Salleneufve a man expert in business to be their temporal Deputy in Geneva but the Citizens refused him alledging it to be a new and unheard of thing to send them a Governor seeing they never had any before but their Bishop Berthelier had still sollicited for a definitive judgement of his Case which had been suspended by the Bishops command but after the Alliance made with Fribourg he was no more fear'd the City declaring she would reassume her liberty and that it belonged to the Syndicks and not to the Bishop to try Berthelier He was judged in the presence of the Vidame and a definitive sentence pronounced in these Terms That as to what concerned the Crime of High Treason having examined the proofs they were found invalid and therefore they acquitted him declaring him innocent of this crime but touching the excesses he had committed such as Assaults and Batteries they had Fined him according to the tenour of the Statute in that case provided Some days after Duke Charles the third fearing lest the Prosecutions which he had began against the Genevoises before the Cantons should turn to his prejudice and that instead of acknowledging him for their Prince they should pretend he was their Vassal he determined to deal with them after a more violent manner He raised then secretly an Army beyond the mountains that the Fribourgers might take no notice of it and the better to conceal his design he sent the President Lambert to the Cantons desiring the business might be friendlily ended The Genevoises having gotten intimation of the design dispatched Besancon Hugues and John Malbuisson to Fribourg but Lambert entertained the Fribourgers with such fair speeches that they knew not whom to credit he endeavoured also to perswade Besancon Huges who was his kinsman that his Master had no ill intention which caused Hugues to be suspected of corrupt dealings In the mean time the Duke had gathered an Army of six or seven thousand men at S. Julien before the Fribourgers could be perswaded to believe any such thing He sent immediately an Herald to the Syndicks called Chablais who required that the Council should be assembled which being done he was introduced He had on his left arm a Coat of Arms and a wand in his right hand and entered after this manner without discovering himself or so much as saluting the Council he was requested to seat himself by the Syndicks and make known his Message which he thrice refused but at length he sat down not by the Syndicks but in a seat above them and spake to them as follows Let it not seem strange to you O ye Lords Syndicks and Council of Geneva if I would not sit down at your command and that I do it now of my own accord for this is the reason I am come here from the part of my most dread Prince yours and my Lord and Master the Duke of Savoy whom it belongeth not to you to bid sit down but to him to sit where and when he shall think fitting above you as your Soveraign Prince and Lord and as representing his Person I have done So from my seat I make known to you my Message which is That he biddeth and commandeth you to make ready his Lodgings in the State-house with that splendor and magnificence which becometh a Prince of his quality likewise that you furnish him and his company with victuals which are about ten thousand footmen besides horse for he designs to come in this equipage to do Justice Which spoken he was desired to withdraw till they had consulted on the answer to be returned him which he did and awhile after he was recalled and answer made him in these words We are equally surprized Seigneur Chablais at what you say and do when we offered you a seat you refused it and after your refusal have taken it of your own accord saying you did it as representing the person of Monsieur the Duke of Savoy your Prince and ours That he is your Prince we believe but not ours for although we reckon our selves his humble servants yet are we not his Subjects or Vassals nor do we understand upon what ground it is pretended yea we are willing to believe that he is a more dutiful Son to his mother our holy Church to whom we have submitted our selves than to usurp her jurisdiction so that it belongeth neither to him nor to you representing him to sit where you do As to that part of your Message whereby you command us to prepare his Lodgins in the Town-house and not only Lodging for him but for ten thousand foot besides horsemen adding that he will come hither to do Justice truly we understand not the meaning of it for he did not use to lodge in the Town-house much less with such a kind of attendance and if his coming be as you say to do Justice there is no need of so great multitude For it belongeth not to him to do it here but to the Bishop Syndicks and Council according to the Customs and Priviledges which he hath sworn to observe and if there be any one amongst us who hath done him or any person else any wrong we are ready to do him all the right he can desire but our Kitchin is not large enough to entertain all his Company yet if be pleases to come with his usual train nay were there five hundred men more than ordinary he should as heretofore be welcome and chuse what Lodgings best please him except our Town-house which we cannot spare he shall be entertained if not according to his merit yet according to the best of his power Which Discourse ended the Herald replied Gentlemen you will not then great my Lord his request nor obey his commands No said they Whereupon he put on his Coat of Arms and told them from himself I declare you to be Rebels to your Prince with fire and sword and for a proof of this I throw before you this Wand let him that dares take it up Which saying he threw it in the middle of the Hall and went his way He had no sooner departed but twelve Gentlemen booted and spurred who came on the same errand entred into the Council Chamber and spake thus to them Syndicks and Council of Geneva resolve to obey my Lord otherwise you will have cause to repent Which they had no sooner said but they set spurrs to their horses and departed The Syndicks and Council shewed to the people what had hapned at which they were much amazed yet the greatest part considering either they must be slaves or lose their lives generously chose the latter resolving to sell their lives at a dear rate The Syndicks commanded them to Arm themselves constraining the Dukes faction to do the like the Gates were shut the Chains extended and Sentinels placed The Duke having received his answer by the Herald drew near to Geneva coming to Gaillard with all his Army which encreased
Amé the Sixth his Heir who since was the Earl of Verd because at a Tilting in Chamberey he and his company were attired in Green and being very young when his Father dyed he had for Governours Lewis of Savoy Sieur of Vaux his great Uncle Vassal of the Church of Geneva and Amé Earl of Genevois his God-father He did Homage to Alamand in the Castle of Clermond upon condition this should not hinder the Rights of the Church of Geneva forasmuch as the said Earl could not by reason of some urgent affairs be present at the said Church or Cloister according to the manner of his Predecessors The Earl of Savoy likewise promised great matters and charged his Vidame or Bayliff and all his Officers at Geneva to observe the agreement made by him and to suffer the Citizens to enjoy their full Priviledges But in the same year he requested of the Emperour Charles the Fourth the Vicaridge of the Empire in that Countrey and obtained his desire so that strengthened with this Title and with that of Vidame or Steward he laid claim to the Temporalties of Geneva as Amé the First Earl of Savoy had done before him The good Bishop Alamand being deceased William of Marcossay obtained this Dignity and a while after the Emperour Charles the Fourth came over to Geneva The new Prelate and Syndicks by order from the great Council humbly besought him to revoke the Grant of the Vicaridge given to the Earl of Verd neither had they any difficulty to obtain their suit For the Emperour by a Decree in Council declared he meant not that the Vicaridge given to the Earl of Verd should extend it self to the Temporalties of the Church and particularly of Geneva whereupon he issues out an Order like unto that made by Frederick but he Earl of Verd refusing to obey it he was suspended by the Emperour till he quitted his claim after the same manner as it had heretofore happened to Earl Amé in the time of Nantelinus the Bishop This Emperor made two Deeds of Revocation the first at Francfort on the 10. of Sept. 1366. and the other in the same City on the fourth day of the aforesaid Month. In the first he annulls and makes void the Vicaridge granted by error to the Earl Amé of Savoy by consent of the Princes of the Empire and restores them to their ancient Liberties The second was in the nature of a Mandate to the Archbishops and Officers of the Empire to publish it in all parts to the end the said Earl might not pretend ignorance In the year following there was a third Declaration made at Hertingfeld in which he expresly revokes the Vicaridge heretofore granted at the importunate suit of his dear Cousin Amé Earl of Savoy making for ever void all Power Jurisdiction and Right which either he or his Successors might claim on Geneva or its Dependencies qualifying the said City with the Title of Noble Member of the Empire Finally upon the Contumacy of the said Earl there was issued forth a fourth Decree given at Prague the fifteenth of February to strengthen this Revocation under penalty of one thousand Marks of Gold the one half forfeited to the Treasury and the other part to others Yet the Earl restored not what he possessed to the Church of Geneva whereupon the Bishop of Marcossay applys himself to Pope Gregory the eleventh whose Seat was then at Avignon into whose hands they both resigned the difference promising to stand to his decision The Pope enjoyned the Earl to relinquish whatsoever he had belonging to the Church and to deliver to the Bishop the Imperial Letters relating to the Vicaridge continuing to him the right the said Earl had to the Vidomnat or Stewardship and to the Castle of the Isle which he did by an Act made at Thonon restoring to the Bishop and Church of Geneva whatsoever he had taken from them promising inviolably to observe the said agreement This was Published on All-Saints day in S. Peters Church so that William having settled the Church in peace died and was buried in S. Peters on the left hand of the Quire having presided eleven years John of Murel or Morellis succeeded him and was made a Cardinal by the Antipope Clement the Seventh After him Ademarus Fabry a Domicâ—â— Fryer was Elected and only ruled three years The Author of the Book called the Citizen ranketh him thirty five years before but it is certain then Alamand of S. Joire held that seat and they of S. Martha cite the Acts of the Consistory of the Vatican of the 17. July 1385. And moreover a Bull of the Antipope Clement the Eighth of the 21. of August in the same year which make it plain that he lived much about that time He published an Act to confirm the Liberties and Priviledges of the City directed to Jaquement of the Hospital and James Ramus promising for himself and successors truly to observe it This was Printed since the year 1507. And contains several Articles some of which are not worth our notice the chief of them are That all Processes brought before the Vidame or Steward shall not be transacted in Writing but by word of mouth in the Mother Tongue That Criminal Cases should be Tryed by the Syndicks chosen by the Citizens That no one should be put to the Rack by them That it should be lawful to none but Citizens to sell Wine That the care of Watching the Town should be committed to none but Citizens And that niether the Bishop or any other deputed by him should exercise any Authority after Sun-setting That the Citizens Burgesses and Freemen of the City might choose every Year Syndicks or Recorders for the Town â— to whom the Commonalty should give full Power and Authority In the mean time the Earls of Savoy that they might get footing by degrees in the City and procure the peoples favour sometimes applied themselves to the Bishop otherwhiles to the Syndicks and sometimes to both together that they and their Court might be admitted to sojourn there prefixing commonly a certain time which when expired they desired a prolongation of it declaring they had no design on the City by these permissions Sometimes also they would require leave to do justice on their Subjects who now and then were found in the City during their abode There is to be seen a dozen of these Acts and Concessions since the Year 1390. to 1513. The Earl made moreover an Authentick Act dated the 26. of April 1391. By which he Declared that also what concerned the exercising of Authority by Lewis of Cossonney and his Council resident at Geneva by the Concession of the Bishop and City He did not mean this should derogate from their Power and Priviledges nor by this Deed they had obtained to assume any power or advantage over the said City Made at Geneva the said Year in the presence
several small skirmishes on both sides on the Bridge of Chancy where some remained on the place and Seyssel was forced to yield to the strongest Duke Charles the Second being dead there started up in Foucigny one John Gay of Megiva who raised the Peasants into a Mutiny against the Nobility who oppressed them setting before them the hope of Liberty and the example of the Cantons of Switzerland with whom and the City of Geneva they might make a League These Peasants to the number of sixscore wore Red Coats who set upon the Gentry of the Countrey without any exception but the Lord of Bresse having gotten them of Berne and Fribourg to send to them Deputies they drew to Geneva the chief promoters of these Tumults and with fair promises softned them and sent them home but being scattered they were laid hold on and hanged Bishop Champion after the usual Oath called a Synod in which the Decrees and Constitutions of the Bishops were reviewed and amended which were Printed in the same year under the Title of Constitutions of the Synod of the Bishoprick of Geneva He dyed two years after having held the Seat but four years Philip of Savoy being but seven years of age Son of the Lord of Bresse was chosen in his stead at the suit of Blanche Mary of Montferrat Widow of Charles the First Pope Alexander the Sixth who confirmed his Election assigned Aymâ— of Monfalcon Bishop of Lausane and the Bishop of Nice to be his Guardians which Philip was Bishop under four Dukes of Savoy Charles his Uncle Philip his Father and Philbert and Charles his Brethren As he increased in years he grew more fit to be a Soldier than a Church-man as his Uncle Lewis before him 'T was commonly said of him that he was more fitting to be made a Duke than his Brother Whilst he was young and his Father alive he was forced to wear an Ecclesiastical Garb but after his death Charles then being Duke and very familiar with him he threw it off but not the Revenue Return we now to the Government of Philbert This Duke came to Geneva with his Bastard Brother René They were so greatly pleased with the City that they desired leave of the Bishop and Council to keep Courts of Justice in it only for their own Subjects which was granted them for some time Philbert giving himself over to pleasure left the management of his affairs to René a fierce and imperious young man and who watched all opportunities to make his brother Master of Geneva that he might be revenged on the Syndicks who had refused to let him have some Writings wherein the City were concerned his first attempt was the imprisoning of a Genevois called Peter Levrier by virtue of Letters Decretory from the Duke The Lieutenant of Gex had laid hold on him near the Town-house from whence he carried him to the Castle of the Isle which was the Dukes abode whereupon the Attorny-General and Syndicks made their complaints to René shewing him that such an imprisonment was wholly unlawful forasmuch as that jurisdiction and power belonged only to the Bishop his Vicar or Steward or other secular Officers so that not being able to suffer such an action they desired the Lieutenant should bring back the Prisoner to the place from whence he had taken him upon which there was an Act made in favour of the Bishop Church and Syndicks These last returned him the same measure for being informed that a Savoyard called Thomas Papuli had coyned brass mony in the City having given notice to René of the power and jurisdiction of the Church and City they sentenced the malefactor to have his right hand cut off before his own door and from thence to be led to Champel where he was beheaded and his body to hang on the gallows and his hands and head to be set up in the place called the Liberties A marriage was resolved upon between the Duke of Savoy and Yoland of Savoy his Cousin German the better to strengthen him in his Countrys but she died before the marriage could be consummated and was buried in the Chappel situated at the Cordeliers of Rive René who had the sole management of affairs intrusted him by his brother endeavoured to strengthen his Authority and make him absolute in Geneva both publick and particulars had every day some new oppression laid upon them although he received from both more respect than he deserved for he had every day Presents made him in hopes they might at length win him by kindness and keep him from enterprizing any thing against them by which means he received more profit than the whole revenue of that City amounted to all which could not make him desist from his violences For remembring there was a gentleman called Eyria who in the time of the deceased Duke had been in great credit and whom he could not then injure he was resolved now together with his whole family He therefore accuses him to have designed to poyson the Duke by a perfumed Apple for a confirmation of this produces two witnesses who make Oath they heard him together with a Physitian at Lyons contriving how they should effect it the Duke being easie to be wrought on believed it whereupon it was resolved that they should surprize the Physitian they sent therefore to Monlâ—el the Provost of the Dukes houshold who desired the Physitian by his man to visit him the poor Physitian who mistrusted nothing as being innocent came to him without delay where instead of a Patient he finds a Provost who seized on him and carried him away bound hand and foot to Geneva where he was thrown into the Prison of the Island and Judged by the Provost At which the Syndicks and people were exceedingly moved and complained to the Duke shewing him this was an infringement of their Liberties and Jurisdiction which the Duke himself was sworn to observe yet did not René forbear to pass on putting him to the Rack and made him confess and accuse whom he pleased which done he caused him to be beheaded and set up his Quarters in the Liberties notwithstanding the Citizens opposition Afterwards he seized on Eyria and most of his kindred and friends whom he had caused to be accused by the Physician and would have dealt after the same manner with them but several Persons of Quality having interposed their sentence was deferred and René began to grow odious to the people The Duke after his affianced Ladies death espoused Margaret Maximilian's daughter who was first betrothed to the young King Charles of France but being repudiated by him and married afterwards to the King of Castile after his decease she was married to this Duke Philbert They made their publick entrance together into Geneva which put the Town to great charge in Plays Masquerades and other divertisements This drew insensibly the Youth into
year following that the Walls about the Suburbs of S. Gervais were finished for the necessary expences of which there was an Excise laid on Wine and Mony raised by way of loan The Duke likewise gave his assistance but they procured a Writing under his hand that he sent workmen to advance the work not as a Prince who had right to the Town but onely out of kindness as a neighbour but his after-carriage answered not these his declarations He was a Mediator of the Peace made betwixt the King of France and the Confederate Switzers which induced him to believe his credit was so great with the King that with the joynt sollicitation of the Confederate Switzers he should be able to procure the establishment of the Fairs in Geneva from which he promised himself a double advantage First for that he should have Toll paid him for the goods brought through his Country And Secondly get footing in Geneva and by degrees subject it to himself He got then the Confederates to insert this Article in their Treaty and to send at the same time Deputies to Geneva promising them again their Fairs if they would agree to these following Articles First That the City and Bishop should appoint an Officer to keep account of the profit of each Fair one third part of which should be given to the Duke Bishop and City Secondly That the City should once a year make a Present to the Duke Thirdly That the warding the Gates should belong to the Duke during the time of the Fairs Fourthly That the Duke should have henceforward Fines paid for every new building both in City and Suburbs All which was proposed to the Consideration of a general Council assembled the twenty second of July and was as generally rejected the Duke gave not over his pursuit for this but tried other ways which were likewise to as little purpose the meeting held at Baden no more answered his expectation than the former Corn being very dear in this year Francis Mallet Governor of Berne and Dean of the Chappel of the Maccabees a native of Chambery lent to the Lords of the City his Plate which they caused to be Coyned to buy Corn which was given to the poor and for a requital was made a Citizen gratis In this year there was an insurrection of the people against the Vidame or Steward Aymé Consilii the occasion of it was this There were two Prisons in Geneva and to each of them a Jaylor one was only for the Clergy and was called the Bishoprick the other for Laymen in the Isle of Rhosne of which the Vidame was Governor having under him a Jaylor who having been excommunicated for a certain summ of mony which he owed and not obeying the sentence was aggravated and the Creditor would constrain him by the Bishops Authority the Bishops Treasurer went to the Isle to take him and carried him to the Bishoprick giving him in Charge to the Jaylor of that Prison the Vidame supposing the Bishops Officers had not any such power on the Dukedom demanded his Prisoner of the Bishops Jaylor which he refused excusing himself in as much as he dared not do it without his masters consent The Vidame enraged at his denial caused his Sergeant to seize on him and carry him to the Prison of the Isle which coming to the Treasurers ear he ran about the City crying out like a mad man help help Gentlemen against the Vidame who imprisons our Princes Officers for doing their duty the people thereupon tumultuously gather about the Vidame's house and would break open the doors but some in Authority coming in the mean time the Vidame surrendred himself to them and so there followed no other mischief he was carried to the Bishops Prison but at length this breach was made up and the Prisoners on both sides released notwithstanding the Duke when he heard of this was not satisfied but came from Chambery to Geneva with the Bishop desiring to have these mutinous persons as he called them punished but the Bishop having made full inquiry into the business found that the Vidame was in the wrong which he shewed the Duke but he was not thereat satisfied for that which was reason to the Bishop was not the same to the Duke The former of these thought they which had laid hold on the Vidame had reason to maintain his Authority as being their Prince and the Duke on the other side believed they had proceeded contrary to equity forasmuch as he esteemed himself Prince of Geneva he would therefore have the Bishop put to death the Authors of this Sedition whom he thought were those who had obtained the freedom of Fribourg for he would not do it by his own Authority lest he should provoke this Canton and the Bishop not consenting he was so enraged against him as to tell him he had made him Bishop but he would deprive him of that dignity and make him the poorest Priest in his Diocess but the Bishop dying at Moirane some time after his return from our Lady of Puy saved him that labour Geneva much lamented his loss having been ever a maintainer of the Priviledges both of Church and State. The Pope and Duke having heard of the Bishops decease were both concerned in the choice of a Successor The Pope would dispose of it as he had done heretofore but the Clergy and Laity of Geneva would not lose their right in this affair whereupon they betake themselves to their Arms and shut the City Gates assembling in S. Peters Church to chuse their Bishop they could not pitch upon a fitter person that Amé of Gingins Abbot of Beamont and they were induced to such a choice by these following considerations He was a Chanon and of a noble and ancient family and moreover allied and beloved by the Confederates who held at that time a good correspondency with Pope Julius the second he was also very zealous for the Liberties and Priviledges of both Church and State and of a very comely personage whose onely fault was that he was too great a lover of the female Sex. The Chapter then having chosen him by the peoples consent dispatched a Messenger to the Confederate Cantons desiring their commendatory Letters to the Pope to obtain his Confirmation which being obtained the Envoy sets forward to Rome all at this good Bishops charge but the Lords of Savoy were not all this while asleep for John of Savoy Prothonotary of Aâ—x whom we have heretofore mentioned got the start of him who is the same whom the Author of the Book called Christian Gaul terms John Francis of Savoy and whom Severt takes for the Bishop John Lewis John of Savoy was born at Anger 's being son to a poor woman of the said Town who could not be lavish of that which she never had although free enough of her body she lived in the same condition when the Bishop of
of Savoâ—'s Sister he thereupon intreats the Pope to confirm the Concession which the Bishop had made him of his Rights over Geneva which he granted him but it was opposed by the Conclave of Cardinals affirming the Prelate had not power to renounce his Temporal Jurisdiction neither could the Pope confirm such a renunciation unless the Subjects had conspired against their Prelate and that he had not strength sufficient to chastise them so that this design could not take effect The Duke remaining in Piedmont and the Bishop of Geneva in his Abby of Pignerol which fell to him by the decease of Bonnivard he abode there with small attendance taking mony from all hands to pay the Pope and Duke the first-fruits of his benefice and the charge he had been at in the Court of Rome at his Election a certain person beseeching him one day to be favourable to a friend of his Condemned to pay a Fine he answered that he could not remit it for as for his part he had nothing but a Crosiers Staff and a Mitre the Duke of Savoy having the Bishoprick and Abby and in effect the Duke had appointed one to receive the Revenue of the Abby allowing him only enough to maintain him he would have done the same with the Bishoprick had not the Bishop hindered him by returning to Geneva where he was no sooner arrived but he quarrelled with a certain person named Pasquet who was accused of Usury but this was contrary to the Laws of Geneva which forbad Citizens should be brought in trouble for this reason There was great formalities upon this point between the Bishop and Citizens who could not obtain the Prisoners deliverance His relations found out an expedient which was that having married his Daughter to a Citizen of Berne his Son-in-law came with letters in his behalf from his Superiors and managed so well his Father-in-laws cause that he was delivered for small charge The Bishop John of Savoy conceived a mortal hatred against a Lawyer called Claudiâ—s Vandel because he had pleaded a Cause against one of his Servants whereupon he imprisons him upon a false accusation being esteemed a very honest Man the Syndicks and Counsel desired that the Informations should be put into their hands to proceed thereupon as Judges in criminal Cases on the other side the Bishop and Vidame would have it brought under their cognisance and fearing a sedition they would have conveyed him privately out of the Town that they might deal with him as they thought fit But Vandel had four Sons one of which named Thomas Curate of S. Morges knew how to use a Sword as well as a Prayer-book Robert was of his Fathers calling who with the other two having notice of the design resolved to rescue their Father but they lost their aim by mistaking the time but the next morning they failed not to discover to the people what was become of him the people enraged at this action set upon the Bishops Pensioners telling them they loved their Mony better than the Cities Liberties The Council being Assembled the people made their Complaints to them that the Priviledges of the City were violated and that the Bishops Pensions occasioned it the Pensioners informed of the business presented themselves bringing with them the Letters of their pension which they tore before the Council protesting they were not so much the Bishops servants as to forget their Obligations to the City desiring nothing more than to manifest their zeal for the publick interest for which they were willing to sacrifice both their lives and fortunes The people flocked from all parts John Bernard ran to the Steeple to Ring the great Bell and Convocate the general Council which was then of as dangerous consequence as to fire the Beacon in the Valley which was a signal of some great emotion Bernard finding the Steeple door shut would have broke it open had not he been withheld by much entreaty The Syndicks went to the Bishop beseeching him not to anger the people whose rage was ever to be feared but to preserve their Liberties according to the Oath taken at his entrance delivering to them his Prisoner The Bishop being alarmed at these Tumults would not be obstinate but released Vandel and desisted from prosecuting him He bore notwithstanding a deadly hatred against Bernard in his mind for his forwardness and not daring to meddle with him in Geneva he watcht him one day when he was gone out of the City upon some occasion where some persons planted by him for that purpose seised on him and led him away bound to Jussy where he determined to punish him yet he released him at the request of the Earl of Genevois and some Ladies the Earl being then in the City only making him to ask him forgiveness The Bishop and his Steward could not inrich themselves in Geneva seeing the City had so little kindness for them but their Covetousness set them on the poor Priests of the Diocess which rendred this Prelate extream odious his person could not be acceptable to them and his mind was as ill shaped as his body so that he became the subject of every mans raillery One John Pecolat a pleasant fellow and boon companion dining one day with the Bishop of Maurienne Chantre and Chanon of Geneva incompany likewise of the Abbot of Beaumont who discoursing of some unjust dealing which he had received from the Bishop John of Savoy Pecolat bids him not be troubled for says he non videbit dies Petri he will never live to S. Peter ' s days as is commonly said of all Popes meaning he was taken with an incurable distemper to wit the French Pox and so by consequence he could not live long which words were taken notice of by two spyes who made report of them to the Bishop interpreting them as if he had a design to take away his life which he either believed or pretended he did that he might make this serviceable to his purpose which was to bring the City into subjection He dissembled his resentment the best he could in expectation of a fit opportunity which at length thus offers it self after the Duke had been a while at Lyons to visit the Queen his Neece he sent to the Bishop to come to him which he did commanding his Caterer to provide Fish-pyes to eat as they travelled the Caterer to save charges had bought stale fish one of which pyes being brought to the Table the Bishop either not having a stomack or disliking the fish would eat none of it it therefore fell to the servants share who eat it up every bit now there was not one who had eaten of it but either died or fell dangerous ill The Bishop glad of this occasion although sorry for his servants loss caused his Vidame to draw up an accusation privately against Pecolat who was not a man of that temper to throw water on this fire yet they proceeded no farther
intentions as Henry the Fourth and then it would be too late to repent So that upon this different advice the Common-Council remitted the business to be determined by the Council of 200 and they to the General-Council These French â—Lords interpreting these delays to be a kind of mannerly denial departed home and there was no mention made of it afterwards In the first day of the following Year the Foundations of a Bulwark were laid near the Lake the better to defend and fortifie the Gate of Rive and it was finished in the Month of October following There was an Inscription Graven in Stone for an acknowledgment of a Present made the City of 12000 Crowns by the Landgrave of Hesse who had passed through it and of 6000 which the Prince Palatin had given them which was a great help towards carrying on the work The City acquired every day learned Men and lost them as fast Charles Perrot a knowing Divine and very Charitable to the Poor died about this time He was a Man of an exemplary Life but of a strange humor causing himself to be called always Peccator for which some blamed him saying That this smelt of the Monk. His hands were always lifted up towards Heaven a great contemner he was of the World and its Vanities and a great admirer of Antiquity His care for the Poor caused several abuses to be reformed in the Administration of the Revenues belonging to the Hospital which were consumed before in feastings He wrote a Book Intituled De extremis in Ecclesia vitandis which made some disturbance and was suppressed after his death In the War-time there were appointed extraordinary Prayers to be read on Wednesdays and Fridays but one Minister not being sufficient to perform all these Offices they reduced it to Fridays only There were likewise Proposals made touching the reducing the Sermons made on Week days to the number of them of S. Magdalens Church to save the allowance which must be made to a Minister But the Consistory would not hear of it chusing rather to give them another Collegue King Henry the Fourth granted in the same Year Letters of Naturalization to the Genevoises to free them from the Aubeine and other Taxes They were dated from Paris in the Month of June 1606. Signed Henry and on the fold by the King. Brulart The City was extreamly surprized by an information that notice of whatsoever passed in the Council was sent into Savoy At length it was discovered That one named Canal the Common-Serjeant of the City sent an account thereof to a Lady of Savoy under the feigned names of Chapmen and under pretence of a Law-suit which he had at Chambery he wrote daily no body being able to discover the mystery when his Letters should be intercepted But at length when he was apprehended not being able to give satisfactory answers to the questions proposed to him he was committed to Prison and an Indictment was drawn up against him for this crime and likewise for Sodomy whereof he stood convicted and for an execrable design of blowing up the Council by a Mine He was first broken alive upon the Wheel and afterwards burnt in a small fire he seemed to be very sorry for his crimes A more dangerous Enterprize was at the same time carried on against the City by Lewis of Comboursieur Sieur of Terrail He was a French-Gentleman of a very good Family and of a goodly personage he had been chosen heretofore by King Henry the Fourth to be a Cornet in the Dauphin's Company who was afterwards Lewis the 13th But being a stout Man he had a quarrel with a Gentleman whom he killed in his Majesties sight who was then at the Windows Which obliged him to fly quickly out of France lest he should carry his head to Greve He retired into Flanders towards the Arch-duke's where he was well received He undertook three Enterprizes to no effect two on Berg op-zom and the other on L'ecluse Afterwards there being a Truce made in those Countries he went on Pilgrimage to Lorette with a Bourdelois called la Bastide a great Ingeneer At their return passing through Turin they saluted the Duke of Savoy who discovered to them the desire he had by some Enterprize to make himself Master of Geneva They set before him the means and offered their service which he accepted with great expressions of kindness and thereupon presented du Terrail with 700 Ducatoons and with a Ring worth 300 Crowns of Gold and gave to Bastide 260 and Philippes injoyning them to go first to Geneva and observe the State of that City and what Guard they kept there La Bastide went to Geneva and took an exact notice and being returned towards his Highness gave him an account what alterations there had been made in the Fortifications of that City since the Enterprize of scaling the Walls of it Upon which the Duke amended his ancient Platform and they discoursed together on their design Du Terrail was for surprizing by a Petard or otherwise one of the Gates of Geneva La Bastide alledged it was impossible and too hazardous considering the great number of Fences which were before the Gates and the strict Watch kept at them That which was he proposed was opproved of both by the Duke and Terrail which was to surprize the Gate leading to the Lake where there were no appointed Guards and where with a good number of Soldiers making a descent they might seize on the Gate of Rive and by this means become Masters of the City without any difficulty It remained only to resolve upon the manner They passed over then both of them from Evian to the Lake side where they remained eight days informing themselves by the Boatmen who frequented Geneva of the dispositions of the Watch-men and the search made in Boats. They learned several defects but to be the more certain La Bastide passed over the Lake and went to Morges where he imbarked himself in Genevoise Bark and being brought into the City he observed the condition of the Port and the Gate of Rive and returned by Land. Being with the Duke they assured him of the success of their undertaking which was put off to the end of May. They were to take along with them from Savoy five large flat-bottom Boats and lade them with Wood which should be piled after such a sort that 200 Soldiers might lie in each Boat under these piles of Wood with which lading they might enter the Port without the least suspicion and easily kill the Searchers and seize on the Gate of Arve and likewise let in the Troops of Horse who were to lie ready near Geneva at an appointed hour and in the mean time they were to conceal themselves in the Vallies on the side of Evian which lies at a small distance from Geneva together with some select Soldiers who were to be put into these Boats who were not to