Note 122 — Chapter III

The action of the people of the four parishes which made the district of Thyez illustrates a condition of mind not easily sympathised with by us, and it shows what the commonalty of the sixteenth century thought of the powers of the Councils which ruled their city republics. The district belonged to Geneva, and was under the rule of the Council of that city. The inhabitants had been permitted to retain the Romanist religion. They were, nevertheless, excommunicated by their Bishop for clinging to Geneva with loyalty. They were honest Roman Catholics; they could not bear the thought of living under excommunication, and longed for absolution; the Bishop would not grant it; so the people applied to the Council of Geneva to absolve them, which the Council did by a minute which runs as follows: “(April 4th, 1535) Sur ce qu’est proposé par nostre chastelain de Thyez, que ceux de Thyez font doubte soy présenter en l’esglise à ces Pasques prochaines (April 16th), à cause d’aucunes lettres d’excommuniement qui sont esté contre aucuns exécutées, par quoi volentier ils desirent avoir remède de absolution.... Est esté résolu que l’on escrive une patente aux vicaires du dict mandement (district), que nous les tenons pour absols.” This was enough. The people went cheerfully to their Easter services (Herminjard, Correspondance, etc. iv. 26 n.).