MONSEIGNEUR,--I wrote to Myconius,[124] as you will see by the copy
which I send you. I was of opinion that it was enough, because the
judges will better comprehend my meaning from his mouth. It will
have more weight, because the prosecution of the suit will not thus
be so vehement on my part, as if I should take upon me to write to
them, thus making myself too much a party in the matter. I believe
that our brother, Master Peter Viret, will do the same in regard to
the Sieur Bernard Mayer, in consequence of what I have told him.
Should there be any need for it, he condemns himself of treachery in
the letters which he has written to me. For after having requested
me, in the month of January, to intercede for him in regard to the
marriage of Merne, he has told me that Wilergy was in love with him
_many months before_: so much so, as to ask him in marriage, rather
than wait to be asked. How is that to be reconciled, unless he
wanted to have both of them? But he must be cut short in the whole
of this troublesome nonsense; seeing that it is quite unworthy of a
hearing. I have no doubt that the judges will very soon put an end
to that.
[124] See _ante_, vol. i., pp. 312, 313, _note_. Calvin called on
him for his aid with the magistrates of that town for having a
promise of marriage cancelled between Mademoiselle de Wilergy and
Valeran.--_Bibl. de Genève_, vol. 106.
Monsieur, having heartily commended me to your kind favour and that
of Madame, without forgetting the three Demoiselles, I pray our good
Lord to have you in his keeping, to confirm you always in patience,
to deliver you from the annoyance of this importunate suitor, and to
bring you into assured prosperity.
Your servant and humble brother,
JOHN CALVIN.
[_Fr. orig. autogr._--_Library of Geneva._ Vol. 194.]