[56] The Ecclesiastical Ordinances, digested by Calvin and adopted
by the councils of the republic, daily encountered the keenest
opposition in the heart of a party which reckoned at its head men
belonging to the most distinguished families among the Genevese.
The Consistory and Councils together took care that the laws
were rigidly enforced, and checked improprieties without respect
of persons. The Captain-General, Amy Perrin, the Syndic Corna,
and several other persons, having, contrary to the prohibitions,
danced in a private house, "It is ordained," as is contained in the
Registers of 12th April 1546, "that they all be imprisoned;" and
with regard to the wife of Amy Perrin, who spoke insolently to the
Consistory, that she also be imprisoned, and be required to find
security. Perrin, to avoid undergoing the punishment pronounced
against him, had recourse to the pretext of a journey to Lyons; but
he was incarcerated on his return. The Syndic Corna acknowledged
his fault, and, after a deposition of some days, he was reinstated
in his office. The minister, Henry de la Mare, was deposed, for
having been present at the ball, and taken the side of the dance and
dancers against the Consistory. See REGISTERS OF COUNCIL, April 1546.
Troubles at Geneva--imprisonment of the several members of the
family of Favre--account of the assassination of John Diaz at
Neubourg.
[_April 1546._]
After your departure the dances caused us more trouble than I
had supposed. All those who were present being summoned to the
Consistory, with the two exceptions of Corna and Perrin, shamelessly
lied to God and us. I was incensed, as the vileness of the thing
demanded, and I strongly inveighed against the contempt of God,
in that they thought nothing of making a mockery of the sacred
obtestations we had used. They persisted in their contumacy. When
I was fully informed of the state of the case, I could do nothing
but call God to witness that they would pay the penalty of such
perfidy; I, at the same time, however, announced my resolution of
unbaring the truth, even though it should be at the cost of my
own life, lest they should imagine that any profit was to come
of lying. Francisca also, the wife of Perrin, grossly abused us,
because we were so opposed to the Favres.[57] I replied as seemed
proper, and as she deserved. I inquired whether their house was
inviolably sacred, whether it owed no subjection to the laws? We
already detained her father in prison, being convicted of one act
of adultery,[58] the proof of a second was close at hand; there
was a strong report of a third; her brother had openly contemned
and derided the Senate and us. Finally, I added, that a new city
must be built for them, in which they might live apart, unless they
were willing to be restrained by us here under the yoke of Christ;
that so long as they were in Geneva, they would strive in vain to
cast off obedience to the laws; for were there as many diadems in
the house of the Favres as frenzied heads, that that would be no
barrier to the Lord being superior. Her husband had meanwhile gone
to Lyons, hoping that the matter would be silently buried. I thought
that they should be forced to a confession of the truth by an oath.
Corna warned them that he would by no means suffer them to perjure
themselves. They not only confessed what we wished, but that they,
on that day, danced at the house of the widow of Balthazar. They
were all cast into prison. The Syndic was an illustrious example of
moderation; for he publicly spoke against himself and the whole herd
so severely, that it was unnecessary to say much to him. He was,
however, severely admonished in the Consistory, being deposed from
his office until he gave proof of repentance. They say that Perrin
has returned from Lyons; whatever he may do, he will not escape
punishment. Henry was stripped of his office with our consent.
With him there fell out a ludicrous enough altercation. He had
admitted that what had been taken down from the witnesses was true.
Meanwhile he had recourse to the defence, 'Against an elder admit no
accusation unless before two or three witnesses.' I inquired whose
saying this was,--'Out of thine own mouth I judge thee, worthless
servant;' for that now the case did not lie in the trustworthiness
of the witnesses, but in his confession. Besides, when he repudiated
the witnesses, that he was pressed by the dilemma, either his
confession was true or it was false: if true, there was no further
ground for hesitation; but if he had said what was false, he was to
be held as answerable for perjury, because he had sworn to something
different from the reality. It therefore came to this, that he might
say that he had spoken falsely and without regard to principle.
When he said that it was unfair that he should be pressed by one
who ought to have been his defender, I inquired by what obligation
I was bound to him to defend a bad cause, for that I had taken no
oath to the Franciscan faction. Much was said to the man, backwards
and forwards, but the result was, that he departed loaded with
the reproach and odium of all. Being deprived of his ministry, he
was, at the same time, thrust into prison, whence, however, he was
liberated in three days. There he was a strenuous patron of the
dances, that he might embitter, as far as was in his power, the
hatred towards me of those who were already more than sufficiently
alienated from me. But whatever Satan may essay by the like of him,
he will afford a striking example. For two things are already matter
of public talk, that there is no hope of impunity since even the
first people of the city are not spared, and that I show no more
favour to friends than to those opposed to me. Perrin with his wife
rages in prison; the widow is absolutely furious; the others are
silent from confusion and shame.
[57] At the head of the opposition to the ministers were observed
the different members of the family of Francis Favre, a dissolute
old man, and father-in-law of Amy Perrin. Francisca, his daughter,
wife of the latter, made herself remarkable by the violence of her
invectives against the Consistory. "They remonstrated with her, and
made no more account of herself and her father than of the lowest
in the city. Being again interrogated whether she would name the
dancers, twice replied, that she would rather submit to punishment,
and be dragged before all the justices, than appear before the
Consistory."--Notes Extracted from the _Registers of the Consistory
of Geneva_, by the late Syndic Cramer, 4te, 1853.
[58] "That the father-in-law of Amy Perrin, who has committed
adultery, be also imprisoned, and put upon his trial."--_Registers
of Council._ Ibid.
Diaz, the Spaniard, whom you saw here, Viret, at the house of Des
Gallars, and who, setting out from Neuchatel for Germany, had
passed through with the two Senarclens, was most cruelly put to
death. When the Emperor was said to be approaching, he had repaired
to Neubourg, a town under the rule of Duke Otho Henry. From that
place he wrote to me on the 13th of March. He had a brother at Rome
of the name of Alphonso, who came thither with the express design
of making away with this godly man. They conferred together for
some days. When Juan observed that he was of no service, he left
Alphonso. The latter, pretending that he had forgotten something,
sends a servant to recall his brother, and put him to death in the
house. He followed him to the house, nor did he believe the domestic
that the slaughter had been perpetrated until he himself had viewed
the corpse. Then he hurried off on fleet horses to the county of
Tyrol.[59] Duke Otho sent the prefect of the palace to demand that
he should be given up to punishment. Unless Ferdinand be willing to
throw into confusion all things, both human and divine, he must of
necessity avenge so base and abominable an outrage. For the prefect
has at the same time surrendered himself a prisoner.
[59] See the whole of this narrative in the _Histoire des Martyrs_,
from the tract of Claude de Senarclens: _Vera Historia de Morte
Joannis Diazii Hispani._ 1546.
Adieu, dearest brethren; may God ever protect you. Salute all
friends. You, Farel, will convey to the heads of the citizens my
best greeting. I wish that I could one day creep your length, in
whatever way it might be possible.--All ours salute you.
[_Calvin's Lat. Corresp._--Opera, tom. ix. p. 38.]