CIVITAS EQVESTRI In effect what reason had Munster and Gailliman to place the Cavalry in Chablais which is a Country surrounded with Mountains or in Geneva which is situated on a little Hill The Country of Vaux which abounds with pasturage and which is hardly any thing else but a flat Campagne was far more proper for this There are likewise several Villages in this Country which seem to have taken their names from some ancient Romans who perhaps had been Lords of it in the time when this Country flourished There are yet such names as these Roscy which perhaps might come from Roscius Crassy from Crassius Dudy from Duelliâ—s Seâ—â—y from Sissius who are mentioned in an Inscription at Geneva Pâ—â—rmenâ—on which is not far from Nions taketh likewise its name from the neighbouring Cape of this Village for the Latins called a Cape promontorium The Tower in the Isle of Geneva is attributed to Julius Caesar which hath his name given it but I know not for what reason for my part I see no cause to make me believe that this was built in his time on the contrary the materials which are the most part of but Mollasse Stone as one of S. Peters Steeples is moves me rather to think that it is the work of some King of Burgundy several of which have dwelt at Geneva and perhaps not to oppose a received oppinion it hath been raised on foundations of another building by Julius Caesar or by some one of his successors in the Empire who have all taken upon them the name of Caesars Munster hath misunderstood that passage of Caesars Commentaries thinking that the Bridge which is there mentioned belonged to the Switzers Exâ—eo oppido pons ad Helvetios pertinet where this last word signifies not appertaâ—neth but only looketh towards or spectat for on this Bridge men passed over from Geneva into the Country of the Helvetians who â—â—ld that which we now call Switzerland and the Country of Vaud This likewise may serve to convince us of the popular error which taketh a row of stakes which appear above water in the Lake for the remains of this Bridge for it doth not face the Helvetians Country but the Country of Chablais which then belonged to the Allobroges and it being a hard matter to root out opinions which have sunk deep into peoples minds I shall therefore make bold to relate here the observations made by a friend of mine to whom I am obliged for several Memoires relating to this present History Be pleased then to observe what he hath written to me thereof In a walk said he I made some days past on the Lake to inform myself in the matter of these pretended ruins of a Bridge I observed that these were two rows of Stakes which were all like one another one row being only two paces distant from the other which beginning at the head of the Isle where stands Caesars Tower and from thence going up the River reach through the Chains and the Isles called Barques drawing towards the Village of Cologny and reaching no farther than the end of it so that these two rows are in length about three thousand paces the Fishermen call them Fiches These Stakes are of Oak squared and about the thickness of a mans thigh and being not above two or three foot above ground are always at the bottom of the water the Stakes on either row are not above three foot distant one from another which makes me believe that this never never was a Bridge because the States are too small and too near one another and that the Bridge thereupon would have been too narrow moreover how absurd would it have been to have made a Bridge of this length which doth not cross the River but leads upwards against the stream and besides what occasion could there be of making a Bridge to pass from Geneva to Cologâ—e seeing one may go by Land thither I suppose therefore that these stumps have served heretofore for a Ditch or Entrenchment which had been raised to make the Rhosne pass cleverty between the Isle and S. Gervais and to hinder the water from overflowing the low streets as it has done heretofore when the pavement was not raised so that this Bridge which is mentioned in Caesars Commentaries stood no where else but in the same place where is at present that whereon we pass over from the City to S. Gervais XXIV L IVL. P. F. VOL. BROC CHVS VAL. BASSVS PRAEF FABR. BIS TRIB MIL. LEG VIII AVG. II VIR IVR. D. IIIVIR LOC P. P. AVGVR PONTIF IIVIR FLAMEN IN COL EQVESTRE VIANIS GENAVENSIBVS LACVVS DAT THis curious Inscription was not known to Gruterus having been found since the impression of his Book Monsieur Godefroy had caused this Stone to be brought into his Court where it still lies Guichenon had seen it but hath not exactly copied it or the Printer hath not followed his Copy for there is five or six mistakes which spoil the sense LEVI for L. IVL. BROCCIVS for BROCCHVS AVG. for AVGVR VTANIS for VIANIS LACCVS instead of LACVVS and D. M. for DAT Observe here how it must be read without abbreviations Lucius Julius Publii filius Voltinia tribu Brocchus Valerius or Valerianus Bassus Praefectus Fabrum bis Tribunus Militum Legionis Octavae Augustae Duumvir juri dicundo Triumvir locorum publicor persequendorum Augur Pontifex Duumvir Flamen in Colonia Equestre Vianis Genavensibus Lacuus dat Except the word Vianis which may be a mistake of the Carver all the rest is easie and is thus in English Lucius Julius Brocchus Valerianus Bassus Son of Publius and of the Tribe of Voltinia Overseer of the Workmen appointed to make Engines for War twice Camp master of the eighth August Legion one of the Magistrates who are appointed Judges in matters of Equity Superintendant of the publick Buildings Augure chief Prelate Duumvir and Priest in the Colony of Equestres giveth the Lakes to the Genevoises The Lords and Roman Magistrates who were Lieutenants for the Emperors in their Provinces had great Authority seeing we read that they have sometimes disposed of Crowns So that it need not seem strange to us that this Person here-mentioned hath given the Lakes to the Genevoises for he puts Laâ—uâ—s in the Plural comprising perhaps other lesser Lakes of the Country with the Lake Leman His great Offices in the Province and the advantage he had in being of the Family of the Juliusses gave him without doubt this power and what can make more plainly appear the esteem which the Romans had for the City of Geneva That I may therefore the better set forth this illustrious Family of Julius Brocchus I shall produce some other Marbles which are to be seen at Geneva and its adjacent places XXV At Nions D. IVL. F. VOL. RIPANO CAPITONI BASSIANO EQVO PVBLICO HONORATO PRAEFECTO FABRVM TRIB MIL. COH I. GAL. L. IVL. BROCCHVS VALER BASSVS FILIO DEcimus Julius Ripanus
not acknowledge their Soveraignty have answered in the Book called the Citizen and in their Chronological Manuscripts that the Bishops have never had any other right to Geneva but as Governours of the Chruch to which belonged the City and suburbs according to an ancient Decree recited by the Author of the Citizen Notorium quod Ecclesia Gebennensis domina est princeps unica in solidum civitatis suburbii Gebennensis It is well known that the Church of Geneva is the only Dady and Princess of the City and Suburbs of Geneva That the Bishop himself when chosen was sworn to maintain the Priviledges and Liberties of Geneva that the great confidence they had put in their Bishops was the cause why they took no more notice of the encroachments on their Liberties that the Emperour could neither grant to the Duke of Zeringuen nor to Bishops the Soveraignty of an Imperial City as theirs was without the suffrage of the whole Empire That even when the Bishops were in most credit it then appeared that the right of Soveraignty was in the people That the Bishop was chief after the same manner as the Dukes of Venice and Genoâ—a for all publick Acts and Declarations ran in the names of the Bishop his Vidame or Steward the Syndicks and other good Men of the City The Bishop was chosen by the Laity as well as Clergy His Chapter consisted of thirty two Chanons of S. Peters Church the greatest part of which were Civilians he had moreover for Assistants in Secular matters four Syndicks twenty Counsellors at Law and one Treasurer who were all chosen by the people To these twenty five were added thirty five more to advise with upon any important occurrence and from hence they have risen to the present number of two hundred and have at length extended to the ta king in one out of every chief Family in the City The Bishop was obliged to confirm whatsoever passed They have farther affirmed that the Syndicks had power to coin Money and the care and charge of the Town without the Bishops intermedling the Jurisdiction and Imprisonment in the Night and Sovereign Judgment in matters of Life and Death provided the Prisoners were not Ecclesiasticks That in Cases which called for Mercy the Bishop had power of pardoning but rather by his Episcopal and Ecclesiastical Authority than Secular that in business of great concernment he could do nothing without the people that the Commonalty and Syndicks should make what Alliances they pleased without the Bishop intermedling As in the year 1285. with Amé Earl of Savoy and in the year 1515. with Fribourg with Bern in the year 1526. That the City Revenues should be divided amongst them and that the Syndicks should have one third and that in short Charles V. writing to Geneva in 1530. directed not his Letters to the Bishop but to the Syndicks Council and Commonalty of the City and treating with it as an Imperial City in these terms Honorabilibus nostris imperii sacri fidelibus dilectis nostris Syndiâ—is Consulibus ac Civibus Civitatis Imperialiâ— nostrae Gebennensis And in other Letters written in French the same year To out trusty and well beloved Syndicks Citizens and Inhabitaents of our Imperial City of Geneva But to return to our History Ardutius having held the Episcopâ—l See fifty years left Nantelinus his Successor who had the same difference with William Son of Amé Earl of Genevois Neither could it be arbitrated by the interposition of the Archbishop of Vienna so that this Bishop was forced to enter into a League with Thomas I. Third Earl of Maurienne and Savoy Which Earl set forth a Declaration wherein he asserted That he had not the least design on the Priviledges and Liberties of Geneva neither would he accept of that City if offered him The Bishop invested him with several Lands and Castles about Geneva which the Earl of Genevois pretended to belong to him And these were the Motives of the War between the Earl of Maurienne and the Earl of Genevois who had drawn to his side the Lords of Focigny of Gez and the Dauphin of Vienna The Earl of Genevois came by the worst and was constrained to yield after the death of Nantelinus to the Arbitrement of the Archbishop of Vienna and Ayme de Granson then Bishop of Geneva But between Nantelinus and this last mentioned Bishop the List of Bishops place Bernard Chabert who succeeded him about the year 1206. and became Archbishop of Ambrun in the year 1212. They of S. Martha make Humbert II. to succeed him whom we find not in the Annals of Geneva but in stead of him Lewis of S. Claude and after him Peter of Sessons Armé de Granson who held the Episcopal Seat forty years built the Fort of Peney two Leagues distant from Geneva upon the Rhosne That of La Bastie which is but a Cannon shot distant from the Town was built the year before by Gerard of Terny who did Homage to the Bishop and Church of Geneva Monsieur Lewis Moreri who made the Historical and Geographical Dictionary observed when he was at Geneva in the Arms belonging to the Bishoprick something as he thought more particularly relating to the Family of the Grandison's whence he inferred That Fort was built by that Bishop and that he was of the Family of the Grandison's in Comte But he found after he had more narrowly viewed them that these were not the Arms of the Family of the Grandèson's which bore a party par pale in Silver and azure banded with Gules charged with three Shells in Sable for the Scutcheon of these was not party par-paled neither were there three Shells in them as Monsieur Moreri imagined but three Dolphins which was the Arms of John Bishop of Râ—chetaille as we shall shew in its place Henry or Hubric Prior of the Chartreuse de Portes in Bugey who was chosen after him governed that Church seven years and had some small difference with the Lord of Gez called Simon of Joinville concerning several Villages which he held of the Bishoprick but this being composed some years after there arose the same variance between him and the Lord of Terny which was ended after the same manner At length this Prelate being sorry he had left his former manner of life quitted his Bishoprick and betaking himself again to the same Profession dyed a Chartreuâ— Monk in the year 1275. Aymé of Menthonay succeeded him and after him Robert of Geneva Channon of Vienna Son of William Earl of Genevois but he enjoyed it but two years In the mean time here had passed some acts of Hostilty between the Earls of Savoy and of Genevoiâ— The first of these who was Amé IV. came to Geneva where with threatnings he demanded they should pay him the charges of the War which he had been at against the Earl of Genevois upon the Cityes
that City and places adjacent peaceably resigning them to the Church and Commonalty And Felix the fifth although enjoying the Popedom and Bishoprick of Geneva declared by an Express but that his dear sons the Syndicks Citizens Burgesses and Commonalty of Geneva having been by him requested to send him some Companies of Soldiers to the assistance of the City of Lausane where he then made his residence having no obligation thereto they had sent him upon special favor a Company of 600. men which have been very serviceable to him and forasmuch as this may be made an instance of the Cities subjection hereafter he therefore being desirous to obviate whatsoever may be disadvantagious to it attested with Apostolical authority in truth and certain knowledge affirms that this assistance hath not proceeded from any acknowledgement of servitude but meerly out of a filial and kind liberality without any president or ancient custom and that the said Citizens Syndicks Burgesses and their Successors are no ways obliged to such things unless it come from their own free-will leaving them in their ancient liberty Two years after he was assisted by them against the Fribourgers under the Conduct of Captain Burdignin who was then principal Syndick Felix died soon-after at Lausane and was interred at Ripaille It is reported he had lying under his head in his Tomb instead of a Pillow an old Parchment Bible at the end of which were found these words touching Geneva Geneva Civitas situata inter montes Arenosa parva gentes semper petentes aliqua nova There was chosen in his stead Peter of Savoy his young son of eight years of age having left Thomas Cyprian Archbishop of Tarantaise his Administrator and Vicar of his Bishoprick But this young Bishop died in Piemont seven years and eight months after his election and there succeeded him in the said Bishoprick John Lewis of Savoy his youngest brother last son of Duke Lewis he was as yet very young his father had designed him for some Ecclesiastical promotion but his inclination lay not that way for he wore always the garb of a Soldier and was much esteemed for his skill in Warlike affairs defending Geneva from all oppression of its neighbours none daring to violate his Authority nor touch the liberties of the people He had a brother called Janus who was Earl of Genevois and who took on him the title of Earl of Geneva but he made him resign his Title and pretensions He had another brother named Philip commonly called Philip without Lands who troubled that his father should leave him without any provision made for him believing his mother was the cause of it endeavoured to set his father against her accusing her to him as having some Gallants on whom she bestowed her riches He was seldom seen with his father who lay for the most part at Thonon sick of the Gout This young man grew so insolent that at length he killed the Master of his Mothers houshold whilst he was hearing Mass and caused his fathers Chancelor to be seized on and carried away to Morges where by false accusations he procured his being drowned in the lake which disorders continuing the Duke thought himself not safe in his own Country and desired his son John Lewis Bishop of Geneva and the Syndicks and Council to receive him into their City as in a place of surety which having obtained of them he came and had lodgings in the Convent of Gray Fryers of Rive his Court being likewise at Geneva he lived some time in peace only disturbed with the pain of the Gout His Dutchess Anne of Chypre being she had an opportunity of concealing her treasure whether she feared some disgrace might befall her or whether she was willing to gratifie some friends She caused several large Cheeses to be bought the inside of which she made to be taken out that she might put therein several pieces of gold and lading them on mules sent them into her own Country of which her son Philip being informed and having learned through what parts they were to pass he got before them near Fribourg and caused the men to unload and took away with him their carriage he payed with one part of this booty those he had taken with him for his assistance and secretly conveys himself to Nions whence he sent to Geneva some of his company to treat with the young men of his acquaintance and with the Syndicks and others desiring them to let him enter by night which he obtained and had no sooner entred but he went directly to Rive to his fathers lodgings without the least stop and having knocked at the door one of the servants came and asked who was there he answers I am Philip of Savoy who would speak with my father upon business of concernment the servant returning to his Master with this answer Open saith he let what will happen Philip then being entred salutes his father saying good morrow father his father replies God grant thee unhappy days and years too what Devil brings thee hither at this time to whom Philip modestly answer'd Sir it is not the Devil but God almighty who occasions my coming here for your good for I come to give you notice you are robbed and you do not know of it Here is Madam my Mother who will leave us nothing so that if you do not take care she will leave not onely your Children the poorest Princes in Christendom after your death but even your self whilst living in saying which he shewed and gave him all the Treasure save that which he had spent which added he if you will suffer I will not but will punish these Thieves wheresoever I find them At the same time he began to look under the Bed if there were any of the Country of Cyprus for he mortally hated them especially since this trick of his Mothers for he imagined they were the inventors of it From thence he makes search in every chamber but as it hapned they having gotten notice of his coming had timely saved themselves in several houses in the Town where Philip durst not attempt to look for them fearing to raise a tumult amongst the people which occasioned his return without doing any hurt The Duke his father enraged at this desired the people to assemble in the Church where he was lodged which they did and he made his complaints but the Syndicks dared not to appear the people excused themselves and laid the blame on the Syndicks whom they sent for The two first of them were found innocent the third saved himself and departed the City and the fourth who had hid himself in the lowest rooms of the Convent of Rive was convicted confessing his intrigue with Philip and was immediately hanged This having not yet appeased the Duke he leaves Geneva and goes to his Son-in-law Lewis the Eleventh at Lyons with whom having treated concerning certain places of Dauphiné which
met at first with gentle usage to make them accuse those who were the objects of the Dukes and Bishops hatred But they answering They knew nothing of that matter were again sent back to Prison In the mean time Bonnivard of S. Victor whom we have already mentioned passing through Turin in his Journey to Rome recommended their cause to a Lawyer his Friend and wrote to them a Letter before he parted which he sent to the Jaylor to deliver it to them who conveyed it to the Bishop who upon the receit thereof was exceedingly enraged against Victor who had already occasioned Pecolat's Release he therefore caused them to be kept close Prisoners and put them on the Rack The great Torments they underwent made them confess the pretended Conspiracy of Pecolat and to bring in Victor as a party At the same time the Bishop sent this Deposition to the Syndicks and withal that if they would not believe it they should send two Persons to hear their Confession but not giving credit to the matter they sent no Body This forced Confession declared that Victor with two other Persons in custody had determined to poyson him which if they could not effect they would after this manner one Evening come a Mumming to his House and raising a quarrel he should be stabbed in the tumult by which means Victor might succeed him Which plainly appeared to be ill contrived seeing Victor was not so familiar with the Bishop as to give him such kind of divertisement being rather his professed Enemy and farther the Bishoprick was not so easily obtained seeing the Abbot of Beaumont elected by the Clergy at the Peoples request could not obtain the Papal Confirmation who certainly would never have gratified an Assassin These two poor Creatures then were by beheaded by the Dukes Authority having publickly retracted their Confession and asked Almighty God forgiveness for their other sins The Provost hastened their Execution to silence them Their Bodies being quartered Three of them were sent into several parts of Piedmont and the Fourth part parboiled with the Heads to be sent to Geneva Victor returning awhile after from Rome passed through Turin where the Bishop had given order to have him apprehended of which having notice and having many Friends he walked near eight days about the City to affront the Bishop at the end of which he choused his Spies pretending to stay there longer but took Post one fair Morning for Geneva whither within a short time were brought the Heads and Quarters of the Two fore-mentioned young Men in Two Barrels marked with the Arms of the Earl of Genevois the Dukes Brother they who brought them lodged that Night on this side the Bridge of Arve and the next Morning early they set them up on a Walnut-tree with a White Cross and this Inscription These are the Traitors of Geneva The first who saw them ran to carry the News about the Town a great part of which came to behold them This was a sad Spectacle especially to the Father and Mother of Navis The Father was still the Vidame's Solicitor against Berthelier and saw himself so ill requited for his Services The good Citizens were grieved but durst not shew their indignation contenting themselves only with the Renovation of the Propositions made them by the Burgers of Fribourg The Council of the City as likewise that of the Bishop being met together to consult of the means to appease the Princes whose displeasure they feared deputed the Vidame Aymé Consilii Michael Nergaz and Francis Talichet all three of the Dukes Faction to shew the Prince in all Humility that the City was very much amazed that they had thus used Two of their Citizens and that the generality of the City had given them no occasion of offence but if any particular Person had they might have had him punished at Geneva and therefore desired them to declare who had offended them and if they were in fault they should be obliged to a speedy reparation They departed then to find the Duke who openly gave them but slender welcome but privately consulted with them as Friends treating them with the greatest respect He sent them to Pignerol towards the Bishop who gave them as kind entertainment at length he made a Speech to them in publick to this effect That he was very sensible there were several good People at Geneva from whom they had received faithful Service and which they should be ready at all times to acknowledge but that there were also several Mutinous and Seditious Persons guilty of the highest Crimes even of Conspiring the Death of their Prince of whose number were these two who had been made Examples that there were some in the Town who to avoid the punishment due to their Crimes endeavoured to perswade the People to make an Alliance with Fribourg which would not only tend to the Princes disadvantage but to the City's it self which would lose by this means the Customs which were paid for the Carriage of Merchandizes into Fribourg That if the Cities did embrance this offer they would certainly most severely punish the Authors of it in which if the body if the Town would assist them they should respect them for good and faithful Subjects adding they desired that the Principals who were Berthelier and Ten or Twelve others should be punished with the greatest severity The Deputies who had themselves dictated this Answer desired it should be committed to Writing being directed to the Council To which the Princes consented on condition they would not deliver it to them till they were sworn to execute what it contained They at their return offered it to the lesser Council the greatest part of which liked not the condition saying There might be perhaps something which respected the publick Interest and therefore they could resolve of nothing without the general Council which was assembled the next Morning where the Deputies appearing related they had no other Answer than that which was contained in the Letter and that they had in charge not to open it but upon the fore-mentioned condition The People would not agree to the Proposal touching the Oath but determined to send back again the Letter whence it came Nergaz then tells them Gentlemen say he The Duke of Savoy hath declared That if his Letter be not read and the Contents observed no Genevoise shall enjoy his Possessions in safety The People inraged at this cried to the Deputies Have you staid five or six weeks on the other side the Mounts making your selves merry at our cost to bring us this news To the Rhosne to the Rhosne with such Traitors and it wanted but little but they had been sacrificed to the popular fury but for fear of the Princes the Council appeased them they returned the Letter to the Deputies after they had severely reproached them with it bidding them do what they would with it for it should not be read on the condition offered
at Pignerol to come and set the Affairs of the City in order which several of the Citizens had deserted and the Fugitives sent for their Wives and Children The Bishop upon notice of this news returned and was received by the whole City with great joy Two days after he sent for the Syndicks to know how they had carried themselves who having given him an account of all the Traverses they had met with he said unto them Neither have I been exempt from the like troubles for the Duke told me once in his Brothers presence That he intended to have the Soveraignty of Geneva but resolving with my self to maintain the Rights and Priviledges of my Church even to death I made him this answer That being Peter of Baume I was his humble Servant and Subject but as being Bishop of Geneva I was not his Subject and that he had no Right to the City He moreover shewed them it would be very necessary the deliberations in Council should be carried on more privately and that in business of consequence they should make use of little Balls as they do at Venice Eight days after new Syndicks were chosen The Fribourgers and Bernoises were very glad that John Philippe ' one of the chief of the Eidgnots was chosen Principal Syndick whereupon they who were fled to Fribourg to procure the Alliance of that State and of Berne returned to Geneva They informed the Council by Besançon Hugues of what they had done concerning the Burgership effected with such great labour and so many obstacles from the Duke which Alliance was agreed to provided it should last 25 years or rather for ever if it pleased both Parties it being to be renewed and confirmed every Five years The Articles were these viz. That the Three Cities of Berne Fribourg and Geneva should be faithful one to another that if one should be invaded the others should assist it to the utmost of their power Three days after the General Council was assembled at the ringing of the great Bell where there were not above Five or Six Persons who would not consent to this Alliance The Bishop being present protested against every thing which might prejudice his Authority in this affair The Chapter of the Cathedral were startled at the matter the Chanons and Clergy desiring to know of the Syndicks whether they might repute themselves safe in the City It was answered They had no cause to fear for if the Chanon of Lutry had received any ill usage it was because he refused to deliver the Keys of the Church when they would have assembled the last Council Eight Deputies parted from Geneva to swear to the Agreement and Eight others from Berne and Fribourg arrived to do the same at Geneva they were met by the Syndicks out of Town and saluted with all the Cannon The next Morning the Oath was taken in presence of the General Council the People crying out Thus would we have it thus would we have it in a good hour were they born who have procured us so great good At Night the Deputies were entertained and treated with Plays and Bonfires at Molard in token of joy after which they returned carrying with them the Copy of the Oath sealed Not long after the City had advice by an Express from Berne that Monsieur de Lulin had addressed himself to the Duke in a Council held at Lucerne to cause the Burgership to be revoked and the same did Nergaz Servant and Forty other Mammelusses The business was referred to be transacted at Berne in a Council there where appeared the Deputies of Geneva Hugues and du Molard The conclusion was That the three Cities would by no means revoke their Alliance and that if the Duke would not rest satisfied he should have the Letters of the Alliance which he had made with Berne and Fribourg returned him The Eidgnots who were at that time the most powerful ill resented this appearance of the Mammelusses who were forced to leave the Town by an emotion of the People They withdrew to the Dukes Dominions A while after they sent to know whether they might return Answer was made them They might if they could prove themselves honest Men. But they dared not venture At length upon inquiry it was found That they together with the Vidame had conspired to seize on the chief Eidgnots and to cut off their Heads Peter Gruet the Bishops Vicar was suspected to be of the Dukes Party whereupon he was deposed and the Abbot of Beaumont put in his place The 42 Mammelusses were summoned by sound of Trumpet to make their appearance but not one of them obeying this order they were condemned for their contumacy and their Estates forfeited which produced a long Law-suit before the Confederates The Vidame upon information given him that he was accused of a Conspiracy left the City substituting his Bayliff Dulcis in his room Neither did he remain long in power for the People would suffer no more pleadings in the Stewards Court but would have all matters decided by the Four Syndicks so that he retired into the Country of Focigny The Jaylor of the Isle did the same leaving a Person to look after the Prisoners One of whom being convicted of Felony was by the Syndicks condemned to die The Vidame's absence was well known but to take away all occasion from the Duke to complain he was sought for in his House by a Notary and Witnesses where they were told that he had left the Town They had the same answer at the Bayliffs House Whereupon it was concluded in Council notwithstanding to proceed on to Execution The common Serjeant was ordered to supply the Vidame's place which he did and after the sentence was read he led the Malefactor towards the Castle gate causing the Bayliff of Gaillard to be called according to custom the Duke had bestowed this office on Servant as a recompence for his Services and Exile from Geneva Servant sent a Man in his place to receive the Prisoner who demanded of the Serjeant whether he was Vidame he answered no but that he was the City and Councils servant Then the Bailiffs Deputy replied I will not receive him at your hands seeing you are not my Lords Officer for neither you nor your Syndicks have power to command me which having said he set spurrs to his horse and returned The Common-Serjeant gave notice of this to the Syndicks who bad him proceed and gave him order for the Execution which he obeyed and ever since that time the Duke of Savoy hath held no Office in the City The Dukes Arms stood over the Castle-gate in the Isle but in the night they were battered to pieces with a hammer by an unknown hand The Bridge in the Isle over against the great Bridge was likewise found broken down The Duke joyned this amongst other complaints against Geneva and it was