Proceedings of Castalio--school of Geneva--criticism on the new
ministers--tidings of France--domestic sorrow.
GENEVA, _19th August 1542_.
I would have written to you long ago, had I not been aware that
my letter could not reach you one moment sooner than if I delayed
writing until your return. Now, because I conceive, from the
reckoning of the time, that you must have at length returned, you
have herewith what I have to say in the meantime. As soon as you
were gone, strange bickerings broke out between Sebastian[350]
and his brothers-in-law, which have sorely exercised me in trying
to settle them by a little friendly interference. My motive for
taking part in these disputes was, that the quarrel might not go so
far as that the scandalous report of it should get abroad to the
disgrace of the school. With all my care and diligence, however, I
could not even so far succeed as to get the one party to cease from
abusing the other, and thus they are everywhere become the town-talk
of most people. When the common controversy about the payment of
the dowery-money was somewhat allayed, lo, new disputes break out
between Sebastian and Peter,[351] partly about the management of
the household expenses, and partly also about the dwelling. I have
never seen a more complicated affair. After much wrangling with each
other they came at length to a sort of compromise, which, however,
brought forth by and by another and a fresh dispute. Tempers on both
sides were so much fretted that one can scarcely hope for any solid
friendship between them, such as ought to exist among brethren.
These disturbances have calmed down for the present, indeed, but
there is much reason to fear that some trifling circumstance may,
all of a sudden, stir them up again. Behold, you see the state of
our school, that you may not envy us. On the other hand, Nicolas
de Jussy has been the occasion of new vexation to us within the
last few days, on account of his pride. He had been commending
some one--I know not who it was--who, he supposed, had suffered
wrong in being imprisoned on very sufficient grounds, and because
the assessors did not yield to his demand, he proceeded to launch
against them a very bitter invective. The affair was reported to the
Senate, who were glad to avail themselves of the opportunity for
his expulsion. We interceded for him, not so much for the sake of
the individual, who complained, not many days since, that there was
far too much deference shewn to me, but that so hurtful a precedent
of the easy, or even rash and precipitate ejection of a minister,
might not be set up in the Church. They are making fuller inquiry at
present, and afterwards, taking us along with them in the decision,
they will pronounce judgment. If I am satisfied that there is just
ground for laying him aside, I will make no further opposition.
You would be surprised to see how stoutly our Henry philosophizes
about asserting the honour of the Gospel ministry;[352] having
presented, forsooth, such a distinguished example of firmness and
constancy of principle in his own person. Upon which score I was
by no means silent, but have certainly discharged my duty, having
declared openly, in the presence of all, that in the making up of
my mind, I did not so much consider what was done to myself, but
rather what ought to be done. Our colleagues make considerable
progress in preaching; but in two of them there is, I fear, somewhat
of vain-glory. You understand who the other person, the third,
is; in my opinion he evinces a better regulated judgment. Peter
has, besides, shewn already some tendencies which are not very
satisfactory, if what Geniston has reported to me be indeed true.
As, however, we have not yet ascertained the point with sufficient
certainty, I have resolved to observe him more closely. If we have
been deceived by him, where is faith to be found? Louis, as I
always feared, has more of levity and less of self-control in his
conversation and behaviour than becomes a minister of the Gospel;
but this defect, as I hope, will, in course of time, be corrected,
if only the other more essential qualifications are not found
wanting. As you passed through Neuchatel on your way to Berne, I
have no doubt the brethren there must have fully explained to you
all about the departure of Farel,[353] which I may now tell you from
the letter in which he mentions it; therefore I forbear to enter
more at large upon the subject. The letter itself I send you, that
you may be fully instructed. Froment returned lately from Lyons.
He reports that the Queen of Navarre is at present even better
disposed than ever she was;[354] and he even gives the assurance
in her own language, for he was admitted to familiar converse in
an interview with her. Howsoever you are aware that we must not
rashly hold every word that the messenger utters to be strictly
true; for he is so carried away by the honour which has been put
upon him in having been admitted to an interview with the Queen,
that he seems to me to have lost the small remnant of common sense
which he still possessed.[355] To say nought of other absurdities,
when he mentioned that the Queen wished me to write to her, he
thought proper to dictate at the same time the subject-matter; and,
having but little confidence in my judgment, he forbade my writing
and sending away my letter unless previously read and revised by
himself. He has spread a report through the whole city that he was
very near preaching before the King himself. There are a thousand
silly statements of this sort. That you may not think, however,
that all he says is false, part of what he says he heard from the
Queen or her ministers. But these artful courtiers, when they get
hold of a simple-minded individual, abuse his credulity for their
own advantage or amusement. They wish that such a report may reach
Germany, and reconcile the minds of the godly to the King, whom
they know at present to be entirely estranged from him. Among other
things they persuaded him that the Chancellor was imprisoned on no
heavier charge[356] than because, without the orders of the King,
he had directed the promulgation of that edict about books,[357]
and had caused the godly to be burnt. What more need I say? He not
only believed everything he heard, but besides, he has invented many
other things which he never heard at all. The King of France has
passed an army into Spain,[358] which is threatened on the other
side by the Turk. The Duke of Orleans has done nothing memorable
hitherto, except that he has burnt down two towns.[359] That,
however, is old news. Many events have probably occurred since
that time. Our friends here have at present a rather hard knot to
untie;[360] and all the more so, because even although, for the
future, all they ask were conceded to them, the opposite party has
hitherto made the hope to be very uncertain. I have carried my
point, however, with the lesser council.[361] Entreat the Lord, that
the question may be brought at length to a successful conclusion.
There is some risk lest, when it comes to be debated in the larger
public assembly, that little coterie, which you know consists of
veteran and disciplined demagogues, may throw all into confusion.
But the Lord, I hope, will overrule everything for good, if we only
carefully entreat him.
[350] The person here mentioned is no other than Sebastian Castalio,
who was afterwards so unhappily celebrated by his debates with the
Reformer. Born at Fresne near Nantua en Bresse, he sought an asylum
at Strasbourg, where he was acquainted with Calvin, and became a
member of the French Church; esteemed by Calvin on account of his
character and talents, he followed him after his recall to Geneva,
and was nominated regent in the new college of that town.
[351] The minister Peter Blanchet.
[352] The minister Henri de la Mare. He had discharged the functions
of the ministry, during the exile of Calvin, under conditions which
were scarcely compatible with the dignity of the ministry.
[353] He had set out for Metz.
[354] After the affair of the Placards this Princess shewed herself
less avowedly and openly favourable to the Protestants of France;
she, however, took an unceasing interest in their cause. She wrote,
in 1541, to Calvin, on occasion of the projected marriage of her
daughter, Jeanne d'Albret, with the Duke of Cleves:--"We think
that God has given us a son to our own heart and mind, by whom we
hope that we shall contribute somewhat to his honour and glory. We
entreat you, that in whatsoever you shall perceive that I can do you
any good service, you will not spare me; and I assure you that I
will do my endeavour very heartily, according to the power which God
shall bestow upon me."--_Paris MSS._, an unpublished letter of the
25th July 1541.
[355] Of a vain and flighty turn, Froment could not remain content
with that better part which had been assigned to him as the
missionary of the Reform at Geneva. He abandoned the ministry of the
Gospel to become a notary, and incurred more than once the censures
of the Seigneury.
[356] The Chancellor of France, William Poyet, accused of
malversation. He was condemned to pay a heavy fine, and deprived of
all his offices.
[357] See Sleidan, lib. xiv. p. 408. The _Institution Chrétienne_ of
Calvin was particularly forbidden by this edict.
[358] Brought to a stand for six months before Perpignan, by the
heroic resistance of the Duke of Alva, the French army could not
cross the Pyrenees.--Robertson, _Hist. of Charles V._, book vii.
[359] More fortunate than the Dauphin, the Duke of Orleans began
the campaign with success in Luxembourg, but he compromised all his
advantages by a precipitate departure for the Rousillon, and the
towns of which he had taken possession in the Netherlands fell back
under the power of the Imperialists.--Robertson, _Hist. of Charles
V._, book viii.
[360] In allusion to the struggle which the ministers had to sustain
in the Councils of the Republic for the appliance of discipline.
[361] The lesser council, as distinguished from that of the two
hundred. They have at Geneva four councils. 1st, The common council,
or lesser council, formed of the four syndics going out of office,
of the four new, and seventeen members nominated by the two hundred.
This is the _Senatus minor_. 2d, The council of the two hundred. 3d,
The council of the sixty. Lastly, The council general, a popular
assembly, convoked only upon extraordinary occasions.
Adieu, my excellent and highly esteemed brother. Greet all the
brethren; your maternal aunt also, and your wife, to whom mine
returns her thanks for so much friendly and pious consolation. She
is unable to reply, except by an amanuensis, and it would be very
difficult for her even to dictate a letter. The Lord has certainly
inflicted a severe and bitter wound in the death of our infant
son.[362] But he is himself a Father, and knows best what is good
for his children. Again adieu; may the Lord be with you. Would that
you could make a run as far as this, I would willingly have half a
day's free conversation with you.--Yours,