CHAPTER XIX.
CATASTROPHE.
(Beginning of July 1533.)
Preparations to receive the Bishop—His Entrance—The Bishop at the General Council—Agitation—The Magistrates consult the Charters—The Bishop's despotic Intentions—Proscriptions—The Huguenots entrapped—Escape of many—One of their Wives imprisoned—Strange Request of the Bishop—Levet's Flight—He is pursued and taken—Various Rumours—The Bishop cites the Prisoners before him—Attacks on the Huguenots—The Courage of the Genevese—Elders of Geneva before the Bishop—The Bishop persists in his Illegality—Firmness of the Genevese—The Friburgers call for Vengeance—G. Wernli's Speech—Refusal of the Two Hundred—Arguments for the Temporal Power—Opposition to Absolute Power—The Prisoners in their Dungeons—Impatience of the Mamelukes—Attempt to murder Curtet—Dangers accumulating—Geneva and Calvin—Triumph and Tribulation—Hope
HISTORY
OF
THE REFORMATION IN EUROPE
IN THE TIME OF CALVIN.
BOOK IV.
TIMES OF HOSTILITY TO THE REFORM IN FRANCE.
CHAPTER I.
CALVIN, THE FUGITIVE, IN HIS RETREAT AT ANGOULÊME.
(November and December, 1533.)
RELIGION needs liberty, and the convictions inspired by her ought to be exempt from the control of the Louvre and of the Vatican. Man's conscience belongs to God alone, and every human power that encroaches on this kingdom and presumes to command within it is guilty of rebellion against its lawful sovereign. Religious persecution deserves to be reprobated, not only in the name of philosophy, but above all in the name of God's right. His sovereign Majesty is offended when the sword enters into the sanctuary. A persecuting government is not only illiberal, it is impious. Let no man thrust himself between God and the soul! The spot on which they meet is holy ground. Away, intruder! Leave the soul with Him to whom it belongs.
These thoughts naturally occur to us as we approach an epoch when a persecuting fanaticism broke out in France, when scaffolds were raised in the streets of Paris, and when acts of terrible cruelty were enthusiastically applauded by a royal cortége.