The situation of Geneva became more critical every hour. In the evening, just as the bell was ringing for vespers, there was a gleam of light in the stormy sky. Ambassadors arrived from Berne; they had passed through the enemy's lines, doubtless in consequence of their diplomatic character. They immediately visited their Friburg colleagues, who made known to them all their fears: 'Yet a few hours more,' they said, 'and Romish despotism will perhaps triumph over the Genevese liberties.' The Swiss did not lose a moment, but despatched a herald, post-haste, to demand immediate support. A part of the defenders of Geneva went to their homes to take some slight repose.
=NIGHT ASSAULT.=
The night closed in, but a bright moon permitted every movement to be observed which took place without the city. At midnight the moon set: darkness and silence for some time reigned upon the walls. This was the hour fixed for the assault. The bands of Savoy and Burgundy and the knights of the Spoon moved forward without noise, and soon reached the ditch, in readiness to attack the city. It was easy for them to break in the gates and to scale the walls. The sentries on the ramparts listened, and tried to make out the movements of the enemy. The Genevans were all determined to sacrifice their lives, but they were too few to defend their homes against such an army. They had to fear enemies still more formidable. It was asserted that the governor of the Low Countries, the pope, the Dukes of Lorraine and Gueldres, and the King of France were all pushing forward troops against the city. The alarm had been given in the courts of Europe by a recent act of the Landgrave of Hesse. He was negotiating a treaty with the cantons of Zurich and Basle, by the terms of which each of the contracting parties was bound to support the others in case of violence against the cause of the Gospel. 'Might not Philip do the same with Berne and Geneva?' said some. 'Might not the latter city become an asylum of the Reformation in the south, for the populations of the Latin tongue?... No time must be lost in destroying it.'[841]
People were talking of these things at Augsburg. The protestant princes and doctors had quitted that city, where the famous diet had just ended: a month had been given them to become reconciled with Rome. But Charles V., who did not reckon much upon this entente cordiale between the pope and Luther, had declared that he would terminate the controversy with the sword, and had given orders to raise a powerful army to crush both protestants and protestantism: that, however, was not to be done before the spring of next year. One day, when the emperor was conversing about Geneva with Duke Frederick and other catholic princes,[842] despatches were brought him announcing the march of different armed bodies against Geneva. Charles always displayed a prudence and reserve in his plans, which proceeded as much from nature as from habit. As his faculties had been developed slowly, he had accustomed himself to ponder upon everything with close attention; he had decided in particular that not a shot ought to be fired in Europe against the protestants before the spring of 1531, and had instructed his brother-in-law of Savoy to that effect. Accordingly, when he learnt, in October, that an attack was preparing against Geneva, he gave utterance to his vexation. 'Ha!' he exclaimed, 'the Duke of Savoy is beginning this business too soon!'[843] 'These words give cause for reflection,' said the deputies of Nuremberg, who reported them to their senate. After Geneva, their own turn would come, no doubt.
=MYSTERIOUS RETREAT OF THE SAVOYARDS.=
Meanwhile, about one o'clock on a pitch-dark night, the troops of the duke, the bishop, and the knights of the Spoon had come up close to the ditch. But, strange to say, they remained inactive. They neither broke down the gates nor mounted the walls: on the contrary, 'the nearer they approached,' says Balard, who was in the city, 'the more their hearts failed them.' Besides the knights of Vaud and the leaders of the Burgundian bands, there were in the besieging army a certain number of officers holding their commissions immediately from his highness the duke. On a sudden these Savoyard captains drew back; they moved away, and left the others at the edge of the ditch. This unexpected defection surprised every one: the soldiers asked what it meant.... The troops fell into disorder, a panic soon ran through their ranks, and in a moment there was a general flight, their only exploit being the plundering of the suburbs.
The officers of Savoy, as they retired, said that the duke 'had commanded them to withdraw under pain of death.' He had indeed received the emperor's orders not to begin the war before the spring; but he could not resolve to arrange his plans in harmony with those of his illustrious ally. Always anxious to make himself master of Geneva, he had let things take their course. A more pressing message from the emperor had arrived. The duke, much vexed, had communicated it with a bad grace to his captains. Had it only reached them at the moment they were making the attack? or did they hesitate at the very time when, blinded by hatred, they were about to escalade the walls in defiance of the orders of the puissant emperor? Had their courage failed them at the last step? This seems the most probable conclusion. There is, however, a certain mystery in the whole incident which it is difficult to penetrate. Geneva, alone in the presence of a gallant and numerous army, was defended during this memorable night by an unknown and invisible power. The Genevans believed it to be the hand of the Almighty. Did they not read in Scripture that a city, inhabited by the people of God, having been compassed by horses, and chariots, and a great host, the mountain round about was miraculously filled with horses and chariots of fire in far greater numbers?[844] None of these indeed had been seen upon the Alps, but the arm of the Lord had put the enemy to the rout. 'The bark of God's miracles' had been once more saved in the midst of the breakers. The citizens reiterated in their homes, in the streets, and in the council, the expression of their gratitude. 'Ah!' said syndic Balard, 'the faint heart, the sudden discouragement of those who had conspired against the city, came from the grace and pity of God!'[845]
The citizens wished to open the gates and follow in pursuit of the enemy; but the ambassadors of Berne and Friburg restrained them. The flight was so extraordinary that these warlike diplomatists feared that it was a stratagem. 'You do not know,' they said, 'how great is the cunning of the enemy. Wait until you receive help from our masters, which we hope will soon arrive.'
=FIFTEEN THOUSAND SWISS ARRIVE.=
In fact, fifteen thousand of those soldiers who were the terror of Europe were then entering the Pays de Vaud with ten pieces of cannon and colours flying, and were marching to Geneva. Some of the citizens regretted the arrival of these troops, who came (they said) when they were not wanted, and who would be an expense to the city; but the more far-sighted thought their presence still necessary. The enemies of the new order of things still threatened Geneva on every side, and were even in Geneva, always ready to renew the attack. It was necessary to put a stop to the violence of these feudal lords and the intrigues of the monks; it was necessary to free the country once for all from the robbers who spread desolation all around; and the Swiss army was looked upon as called to accomplish this work. This was also what the Bernese and Friburgers said, and they spared no pains to deliver the inhabitants of the shores of the Leman from their continual alarms. They did no harm to the peasants, except that they 'lived upon the good man;'[846] but they captured, plundered, and burnt the castles of the knights of the Spoon. The garrisons fled at their approach, carrying away baggage, treasures, and artillery across the lake to Thonon: boats were continually passing from one shore to the other. The priests and friars were not looked upon with very friendly eyes by the Lutherans, and here and there they had their gowns torn; but not one of them was wounded. One hundred and twenty Genevans, encouraged by this news, put to flight at Meyrin eight hundred soldiers of Savoy and Gex.