Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

3. THE SIGNEURIE OF GENEVA.

GENEVA is a City in the Dukedom of Savoy,* 1.1 formerly subject to its own Bishops, ac∣knowledging the Dukes of Savoy for the Lord in chief: now reckoned as a Free-Estate, bordering close upon the Switzers, and with them confederate; and so more properly within the course and compass of these Alpine Provinces. It is situate on the South-side of the Lake Lemane, opposite to the City of Lozanne in the Canton of Bern, from which it is distant six Dutch miles: the River Rhosne (having passed thorow the Lake with so clear a colour, that it seemeth not at all to mingle with the waters of it) running thorow the lower part thereof, over which there is a passage by two fair bridges. This lower part is seated on a flat or le∣vell, the rest on the ascent of an hill: the buildings fair, and of free-stone; well fortified on both sides both by Art and Nature, in regard of the pretensions of the Duke of Savoy (whom they suffer not to arm any Gallies upon the Lake) and other jealousies of State. The compass of the whole City is about two miles, in which there are supposed to be about sixteen or seven∣teen thousand soules. One of their bridges is more antient and better fortified than the o∣ther, belonging antiently to the Switzers (or Helvetians the old inhabitants of that tract) but broken down by Julius Caesar to hinder them from passing that way into France.

The people of the town are generally of good wits in the managery of publick business, but not very courteous towards strangers, of whom they exact as much as may be; modest and thrifty in apparell, and speak for the most part the Savoyard, or worst kind of French. So that the great resort of young Gentlemen thither, is not so much to learn that Language (which is no where worse taught) as out of an opinion which their parents have, that the Reformed Re∣ligion is no where so purely practised and professed as there. By means whereof the frie or se∣minarie of our Gentry being seasoned in their youth with Genevan principles, have many times proved disaffected to the forms of Government (as well Monarchicall as Episcopall) which they found established here at home: to the great imbroilment of the state in matters of most near concernment. The women are sayd to be more chast (or at least more reserved) than in any o∣ther place in the World: which possibly may be ascribed to that severity with which they pu∣nish all offendors in that kind: Dancing by no means tolerated in publick or private; Adul∣terie expiated by no less than death; Fornication, for the first offence with nine dayes fasting upon bread and water in prison, for the second with whipping, for the third with banishment. But notwithstanding this severity, they make love in secret, and are as amorous in their dali∣ances as in other places.

The Territories of it are very small, extending not above two Leagues and an half from any part of the Town: but the soyl, if well manured, bringeth Grain of all sorts, and great store of Wine. There is likewise plenty of pasture and feeding grounds, which furnish the City with flesh-meats, butter and cheese at very reasonable rates; the nearness of the Lake af∣fording them both Fish and Wild-fowl in good measure; and amongst others (as some say) the best Carps in Europe.

But the main improvement of this State is by the industry of the people, and the convenient situation of the City it self; the City being situated very well for the trade of Merchandise, in regard it is the ordinary passage for transporting Commodities out of Germany to the Marts at Lions, and from thence back again to Germany, Switzerland, and some parts of Italy. And for the industry of the people, it is discernable in that great store of Armor and Apparell, and other necessaries, brought from hence yearly by those of Bern; and their Mannfactures in Satten, Velvet, Taffata, and some quantities of Cloth (fine, but not durable) transported hence yearly into other places.

The Soveraignty of this City was antiently in the Earls hereof, at first Imperiall Officers on∣ly, but at last the hereditary Princes of it. Betwixt these and the Bishops (Suffragans to the Metropolitan of Vienna in Daulphine) grew many quarrels for the absolute command here∣of. In fine, the Bishops did obtain of the Emperor Frederick the first, that they and their suc∣cessors should be the sole Princes of Geneva, free from all Taxes, and not accomptable to any but the Emperor. Which notwithstanding, the Earls continuing still to molest the Bishops, they were fain to call unto their ayd the Earl of Savoy; who took upon him first as Protector onely, but after by degrees as the Lord in chief. For when the rights of the Earls of Geneva, by the Mariage of Thomas Earl of Savoy with Beatrix a daughter of these Earls, fell into that house; then Ame, or Amadee the sixt of that name, obtained of the Emperor Charles the fourth, to be Vicar-generall of the Empire in his own Country, and in that right superior to the Bi∣shop in all Temporall matters: and Ame, or Amadee the first Duke, got from Pope Martin (to

the great prejudice of the Bishops) a grant of all the Temporal jurisdiction of it. After vvhich time the Bishops were constrained to do homage to the Dukes of Savoy, and acknowledge them for their Soveraign Lords; the Autority of the Dukes being grown so great (notwith∣standing that the people were immediately subject to their Bishop onely) that the Money in Geneva vvas stamped with the Dukes name and figure; Capitall offenders were pardoned by him; no sentence of Law executed till his Officers were first made acquainted; nor League contracted by the people of any validity, vvithout his privity and allowance; and finally the Keyes of the Town presented to him as often as he pleased to lodge there, as once (for in∣stance) to Duke Charles the third, comming thither with Beatrix his Wife, a daughter of Por∣tugall. And in this state it stood, till the year 1528, the Bishop being all this vvhile their immediate Lord, and having jus gladii & alias civilis jurisdictionis partes, as Calvin himself con∣fesseth in an Epistle to Cardinal Sadolet. But in that year, Religion being then altered in the Canton of Bern, near adjoyning to them, Viret and Farellus did endeavour it in Geneva also. But finding that the Bishop and his Clergy did not like their doings, they screwed themselves into the people, and by their ayd in a popular tumult, compelled the Bishop and his Clergy to abandon the Town. And though the Bishop made them many fair overtures, out of an hope to be restored to his Estate; yet would they never hearken to him, nor admit of him any more, being once thrust out. Nor did they only in that tumult alter the Doctrin and Orders of the Church before established, but changed the Government of the State also: disclaming all allegiance both to Duke and Bishop, and standing on their own Liberty as a Free-Common∣wealth. And though all this was done by Viret and Farellus before Calvins comming to that City, which was not till the year 1536, yet being come, suffragio meo comprobavi, as he saith himself, no man was forwarder than he to approve the Action.

But Calvin being come amongst them, made their Divinity Reader, and one of the ordina∣ry Preachers, he first negotiated with them to abjure the Papacie, and never more admit their Bishop; to which he found a cheerful and unanimous consent in all the people. Then finding that no Ecclesiasticall discipline was in use amongst them, he dealt with them to admit of one of his own composing; which at last he obtained also, but with very great difficulty, and got it ratified by the Senate July the 20th. 1537. The next year after, the people weary of this new yoke, and he and his Colleagues (Farellut and Coraldus) as resolute to hold them to it; they were all three banished the Town in a popular humor; and with like levitie sued to, to return again: to which he would by no means yeeld, except they would oblige themselves by a so∣lemn Oath to admit of such a form of Discipline as he, with the advice of the other Ministers, should prescribe unto them. This being condescended to by that fickle multitude, he returns in triumph to Geneva, September the thirteenth, 1541: and got his new Discipline established on the twentieth of November following. The sum of the device was this: All Ministers to be equall amongst themselves; two Lay-men to be super-added unto every Minister; the Mini∣ster to continue for term of life, the Lay-Elders to be annually chosen; these being met toge∣ther to be called the Presbyterie; and to have power of Ordination, Censures, Absolution, and whatsoever else was acted by the Bishop formerly. Hitherto it related to Geneva only, which being but one City, and a small one too, was not capable of more than one Presbyterie. The names and notions of Classicall, Provinciall, and Nationall Assemblies came not in till afterwards; as it got ground in Kingdoms and larger Provinces. This Platform though of purpose fra∣med to content the people; yet since the Lay-officers were to be but annuall, and after subject to the lash like other Mortals, it gave but sorry satisfaction unto wiser men. And being built withall on a false foundation, was for a long time hardly able to stand alone, and fain at twelve years end to borrow a support from Zurich, and others of the Protestant Cantons, whom Calvin earnestly sollicited to allow his project, against which one Perinus, and some principall Citizens had begun to spurn. And so we have the true beginning of the Genevian Discipline, begotten in Rebellion, born in Sedition, and nursed up by Faction.

Being born into the World by the means aforesayd, some other helps it had to make it ac∣ceptable and approved of in other Churches. As first, the great content it gave to the common people, to see themselves intrusted with the weightiest matters of Religion, and thereby an equa∣litie with, if not (by reason of their number, being two for one) a superiority above their Mi∣nisters: Next, the great reputation which Calvin for his diligence in Writing and Preaching had attained unto, made all his Dictates as authentick amongst some Divines, as ever the Popes Ipse dixit in the Church of Rome. Whereby it came to pass, in a little time, that only those Churches which embraced the Doctrines and Discipline authorised by Calvin, were called the Reformed Churches: those in high Germany and elswhere which adhered to Luther, being generally called by no other name than the Lutherans, or the Lutheran Churches, as not reformed enough from the dregs of Rome. Then comes in his endeavours to promote that Platform in all other Church∣es, which he had calculated for the Meridian of Geneva only: commending it to Gasper Ole∣vianus Minister of the Church of Triers, as appearby his Letters dated April the twelf 1560, con∣gratulating the reception of it in the Churches of Poland, as appeareth by others of his Letters. And for the last help, comes in Beza, who not content to recommend it as convenient for the use of the Church (beyond which Calvin did not go) imposed it as a matter necessary upon all

the Churches: so necessary, ut ab ea recedere non magis liceat, quam ab ipsius Religionis placit is; that it was utterly as unlawfull to recede from this, as from the most materiall points of the Christian Faith. So he Epist. 83. By means whereof their followers in most of the Reformed Churches drove on so furiously, that rather than their Discipline should not be admitted, and the Episcopall Government destroied in all the Churches of CHRIST, they were resolved to depose Kings, ruin Kingdoms, and to subvert the fundamentall constitutions of all civill States. And hereunto their own Ambition gave them spur enough, affecting the supremacy in their severall Parishes, that they themselves might Lord it over Gods inheritance, under pre∣tence of setting CHRIST upon his Throne. Upon which love to the preheminence, they did not only prate against the Bishops, with malitious words (as Diotrephes for the same reason did against the Apostles) but not therewith content, neither would they themselves receive them, nor permit them that would, casting them out of the Church, with reproach and infamy. Which proud ambition in the ordinary Parochiall Minister, was cunningly fomented by some great persons, and many Lay-Patrons in all places, who underhand aimed at a further end: the one to raise themselves great fortunes out of Bishops Lands; the other to keep those Tythes them∣selves, to which by the Law they only were to nominate some deserving Person. Such were the helps by which this new device of Calvin was dispersed and propagated.

But to return unto Geneva, though Calvin for his time did hold the Chair as a perpetuall Moderator, and Beza too, untill Danaeus set him besides the Cushion: yet after that the pow∣er of the Presbyterie was shrewdly lessened in Geneva, and the good Members so restrained in the exercise of it, that they have no power to convent any man before them, but by the auto∣rity of a Syndick or Civill Magistrate. And as for maintaince, they hold their Ministers so strict∣ly to a sorry pittance, as would be sure to keep them from presuming too much on their pow∣er in Consistory. Tithes of all sorts, were to be taken up for the use of the State, and layd up in the publick Treasury; and stipends issued out to maintain the Ministerie: but those so mean, that Bezaes stipend whilst he lived, hardly amounted to eighty pound per annum, the refidue of the City-Ministers not to sixty pound, those of the Villages adjoyning, having hardly forty pound, enough to keep them always poor, and miserably obnoxious to the wealthier Citizen. And that they may not steal the Goose, and not stick up a feather, the Staee doth use to make some poor allowance to the wives and daughters of their deceased Ministers, if they dye poor, or leave their children unprovided; or otherwise have deserved well in the time of their lives. In respect hereof though the Ministers are very strict in forbidding Dancing, and have writ many Tracts against it; yet to give some content to the common people (who have not lea∣sure to attend it at other times) they allow all Man-like Exercises on the Lords-day, as shoot∣ing in peeces, long-bows, cross-bows, and the like, and that too in the morning both before and after the Sermon; so it be no impediment to them from coming to the Church at the times appointed.

As for the Government of the State, it is directed principally by the Civill or Imperiall Laws; the Judge whereof is called the Leiutenant-criminall, before whom all causes are tryed, and from whom there lyeth no Appeal, unless it be unto the Counsell of two hundred, whom they call the Great Counsell, in which the supreme power of the State resideth. Out of this Counsell of two hundred, there is chosen another lesser Counsell of five and twenty, and out of them four principall Officers whom they call the Syndiques, who have the sole managing of the Com∣monwealth, except it be in some great matter, as making Peace or War, offensive or defensive Leagues, hearing Appeales, and such like generall concernments; which the great Counsell of tvvo hundred must determine of. They have a custom superadded to the Civill Law, that if any Malefactor from another place fly to them for refuge, they punish him after the custom of the place in which the crime was committed. Otherwise, their Town being on the bor∣ders of divers Provinces, would never be free from Vagabonds. Examples hereof I will assign two: the first of certain Monks, who robbing their Convents of certain plate, and hoping for their wicked pranks at home to be the welcomer hither, were at their first acquaintance ad∣vanced to the Gallows. The second is of a Spanish Gentleman, who having fled his Country for clipping and counterfeiting the Kings Gold, came to this town, and had the like re∣ward. And when for defence he alleged, that he understood their City being free, gave admission to all Offenders; true (said they) but with an intent to punish them that offended: a distinction which the Spaniard never till then learned, but then it was too late.

As for their ordinary Revenue, it is proportionable to their Territory, if not above it, con∣ceived to amount to sixty thousand pound per annum, which they raise upon the demain of the Bishop, and the Tithes of the Church, and on such impositions as are layd upon flesh and Merchandise. But they are able to raise greater sums if there be occasion, as appears plainly by the sending of 45000 Crowns to King Henry the third, before they had been long setled in their own estates.

And as for Military forces, they are able to impress two thousand men, and have Arms of all sorts for so many in the publick Arsenall: as also twelve or fourteen peeces of Ordnance, with all manner of Ammunition appertaining to them; and on the Lake some Gallies in continuall readiness against the dangers threatned them from the Dukes of Savoy. And for

the greater safety of their Estate,* 1.2 and the preservation of their Religion, they joyned them∣selves in a constant and perpetuall League with the Canton of Bern, An. 1528, communicating to each other the Freedom of their severall Cities; and by that means, are reckoned for a member of the Commonwealth of the Switzers, which is no small security to their affairs. But their chief strength, as I conceive, is that the neighbor Princes are not willing to have it fall into the hands of that Duke, or any other Potentate of more strength than he. Insomuch that vvhen that Duke besieged it, An. 1589, they were ayded from Venice with four and twen∣ty thousand, and from England with thirteen thousand Crowns, from Florence with Intelli∣gence of the Enemies purposes. Another time, when the Pope, the French King, the Spa∣niard, and Savoyard had designs upon it; the Emperor offered them assistance both of Men and Money: yea and sometimes the Dukes of Savoy have assisted them against the others, as being more desirous that the Town should remain as it doth, than fall into any other hands than his own. So ordinary a thing it is for such petit States, to be more safe by the interess of their jealous neighbors, than any forces of their ovvn.

The Arms of Geneva, when under the command of the Earls thereof, vvere Or, a Cros•• Azure.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Geneva.
• * 1.2

  Wallis∣land.