The grand banneret Pierrefleur, who was a man of the world, well read, of a cultivated mind, charming simplicity, and profound intelligence, combined great decision of character with Vaudois good-temper. Being a catholic from conviction, and knowing that the majority of the inhabitants were for the Roman faith, and disgusted at seeing the priests in prison and the faithful compelled to hear mass almost in secret, he summoned a general council of the people. 'Will you,' he asked them, 'will you have the mass, and live and die in the holy faith, like your forefathers? If you do wish it, let every one hold up his finger, and if perchance there should be any one of a contrary opinion, let him leave the assembly.' Every one raised his finger in token of an oath, whereupon the Friburgers sent a herald to Orbe. The priests were taken out of prison, and those who had helped to pull down the altars were put in their place. There were fifteen in all, and among them was Elizabeth's husband, the noble Hugonin of Arnex. They were not so well treated at 'bed and board' as the priests had been, but were put on bread and water; after three days, however, they were allowed to return home.[423] During this time the priests and fervent catholics were restoring the altars everywhere. It required more than twenty years for the Reform in Orbe to recover from the blow inflicted on it by the intolerance of Hollard and his friends. It was not until 1554 that an assembly of the people decided by a majority of eighteen votes in favour of the establishment of evangelical worship. The priests, nuns, and friars then left the city for ever, amid the tears of their supporters.[424]
[398] 'Moy qui suis nay, et ay esté dès mon enfance nourry au milieu de vous.'—Ep. de Viret aux nobles et bourgeois d'Orbe, p. 13.
[399] These districts have been admirably described in a recent work—Horizons prochains.
[400] Disputations Chrestiennes, par Pierre Viret, Geniève, 1544. Préface.
[401] Ibid. Préface.
[402] Disputations Chrestiennes. Préface.
[403] Mém. du Sire de Pierrefleur, p. 37.
[404] Disputations Chrestiennes. Préface.
[405] 'Arcem illam superstitionis et idolatriæ, et Satanæ propugnacula. Viret, De verbi Dei ministerio, Senatui Lausan. Ep.
[406] Disp. Chrest. p. 9.