The magistrates of Geneva had not remained inactive. On the 23d of June the syndics and council of the city wrote three letters: one to the king’s lieutenant, another to the burgesses of Lyons, and a third to Diesbach and Schœner, ambassadors of Berne at the Court of Francis I., declaring they thought it ‘very strange that Messieurs of Lyons should wish to give the law to Geneva.’[[584]] The vicars-general were not much alarmed: they hoped that the intervention of Francis I. would be limited to forbidding Baudichon de la Maisonneuve to be tried for acts committed in his own country. Still they judged it prudent to make haste.
The Court now resorted to its final, solemn, and triple summons.[[585]] ‘Baudichon de la Maisonneuve,’ said the president, ‘we adjure you to answer concerning your faith under pain of excommunication.’ The Genevan was silent. Thrice the same question was put, thrice there was the same silence. At last, when the president added: ‘Are you a Christian?’ he replied: ‘You are not my judges, and never will be. If I were before the syndics of Geneva, I should answer so that every one would be satisfied.’ He declared, however, that he was ready to enter into explanations immediately concerning any offence he was accused of committing in France; thus showing that he desired merely to maintain the rights of his people and of their magistrates. The Court would not consent: they no doubt understood that mere table-talk was not sufficient to cause a man to be burnt. Once more they refused him a counsel. ‘If you can write,’ they told him, ‘we permit you to set down with your own hand whatever you please, and we will hear you tomorrow.’ He declared he could not do it without access to the minutes of the proceedings; to which the Court answered, that the proceedings must be well known to him.[[586]]
The Sentence.
The inquiry was over; De la Maisonneuve was returned to the care of the archbishop’s procurator-general, and the next day, the 18th of July, he was taken before him. That personage rose and said: ‘Baudichon de la Maisonneuve, being manifestly convicted of the crimes and offences mentioned in the indictment, is by us pronounced heretical, a great abettor, defender, and protector of the heretics and heresies which at present swarm so greatly, and as such he is remitted to the secular arm.’[[587]]
They were in haste to finish. There was a rumor that the king would deliver the prisoner: they must, therefore, hurry on the sentence and execution. On the 28th of July the Court held its last sitting. Two inquisitors were on the bench, and the final sentence was pronounced:
‘Baudichon de la Maisonneuve,’ said the Court, ‘you have been fully convicted of having affirmed at Geneva and elsewhere many heretical propositions of the Lutheran or Œcolampadian faction;
‘Of having been the chief promoter and defender of that sect;
‘Of having protected the impure Farel and other persons, propagators of that perverse doctrine;
‘Of having refused to answer in our presence concerning your faith;
‘We therefore declare you to be heretical, and the chief fautor and defender of heresy and heretics;[[588]]