Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva - James Aitken Wylie

the churches and convents of the neighboring
provinces.[1]
The Pope had added his heavier anathema; and
now, in the eyes of the inhabitants of the towns and
villages around, Geneva was a "dwelling of
devils," and all were ready to assail, burn, or lay
waste a place which the bishop and the Pontiff had
cursed. To crown the misfortunes of the Genevans,
the emperor, unsheathing his great sword and
holding it over their heads, demanded that they
should open their gates and receive back their
bishop. What was to be done? Shall they crouch
down under the old yoke? They had obtained a
glimpse of a new world, and their former slavery
appeared more horrible than ever. To go back to it
was the most dreadful issue which their
imaginations could picture. Come victory and life,
or come defeat and death, they could not go back;
they must and would advance with firm step in the
path on which they had entered.
The same cause which had repelled the Popish
Friburg from Geneva, as narrated above, will draw
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