=GOD'S PARDON.=
And so it happened at Geneva. Their rights as christians were among the first claimed by these Genevans, who were so enamoured of their rights as citizens. 'If the pope sells indulgences,' said they, 'the Gospel gives a free pardon. Since Rome advertises her pardon, let us advertise that of the Lord.' These reformers, who were probably among the number of Olivétan's hearers, drew up, conjointly, a 'heavenly proclamation,' in simple and evangelical terms: it is possible that Olivétan himself was the author. Baudichon de la Maison-Neuve took the draft, hurried off with it to a printer, and ordered him to print it in bold characters. After that, certain huguenots, the most zealous of whom were Maison-Neuve and Goulaz, arranged their plans; and early in the morning of the 9th of June they posted on the walls, in different parts of the city, the great general pardon of Jesus Christ,[902] at such a height that every one could read it. At that time there was in front of St. Pierre's a pillar on which the clerical notices were displayed; Goulaz went to it, and over one of the announcements of the Roman jubilee he fastened the proclamation of Gospel pardon.
The sun had risen above the Alps: it was already broad daylight; the city woke from its slumbers; windows and doors were opened, and the people began to pass through the streets. They stared and stood still in surprise before these proclamations.... Men and women, priests and friars, crowded in front of the placards, and read with amazement the following words, which sounded strange to them:—
GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
PROMISES
A GENERAL PARDON OF ALL HIS SINS
TO EVERY ONE WHO FEELS SINCERE REPENTANCE,
AND POSSESSES
A LIVELY FAITH IN THE DEATH AND PROMISES
OF
JESUS CHRIST.
'This cannot surely be a papal indulgence,' said certain huguenots, 'for money is not mentioned in it. Salvation given gratuitously must certainly come from heaven.' But the priests thought differently; they looked upon the placard as a defiance of the pope's pardon, and their wrath grew fiercer than ever. They insulted those whom they believed to be the authors of the proclamation, overwhelmed them with abuse, and attacked them not only with their fists, but with the weapons which they had provided.[903] 'The clergy made a great uproar,' says the pseudo-Bonivard; 'and when the priests tried to tear down the said placards, the believers, whom they called Lutherans, showed themselves and prevented them, which caused a great commotion among the people.'[904] In a short time the parties were organised: the burghers gathered together in groups. On one side were the citizens, who defended the placards; on the other, the priests and their followers, who wanted to pull them down.
A canon, named Wernly, a native of Friburg, had remained in Geneva; he was a stout active man, of hasty temper, a fanatical papist, who could handle the sword as skilfully as the censer, and give a blow as readily as he gave holy water. Having heard the tumult, he ran out of his house, went towards the cathedral, and just as he was about to enter he caught sight of the placard which Goulaz had fastened to the pillar. He flew into a rage, rushed up to the paper, and tore it down with a coarse oath. Goulaz, one of those bold spirits who brave those whom they despise, was standing close by, watching all that took place. Seeing what the canon had done, he went up to the pillar, and calmly put another paper in the place of that which Wernly had pulled down. Immediately the Friburger lost all self-control: the heretic and not the paper was the object of his rage. He rushed at Goulaz, dealt him a violent blow; and then, not content with this chastisement, drew his sword (for the canons wore swords at that time), and would have struck him. Goulaz was by no means a man of patient temper, and, seeing the canon's sword, immediately drew his own, put himself on the defensive, and in the struggle wounded Wernly in the arm. There was a great uproar immediately; the partisans of the priests fell upon the audacious man who had dared defend himself against that holy personage; the huguenots, on their part, rallied round Goulaz, and defended him.
=STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE TWO POWERS.=
A battle between the priest and the layman, a struggle between clerical and secular society, then occurred in Geneva. The priests had determined that the placards should be torn down everywhere; and, accordingly, there was a loud noise of discord and battle, not only in front of the porch of St. Pierre's, but through great part of the city. 'Nothing could be seen,' says a writer, 'but strife, conflicts, and drawn swords.'[905] Two men of the priests' party were wounded in the Bourg de Four. The magistrates, being informed of what was going on, hurried to the spot, and separated the combatants.
Goulaz certainly did not represent the Reform; he was merely a Genevese patriot, and somewhat hasty; but the Romish Church could not disown a canon; he was truly its representative, and men asked whether the Church intended to combat the Gospel with sword and fist. During this sharp skirmish between the ultramontanes and the huguenots, one party held aloof and rejoiced in secret: they were the partisans of Savoy. They imagined that since the two great Genevan parties were quarrelling, they would be found erelong, wearied with civil discord, bending the knee to the absolute government of his most serene highness. Division would be their strength.[906]
The news of this battle soon reached Friburg. People there had already begun to talk of a certain schoolmaster who was preaching the Gospel at Geneva, and the placard which had set all the city in commotion was (they thought) the result of his sermons. Friburg was excited, for in this matter there was something far more alarming than a blow dealt at a Friburger—it was a blow aimed against the papacy.