Duke who openly gave them but slender welcome but privately consulted with them as Friends treating them with the greatest respect He sent them to Pignerol towards the Bishop who gave them as kind entertainment at length he made a Speech to them in publick to this effect That he was very sensible there were several good People at Geneva from whom they had received faithful Service and which they should be ready at all times to acknowledge but that there were also several Mutinous and Seditious Persons guilty of the highest Crimes even of Conspiring the Death of their Prince of whose number were these two who had been made Examples that there were some in the Town who to avoid the punishment due to their Crimes endeavoured to perswade the People to make an Alliance with Fribourg which would not only tend to the Princes disadvantage but to the City's it self which would lose by this means the Customs which were paid for the Carriage of Merchandizes into Fribourg That if the Cities did embrance this offer they would certainly most severely punish the Authors of it in which if the body if the Town would assist them they should respect them for good and faithful Subjects adding they desired that the Principals who were Berthelier and Ten or Twelve others should be punished with the greatest severity The Deputies who had themselves dictated this Answer desired it should be committed to Writing being directed to the Council To which the Princes consented on condition they would not deliver it to them till they were sworn to execute what it contained They at their return offered it to the lesser Council the greatest part of which liked not the condition saying There might be perhaps something which respected the publick Interest and therefore they could resolve of nothing without the general Council which was assembled the next Morning where the Deputies appearing related they had no other Answer than that which was contained in the Letter and that they had in charge not to open it but upon the fore-mentioned condition The People would not agree to the Proposal touching the Oath but determined to send back again the Letter whence it came Nergaz then tells them Gentlemen say he The Duke of Savoy hath declared That if his Letter be not read and the Contents observed no Genevoise shall enjoy his Possessions in safety The People inraged at this cried to the Deputies Have you staid five or six weeks on the other side the Mounts making your selves merry at our cost to bring us this news To the Rhosne to the Rhosne with such Traitors and it wanted but little but they had been sacrificed to the popular fury but for fear of the Princes the Council appeased them they returned the Letter to the Deputies after they had severely reproached them with it bidding them do what they would with it for it should not be read on the condition offered
Citizens in the Suburb of S. Victor near la Corraterie where the Enemy had the boldness to present himself In the night they came to the very Walls but were not so resolute as to scale them The next Morning they plundered the Suburb of S. Leger Some Prisoners taken by the City discovered their design In the mean time the Allies understanding in what extremity Geneva lay by messages continually sent them there set out from Berne seven thousand Men and twelve pieces of Ordnance under the conduct of the Governour of Erlach from Fribourg two thousand with four pieces of Cannon and some time after five hundred from Soleurre with two pieces of Cannon Two or three thousand Voluntiers joyned to this Army which being arrived at Morges stayed there four days being given to understand that the Enemy was returned back At the same time arrived Deputies from the ten Cantons and du Valey to propose some Articles in order to an Agreement between the Duke of Savoy and Geneva De Vauru Ambassador from his Highness approached the Bridge of Arve to parly with the Deputies of Fribourg and Berne He desired them to send to their Masters to call home the Army telling them the Duke knew nothing of this last enterprize against Geneva nor he neither although it was well known he was one of the Captains The Commanders of the Army of the Confederates sent to Geneva bidding them appoint a place of Treaty but they desired they might be excused desiring to speak with them first to consult together what was needful to be done The Army then began to disincamp from Morges having fired as they passed the Castle of Rolle and most of the other Castles which belonged to the Gentlemen of the Spoon whose Garrisons were retreated to Thonon or into Burgundy all the Goods in them were burnt and the Country of Vaud almost ruined A Party of Fribourgers with the Genevoises pillaged the Villages about the City and could not be withheld alledging for their excuse That they would not dye with Hunger Six score Musketeers belonging to Geneva came to seek Forage at Megrim where the alarm Bell sounding they perceived they were discovered by a Body of eight or nine hundred Foot and fifty Horse who had divided themselves into three Companies one of which lay in ambush in the Wood and the two others lay along the side of the neighbouring Mountains they came to the Wood and set upon them there so vigorously that they left sixty dead on the place the rest were either taken or fled Which affrighted the two other Companies so that they retreated as fast as they could the Genevoises having lost in this Encounter but one young Man who was killed having parted from his Company to fly away Two days after came the Army of the two Cities and were quartered both of them in Geneva where it was no sooner arrived but there was a Discourse of a Treaty of Peace with the Duke S. Julian was pitcht upon for the place where the Deputies were to have safe Passage A Peace was hastily concluded leaving the Differences about the Vidomnat or Stewardship to be determined in the next Assembly which was to be held in Switzerland as also the Charges of the War. It was agreed that Prisoners should be released on both sides and that no acts of Hostility should pass from either Party under Penalty on the Dukes part of the Forfeiture of the Country of Vaud and on the Genevoises of the revocation of the Alliance Which done the Army departed home having remained ten days in the City which had been eaten up within by Friends and plundred without by Enemies The Gentlemen of the Spoon threatened it continually because their Castles were burnt Neither did the Duke of Savoy cease from raising Soldiers The Confederates sent notice to the City that there were 10000 Lancers at Montbeilliard whom the Earl of Genevoise had raised to destroy Geneva Upon which they desired them to send a Company of two hundred Men to strengthen the City Guards At the same time there was an Assembly held at Payerne where both the Genevoises and his Highness had their Deputies The Duke required that the Alliance with Geneva should be cancelled as it was determined by the Earl of Gruyeres and that the Vidomnat or Stewardship and other Rights which he had in the City should be restored that the Exiles should have their Honours and Estates returned them and that the two Cities should pay him two hundred thousand Crowns for the Charges of the War. The Deputies of the Cantons would have put the matter to Arbitration chusing the Emperor Judge in the case but the Genevoises refused to stand to his decision chusing rather that their Cause should be legally debated before the Cantons who promised to determine it without partiality On the 21th of December they thus decided it touching the Stewardship that it should be restored to his Highness that the business of the Exiles should remain as it was that the Alliance with Geneva should hold firm and that Bonnivard should be released that the Duke of Savoy should pay to the three Cities concerned in the Charge of the War one and twenty thousand Crowns at three Payments which Summ he might require of the Bishop and his disobedient Gentlemen who could never raise so many Soldiers without his knowledge and in short that the Treaty of S. Julian should be observed The Duke consented only to those Articles which favoured him but he would not hearken to those Proposals which concerned the Payment of the Money nor the releasement of Bonnivard whom he looked upon as a Person able to do him mischief He chose a Steward and sent him to be established at Geneva The Council demanded the seven thousand Crowns which remained due and why Bonnivard was not released to all which they had no answer Upon this there arose new Troubles and there were continual Deputations on both sides to remove this Difference These Jars made the Syndicks think of fortifying the City and to encompass S. Gervais with Walls and farther to joyn the Borough of Four to the City and to pull down the other Suburbs which were only a hinderance to its defence Wherefore it will not be needless to shew the Condition it was then in There were at that present besides the Boroughs of S. Gervais and de Four which are now incorporated into the City these four other following Suburbs viz. the Borough of Rive which reached from the Gate bearing the same name to Eaux Vives That of S. Victor as far as S. Legier which reached beyond the large Palace even to the Bridge of Arve and the other which extended from La Corraterie as far as the Post-house These four Boroughs contained near as many Houses as the City and were almost all of them pulled down to bring it into a round Form and to make it compact and
Persons who vigorously maintained the Catholick Doctrine viz. Caroli Dr. of the Sorbon and a Dominican Frier of the palace called Chapuisy The Syndicks had ordered Four Secretaries to write what should pass on either side to the end that the whole debate being considered by the Council they might thereupon advise what was farther to be done After this the same James Barnard embraced the Protestant Religion And within a while Married a Printers Daughter on whom he settled a Joynture On the Feast of S. Magdalen Farel accompanied with a great number of hearers having caused the Bell to ring according to custom came and preached in S. Magdalen's Parish-Church the Priests not having time to make an end of their Mass and the People who were there running away with them Six days after he preached at S. Gervais where the Syndicks had set a Guard of 50 Men to prevent any disturbance On the 5th of August he preached at S. Dominick's of the Palace and on the 8th day of the same Month at S. Peters notice being first given by the sound of the great Bell. In the same day the Reliques and Images of the said Church were defaced and spoiled by the common People The Statue of Charlemain which stood at the entrance of the Church was likewise overthrown whereat understanding Men were much displeased The next Morning the three Captains Nicholas Baudichon Peter Vandel and Amy Perrin marched with their Companies beating their Drums as they went to S. Gervais and to S. Dominick where they did yet worse for they spoiled a stately Picture which had cost 600 Ducats And from thence they went to the Bridge of Arve to our Lady of Grace's Church where the Syndicks hastned with their Staves to hinder them from demolishing the Chappel of René of Savoy On the next day Farel came and preached to the Council of 200 and mightily inveighed against the Priests and their Mass It was thereupon ordered that the Disputations held at Rivè should be looked into Two days after the Syndicks sent for the Augustin Monks Dominicans and Grey-Friers and caused the chief Heads of the afore-mentioned Disputations to be read before them asking them whether they had any thing to object against them They answered It belonged not to them to meddle with Articles of Faith which had been received and believed by their foreFathers At length the Syndicks made an order That all the Citizens and Inhabitants should embrace the Protestant Doctrine utterly abolishing the Roman-Catholick Religion The Nuns of S. Clare kept to their old Priciples There was only one Blasine the Daughter of Dominick Varembel who forsook the Monastery and presented her request to the Lieutenant to the end the Sisters might give her a Dowry Which they refused saying She had brought nothing to the Convent yet to avoid all Suits of Law they were content to put the matter to a reference There were ordered her 200 Crowns to be paid out of the Housholdstuff of the Convent They a while after requested the Syndicks to have Mass permitted them as heretofore or otherwise leave to depart the City The Syndicks answer was That they might either stay or go So that they determined to depart to Vitry and from thence to Anecy where the Duke caused a Convent to be fitted up for them They left Geneva being accompanied by the Syndicks and the Lieutenant as far as the Bridge of Arve according to their request lest they should have any rudeness offered them There were but Nine and there were some of them who for 30 years together had not stirred out of the Convent They reached no farther than S. Julien all that day which is but a League distant from Geneva And they were moreover so astonished to find themselves in the open Fields that in seeing either Cows or Sheep they took them for Lyons and Bears according to Sister Jussie's relation who hath described this Sally in a little Book called The beginning of the Heresie of Geneva This Book is written with all the simplicity and confusion which could be expected from a poor Nun for she was as well as her Companions in great fear before she got away thinking every minute they should have some violence offered them Yet as may be seen in this relation they were more afraid than hurt The greatest mischief they received was an Exhortation to leave their Veils and Marry Farel preached in their Convent and took his Text from these words of the blessed Virgin Exsurgens Maria abiit in montana And Mary arose and went into the hill country Shewing them That she was never a Recluse although a perfect pattern of Holiness But this shook not their constancy Baudichon a while after was chosen Captain General in the place of John Philippe and made a general Muster of them who had voluntarily Listed themselves under him who amounted to the number of 400. This Militia being not strong enough to take the Field against the Enemy Claudius Savoy who was sent to Berne from Geneva not obtaining help went to Newcastle to raise Men for Geneva who in their march thither had some skirmish near Nions with them of the Country of Gex but the Deputies of Berne caused them to be disbanded promising to reconcile the differences between the Genevoises and the Duke and them of Penay This did not at all please the Genevoises because the Savoyards had detained their Three Deputies Darlod Lambert and Tocquet whom they had carried away Prisoners to the Castle of Chillon The Savoyards and M. de Rolle having entred the Castle of Pency as Friends they carried away those within Prisoners to Gex accusing them of Treason They likewise abused the Women and Children of strangers who were sent out of the City as unprofitable mouths they stripped them to their Shifts and caused them to return back again There were several little conflicts on both sides while the Cantons endeavoured to reconcile these differences The Protestants continued to pull down the Images and spoil the Reliques of Churches Some days after the Officers of the City at the instigation of Farel published by sound of Trumpet a Fast enjoyning all persons the next Morning to Assemble themselves in S. Peter's Church to pray to Almighty God to send them Peace Farel preached and the Congregation was greater than ordinary About the end of this Year with which we will finish this our first Part the City being surrounded with Enemies wanting Provision and destitute of Mony this put the Magistrates upon Coyning some with the City Stamp the Savoy Coyn having been most currant before amongst them And for better assurance in this point of Priviledge there was search made for all old pieces of the City Coyn. At length there were found some pieces on one side of which there was S. PETRVS written round S. Peter's Head and on the other side a Cross with this Motto GENEVA CIVITAS