[345] The new opinions made every day fresh progress in France,
in spite of the rigour of the edicts, and the severity of the
judges. Inspired by the evil spirit of Cardinals Tournon and
Lorraine, the King resorted to measures of great cruelty. _The
Edict of Chateaubriand_, issued on the 27th of June 1551, declared
Protestants amenable at once to ecclesiastical and civil tribunals,
so that if absolved by the jurisdiction of the one, they were liable
to condemnation by that of the other! This was a violation of the
laws of the most ordinary justice; but at a time when the Emperor,
aided by the heretic Maurice of Saxony, was attacking the Pope, the
King of France could not give too strong a pledge of his orthodoxy.
The blood of the disciples of the Gospel flowed like water, to
expiate the alliance of this persecuting monarch with the Lutherans
of Germany.--Haag, _France Protestante_, Introduction, p. x.
Edict of Chateaubriand, in France--attacks on Calvin in Geneva.
GENEVA, _15th October 1551_.
My slowness in writing to you is owing to the want of messengers.
For I do not care for sending a letter which may have lost its
interest by being so long in reaching you. When Beza undertook to
see my letter delivered to you without delay, I was unwilling to
neglect a duty in which I must confess I am too remiss. I do not
know how matters are moving in England. The matrimonial alliance
with France does not, in my opinion, forebode so much good as many
seem to think. Would, at least, that it might mitigate somewhat the
fury of his father-in-law.[346] For in order to gain new modes of
venting his rage against the people of God, he has been issuing
atrocious edicts, by which the general prosperity of the kingdom
is broken up. A right of appeal to the supreme courts has hitherto
been, and still is, granted to persons guilty of poisoning, of
forgery, and of robbery; yet this is denied to Christians: they
are condemned by the ordinary judges to be dragged straight to the
flames, without any liberty of appeal. It has been decreed, that the
friends of those whose lives are at stake must not dare to intercede
for them, unless they wish to be charged with patronizing heresy.
The better to fan the flames, all informers are to receive the
third part of the goods of the accused. Should any judge appear too
remiss, he is liable to a penalty. The King's chancellor is to guard
against admitting such to public offices, or any who may have, on
any occasion, been open to the slightest suspicion. No one, besides,
can hereafter occupy the place of a judge, unless he be hostile to
Christ; and whosoever would aspire to a public office, must furnish
abundant evidence of being obsequious sons of the Church of Rome;
and should any one [gain office] by deception, a penalty attaches
to those who recommended him. A penalty is imposed, besides, on all
citizens who may, by their suffrages, have raised to the magistracy,
any individual known to hold, or suspected of holding, the Lutheran
doctrines. The Supreme Council is bound by law to compel any of
their number, who may seem to have a leaning to our doctrines, to
clear himself by oath. All are commanded, with more than usual
earnestness, to adore the breaden god on bended knee. All parsons of
parishes are commanded to read the Sorbonne articles every Sabbath
for the benefit of the people, that a solemn abnegation of Christ
may thus resound throughout the land. The goods of all who have
migrated to us are to be confiscated, even although they should
be sold, or in any way disposed of, previous to their departure,
unless the authorities have been duly apprised of the sale before
their departure was contemplated. Geneva is alluded to more than ten
times in the edict, and always with a striking mark of reproach. But
indeed every place of dissent from the See of Rome is referred to.
This ferocity is necessary, in order that the direst confusion may
follow. The flames are already kindled everywhere, and all highways
are guarded lest any should seek an asylum here. If any opportunity
occurs, we must spare no pains to alleviate the sufferings of our
brethren. I would already have been on my way to you, for the
purpose of holding a consultation, had I not been excluded access to
you, at present, by your entreaties. Nevertheless, I beseech you,
in the name of Christ, that you keep an attentive lookout in all
directions; but I do not see what assistance is to be expected from
those who sit down so securely amid their own dangers. How ominous!
The sword is whetted for our throats, and we, who are all brethren,
seek to avoid a consultation! With these warnings, it becomes us
to accustom ourselves to fix our regards on heaven. How I fear we
may, by and by, suffer a heavier punishment for this our inactivity
than could be wished! In truth, I am not astonished that they are so
slow in checking the insult of the enemy, when they take worthless
villains to their bosom, by whom the Church is torn and wounded,
and exposed to the ridicule of her enemies. A certain Dominican, a
minister of the word in a neighbouring village, has emerged from
the mud under evil auspices.[347] He bawled out openly in the
assembly that he had a dispute with me and the Church of Geneva;
and this without the least provocation. Not content with that, he
brought forward a paper filled with foul accusations, in which I
was bitterly reviled for more than twenty times. On the matter being
known, he was sent home. Emboldened by impunity, any satellite of
the Council of Trent insults me now with equal ferocity. This is the
communion of the Church which we daily profess. I omit other matters
equally dishonourable, which I endure, not without sadness; although
I am not so much moved on my own account, as on that of the public;
for I see clearly that such a breaking up of all orderly discipline,
so foreign to Christianity, cannot stand for any length of time.
[346] There were at that time proposals of marriage between the
young King Edward, and Elizabeth of France, daughter of Henry
II., but the negotiations relative to that match wore without
result.--Burnet, _History of the Reformation_, vol. ii. p. 282,
(Nares' Edition.)
[347] Calvin, referring to the same circumstance in a letter to
Viret, (Aug. 1551,) expressed himself thus:--"An ignorant monk, from
an obscure village, disparaged me. A ridiculous affair. He was a
demagogue, who from the front of the platform, bawled out that we
were worse than the Papists, and brought forward a paper before the
Consistory, written by himself, in which he accused me, by name, of
teaching what was false and contrary to the word of God; called me
an impostor; babbled out that those who agreed with me held impious
opinions," &c.--(_Calv. Opera_, vol. ix. p. 61.) From these last
traits, we recognize the same obscure individual, who made bold to
bring forward such accusations against Calvin, and whose disputes
with the Reformer were soon to acquire a sad notoriety over all
Switzerland. This man was Jerome Bolsec!--See the following letter.
Adieu, very excellent and highly revered brother. May the Lord guide
you ever; may his blessing rest on your pious endeavours, and may he
shield you by his protection!
Salute Theodore, Pellican, Gualter, and the rest of the brethren
earnestly in my name.--Yours,