Homage to the Martyrs of Liberty--The Vidames in Geneva--Who will hinder the Duke?--The Duke and Lévrier at Bonne--Firm Language of Lévrier--Church and State--Duke unmasks his Batteries--Promises and Seductions--Episcopal Council before the Duke--Lévrier before the Duke--The Duke threatens him with Death--Lévrier prefers Death to Flight--St. Sorlin and the Duke retire--Lévrier kidnapped and carried off to Bonne--Agitation at Geneva--Episcopals afraid to intercede--Machiavellian Plot of the Duke--Geneva or Lévrier’s Head--Intercession of Genevan Ladies--Lévrier’s Calmness and Condemnation--Ten o’clock at Night--Lévrier’s Martyrdom--A moral Victory--Founders of Modern Liberty--Effect on the Young and Worldly--Hope of the Genevans, Flight of the Duke--Geneva breathes and awakens PAGE 318 CHAPTER XXIV. INDIGNATION AGAINST THE MAMELUKES; THE DUKE APPROACHES WITH AN ARMY; FLIGHT OF THE PATRIOTS. (1524-1525.) Dishonesty of Treasurer Boulet--Syndic Richardet strikes him--Boulet trades upon this Assault--Vengeance of the Council of Savoy--Boulet and the Bishop at Geneva--Geneva reports to the Bishop the Duke’s Violence--A new Leader, Besançon Hugues--Election of four Huguenot Syndics--Hugues refuses to serve--Appeal from Geneva to Rome--Threats of the Council of Savoy--The Bishop neglects Geneva--Violence done to the Genevans--The Duke requires the Recall of the Appeal to Rome--Forty-two Opponents--Proscription Lists--The Storm bursts--Terror in Geneva--The Exodus--Vuillet’s Visit to Hugues--Flight through Vaud and Franche-Comté--Hugues quits his House by night--Pursuit of the Fugitives PAGE 345 CHAPTER XXV. THE FUGITIVES AT FRIBURG AND BERNE. THE DUKE AND THE COUNCIL OF HALBERDS AT GENEVA. (SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 1525.) Speech of Hugues at Friburg--Welcome of Friburg, Berne, and Lucerne--Evangelical Influence at Berne--Thoughts of the Savoyards--Mamelukes withdraw the Appeal to Rome--The Duke desires the Sovereignty--Geneva wavers--The Swiss Support--The Duke’s Stratagem--Hugues exposes it--The Fugitives joined by their Wives--Sorrow and Appeal of the Fugitives--Anxiety of the Bishop--Lay Power--The Duke’s Scheme--Convokes a General Council--Council of Halberds--The Duke claims the Sovereignty--Vote in the absence of the Halberds--The Duke thwarted in his Despotism--His Heart fails him: he departs--Mamelukes accuse the Exiles--Lullin and others return to Geneva--Their Demand for Justification PAGE 369 CHAPTER XXVI. THE PEOPLE AND THE BISHOP DEFEND THE CAUSE OF THE FUGITIVES. (DECEMBER 1525 TO FEBRUARY 1526.)