[469] Whilst the number of refugees was increasing at Geneva and the
other towns of Switzerland, their wants were provided for by liberal
charitable donations. This was the origin of the _Bourse Etrangère_
founded at Geneva, and whose revenues are applied, even in our own
day, to the support of poor students, or to the establishing of new
schools.
Assistance afforded to the faithful refugees in
Switzerland--reply of the Churches on the subject of
ecclesiastical discipline.
GENEVA, _30th December 1553_.
Good men have indeed sent money to be laid out on the banished
brethren and the exiles. They have ordered one part to be
distributed among us, and they have designed the other two parts
for the poor of Lausanne and your own city. Our friend Beza caused
twenty-five gold pieces to be handed over to them. However, as
but few exiles have hitherto gone among you, so far as I know,
especially of that sort which is so numerous here, might you not, if
you are not in immediate need, expend at your own discretion what
would relieve the necessity of others? I do not ask you, certainly,
to make a remission to us, but I wished to advise you on the matter,
that if it should seem proper to you, you might transmit a certain
sum to those who are in urgent need of money. Nevertheless, I do not
dictate any course to you, but fearing, as I did, that you might
be troubled with some doubts about how to act, I thought it better
to anticipate them. The messenger has at length returned from the
Helvetian Churches. Our Council will meet with a disappointment
to-morrow in their replies. I expect a great deal of quarrelling,
the issue of which, however, will perhaps turn out more fortunately
than the wicked, who are now beginning to get crestfallen, had
previously calculated upon. But there is in the other respect no
cordiality. When we shall have completed the contests which are in
store for us, I shall write you the whole more fully. Adieu, most
upright brother, assist us with your prayers.
The men of Zurich prudently dissuade from making any change. Those
of Bâle, without interposing any judgment, send a written copy of
their own edicts. The people of Schaffhausen are the most judicious
of all. Our neighbours push it coldly aside; a thing which I
expected from the first. Salute your brethren and friends earnestly
in my name. May the Lord be ever with you to guide you.--Yours,