On the 12th of January the gates of the city were bricked up, the openings in the walls were filled in, and the armed men held themselves in readiness. The hostile force was advancing in three divisions—one between the lake and the Arve, a second between the Arve and the Rhone, and a third between the Rhone and the lake. About ten o'clock at night cries of alarm were heard from the walls; the Savoyards were placing their ladders on the southern side, while the Baron de la Sarraz and his troop had already got into the fosse on the north-west side. The Genevans hastened bravely to the defence, and threw down both ladders and soldiers. The next day the agitated council ordered these words to be entered in the minute-book of their meetings: 'They assaulted us vigorously, but God, to whom belongs all the honor, repelled them.'[693] From that time the Savoyards, 'more inflamed than ever, scarcely missed a night without making an attack.'[694] They desired to do more.
On the 24th of January the garrisons of Jussy and Gaillard, amounting to 600 or 800 men, of whom 100 were horsemen, reinforced by a large number of peasants, took up a position between Chene and Cologny, a little above the ravine of Frontenex. A hundred footmen and forty horse made a sortie from Geneva, and a great number of boys from fourteen to sixteen years old accompanied them. This small body at once attacked the large one, and in a short time the wide plain between Frontenex and Ambilly was covered with fugitives and corpses. Not less than two hundred had fallen. The victors returned in triumph from the War of Cologny, through a crowd of citizens, who went out to meet them and welcome them with shouts of joy.[695]
But if the weak people of Geneva repulsed little armies, how would they resist when the grand army came?
[675] Registres du Conseil des 9 et 12 Novembre 1535.—Froment, Gestes de Genève, pp. 179-184.
[676] 'Vos recevrez certainement charge de mullets, de bonne et mettable marchandise, et seront là un de ces jours.'
[677] Registres du Conseil du 17 Décembre.—Chron. MSC. de Roset, liv. iii. ch. 11.—Froment, Gestes de Genève, pp. 187-191.
[678] Taken from the Vulgate, Job xvii. 12.
[679] Dictionnaire de Len. Journal de Nägueli.—Vulliemin, Continuation de l'Histoire Suisse de Müller.
[680] 'Bei Kalter Winterzeit, in Schnee und Regen.'—Stettler, Chronik, p. 72.
[681] Stettler, Chronik, p. 73.—MSC. de Roset, liv. iii. ch. 46.