OPPONENTS OF COMPULSION.
The citizens thus lightly banished from their native land by the council could hardly believe their own ears. What! they had delivered Geneva, ‘and will Geneva drive them away?’ Is it resolved that they must forsake their homes, their families, their friends, to go and eat the bread of the stranger? They murmured aloud and stoutly stood out against this strange edict, confident in their strength and their number. ‘There was no obedience at all;’ no one thought of packing up. ‘The hostile band was of such a character that the lords dared not execute their own decree.’ Complaints and threats grew louder from day to day. The most influential men exclaimed—‘The present syndics were elected by means of underhand dealings and intrigues. They have violated our franchises and made an attack on our liberties. There are three or four among them who do just as they will with the ordinary council, and even with the great council. We must take the government of the republic out of the hands of these two councils, and henceforth everything must be managed by a general council. These gentlemen want to reign over us as princes; but it is the people, it is we ourselves, who are princes.’ These powerful malcontents, among whom De Chapeaurouge distinguished himself, sought even to gain over those of their friends who had already taken the oath, and addressed to them the most vehement reproaches. Many of the latter were shaken, and sought to excuse themselves. They laid the blame on the secretary of the town. They reprimanded him (l’impropéraient) and blamed him for getting them to swear without knowing what they were doing. Some even of those who had sworn ‘adhered to the rebels.’ All these malcontents excited one another more and more, and they thought of nothing but of securing for themselves at the next election the place of the syndics. The authoritative act of the council was to bring about the revolution.
Ambassadors of Berne were at Geneva at the time on some question of jurisdiction, and the opposition party endeavored to gain them over to their cause. This was not difficult. Calvin and Farel had adhered to the confession of Basel, which was likewise received at Berne. Now adherence to another confession was in their eyes a violation of the first oath. One day, at an entertainment at which the Bernese deputies were present with the magistrates and the notabilities of Geneva, one of the ambassadors said with a loud voice that all those who had taken the oath to the confession of Calvin and Farel were perjured persons. One of the leaders of the opposition, Jean Lullin, who was there, was delighted to hear it and did not fail to publish the rash remark. It seemed to be a giving up of the cause to the opposition, which, proud of finding the Bernese on its side, believed its victory secured. The people began to be restless; and many, whom the council registers call the mutineers cried out in the streets that ‘everything was to be settled in a general council.’ These signs of resistance greatly afflicted the reformers and, says a chronicler, ‘put Calvin about (pourmenait) in a strange way.’ Within the walls of Geneva the agitation increased. The day grew dark, and a storm appeared ready to burst forth.[545]
THE GENERAL COUNCIL.
The council was deeply moved. Its members were accused of having obtained their seats by illegal practices, and appeal was made to the people. It seemed indeed as if it would be needful for the general council to decide between them and their adversaries. The syndics therefore, on November 23, convoked the Two Hundred to deliberate on the matter. The latter showed themselves determined to support the government. The magistrates in office must not think of resigning, they said, nor attach so much importance to these clamors. ‘All this noise is made by certain people who have no mind to amend their ways and who want to take the place of the syndics.’ Nevertheless, everyone perceived that it was impossible to refuse the convocation of a general council. It was necessary, besides, to name a deputation to Berne to treat of important business. The day fixed was Sunday, November 25. It was agreed to prepare some fair ordinances to be read to the assembled people. The opposition were aiming at getting rid not only of the magistrates but of the reformers. What took place in the council is therefore of great importance. It was the beginning of the counter-reformation.
On the day appointed, the Two Hundred, in order to impart more solemnity to their proceedings, assembled at the Town Hall and thence accompanied the syndics and the council to St. Peter’s church. These magistrates felt keenly the accusations which were spread abroad against them by the opposition; and having a good conscience they wished the people to decide between them and their calumniators. Consequently, when the assembly had been formed, the following remonstrance was addressed to the people in the name of the syndics and the councils.
‘Magnificent, discreet, most dear and honored lords,—
‘The lords syndics whom you have elected according to your custom, as likewise their ordinary council, that of the Sixty and that of the Two Hundred, feel hurt by the talk of some private persons, who speak as if they had charge of the general council, alleging that the said councils were elected by intrigues and have violated the franchises; that it is they (the opponents) who are princes, and that they wish that for the future everything should be transacted in a general council. The syndics and councils desire to learn from you, gentlemen, before they proceed further in the investigation of the matter, whether you allow that. You know whether or not your magistrates were elected by the intrigues of three or four citizens, as they are alleged to have been. You know that the four syndics were chosen by you in general council; and while in time past the ordinary council was chosen by the four syndics, this election, since 1530, has been made by the Council of the Two Hundred.
PROCEEDINGS AT THE COUNCIL.
‘Elected thus, the councils ask you whether you will not acknowledge them as your magistrates, that they may continue to exercise the power which God has given them by your general election. They are prepared to submit to punishment with all legal rigor, if it be found that they are in fault; but if it be otherwise, they demand that those who defame them should suffer chastisement, so that God may not be angry with us, nor take away the spiritual lordship and liberty which he has given us by his Son Jesus Christ. Assuredly he has shown us more favor than he ever did to the children of Israel. But it might happen to us as it did to the Romans, who by civil discords of this sort lost little by little the empire which they had acquired over the world, and fell into the bondage in which they still remain.