[502] The sentence of the Parliament of Aix had been carried into
effect, and those of the unfortunate Vaudois who had escaped the
massacre which befell their brethren were pursued as heretics,
buried alive in the dungeons, or condemned to the galleys. Some
of them arrived at Geneva, and there found a generous refuge and
assistance. 14th May 1545.--"The minister of Merindol, with some
others, arrived in this town, flying from the persecutions, and in
great misery. Resolved to help them." 18th May.--"The refugees of
Provence are occupied on the fortifications, and that in accordance
with Viret's request."--_Registers of Council._ Calvin, addressing
both earnest and eloquent entreaties to the ministers of Zurich,
of Schaffhausen, and of Basle, adjured them to employ their whole
credit to promote new exertions in favour of their suffering
brethren.
Defence of the Waldenses of Provence--artifices of their
enemies--oppression of that unfortunate people.
GENEVA, _24th July 1545_.
So far as I understand, from the correspondence of friends, the
object which I had obtained through your kind endeavour, and that
of all good men,--I mean that of sending a deputation to France,
will stagnate after all, unless the business is pressed a second
time on their attention. The King's pensioners have so far attained
their object by falsehood, that we, forsooth, must not judge worthy
even of compassion those whom we behold cruelly slain for the same
cause which they maintain in common with ourselves. It was quite
apparent to me, while I was at Arau, that there were certain of
them not so very favourable to us, or, at least, they were not
so warm and friendly as not to be affected by underhand reports.
A most false accusation had been forged, in order to overwhelm
our unfortunate brethren. They are said to have been treated with
such savage rigour, because they have refused to pay tithe,[503]
although it is quite certain that this has never been charged
against them, even by their enemies. Yea, and more than that, it
is quite well known that they had voluntarily promised that they
would give as much to the priests for doing nothing, as they were
accustomed to exact when they discharged their functions; for
they had always modest and prudent men among them, by whose sound
advice they suffered themselves to be guided. You can therefore
assert, on my authority, that this has by no means been the cause
of the persecution which has been set on foot against them. And
not even Grignan,[504] who is now the King's ambassador at Worms,
has attempted to put forward this pretext for abating the odium of
this atrocious business. And must he not have known best of all
the facts of the case, when it was by his own perfidy that the
whole of this fire of persecution has been lighted up? For when
he was summoned by the King himself from Provence, where he was
governor, he promised to our brethren that he would faithfully
plead their cause at Court; and yet, to flatter Cardinal Tournon,
under whose patronage he hoped for an embassy, he stirred up the
King to a height of fury hitherto unheard of. Now, it is of great
importance to know correctly what may be the state of matters, and
how it fares with our godly brethren. The King, that he might give
some satisfaction to the Germans, wrote thither lately that he had
sent a Commissioner to make inquiry concerning the massacre which
had been perpetrated.[505] But what good can be expected to come
of that? There is no one hitherto who has even dared to mutter a
word in favour of succouring and defending the unhappy sufferers;
their cause, therefore, lies prostrate beneath oppression. There
are, even at this present, four hundred and upwards bound in iron;
for even the lower hold of the ships are also full of prisoners in
chains. They make daily incursions from the Comtât d'Avignon upon
those who yet remain, which, although it is done without the express
command of the King, takes place, nevertheless, as is quite certain,
by his permission. For he would not thus connive if he did not
approve; and the Legate would not take so much upon him, if he did
not clearly perceive that it was according to the King's desire.
Wherefore, now is the time for rendering them all the assistance we
can, whatever we may have been able to do aforetime. There are very
many, besides, who have been scattered hither and thither in their
flight; others lie concealed with worthy men, who have not hesitated
to place their own lives in jeopardy by harbouring them, so as to
snatch them away from death. What the King promises secures no
remedy, nor even a mitigation of the evil, but, as it were, a sort
of cavern in whose darkness the misfortunes of our brethren may be
entombed. And shall we thus only look on and be quiet while innocent
blood is shed? Shall the savage fury of the ungodly trample down
our brethren perpetually? Christ will then be held up to ridicule
and mockery. All this will happen, unless you bestir yourself anew
along with others who ought to feel an interest in what concerns
the Kingdom of Christ. I hear, indeed, that at Berne and Basle they
have grown cold, unless, indeed, they now begin again to become more
earnest in the cause. We shall not cease to strive with all our
might. Do you also, with your colleagues, do your utmost, that your
friends may seriously take up the case. Adieu, most accomplished
sir, fellow-labourer in the ministry, and my very much respected
friend. Salute reverently, in my name, the learned Masters Pellican,
Megander, Theodore, Gualther, Collin, and others. May God preserve
you all the day long in safety, and govern you perpetually by his
own Spirit. Amen.--Yours,