[488] Misled by the false reports of the secret agents of the
Cardinal du Tournon, and by the calumnious denunciations of the
Baron d'Oppède, Francis I. at length was prevailed upon to carry
into execution the sentence pronounced by the Parliament of Aix
against the Vaudois of Provence, and to give the signal of the
dreadfully atrocious massacres of Cabrières and of Merindol.--_Hist.
des Martyrs_, lib. iii.; De Thou, lib. vi. On hearing the sad
intelligence, Calvin set out from Geneva in all haste for Berne,
to implore at Berne and Zurich the interference of the Reformed
cantons, even at the eleventh hour, in favour of these unhappy
victims of intolerance and fanaticism.
Massacre of the Waldenses of Provence--Calvin entreats the
sympathy of the Swiss Churches in their behalf.
GENEVA, _4th May 1545_.
After those two brothers about whom I had written, on my suggestion
were returned to their friends, the one of them has returned to us
with the melancholy intelligence, that several villages have been
consumed by fire, that most of the old men had been burned to death,
that some had been put to the sword, others having been carried
off to abide their doom; and that such was the savage cruelty of
these persecutors, that neither young girls, nor pregnant women,
nor infants, were spared. So great is the atrocious cruelty of this
proceeding, that I grow bewildered when I reflect upon it. How,
then, shall I express it in words?[489] On hearing of this dreadful
tragedy, and considering what ought to be done, it seemed advisable
to the brethren in the first place, that we should send a man to
you with my letter, which recommends the cause of all the churches
to the ministers; and, in the next place, we asked the advice of
the Council, because we were not so clear among ourselves what
measures ought to be taken. It was the opinion of the Council that
I should go in person to the Swiss Churches. I shall therefore set
out to-morrow on the journey. I can scarcely be able to reach Berne
before Thursday. As soon as I can, I shall urge the Council to grant
me an audience of the Senate. If you approve, you had better come to
Berne on Friday. From thence we shall go together; but if otherwise,
I can proceed alone. Because Bucer, in his last letter, has almost
entirely cut off all hope, I almost fear that I may lose my pains
by going to Strasbourg. Should the brethren at Basle advise it, I
shall make the attempt for all that. It will at any rate be most
refreshing to me to have a sight of you at Berne. Adieu, my dear
brother; salute all. I write, worn out with sadness, and not without
tears, which so burst forth, that every now and then they interrupt
my words.--Yours,