Citation of the wife of Amy Perrin before the Consistory--case
of Gruet--news from Germany.
_2d July 1547._
We must now fight in earnest. The wife of the comedian Cæsar
was again summoned to the Consistory, on account of her
frowardness.[138] While there, though she received no provocation,
in the form even of too harsh a word, she vomited forth more venom
than on any previous occasion. First of all, she denied the right
of our court to take cognizance of her, even supposing she had
been guilty of a delinquency. In the next place, she complained
that she was deeply branded with ignominy, by being compelled to
appear in a place to which the depraved and criminal could alone
of right be summoned. When one of the assessors sought to restrain
her intemperate behaviour, she turned her fury upon him. Abel
then interposed, and expressed his surprise that she had at first
professed that she was too modest, or too little given to speaking,
to be able to answer at greater length, whereas she was a match
in abuse for as many as there might be. At this her fury boiled
all over. "No, indeed," she says, "but you are a reviler, who
unscrupulously slandered my father. Begone, coarse swine-herd, you
are a malicious liar!" She would have almost overwhelmed us by her
thunders, had she not been forcibly extruded. The Senate desired
that she should be more closely imprisoned. She escaped by means
of that matron who is wont to take under her patronage all bad
causes. One of her sons accompanied her in her flight. Accidentally
meeting Abel not far from the city gate, she insulted him afresh,
and even more shamelessly than before. Abel said nothing, but
conducted himself with the greatest moderation, just as he had
done in the Consistory. Next day a paper is found in the pulpit,
threatening us with death, unless we remain silent. I send a copy
of it to you.[139] The Senate, startled by such audacity, orders
a rigid inquiry to be made into the conspiracy. The investigation
is committed to a few. As many suspected Gruet, he was immediately
arrested.[140] It was, however, a different hand; but while they
were turning over his papers, much was discovered that was not
less capital. There was a humble petition which he had designed to
present to the people in the Assemblies, in which he contended that
no offence should be punished by the laws but what was injurious
to the state; for that such was the practice of the Venetians, who
were the highest authority in the matter of government; and that in
truth there was danger, while this city submitted to be ruled by the
brain of one man of melancholy temperament, of a thousand citizens
being destroyed in the event of any outbreak. Letters were also
found, chiefly written to André Philippe, and to others. In some he
named me; at other times, he had enveloped me in figures of speech,
so clumsily contrived, however, that one could lay his finger on
what he meant to conceal. There were, besides, two pages in Latin,
in which the whole of Scripture is laughed at, Christ aspersed, the
immortality of the soul called a dream and a fable, and finally the
whole of religion torn in pieces. I do not think he is the author of
it; but as it is in his handwriting, he will be compelled to appear
in his defence, although, it may be, that he himself has thrown into
the form of a memorandum, according to the turn of his own genius,
what he heard from others; for there are mutilated sentences,
crammed with solecisms and barbarisms. I know not whether Jacoba,
whose sister is the wife of Des Gallars, has been apprehended. There
is, indeed, a decree of the Senate [for that purpose.] What Vandel's
sentence will be is still doubtful; but he is in considerable
danger.[141] Such was the state of things when I wrote. You know
that our Syndics have little enough judgment, otherwise the Senate
is exceedingly well disposed to the cause.
[138] "Complaint of Calvin against the wife of Amy Perrin, who
insulted the minister Abel in full Consistory."--_Registers of
Council_, 24th June.
[139] The import of this note, written in the Savoyard language,
and affixed to the pulpit of the ministers, was, "that people did
not wish to have so many masters; that they (the ministers) had now
gone far enough in their course of censure; that the renegade monks
like them had done nothing more than afflict all the world in this
way; that if they persisted in their course, people would be reduced
to such a condition that they would curse the hour in which they
emerged from the rule of monachism; and that they (the ministers)
should take care lest as much should be done to them as was done to
the Canon Vernly of Fribourg." The last passage was equivalent to a
threat of death.
[140] The former canon, Jacques Gruet, of dissolute manners,
of licentious and perverse doctrine, constantly opposed to the
ministers, and intolerant of all rule in the Church as in the State,
had lain under the imputation of having been the instigator of the
attempt at poisoning Viret in 1535.--_Histoire de la Suisse_, vol.
xi. p. 364.
[141] Pierre Vandel, one of the chief of the reprobate children
of Geneva. Handsome and brilliant, he loved to exhibit himself
surrounded by valets and courtezans, with rings on his fingers,
and his breast covered with gold chains. He had been imprisoned on
account of his debaucheries, and his insolent behaviour before the
Consistory.
The brethren have replied to me regarding Sonnier, that they mean to
make no change in their former resolution; for I relaxed, as I had
abstained from writing, with a view to spare him. He eagerly made
reference to the minister De Coppet, who also wished to change his
place. I advise you to examine whether there is any truth in this.
The statements contained in Bucer's letter regarding those two
victories are quite certain; for a friend of mine[142] passed
through this, who had ascertained the truth of the whole matter. He
also informed me that tidings of a third victory had been brought
away within two hours before he left Strasbourg; but he did not
venture to assert this for certain. He further mentioned to me,
that when the Landgrave had come to Leipsic on the strength of
the promise made to him, he returned without accomplishing the
matter, and in despair, and that he was collecting a new army.
The name of Henry[143] was erroneously given in Bucer's letter;
for the Landgrave still keeps him in fetters, or at least closely
imprisoned. But Bucer was speaking of Erich,[144] who professes the
same doctrine with ourselves, and yet hires himself to the tyrant
in disturbing the Church. I wish that your Senate could be induced
to take the initiative in the stipulated treaty; for Pharaoh wishes
to be asked, and thinks it unbecoming his dignity to solicit the
weaker parties.[145] But let them look to these and other matters,
that are now in course of arrangement. I desire nothing to be done,
unless what I judge to be fitting and useful to you.
[142] Doctor Chelius, in the handwriting of Calvin.
[143] Henry of Brunswick.
[144] The personage here designated is doubtless Erich, hereditary
prince of Sweden, who ascended the throne in 1560, and was deposed
in 1568.
[145] A common interest at that time conciliated the King of France
and the Swiss. The ambassadors of Henry II., Brissac and Marillac,
assured Geneva of the friendship of the King, and took in charge
letters of Calvin to the Helvetic Churches.--_Histoire de la
Suisse_, vol. xi. p. 358.
Adieu, brother and most sincere friend, along with your wife and
your whole family. May the Lord always direct you and be present
with you. You will salute the brethren respectfully in my name. I
and my wife salute thee and thine in the Lord.--Yours,