[126] The question is carefully discussed by Rilliet in his Le Catéchisme français de Calvin, and by Doumergue, Jean Calvin, etc. ii. 237-39.
[127] The letter from Bern (dated Nov. 28th) was read to the recalcitrants, who gave way and accepted the Confession on Jan. 4th, 1538 (Herminjard, Correspondance, iv. 340 n.).
[128] Actes et Gestes merveilleux, p. 215, f.
[129] Herminjard, Correspondance, etc. iv. 403, 404, 407; Doumergue, Jean Calvin, etc. ii. 278.
[130] Herminjard, Correspondance, etc, iv. 413.
[131] On April 8th it was reported that Coraut had said in a sermon that Geneva was a realm of tipplers, and that the town was governed by drunkards (from all accounts a true statement of fact, but scarcely suitable for a sermon), and had been brought before the Council in consequence.
[132] Herminjard, Correspondance, etc. iv. 413-16, 420-22.
[133] Calvin says that he wished the matter to be regularly brought before the people and discussed: “Concio etiam a nobis habeatur de ceremoniarum libertate, deinde ad conformitatem populum adhortemur, propositis ejus rationibus. Demum liberum ecclesiæ judicium permittatur.” Cf. the memorandum presented to the Synod of Zurich by Calvin and Farel, ibid. v. 3; Corpus Reformatorum, xxxviii. ii. 191.
[134] Herminjard, Correspondance, etc. iv. 423, 425, 426, 427, v. 3, 24.
[135] It is worth mentioning that while the three letters from Bern were brought before the Council of the Two Hundred, the decisions of the Lausanne Synod were produced at the General Council. Did the Council wish to give their decision a semblance of ecclesiastical authority?